Sun Microsystems used the JavaOne conference in San Francisco last week to detail its road map for Java and show its latest
tools releases. Sun also acquired business integration software vendor SeeBeyond for $387 million.
An early access release of the Java Studio Creator 2 tool, featuring support for AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) components
was unveiled. Enhancements also focus on ease of use and portlets.
Sun also introduced an open source ESB (enterprise service bus) project, entitled Java System Enterprise Service Bus, and
offered its Java System Application Server Platform Edition 9.0 to open source as well. Additionally, Sun unveiled a 64-bit
UltraSparc-based laptop, the Ultra 3 Mobile Workstation, priced starting at $3,400.
The Java Platform, Standard Edition 6, code-named Mustang, is due in 2006. It will feature ease of development and Web services
enhancements.
The subsequent release of Java, Java Platform, Standard Edition 7 and code-named Dolphin, will follow in 2008. It may offer
direct support for XML and an upgrade to the Java Archive file packaging system for Java applications.
Sun also revealed it is considering giving its Java Desktop System OS to the open source community.
-- Elizabeth Montalbano and China Martens of the IDG News Service contributed to this article.