Later this year, Sun will

Sun Microsystems is expected to announce the first "open source" Java source code in accordance with its commitment to open its products in October.

The first component of the open source Java source code will include Java C and Hotspot VM, said Laurie Tolson, Sun's vice president of developer and product programs.

The rest of the Java source code will be fully open by the end of 2007.

For the first time, Sun announced it will open source Java code under an open source license at the JavaOne forum last May. However, server manufacturers are still having a lot of debate about that license.

Yesterday, Sun Microsystem opened a website to get feedback from developers.

" Our top goal is compatibility. We want to put applications in the right place that users can trust with a fully compatible Java application environment ," Tolson said.

Server manufacturers have also expanded Sun's Java open source initiative with Java ME technology. This technology allows mobile phones to be compatible with Java source code.

However, it has not been clear whether information on whether Java ME includes Sun's open source initiative. But the trend of open source software applications on mobile phones has become too obvious. The most obvious proof is that names like Motorola, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, NTT Docomo and Vodafone have decided to form an alliance to bring Linux open source operating systems to mobile phones.

Most Java ME source code will also be available under an open source license later this year.

Hoang Dung