At the JavaOne Conference this coming June, Sun will be announcing details on a Java project known as Vector. Sun President and CEO Jonathan Schwartz decided to tantalize readers of his blog with a bit about the project, which he hints will more than likely be officially named the Java Store.

Vector is a network service designed to connect companies of all sizes and types to the approximately one billion Java users all over the world. Schwartz explains that the way this project will work is that it will take in applications from potential candidates who would like to present their products before the Java audience. Applications will be submitted via a simple web site and, once approved, then displayed under free or fee terms to the broad Java audience via an update mechanism.

"Over time, developers will bid for position on our storefront, and the relationships won't be exclusive (as they have been for search)," Schwartz predicts. "As with other app stores, Sun will charge for distribution - but unlike other app stores, whose audiences are tiny, measured in the millions or tens of millions, ours will have what we estimate to be approximately a billion users. That's clearly a lot of traffic, and will position the Java App Store as having just about the world's largest audience."

Vector does have the potential to deliver one of the largest audiences to developers and businesses leveraging Java and JavaFX, which Schwartz says provides an opportunity for the entire developer community. According to Schwartz, this market distribution is ideal for "...any developer (even those not using Java/JavaFX) seeking to reach beyond the browser to create a durable relationship with their customers," he says, and then stresses, "Remember, when apps are distributed through the Java Store, they're distributed directly to the desktop - JavaFX enables developers, businesses and content owners to bypass potentially hostile browsers."

Those interested in how Vector will work, when it will be available, how to submit content or an application, what technology its made up of, the roadmap, features, and business model will have to wait for the JavaOne Conference.

"In the interim, you can learn more about the latest JavaFX news at www.sun.com/javafx, and download the latest JavaFX design tools at netbeans.org," Schwartz advises.

More Information

Will the Java Platform Create The World\'s Largest App Store?

JavaOne: June 2-5, 2009 [...read more...]

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