Sun Microsystems plans to make its Java Desktop System (JDS) available for any Linux distribution through the new JDS Partner Programme, Sun executive vice president for software John Loiacono said at a town hall meeting in Sun’s San Francisco office.

The firm’s Java Desktop System is a collection of applications including a browser, the Star Office suite and the Java Virtual Machine.

Sun currently makes the application available bundled with a derivative of the SuSE Desktop Linux operating system at a fee of $100 per desktop per year or $50 per employee per year. It also comes bundled free of charge with Solaris 10.

The move will make the application available on any Linux distribution including Red Hat, Red Flag, Gentoo, Yellow Dog and Linspire, Loiacono said.

Source: vnunet