ITU Telecom World 2003

October 14, 2003
Sun strengthens lead in mobile data services with Java

GENEVA -- Sun Microsystems announced that Java technology-enabled mobile handsets surpassed the 120 million mark in number of units shipped worldwide. Factors contributing to achieving this milestone include the availability of over 200 different Java technology-enabled handsets through over 70 carriers worldwide, a growth of 35 percent since June.

Building on this momentum, Sun formed an alliance with China Unicom, and ZRRT, a leading 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. Additionally, TCL Mobile Communications, a leading mobile handset manufacturer in China, has licensed J2ME Platform technology to provide an open, secure, standards-based platform for the development of new Java applications.

Lu Jianguo, vice president, China Unicom Group, said: "We are pleased to be working with Sun to capitalise on the alliance advantages of Java technology, which will enable us to accelerate the development and delivery of wireless content to our subscribers. Sun's experience and leadership in the mobile market will help open new revenue channels and increase subscriber growth through the introduction and delivery of new Java applications and services."

Wang Jiyang, deputy CTO, TCL Mobile Communications, added: "Java has emerged as the common language of the wireless applications world. By licensing Java technology from Sun, TCL will provide an open, secure, standards-based platform for millions of Java developers to unleash their creativity through the delivery of new Java applications to the China market. New Java handsets from TCL will be available by December 2003."

The China Unicom/ZRRT/Sun alliance was formed to create a comprehensive value chain platform for jointly 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.

In addition to the availability of new Java applications and services through China Unicom's UniJa brand, mobile phone users in China will soon gain access to new Java technology-enabled handsets through a licensing agreement with TCL Mobile. Currently over 27 of the world's leading wireless device manufacturers already ship Java technology-enabled devices. 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.

Contact:
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
www.sun.com