Motorola cooking up Apache-flavoured Java

Motorola plans to build an open source version of Java for gadgets such as mobile phones within the framework of the Apache Software Foundation.

The work to develop the Java Micro Edition (ME) software will use the Apache Licence, Motorola said on Tuesday, inviting others to participate in creating "a complete Java ME software stack".

The move follows the company's pledge in May to release its software relating to a mobile phone variant of Java ME called MIDP (mobile information device profile) 3.0.

Sun Microsystems created Java, which lets the same program run on a wide variety of computer systems without having to be adapted for each one, and Motorola has long been a licensee and collaborator. In August, Sun announced its intent to release its version of Java ME as open source software by the end of 2006.

However, it's not clear whether the Motorola and Sun projects are complementary or competing. Motorola declared in a statement that it's trying to "reduce Java fragmentation" - a possible open source affliction in which developers split the same project into incompatible versions. But Motorola indicated the two companies are not working closely when it comes to open source Java.

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Mark VandenBrink, a senior director and chief platform architect in Motorola Mobile Devices business, said: "Although we are not aware of Sun's open source plans, we would hope Sun would join in this effort."

It's likely Sun and Motorola will use different licences. Motorola chose the Apache Licence but last week, Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz said his company is likely to use the Community Development and Distribution Licence (CDDL) for open source Java.

Different licences can complicate or prohibit code sharing among open source products. But Simon Phipps, Sun's chief open source officer, said on Wednesday that according to Sun and Apache, CDDL and Apache code may be intermingled.

VandenBrink said Motorola's Java ME work "is a natural evolution of Apache's Harmony project". Harmony is an effort to create an open source version of Java Standard Edition, the version that runs on PCs and servers. IBM and others launched Harmony in the days before Sun committed to make Java open source.

Stephen Shankland writes for CNET News.com