There are more than 120 million Java technology-enabled mobile handsets in use around the world.
Java engineer at Sun Microsystems SA, Sean O'Hare, says factors contributing to the success of Java include the availability of more than 200 different Java technology-enabled handsets from over 70 carriers worldwide, a growth of 35% since June.
Boosting the success of mobile Java further, Sun is tackling the enormous Chinese market with several new alliances.
"Sun has formed an association with China Unicom, and ZRRT, a service provider in China, to develop and promote Java technology-based wireless applications and services under the brand name 'UniJa' in one of the world's largest mobile handset markets," O'Hare explains.
Additionally, TCL Mobile Communications, a mobile handset manufacturer in China, has licensed Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME Platform) technology to provide an open, secure, standards-based platform for the development of new applications.
The China Unicom/ZRRT/Sun alliance will create a comprehensive value chain platform for developing Java technology-based services on Unicom's CDMA 1x network.
"It is estimated that initially, more than 1.5 million CDMA subscribers will benefit from the new 'UniJa' services; Sun will provide the products, programs and technologies to help ZRRT manage the Java technology-based mobile content ecosystem for China Unicom," says O'Hare.
In addition to the availability of new Java applications and services through the UniJa brand, a licensing agreement with TCL Mobile will enable mobile phone users in China to gain access to new Java technology-enabled handsets. More than 27 of the world's leading wireless device manufacturers already provide Java technology-enabled devices in China.
These manufacturers include Casio, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Kyocera, LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Matsushita, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Mitsubishi Electric, RIM and Toshiba.
In addition to its success in the mobile Java consumer market, Sun has completed Java distribution deals with PC vendors that represent nearly 50% of the shipping volume of desktops worldwide. Apple, Gateway, HP, Samsung, Toshiba and Tsinghua Tongfang have all stated they will ship the most current and compatible version of Java from Sun.
Sun has also announced availability of the Sun Content Delivery Server, the Java Device Test Suite and the new Java Mobility Advantage Program to help carriers, OEMs and developers reduce the cost and complexity of developing, managing and deploying mobile content.
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