Sun, Orange to simplify Java ME application development environment

Sun Microsystems Inc. (www.sun.com) and Orange (www.orange.com), a mobile communications company, have partnered to simplify the Java Micro Edition (Java ME) application development environment with NetBeans in order to accelerate time to revenue for developers by streamlining the application development

The companies will collaborate to provide guidelines and tools, including a Best Practice Design Guidelines document intended for the developer community to help developers create applications that require fewer versions to run on more handsets. The companies will conduct device testing using Sun's Java Device Test Suite to increase the quality of the Java ME technology implementation on terminals and phones. This testing will result in a version of NetBeans Mobility Pack that reflects and accommodates best practices, and is designed to provide operators with a higher level of confidence in their products.

Alan Brenner, vice presiden of the Sun Client Systems Group, said the efforts with Orange should ultimately reduce the amount of application testing required and improve economies of production for Java ME developers.

NetBeans is an open-source project dedicated to providing software development products that address the needs of developers, users and business such as carriers.