IT Heavyweights Pledge Royalty-Free Access to Java-Based OSGi Technology

WebKnowHow
Friday, July 28, 2006; 03:06 AM

Five high-technology companies and the OSGi Alliance announced that they will provide to the public royalty-free access to necessary patents that can speed the adoption of OSGi technology worldwide. Previously, royalty-free access was generally granted to full OSGi members.

The technology creates a service-oriented, component-based environment for developers and provides standardized ways to manage the software lifecycle. These capabilities increase the value of a wide range of computers and devices that use the Java platform. The team includes the OSGi Alliance  itself as well as OSGi members Gatespace Telematics , IBM , Nokia , ProSyst Software and Samsung .

The OSGi Alliance brings together technologists and business experts dedicated to developing and promoting open, industry-standardized solutions to address fundamental new challenges and opportunities posed by a networked world. In today's world, more of the value provided by all kinds of devices is driven by software and the interaction of that software with networks.

Specifically, the six organizations want to spur innovation among software developers by pledging royalty-free access to any of their patents necessary for the implementation of OSGi Service Platform Release 4. This open OSGi platform is the industry-leading component software standard for networked computers and devices. It spans digital mobile phones, vehicles, embedded appliances, residential gateways, industrial computers, desktop PCs, and, most recently, high-end servers, including mainframes.

The OSGi Service Platform allow developers to create sophisticated, component-based solutions and then assemble compatible software components on a customized, "just-in-time" basis. More specifically, it provides a standardized, dynamic module system for applications and services that use the Java platform. Users can therefore manage the lifecycles of software components, which can be installed, assembled, updated, combined with other functions or removed "on the fly" -- without disrupting the operation of a device.

"As a team, we recognize the collective and individual merits of a cooperative and open approach to innovation and shared patent access for the specification, which will promote adoption of the related technology," said Stan Moyer, President, OSGi Alliance. "Working together, we'll help everyone build on the OSGi Service Platform in ways that best benefit the public. The results will be open and enhanced interoperability and compatibility that empowers organizations to compete on the superiority and ingenuity of their offerings."