BNZ holds no fears over Java omission

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

The BNZ believes most of its internet banking customers will be unaffected by Microsoft's decision not to include a Java Virtual Machine with Internet Explorer 6 or Windows XP.

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a component of Java that must be installed on a computer to enable it to run Java applets - including BNZ's internet banking interface.

BNZ head of online solutions Phil Tate said the bank would make its long-mooted switch to a non-Java internet banking platform early next year, but in the meantime most customers could continue to use their existing JVMs.

"I've loaded IE6 and I've been logging on quite happily into our platform. From the tests we have carried out we are not envisaging a problem."

Mr Tate agreed that some first-time buyers of Windows XP PCs might be forced to download a JVM from Sun or Microsoft but this problem would be largely confined to those who had assembled their own PCs.

"We have found that the Compaqs and Dells of this world will include JVMs with their machines," he said.

Microsoft's decision not to ship a JVM with its software releases stems from a lengthy court dispute with Java's developer, Sun Microsystems.

Sun had sued Microsoft for undermining Java by developing a Windows-only version of the language.

Under the terms of court settlement last January, Microsoft was prohibited from upgrading its JVM, but it could continue to ship a now obsolete version, version 1.1.4, for seven years. However, it is understood that Microsoft decided not to include a JVM on Windows XP CDs in case more legal action from Sun delayed XP's launch, due on October 25.

Microsoft has made a JVM available to PC manufacturers in CD form to pre-install it on XP machines.

It also says users who do not have the JVM will be offered a download when they try to run a Java applet.

But the size of the present Microsoft JVM, 5.4Mb, could pose a problem for dial-up internet users. Sun has also promised to provide an XP-compatible JVM, after October 25.

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