Sun, HP Vague on Java Talks

Hewlett-Packard and Sun officials are reportedly discussing their different approaches to implementing embedded Java. Officially, at least, the talks are proceeding, but neither company is saying what, if anything, is being resolved.

"We are having very productive talks," said Sun spokeswoman Elizabeth McNichols, declining to elaborate further.

During last month's JavaOne conference, Hewlett-Packard said it had developed its own Java virtual machine to embed in consumer electronics devices. The salt in the wound for Sun was the announcement that Microsoft would be the technology's first licensee.

This was a blow to Sun's goal of putting its own specification for a scaled-down Java in most any computer environment, no matter how small. HP said it would challenge Sun's control of the embedded Java standard by offering its own implementation as a standards contender.

Following HP's bombshell, Sun extended an olive branch in the hope that the two companies could come to terms over the matter. A brief meeting between company executives was reportedly conciliatory.

But although Sun characterizes the current discussions as "productive," HP officials merely said the talks are aimed at "doing the right thing" when it comes to embedded Java. In part, said HP's Byron Ryono, worldwide marketing manager for embedded software technology, the subject is a standard for embedded Java.

He denied that there is any new development in relations between the companies.

"Part of the tune here is that we are ready for talks. The other part of the tune is still strong," Ryono said, referring to the company's intention to continue developing Java for the embedded marketplace. "There's no tune change," he said, extending the musical metaphor, except to the extent "that we can come to some place that we can do what's right for the embedded market.

"We're overcoming whatever inhibitors there are for us [to] achieving the basic goals for meeting the customers needs."

Asked why the two companies are holding discussions, Ryono said, "We do have a desire to do what's right." Right now, he said, that simply means talking with Sun.

Sun has yet to submit its specifications for defining Java standards, even though the International Standards Organization endorsed the company as the language's standard bearer last November. Although Sun says the specifications will come later this year, HP's move shows that frustrated companies wanting to incorporate Java into their products are moving ahead on their own.

Speculating on the content of the talks, one industry observer said Sun may be trying to lure HP toward its own embedded Java by lowering the licensing fees for its use. HP has said however, that licensing issues are not the primary motivation in developing its own virtual machine.

It's about "being open and free to be competitive," Ryono said. The company has also argued that write-once, run-anywhere -- Java's cross-platform mantra -- is not as relevant in embedded devices like printers. Rather, HP says, that any Java virtual machine should be optimized for the embedded environment, and it feels Sun restricts vendors from developing partial, customized implementations of the language.

But HP has also said Sun's per-unit licensing is a poor fit for HP's high-volume, low-cost production of printers and other devices.