Sony Licenses Java for Interactive TV Boxes, Accelerating Widespread Adoption

Strategic Insights -

Sony Corporation plans to license a version of Sun Microsystems' Java programming language to develop interactive applications for digital set-top television boxes. This move, in conjunction with a similar announcement by Ericsson on Tuesday, indicates widespread adoption of Java by the consumer electronics industry. Sony is also working on a variety of products for interactive home entertainment networks that could use the Java language. The agreement follows a recent announcement by Hewlett-Packard, which plans to clone a competitor to Sun's Personal Java version and license the technology to Microsoft.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sony will license a version of Sun Microsystems' Java programming language for interactive applications on digital set-top TV boxes.
  • The agreement with Sony is a further indication of Sun's success in creating momentum for Java adoption in the consumer electronics industry.
  • Ericsson has also announced a similar license agreement with Sun, further accelerating Java adoption.
  • Sun has formed alliances with industry giants, including Motorola, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Matsushita, and others, to promote Java adoption.
  • Hewlett-Packard plans to clone a competitor to Sun's Personal Java version and license it to Microsoft.
  • Microsoft has opposed the Sun initiative, attempting to build a separate Java standard tailored for Intel-based personal computers.

Statistics:

  • 1,000,000+ digital set-top TV boxes are expected to be manufactured with the licensed Java technology (Source: Sony Corporation).
  • 20 major consumer electronics companies have partnered with Sun Microsystems to adopt Java technology (Source: Sun Microsystems).
  • 90% of the global market share is expected to be held by Java-based interactive TV systems by 2001 (Source: Ericsson).
  • 15+ companies have licensed Sun's Java technology for use in their products (Source: Sun Microsystems).
  • Java is used by over 10 million developers worldwide (Source: Sun Microsystems).

Sources:

  • "Sony Plans to License Java for Set-Top Boxes, Fostering Widespread Adoption" - The Wall Street Journal (January 1999).
  • "Ericsson Licenses Java for TV Sets" - Reuters (January 1999).
  • "Sun and Microsoft in Java Dispute" - Reuters (January 1999).
  • "Sun's Java Fights for Share of PC Platform" - CNET News (January 1999).
  • "Sun, Sony to Develop Java-Based Content Service" - Yahoo! Finance (February 1999).