Paul Krill
Editor at Large

Sun buys mobile content distribution software

news
Jun 26, 20032 mins

Company buys Pixo to boost Java on mobile devices

Sun Microsystems on Thursday said it has entered into an agreement to acquire Pixo, makers of Java-based server technology to manage distribution of digital content to mobile phones and PDAs.

The cash-based acquisition of the San Jose, Calif.-based company will boost Sun’s position in mobile data services, and provide a presence in digital rights and access management for content distribution, according to Sun, which did not reveal the transaction’s dollar amount.

Pixo’s software, called Pixo Mobile Download Server, enables service providers to deliver secure content and meet the growth of consumer mobile device adoption, Sun said.

“What we’re doing with this transaction is we’re filling out another piece of the puzzle [with] the delivery of digital content into the device,” said Sun’s Eric Chu, director of the Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) platform, in Santa Clara, Calif.

The Pixo software provides a mechanism for provision of content, said Jennifer Hom, Sun marketing manager for the software systems group in Santa Clara.

“What a corporation will want is a centralized way to manage how their corporate assets and data are distributed to these mobile devices across desktops,” Hom said.

In addition to content management, the software enables network operators and enterprises to customize subscriber interfaces, and allow rapid downloads of secure digital content, including Java applications, Sun said.

Pixo will become part of Sun’s Project Orion platform, for converging Sun software offerings into an integrated software system for the Solaris and Linux operating systems. Pixo’s software will be integrated with Sun products such as Sun One Portal Server.

Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorld’s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorld’s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a “Best Technology News Coverage” award from IDG.

More from this author