Corel makes Java breakthrough

Corel has signed its first Java licensing deal. Sybase will use the company's jBridge technology in Internet and intranet applications. Corel claims the move marks one of the first steps towards complete application portability and will push Java into the enterprise.

Sybase and Corel will work together to make the product fit with the database vendor's existing products. Corel said this will enable customers to deploy applications to a wide range of users while reducing cost. Gary Barnett, analyst at Ovum, said: "jBridge provides a means by which Windows can run on any technology that has a Java Virtual Machine installed. It wraps it up in a Java coat and presents a Windows interface."

However, Barnet remained sceptical about its value for the customer. He said that to the user, "it won't look like a Windows application, but it means that people will be able to use it to develop applications for Windows and then port these to other clients. It is not a huge advantage to the user, but it is another way of making applications as portable as possible." Corel hopes the deal will boost falling profits and help Java break into the enterprise market.

Meanwhile, Corel and Samsung have agreed to bundle Alpha and Intel versions of CorelDRAW, together with an Alpha version of Corel WordPerfect Suite 8, with their respective microprocessors and motherboards.