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By Suzanna Kerridge, 18 July 2001 18:25

NEWS Microsoft has decided not to embed Java into its Windows XP operating system - taking the software giant one step further away from the programming language it failed to tame. The company claimed its decision was based on a general industry move towards XML. However, analysts believe the decision is rooted in an agreement the company was forced to sign, preventing it from using the latest version of Java in its products. Microsoft came under fire from Sun Microsystems in 1996 when it created a Windows-only version of the 'write once run anywhere' open language that was incompatible with other software. Gavin King, developer tools product manager at Microsoft, admitted that under the terms of a court agreement, Microsoft was limited to use only old versions of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) up to version 1.4. But he denied it had anything to do with today's decision. "We feel customers and the industry has moved on from v1.4 but we are not embedding Java as we aren't advocating it as a key driver for business. People see the value in open standards like XML. Java still remains proprietary. We don't believe Java is the platform for writing XML services." Tim Jennings, research production director at Butler Group, claimed Microsoft's hands were tied. "In practical terms, Microsoft cannot do any further development work on its own Java machine and since Sun is actively and rapidly developing the Java standard then its only option is to embed an out-of-date version in Windows XP. In light of this, it makes more sense for them to take it out altogether," he said. Microsoft's current .Net strategy leans heavily on XML-based web services. Tony Lock, analyst at Bloor Research said: "Microsoft's whole strategy is wrapped around .Net, XML and C#. But there is a large Java community and one has to question whether a lack of Java tools is an important inhibiting factor for many companies looking at Windows XP." Microsoft's Windows XP will include a tool known as Java syntax support to help organisations port Java applications into a Microsoft XML environment. Lock called this a 'half-way house decision'. "Microsoft cannot ignore Java completely and not to have Java support is a major hurdle. I'm sure Microsoft would be more than happy if its .Net strategy wiped Java out - but it's not going to happen. So, they need to offer some support so as not to blot out a whole potential set of users." Yet, when asked if Java had had its day, King replied: "Very much so." The news came as a shock to Sun Microsystems, claiming no one from Microsoft had contacted the company to inform them of the decision. For related news, see
Microsoft presents XP plug-and-play
http://www.silicon.com/a45828
Gates back in court sooner rather than later
http://www.silicon.com/a45764
Windows XP launch in turmoil
http://www.silicon.com/a45614
Microsoft under fire over 'Java is dead' claims
http://www.silicon.com/a38248