Sun Microsystems Simplifies Business Integration With Latest Version Of J2EE(TM)

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced the latest version of the Java(TM) 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE(TM)), simplifying business integration and delivering increased functionality for developing and deploying enterprise-level web services. "The Java effect is unstoppable," said Rich Green, vice president and general manager, Java and XML Software, Sun Microsystems. "J2EE has already captured the attention of industry leading corporations and with over 30 licensees to date, thousands of companies are able to realize the value of choice, interoperability and simplified connectivity. Java technology is key to cross-platform independence and this latest version of J2EE enables companies to integrate their legacy systems with evolving standards, allowing them to deploy a competitive architecture for web services. It is one of the key building blocks of Sun ONE, Sun's standards based infrastructure that helps solution providers build services on demand."

Today's announcement marks the delivery by the Java Community Process(SM) of the J2EE version 1.3 platform specification. The specification provides the written description of the functionality of the J2EE platform. Like all Java specifications, the J2EE specification is released in conjunction with a reference implementation (RI) and a Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK). The J2EE RI offers developers a working prototype and is available in source and binary form from the java.sun.com web site. The TCK for the J2EE platform is known as the J2EE Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) which delivers a suite of tests, tools and documentation for ensuring compatibility. Upon successful completion of the test suite, licensees may use the Java Compatible, Enterprise Edition brand. This process allows licensees to create their own specific implementation of J2EE, while maintaining compatibility with other Java technology-based applications.

"This latest J2EE specification gives developers unmatched functionality and flexibility to build-out their enterprise-level web applications," said Rob Gingell, chair of the Java Community Process program. "One of the primary reasons J2EE has become an industry-recognized development platform is the expertise and knowledge contributed by the hundreds of participants in the process. The result of this industry collaboration is a Java-enabled end-to-end architecture that leverages the power of enterprise servers and delivers application access to the widest range of modern Internet clients, from desktop computers to hand-held devices, PDAs, set-top boxes and smart cards."

The enhancements found in this new version continue to build on the fundamental value propositions of J2EE: simplified business integration; simplicity of development; and freedom of choice.

Simplified business integration

-- J2EE Connectors: Connectors enable easy integration with existing heterogeneous systems including back-end applications, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Resource Management (CRM) systems.

-- Java Message Service (JMS) API and Message Driven Beans: Java APIs allow applications to create, send, receive and read messages without requiring the sender or receiver to be available at the same time (asynchronously); message driven beans provide a component model for messaging.

Simplicity of development and freedom of choice

-- Enterprise JavaBeans(TM) 2.0 (EJB(TM)): EJB architecture now incorporates new container-managed persistence, which dramatically simplifies the development of distributed applications; required Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP) interoperability facilitates communication between application servers from different vendors.

-- Increased XML Integration: An essential part of web services, XML integration is enhanced with the Java API for XML Processing (JAXP) and the ability to write and manipulate JavaServer Pages(TM) (JSP(TM)) technology in XML.

-- JSP Framework and Servlets: Java servlet filters are web components that support the application of multiple context-based transformations and enable access from a variety of client devices; JSP 1.2 allows XML tools to create JSPs.

The J2EE standard offers a complete market of tools, products and applications, allowing companies to lower development costs and raise the J2EE developer value-add with their transferable skills. Yet another instance of Sun's commitment to open, standards-based technologies, the new specification helps partners and licensees develop products and applications that provide their customers with compelling competitive advantages.

BEA

"Java/J2EE and web services standards are transforming the integration marketplace," said Scott Dietzen, CTO of BEA Systems' E-Commerce Server Division. "The industry is broadly moving from point-to-point integration's -- painfully engineered after the fact -- to applications that are built to integrate out of the box. Such a vision depends upon a standard integration platform that includes standard adapters, messaging, security, transactions, web services bindings, and more. BEA already delivers these capabilities within the WebLogic E-Business Platform."

Borland Software Corporation

"It is our mission to offer our customers the freedom of choice for the development, deployment and management of e-business applications," said Alan Shoap, vice president and general manager of Borland's Enterprise Business Unit. "Our work with the Java Community Process program, and our plans to fully support Sun's new J2EE 1.3 platform and EJB 2.0 specification, helps us to deliver platform-independent solutions for e-business."

Computer Associates

"As their e-business application requirements continue to evolve, our customers are looking for increasingly sophisticated development capabilities that are easy to implement," said Yogesh Gupta, chief technology officer, Computer Associates. "By leveraging the enhancements provided by J2EE 1.3, CA's application development products deliver competitively distinctive and fully interoperable solutions that meet these demands."

IONA

"As a provider of J2EE-based e-business platform technology, IONA welcomes the release of J2EE 1.3," said Patrick O'Brien, vice president of product planning and strategy at IONA. "This release significantly extends the enterprise capabilities of the Java platform. Its feature enhancements, including support for JMS, make it easier to build and support web service enabled e-business systems. We share Sun's goal of accelerating the mainstream adoption of Java and J2EE technologies, and we are happy to provide cost-effective technology to the industry. IONA will continue its collaboration with Sun through participation in the Java Community Process, evolution of the J2EE platform, and the popularization of web services technology."

iPlanet

"As a leading provider of web services infrastructure solutions, iPlanet has actively contributed to the J2EE 1.3 specification and will aggressively support the J2EE 1.3 platform," said Joe Keller, vice president and general manager for iPlanet Application Services Group. "The continued advancement of J2EE allows iPlanet to deploy the scalable and competitive software platform that our customers demand. The iPlanet products are a central element of the Sun ONE offering, and the commitment to Java and specifically J2EE enables a fully integrateable solution for creating, assembling and deploying web services."

Macromedia

"New features in J2EE will enable Macromedia JRun users to simplify the development of their scalable, sophisticated web applications," said Eric Schott, director, JRun Business Team, Macromedia. "Macromedia JRun is the industry's most approachable J2EE compatible application server, and JRun developers will now be able to deploy web services as part of Sun's new platform."

Oracle Corporation

"In its first release, J2EE proved successful in providing a standards-based architecture for Internet applications," said Thomas Kurian, vice president of Oracle9i Development at Oracle. "As a result, our J2EE compatible Oracle9i Application Server offers developers everything they need to develop Internet applications with unprecedented performance and scalability. J2EE 1.3 makes great strides in addressing the needs of next generation application development and deployment in areas such as service-oriented applications and enterprise integration. We are excited about this new version and are committed to bringing it to the developer community in the next release of Oracle9i Application Server."

Sonic Software

"Sonic Software continues to support Sun's J2EE standards as the best platform for creating web services and enterprise applications based on a messaging platform. Sonic helped pioneer Java messaging and we are pleased that the latest J2EE release acknowledges the critical role messaging takes in linking business processing both inside and between organizations," said Greg J. O'Connor, president of Sonic Software Corporation. "J2EE-based applications and Sonic Software's fully compatible messaging standard enable businesses to increase the reliability of their most critical infrastructure, achieve faster time-to-market and drive down the cost and complexity of integrating their applications across extended enterprises. We are committed to the continued development of J2EE/JMS standards and Java Community Process as we meet the demands of growing connectivity and the global scaling of e-business."

Sybase

"We are excited about providing our customers with the new J2EE 1.3 platform," said Billy Ho, senior vice president of products and solutions, Sybase. "The overall value proposition of the latest version of the J2EE platform -- providing simplified business integration, freedom of choice, and simplified development -- match closely to Sybase's commitment to open architecture, further enhancing its application development and e-business platform offerings. Sybase EAServer customers benefit greatly by substantially reducing development time and improving time-to-market."

Talarian

"Talarian's commitment to providing the highest performing messaging infrastructure perfectly complements Sun's J2EE strategy. We believe that J2EE/JMS technology enables businesses to protect and leverage existing infrastructure investments by linking existing enterprise systems with new web-based applications," said Steve Gimnicher, vice president of marketing, Talarian. "J2EE technology, when combined with the core architecture offered by Talarian, can significantly reduce the cost and complexity of developing these services, resulting in applications that can be rapidly deployed and easily enhanced to respond to market opportunities. As a J2EE licensee focused on JMS, and as a member of the Java Community Process program, we look forward to advancing our industry-leading messaging infrastructure with Sun's Java technology. Talarian believes this will provide the most scalable, fault-tolerant, high-performing solution for customers who need to deliver data and content in real time."

TIBCO Software

"TIBCO's strategy of supporting industry standards, such as J2EE, results in solutions that are robust, open and easy to use," said Fred Meyer, chief marketing officer for TIBCO Software. "By delivering business integration solutions that leverage the important enhancements of J2EE 1.3, TIBCO will give businesses the ability to integrate their assets across a wide range of environments including J2EE, web services and more."

About the Java Community Process Program

Since its introduction in 1995 as the open, inclusive process to develop and revise Java technology specifications, reference implementations, and technology compatibility kits, the Java Community Process program has fostered the evolution of the Java platform in cooperation with the international Java developer community. More than 140 Java technology specifications are in development in the program, which has over 400 company and individual participants.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer(TM) -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take their businesses to the nth. With $18.3 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com .

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