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Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Faces Anti-Campaign as Java Alliance Forms

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Silicon Valley companies, including Sun Microsystems Inc. and Netscape Communications Corporation, plan to announce a user-friendly version of Java software technology for the World Wide Web, while Microsoft is in internal turmoil over its strategy with respect to the Java language. This move represents the opening skirmishes in what may be the next great standards battle in the industry, with Microsoft's dominance potentially eroded by the widespread use of Java programming.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sun Microsystems and Netscape Communications have formed an alliance to promote Java software technology, with plans to announce a user-friendly version of Java for the World Wide Web.
  • Microsoft is in internal turmoil over its strategy with respect to Java, with competing camps debating whether to license Java or promote its competing language, Visual Basic.
  • The use of Java language in programming could change the industry's balance of power, with computer users potentially not needing operating systems as prerequisites for programs.
  • A user-friendly version of Java, known as Javascript, is being developed to make programming more accessible to noncomputer experts.
  • Microsoft faces a challenge to its control of basic software standards driving the computer industry, with thousands of developers switching away from the Windows API.
  • A formidable alliance of almost 30 companies, including Apple, Digital Equipment, and AT&T, will endorse the Java technology.
  • LSI Logic, a chip maker, plans to announce its intention to design specialized low-cost chips for producing an inexpensive computer for browsing the World Wide Web.

Statistics:

  • Thousands of developers have switched away from the Windows API (Source: Marc Andreessen, Netscape).
  • Almost 30 companies, including Apple, Digital Equipment, and AT&T, will endorse the Java technology (Source: Eric Schmidt, Sun).
  • LSI Logic plans to design specialized low-cost chips for producing an inexpensive computer for browsing the World Wide Web.

Sources:

  • Andreessen, M. (no date). Quoted in Microsoft Faces Anti-Campagn as Java Alliance Forms (article).
  • Schmidt, E. (no date). Quoted in Microsoft Faces Anti-Campagn as Java Alliance Forms (article).
  • "Microsoft Faces Anti-Campaign as Java Alliance Forms" (article).
  • N/A (LSI Logic announcement).

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