Sun Chief Operating Officer Ed Zander ushered in the new era of Java 2 software in his keynote address at the Java Business Expo event in New York.“This is the most ambitious development in Java technology since the original announcement of the platform.” said Zander, referring to the new Java 2 software release.Java 2 software, formerly code-named “JDK 1.2,” offers a host of new features, including faster runtime performance, a new, highly tuned virtual machine, improved garbage collection, a state-of-the-art security model, globalization and accessibility features, and unprecedented stability based on rigorous quality assurance testing. “We’ve really pounded the heck put of this thing in terms of stability and functionality,” says Zander. “Our customers tell us this is the platform they can use for mission-critical, business-critical Java applications.”In addition to the Java 2 platform release, Zander pointed to a bundle of new announcements from Sun, including an Enterprise JavaBeans xroadmap, and the brand new Sun Community Source Licensing model. JavaTechnology Industry