Sun to launch world's biggest Java app store

Sun chief Jonathan Schwartz has ambitious plans for the Java Store

Sun Microsystems has announced plans to build an online store for Java applications, and is aiming for a billion users.

Chief executive Jonathan Schwartz said in a blog post that the company will announce more details about the store, codenamed Project Vector, at the JavaOne conference on 2 June.

"Vector is a network service to connect companies of all sizes and types to Java users all over the world," he said. "Vector (which we'll likely rename the Java Store) has the potential to deliver the world's largest audience to developers and businesses leveraging Java and Java FX."

Developers will be able to submit free and paid-for Java applications to Sun for evaluation and distribution in the store, and the firm will also auction off positions on the store front pages.

"Sun will charge for distribution but, unlike other app stores whose audiences are tiny, measured in the millions or tens of millions, ours will have what we estimate to be approximately a billion users," said Schwartz. "That's clearly a lot of traffic, and will position the Java App Store as having just about the world's largest audience."

Charging will be key to the store's success. Microsoft has been criticised for taking 70 per cent of sales revenue from applications, while Apple takes just 30 per cent.