Sun, Samsung to develop Java phone

Sun Microsystems Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. are reportedly co-developing a mobile phone to challenge Apple Inc.'s iPhone. This is according to an AP report quoting a news item from South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo.

According to the report, Scott McNealy, co-founder and chairman of Sun Microsystems, had revealed that the companies were working on a Java phone that would be more functional than the Apple iPhone, yet cost less.

Lee Soo-jeong, Samsung spokesperson in Seoul, said "no decision has been made regarding co-development of the Java phone." She confirmed, however, that a meeting had taken place between the two companies about a Java phone, but did not elaborate on its timing and other details.

At May's JavaOne conference, Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz unveiled a Java-run prototype handset made by Taiwan's First International Computer. The similarity of the device, as well as its Savaje software graphical interface, to the iPhone has earned it the nickname "jPhone." On the other hand, Samsung last July rolled out the Java SDK emulator using Sun?s K virtual machine.

McNealy was in South Korea Tuesday for the Korea Electronics Show, where he gave the opening speech, according to a report from Korea Times.

- Gracie Valena
EE Times-Asia