Sun and Laszlo Bring OpenLaszlo Applications to Java Platform, Micro Edition Technology

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006; 07:02 AM

Sun Microsystems Inc. and Laszlo Systems, Inc.  announced a collaboration to enable OpenLaszlo applications to run on devices supporting the Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME) application environment. With this move, Sun and Laszlo are actively contributing resources to a new project for the OpenLaszlo community, code-named Orbit.

With more than 3.8 billion Java-technology devices including 1.2 billion Java technology-powered phones in the world today, Sun has one of the most widely distributed client run-time environments. OpenLaszlo is a widely adopted open source application development platform that uses Ajax-style programming techniques, integrating XML and JavaScript, to create rich and robust online experiences. With this endeavor, Sun and Laszlo will work together to bridge OpenLaszlo's expressive markup language, LZX, with the ubiquity and power of the Java ME platform.

OpenLaszlo, currently in version 3.3, was designed from its inception to support the instantaneous, no-download deployment of web applications on a diverse set of client runtime environments. Now with further extension to support the Java ME platform, OpenLaszlo will offer an unprecedented level of development portability and flexibility across a wide variety of Java technology-based phones, television set-top boxes, and other connected devices. Support for OpenLaszlo applications further enhances one of the key strengths of the Java platform - the ability to support development environments and authoring tools targeting a broad spectrum of developer skills and preferences.

"The integration of OpenLaszlo and the Java ME platform is another important step in the evolution of mobile computing," said Robert Brewin, CTO of Sun Microsystems' software group. "This collaboration will bring the richness of the modern web, the power of Java technology and the unique capabilities of OpenLaszlo together for the benefit of our respective developer communities."

"We're pleased to be working with Sun, which is a big step forward in furthering our collective vision of enabling seamless application support for all connected devices," said David Temkin, founder and CTO of Laszlo Systems. "With both companies' strong commitment to open source and open standards, today's announcement marks a significant milestone towards those efforts."

Sun and Laszlo expect to release the first demonstrable Project Orbit application running under the Java ME platform later this year. For more information on Project Orbit and its goals, visit www.java.net or www.openlaszlo.org/orbit . To become a contributor to the Project, registration is available at www.openlaszlo.org/orbit .