Sun Takes Java to Millions of Consumer and Embedded Products
Articles and Tips: article
01 Jul 1997
PersonalJava Application Programming Interface and EmbeddedJava Application Programming Interface
Sun Microsystems, Inc. has introduced a unified way for programmers to create applications that run on phones, pagers, hand-held computers, printers, copiers, industrial controllers and smart cards.
The PersonalJava Application Programming Interface and EmbeddedJava Application Programming Interface join the previously announced Java Card Application Programming Interface to complete Sun's strategy to bring Java's power, portability and flexibility to the fastest growing segments of network computing and consumer devices.
Sun designed PersonalJava specifically for network-connectable products people use in homes, while mobile, or in the office. These products have displays but might not include a keyboard or mouse. Ideal candidates for PersonalJava are set-top boxes, game consoles, mobile hand-held computers, web-connected televisions, smartphones.
EmbeddedJava, designed to run on a wide variety of high volume microprocessors, serves manufacturers who want to leverage Java benefits in devices with limited displays, such as instrumentation, low-end mobile phones, pagers, factory automation equipment, fax machines, and network routers/switches. Designed to optimize smart cards, Java Card is the first open smart card technology.
It was announced in October 1996 and since then, the technology has been licensed to companies including Schlumberger and Gemplus, who deliver 70 percent of the smart cards world-wide. JavaCard enables Java applications on smart cards for electronic commerce, network access, affinity programs, gaming applications and authentication.
PersonalJava, EmbeddedJava and Java Card offer a number of significant benefits. For example, application developers will be able to use the Java Development Kit (JDK) to write for all three new Java application environments.
Sun will publish specifications for PersonalJava, EmbeddedJava and Java Card 2.0 for public review in the second quarter of 1997, with final specifications scheduled for third quarter and reference implementations targeted for fourth quarter of 1997.
* Originally published in Novell AppNotes
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