The software, called JavaOS for Business, is designed so that companies can centrally store and manage software applications used to run their business on a network server and accessed via a network computer or other thin client devices.

Sun, a Palo Alto, California-based workstation maker and developer of the Java programming language, and Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM announced their plans to jointly develop the software in April.

The companies said JavaOS for business can be used by companies such as airlines, banks and call centres, which need to access data on big mainframe computers, but also want to tap into desktop applications such as electronic mail, word processing.

"What JavaOS for business is doing is bringing the best of both worlds," said Pat Sueltz, generalmanager of Java software at IBM. IBM recently opened has a Java development centre near Sun in Silicon Valley, in Cupertino, California.

The software is available immediately. IBM said it plans to offer JavaOS for Business on its Network Station computers in early 1999. Sun will also begin deploying JavaOS for Business on its JavaStation in early 1999.