Sun Microsystems is trying to boost competition to Apple’s iPhone with software based on its Java technology.
JavaFX Mobile is a mobile phone software system for next generation phones with more multimedia capability. Sun will license it to operators, content owners and consumer electronics manufacturers. The firm already has backing from mobile operator Vodafone.
“We are enthusiastic about Sun’s new JavaFX product family and the opportunity it presents to Vodafone and the global community to drive deployment of a unified Java solution on mobile devices,” said Alan Harper, Vodafone group strategy and new business director.
JavaFX Mobile is based on technology acquired in April from California start-up SavaJe Technologies, which uses a Linux operating system kernel and Java Micro Edition (ME) for all the middleware in the phone. Sun sees the fact that Java is already used on over a billion mobile phones as a key advantage.
It has also launched JavaFX Script to make it easier to develop and distribute applications to run on phones, as well as set-top boxes, laptop PCs and in cars, competing with Macromedia’s Flash technology and Microsoft’s Silverlight.
“This is a major step towards helping consumers access the best content on the Internet from every device,” said Rich Green, executive v-p at Sun Software.
Sun plans to make JavaFX Script available under an open source license and this week launched an early version of the software.