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Visual J# .NET is a development tool for Java-language developers who want to build applications and services on the Microsoft .NET Framework. Visual J# .NET joins more than 20 previously announced languages in its ability to target the .NET Framework and first-class XML Web services.

"With Visual J# .NET, Java-language developers can target XML Web services through the .NET Framework," said Tom Button, vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. "Integration is a fundamental principle of Microsoft .NET. Visual J# .NET underscores Microsoft's commitment to creating interoperability and choice of programming language for building XML Web services."

Visual J# .NET includes technology that enables customers to migrate Java-language investments to the .NET Framework. Existing applications developed with Visual J++ can be easily modified to execute on the .NET Framework, interoperate with other .NET languages and applications, and incorporate new .NET functionality such as ASP.NET, ADO.NET and Windows(R) Forms. Further, developers can use it to create entirely new .NET applications.

The beta release of Microsoft Visual J# .NET is available today from either the Microsoft Web site or from the MSDN(R) Download area for MSDN Universal customers, with a final release in the first half of next year.

To use Microsoft Visual J# .NET Beta 1, you need: Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Beta 2 (build 7.0.9254.0) English (US) version. Please see system requirements for Visual Studio .NET Beta 2. Windows 2000 Server or Professional, or Windows XP Professional RC Release.

News source: CBS MarketWatch
View and Download: Visual J# .NET Beta One
Direct Download: Visual J# .NET Beta 1 (7,231,808 bytes, 10/02/2001)

Plus, the carriers would have to cooperate with one another to implement the global roaming software, an obstacle some analysts think could be more difficult to overcome than creating the actual technology.

"The technology solution is the easy part," said Shiv Bhakshi, a wireless analyst with IDC. "It's not easy what Lucent is doing, but that's essentially the easy part. Finding agreement on business principals, that's the difficult part."

But Jim Gerace, a spokesman for Verizon Wireless, said he thought the carriers would likely work together if the technology was developed. "We'll see," he said. "That's far in the future."

There are other problems for carriers as well, since adding the COPS gear to the networks will increase costs. Most already are spending billions to build new telephone networks that would make possible high-speed, always-on connections at speeds similar to what broadband Internet connections offer. Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo launched the world's first high-speed network earlier this month. AT&T has launched a portion of its network. Most other US carriers expect to do the same by year's end.

Some carriers, especially in Europe, are already financially teetering and are working to share the same networks they are building in order to trim costs.

Leading US wireless carrier Verizon is working with Lucent to create a way for Verizon's 28 million US subscribers, which use a CDMA network, to make calls on the networks of its parent company, Vodafone, which uses a GSM network, Gerace said.

The two companies combined have about 210 million wireless subscribers, more than a fifth of the mobile phone customers in the world.