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Local software-developers now need less time to develop rich multimedia applications on computers and mobile-phone devices, thanks to the launch of Open JavaFX.

Sun Microsystems, the developer of the Java programming language, has launched Open JavaFX for the open-source community to allow software developers to use the tool.

Naveen Asrani, developer relations manager at Sun Microsystems for Asia South and Australia, said JavaFX was a new family of Sun Microsystems products based on Java technology and it targeted the high-impact as well as the rich-content market. It covers Java development from the desktop to the Web and mobile devices.

JavaFX consists of JavaFX Script and JavaFX Mobile. JavaFX Script is an open-source scripting language designed to facilitate rapid content authoring. JavaFX Script provides a highly expressive syntax for construction of 2D graphics and dynamic user interfaces.

JavaFX Mobile is a complete mobile operating and application environment built around Java and Linux open-source technology.

"Both JavaFX Script and JavaFX Mobile allow developers to rapidly create Java applications. It means that in a shorter period of time developers can generate more outcomes. Thai developers can access both of them at Sun's website," said Naveen.

This is part of Sun's open-source strategy. Naveen said that open-source for Sun is beyond just the operating system. Instead it is meant to open the whole range of Sun's Java platform from chip technology with Open SPARC, to the Open Solaris operating system and the desktop Open Looking Glass, as well as the word processor Open Office.

He said Sun is the company which has contributed most to open source. The company had contributed US$2 billion (Bt68 billion) - of which Linux received about $404 million. IBM is second largest contributor to Linux with $116 million.

"We contribute a lot in terms of money, technologies and resources because we see that as many more people participate in software inventions the size of the network for participation becomes bigger and eventually it returns to Sun's revenue as Sun provides infrastructure to support the particular communities," said Naveen.

The 12-year-old Java technology is still accelerating with six million Java developers, 5.5 billion Java-enabled devices, 1.8 billion Java phones, 11 million Java televisions, and 800 million Java desktops.