Taking On Microsoft: The controversial effort to...

Taking On Microsoft: The controversial effort to develop a low-cost network computer for surfing the Internet could soon get a big boost if discussions among Sun Microsystems Inc., Oracle Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. come to fruition.

The three companies, united mainly by their desire to break Microsoft Corp.’s stranglehold on the PC business, are talking about establishing a joint specification for a network PC that would use Sun’s Java software--not Microsoft Windows--as its operating system. Machines adhering to the new specification, probably costing between $500 and $1,000, would carry the Network Computer trademark.

Sources say Oracle has already signed up a handful of hardware manufacturers to build its network computer, the largest being South Korea-based Samsung. Oracle is expected to make the announcement at a May 20 news conference.

Julie Pitta (pittaj@aol.com) and Greg Miller (Greg.Miller@latimes.com) contributed to this report.