Microsoft Readies Plans To Include Sun's Java In Windows XPMicrosoft Readies Plans To Include Sun's Java In Windows XP

Microsoft plans to include Sun Microsystems' Java code in Windows XP starting in June if it can't overturn a federal court order, the software vendor says.

Microsoft on Monday released a plan to comply with a Jan. 21 U.S. District Court order that it include Sun's Java technology in Windows. The order by U.S. District Judge Frederick Motz, scheduled to take effect Tuesday, calls for Microsoft to make Sun's Java run-time environment available for download through Microsoft's Windows Update service within 90 days.

Sun's $1 billion antitrust lawsuit accuses Microsoft of gaining an illegal advantage by shipping its Windows operating system with an outdated, inconsistent version of Java. Microsoft has filed an appeal in the case.

Pending the appeal, a Microsoft spokesman says the company has begun a compliance process with the judge's order that will:

• Make Sun's Java run-time environment available for download through Windows Update within 90 days.

• Distribute Sun's Java implementation on CD-ROM to PC makers and volume license customers within 120 days.

• Ship a version this month of Windows XP Service Pack 1 that doesn't include Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine. In addition, Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 won't include the Microsoft code.

• Ship a version in June of Windows XP Service Pack 1, and Service Pack 2 later in the year, that include Sun's Java run time.

• Update some international versions of Windows XP to comply with the order within seven months.

• Distribute Sun's Java code in future versions of Windows, including the version code-named Longhorn.

Microsoft says Windows customers won't have to take any action as a result of the court order and that Windows 2003 Server, due in April, won't be affected.