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The Future is Wireless
JavaOne, June 11, 2003
The future is definitely wireless as opposed to desktop-bound, Sun emphasized in the JavaOne keynote Tuesday morning. PC sales have leveled off at roughly 120 million units each year, whereas 250 million phone-toting individuals are expected to be clutching Java-enabled phones within the next six months. Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice-president of Sun's Software Group, said that 22 manufacturers deliver 150 Java-enabled handsets deployed by 53 wireless carriers worldwide, which provide Java services to 100 million subscribers—with the potential to reach 1 billion. Considering that the global ring-tone market is $1.6 billion, he figured that people could do the math themselves and imagine the riches that await those who step further afield into the Java-enabled wireless market. (Also see, "Sun Lowers Bar for J2ME Developers.") Java's prevalence in the wireless market was supported by the unveiling of its new logo: a bolder rendition of the coffee cup that allegedly will render more clearly when it appears on small devices. Schwartz also spoke in more general terms about Java's worldwide reach. A half-billion desktops around the world run Java, he said, and Java now finds itself in 100 percent of Fortune 500 companies. (Also see, "Sun Goal: 10 Million Developers.") Finally, two online Java resources were launched: java.com and java.net. The first is a consumer-facing Web site that educates the masses about Java's purpose, reach, and promise. The second site—the result of a partnership with collaborative software development provider CollabNet and publisher O'Reilly & Associates—provides a "central meeting place for developers and Java technology enthusiasts." About the Author |