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Sun and IBM Announce Java OS for Business

IBM Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. announced JavaOS for Business operating system software, designed for central management of business applications using Java technologies in network computing environments.

Jim Hebert, a spokesman for Sun, says the new OS has been four months in the making and comes with two deliverables: a development kit for drive developers and an OEM adaption kit for managers.

Headlining features include central administration of the entire client and the ability to dynamically reconfigure systems without reboot. David Gee, IBM director of Java marketing, says the new software is designed to run on Intel architecture and still allows access to 7270 and 3250 applications. Gee also warned that each client needs 8MB of RAM to run any of the applications.

The two companies also announced related JavaOS for Business support programs for industry partners, including software tools, testing facilities and educational assitance. Both companies plan to integrate JavaOS for Business in their products -- IBM on its network station computers and Sun on its JavaStation products -- in 1999.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.