Sun, Netscape Launch JavaScript Language

Sun Microsystems Inc. and Netscape Communications Corp. on Monday unveiled a programming language in a bid to beat rival Microsoft Corp. in the race to set standards for new Internet-based software.

Microsoft, the world’s biggest computer software company, is also investing heavily in developing programming software for Internet applications, and is expected to unveil its lineup of products later this week.

The move by Sun and Netscape to introduce JavaScript sent shares of the two companies soaring on the Nasdaq market. Netscape climbed $12.25 to close at $149.50; Sun jumped $5.50 to close at $89.875.

“We think Java is emerging as the standard programming language, certainly for the next decade and hopefully the next century,” Mark Andreessen, Netscape’s vice president of technology, said at WebInnovation, a trade show being held in San Francisco.

In an effort to show industry support, the companies also announced a list of 28 top online services, software developers and hardware makers that have endorsed JavaScript, including America Online Inc., Apple Computer Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Intuit Inc. and Oracle Corp.

“This is definitely an effort to take a position counter to Microsoft,” said Laura Coniglario, analyst at Prudential Securities.