Sun and Samsung Repoted Developing Java Based Smartphone

Sun Microsystems and Samsung Electronics are reported to be jointly developing a mobile phone which they hope will challenge the Apple iPhone. The local JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that Sun Chairman Scott McNealy had said that the companies were working on a "Java phone" that would cost less than the Apple's iPhone, but would surpass it in functionality.

The Korean language report did not elaborate though.

Samsung spokeswoman Lee Soo-jeong in Seoul said "no decision has been made regarding co-development of the Java phone." She told the newspaper that a meeting has taken place between the two companies "to introduce the idea" but would not comment any further.

Earlier this year, at the JavaOne conference, the company did announce plans to ship a "pre-integrated," GPL-licensable, Linux- and Java-based operating system software reference design for mobile phones - and it is possible that the new handset could be based on that platform. The news was announced shortly after the company brought the Java OS developer, SavaJe.

On the web: JoongAng Ilbo

Posted to the site on 11th October 2007