Sun Puts Shine on Keys to Java

ENT, Jan 14, 1998 by Jim LeFevre

In the final ballot, 20 member countries voted to accept Sun's application, two countries abstained, and two countries -- China and the United States -- voted against Sun holding the keys to the Java kingdom.

Sun's quest to push Java into the standards spotlight began in March of last year, when it submitted its application for PAS recognition to the ISO. In July, after the JTC-1 considered Sun's application, group members voted on whether to accept or reject the application, but qualified their votes with numerous comments. Sun had 2 months to respond in writing to member comments, with JTC-1 members changing or standing on their previous votes on the basis of Sun's responses.

Sun's "open" development process comprises six steps: the specification proposal, which can be requested by end users and developers; the composition of a requirements list by an ad hoc group of academics, industry partners, developers and end users; the writing of the first draft; the review and refinement of that draft; a public review of the draft, in which anyone with Web access can take part; and the final release of the specification.

Microsoft Corp. has its own opinion about Sun's quest to become a PAS submitter, and Microsoft spokespersons argue that Sun's "open" standards process is not open at all. Shortly after Sun first applied to the ISO, Microsoft fired off two letters to the JTC-1, which outlined several reasons why Sun's application should be rejected (see sidebar). Microsoft is expected to continue its efforts to block Sun's push to make Java a standard.

Although the ISO's acceptance of Sun as a PAS is a major step toward the company's goal of making Java an international standard, the process is far from over. Sun's next move will be to submit the Java Language, the Java Virtual Machine and several core Java class libraries for ISO approval. Sun has 2 years to make its various submissions.

If Java does, indeed, pass ISO muster, application developers and software vendors will be able to ensure that their Java products are compatible simply by writing to the international standard, rather than by submitting their wares to Sun for compliance testing. International standardization will also enable vendors to sell their Java products to certain markets that require the ISO stamp of approval, such as governments and universities.

According to industry analysts, this latest step might really be nothing to get excited about. Rob Enderle, analyst with the Giga Information Group (Santa Clara, Calif.), says that on a scale of 1 to 10, the ISO's acceptance of Sun rates about a 3 or 4. "I would argue that while it does add some value and give Sun some marketing clout, ISO approval will not make or break the platform. Certainly, it's a lot better to have [ISO certification] than to not have it."

RELATED ARTICLE: Microsoft's Objections to Sun's PAS Application

When Sun initially applied to the ISO to take Java international early last year, Microsoft sent two letters to the ISO's JTC-1 group, outlining several objections to Sun's application. Among the objections:

"Microsoft believes that Sun's application ... demonstrates that Sun wishes to retain full ownership and control over its Java specifications while simultaneously reaping the benefit of an ISO/IEC standard for its proprietary technology." "The stature of an ISO standard will be greatly diminished if Sun were permitted to unilaterally submit technologies for transposition as ISO standards ..."

"Sun's application does not demonstrate a willingness to allow all affected parties to participate in the ongoing development of the standard."

"Sun's application does not demonstrate a willingness to assign or license the requisite intellectual property rights in Java to ISO."