The way we hear it Sun Microsystems Inc will toss its feeble JavaOS plus Embedded Java and Personal Java together with the Chorus/Jazz kernel from its Chorus Systemes SA acquisition into a development pot, give a stir and serve-up multiple implementations of a Java-based real-time embedded operating systems designed for use in the smallest of portable devices and wireless phones, to telecoms switches. It will supposedly do a traditional real-time system first, a pure Java play second. It admits that 100% Pure Java applications aren’t always practical and thinks the market for embedded systems is still relatively fragmented, seeing an opportunity to create a set of ‘one-stop shop’ technologies for use by telcos. Currently the Chorus/JavaOS work – including Chorus’ Corba ORB object request broker – is implemented on Chorus’ Mach-based microkernel while JavaOS runs on a proprietary kernel. Just how the two are to come together will supposedly be detailed in some kind of roadmap promised for the end of this month; Sun and Chorus each have their own object request brokers, for instance. Chorus, which wants to retain some measure of its brand identity, says putting Java together with a real-time kernel will enable Sun to offer system software for use where other products such as Wind River Systems Inc VxWorks are currently deployed. Telcos such as Alactel, Nortel and Samsung which are building web telephones for example (CI No 3,233). Although the three paraded their widgets at a Sun-staged event in new York recently and gave their blessing to the Personal Java subset of Java, none has yet licensed Personal Java and none is running a Sun operating system on its devices, relying on other real-time kernels, such as VxWorks. Sun’s put the real-time work alongside JavaOS in a SunSoft Embedded Systems Software Group. It looks to be out to eat Wind River’s increasingly attractive lunch. Wind River is one of Chorus’ main competitors.
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