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To: cksla who wrote (4581)	3/24/1998 8:56:00 PM
From: Urlman	Respond to of 8581

Future of Java chips could go either way Electronic Engineering Times March 16, 1998 SECTION: OP-ED, Pg. 49, Embedded Insights Future of Java chips could go either way Alexander Wolfe If you're an embedded-systems developer as well as an observer of the Java scene, the events of the past two weeks are cause for both concern and hope. The reason for such mixed emotions is Sun Microelectronics, which has shown the door to its president, Chet Silvestri, even while it has signed up a powerful new licensee called IBM Corp. If past performance is any indication of future results, Sun Microelectronics is in for one choppy ride. The company, which is a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems Inc., has spent the past 18 months attempting to build momentum for its trio of Java-specific microprocessors, called picoJava, microJava and UltraJava. Although the devices have garnered intense interest, Sun has been slow to get silicon into the pipeline. Sun's business model is to design the devices for fabrication by outside chip makers. For picoJava, the part that is most relevant to this discussion because it's a low-power device aimed at embedded applications, Sun has indeed completed the design phase. In addition, Sun has signed up five high- profile licensees: NEC, Fujitsu, LG Semicon, Rockwell and Siemens. But chips aren't available yet in any meaningful quantity. On the plus side, sources tell me that some samples are out there. NEC and LG remain committed to shipping their picoJava parts this spring. Nevertheless, it remains unclear exactly what will happen as the year progresses. Apparently, most of the samples that have been shown are soldered into reference designs of Web phones and network computers. The idea is to build demand for the chips by showcasing them in potential applications. But such apps will be a drop in the bucket. What's needed is a design win for a Java- based set-top-box, like the one cable-giant TCI appears to be considering. The best news Sun got in a long time came two weeks ago when IBM Microelectronics licensed the picoJava core. IBM will add picoJava to its ASIC library and will try to entice customers into building systems-on-a- chip that combine the core with communications and networking features. IBM Microelectronics vice president Luis Arzubi told me that the company is already engaged in discussions with potential customers, though there have been no design wins yet. Sun had better hope Arzubi is successful. Indeed, one reason Sun Microelectronics president Silvestri had to fall on his sword was the fact that picoJava has been slow to take off. But don't blame Chet. He's a capable executive who understands the semiconductor business. Perhaps he was hampered to some extent by a parent company more intent on bashing Microsoft's Bill Gates than showing potential customers what Java can actually accomplish. Moving forward, let's keep in mind his prediction for embedded Java. " We'll see some stuff this year, but I expect the killer systems will hit the market next year," he told me. "I think 1999 will be the do-or- die year for embedded Java." -Alexander Wolfe is managing editor, computers and communications, for EE Times