Sun in China

Sun Microsystems has scored a deal with a Chinese technology consortium to distribute its Java Desktop System to citizens of China, according to the company.

The China Standard Software Company (CSSC) has selected Sun as its preferred technology partner to help provide a nationwide standard desktop software system to China's 1.3 billion citizens, according to Sun.

The CSSC is a consortium of government-supported IT companies formed to deliver a standard Linux-based desktop system for China. The CSSC and Sun Microsystems technology licensing agreement will allow CSSC to deliver its own branded desktop system using the Java Desktop System as the foundation for its desktop standards, subject to export approval from the US government, according to Sun.

The Chinese government plans to ultimately install at least 200 million copies of a non-Windows desktop solution throughout the country. The multiyear agreement with Sun is scheduled to start at the end of 2003 with the installation of approximately 500,000 to 1 million seats per year.