The goal of the Java module system is to bolster the packaging of applications via the JAM format.

Java Development Kit (JDK) 7, which is to be based on Java SE 7, supports OSGi bundles. "We're announcing the availability of a new specification that defines the interoperability between the Java module system for SE 7 and OSGi bundles," said Danny Coward, chief architect in the client software group at Sun. "What this means is in JDK 7, developers who create applications that use OSGi bundles will be able to run them unmodified on JDK 7.

"The goal here really is to embrace OSGI," and help developers bring code over to run on JDK 7, Coward said.

The embrace of OSGi as a bundling and deployment model was lauded by analyst Anne Thomas Manes of Burton Group.

"Deployment of systems is really pretty awful in the current version of Java," Manes said. Using OSGi as a solution to this is a good idea, she stressed.

"I'm wondering why they needed to do the module support and not just go with OSGi support. But as long as the module support fully supports OSGi, that's OK," Manes said.

As part of Sun's plan to expand language support on the Java Virtual Machine, dependencies on just using one language on the JVM will be removed. Developers will have an easier time writing compilers and languages based on other languages and executing them on the Java platform.

Speakers noted that the planned GlassFish version 3 application server also supports OSGi. It will support dynamic languages such as Ruby and Groovy as well as Java EE 6.

Sprint executive Kevin Packingham, vice president of wireless product management and usability at Sprint Nextel, announced intentions to offer in the United States the Instinct phone, a touch-enabled Java handset.

Another technology touted at JavaOne on Tuesday afternoon, the Lightweight UI Toolkit, or LWUIT, features a UI library that allows developers to overcome challenges to building compelling, consistent Java applications for handhelds. Available in an early access mode, it will be offered via open source this summer.

A Sun blog describes LWUIT as a library that sits on top of MIDP 2.0 and implements a peerless graphics and UI model with a small footprint and moderate performance requirements. It leverages SVG graphics integration and Swing-live MVC (Model View Controller).

LWUIT runs on devices from companies such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson.