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. “From an offensive point of view, many companies are finding their strategies and business models cut off by what Microsoft has done or is likely to do.”
In recent years, Microsoft has come under fire from hardware and software manufacturers because its Windows operating system dominates the personal computer marketplace and has become a de facto operating system standard.
As a result, companies must tailor products and strategies to Microsoft’s plans. They do not want to fall under the same conditions with a new generation of Internet-based products.
JavaScript is based on Sun’s programming language called Java, which gives users the ability to develop multimedia software applications that use data, graphics and video.
It uses portions of previously written computer code, thereby cutting time and allowing users to customize programs for their own networks or for particular clients.
“JavaScript and Java represent an open-standards-based approach to creating interactive content,” Andreessen said.
