Japan Computer Corp., a network terminal manufacturer, has licensed the Java operating system (OS) from U.S.-based Sun Microsystems Corp., and will begin marketing a network computer, the iBOX, that supports Java and has a dedicated Internet connection.

The new computer will have a PowerPC microprocessor and will be loaded with a Japanese language version of the Java OS, which is scheduled to be released in the second half of this year.

Japan Computer introduced the iBOX last February, offering models with UNIX server X terminal functions, and models for home use that automatically connect to the Internet just by powering on the computer.

Sluggish sales in the home computer market prompted the company to move into business-oriented network computers. Actual computer sales to date have been about 20,000 units, well under the company's initial target of 110,000 units.

Source: Nikkei English News