Java joins the auto PC war

Automotive Industries, April, 1998 by Norman Martin

"Java technology allows the manufacturer to install components from different suppliers and easily integrates them in one seamless system," says Eric Chu, manger of strategic markets at Sun Microsystems in Palo Alto, Calif.

Moreover, he says, suppliers and automakers aren't "locked down to the hardware or any one operating system. It gives you the power of choice."

Perry Lee, product manager of Microsoft's Auto PC platform in Redmond, Wash., counters, "Windows CE is an open platform." He says it gives a lot of flexibility for developing applications, as well as quicker time to market. Anyone who's familiar with developing a Windows application can jump right in and start building something for the Auto PC.

"What we have is the ability to leverage a huge base of existing developers," Lee says And these developers can write for multiple platforms using the same code base.

IBM says consumers could see early versions of Network Vehicles in as little as four years or less, depending on where an automaker is in the development cycle. Earlier this year, IBM and Daimler-Benz announced an open, client/server architecture for in-car electronics. Mercedes demonstrated that architecture in its superluxury Maybach concept car.

In the meantime, if Sun Microsystems has anything to with it, Bill Gates win have a real battle on his hands in the automotive arena. The war has just begun.