As a licensee of its ChaiVM ‘clean room’ Java virtual machine, Hewlett-Packard Co says Microsoft Corp could, if it wished, use the technology to resolve its little Java problem. Microsoft must pass Sun’s Java compatibility tests in 90 days or drop Java technology from Windows 98 and Internet Explorer 4.0. Microsoft didn’t comment on HP’s offer but on Friday played for time by sending out a message designed to assure Windows customers that the ruling will have no impact on Microsoft’s ability to deliver Windows 98 and other products to its customers. It says the court has not ordered it to remove technology from any of its products. It ordered Microsoft to add support for Sun’s JNI Java Native Interface and to make changes to programming tools. It hasn’t said whether it will do this.
