June 23 2003

Sun Microsystems on Tuesday launched a Java testing program designed to help bring Java-based wireless applications to market more quickly.

Sun, together with mobile phone makers Nokia, Motorola, Siemens and Sony-Ericsson said they would unify their application testing and certification programs for Java programs. Sun said it would also issue a logo for applications that meet the unified criteria.

Greg Wolff, group manager for carrier solutions and content programs at Sun, said the common testing program was conceived to make things simpler for developers.

"[This gives them] a one-stop shop to get their application tested and certified to work on handsets."

Wolff said the program is open to additional handset manufacturers and operators.

In addition, Sun announced new "go-to-market" services for its Developer Network Mobility Program that are designed to help developers sell their applications.

Wolff said that Sun would create a catalog of wireless applications that have been tested and certified and make it available to its carrier partners and to handset manufacturers.

There's a "matchmaking problem" between developers and carriers, Wolff said.

"Developers may have a cool product, but they don't have the ability to make all the contacts and get their application in front of a carrier. The carrier doesn’t have bandwidth to deal with developers."

The catalog helps bridge the gap. "This gives developers a broad reach, and more direct access to distribution channels, and it helps carriers to have a source of a large number of apps that they can choose from to deploy over their network."

Wolff said the testing program and the catalog will be ready before the end of the third quarter.

Sun said it would also showcase developers' mobile Java content at a new portal, http://www.java.com/en/index.jsp, in order to educate consumers about Java and also drive demand for the applications.

Also on Tuesday, Sun unveiled a new set of products aimed at making it easier for developers to build applications.

The Sun ONE Portal Server, Mobile Access version 6.2 will include the Sun ONE Mobile Application Builder and provides access to personalized data and information from any wireless browser or Java-enabled device.

In related news, Sun said on Monday that it would tweak ts Java platform to run specifically on mobile devices using Intel XScale processors.

The first round of handsets and other products based on the partnership are expected later this year. Sun is aiming to hit about 100 million mobile phones shipping its Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) technology by the end of June.