June 26, 2001 – Sun Microsystems and ARM, a maker of chips for cell phones and devices, will collaborate to develop new Java technologies for the wireless device market.

The agreement calls for the two companies to align their respective Java technology roadmaps and collaborate on new Java technology, targeted specifically at embedded applications commonly found in wireless or mobile devices.

"We see ARM as underpinning a great deal of microprocessor technology in consumer electronics. The ARM Jazelle technology provides a highly-optimized implementation of the Java Virtual Machine," said Rich Green, vice president, Java Software, Sun Microsystems.

ARM is seeing increased demand for Java implementations for devices such as PDAs and mobile phones, said ARM CEO Robin Saxby. The agreement will give ARM access to Sun's Java, enabling ARM to incorporate Java - technology that lets programs run on a variety of systems without being reworked for each one - into its Jazelle technology-based microprocessors.

In October 2000, ARM announced the availability of its Jazelle for Java technology extensions for microprocessor cores to enable direct execution of Java byte code in hardware and software. ARM said it intends to make the Jazelle technology, currently available for the ARM7 Thumb microprocessor family and the ARM9 Thumb microprocessor family, available throughout their performance roadmap.