Microsoft spurned by mobile internet allies

Several software industry giants are teaming up against Microsoft with plans to use Java as the connection language between mobile phones and servers.

The conspirators include BEA Systems, IBM and Sun Microsystems who are joining an initiative triggered by Nokia last November to standardise how mobile devices connect to the net.

Telcos and phone equipment companies were involved in the first wave of development. That has now been expanded to include the software organisations that use Java on servers.

Extensions will be developed for Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE), which is currently the basis for server-based internet applications, such as shopping carts.

James Governer, analyst at research firm Illuminata, said the anti-Microsoft club is not a surprise.

"This pro-Java group is attempting to head Microsoft off from creating a standard for wireless devices by itself.

"Nokia is pretty well known for its disdain of Microsoft as it wanted to be known as the Microsoft for phones. Nokia uses a Java variant on its phones already," he added.

If the Java alliance is successful, Microsoft could find itself forced to infiltrate servers and mobile gadgets with its desktop offering by persuading software developers to go for Windows.