Sun Microsystems, Inc., the inventor of the Java technology platform, today announced that Shenzhen Kingdee Middleware Co., Ltd. (Kingdee Middleware) of the People's Republic of China has licensed the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) version 1.4. As a leading middleware provider in China and supporter of Windows technology, three tier component architecture and Internet- and J2EE-based technology, Kingdee Middleware enjoys a leading position throughout China in Java-based core technology solutions and application development. Today's announcement adds to the worldwide adoption of the J2EE version 1.4 specification and expands the Web services market in China. With more than four million downloads and over 35 licensees, the J2EE platform and Software Developer Kit (SDK) are well established as the popular choice and premier platform for Java and Web services development. "We are very pleased that Kingdee Middleware has licensed the J2EE 1.4 technology and will lead the adoption of the standard for Java Web services throughout Asia," said Mark Bauhaus, vice president of Java Web Services for Sun Microsystems. "Kingdee's expertise and reputation for product leadership will provide a powerful and competitive infrastructure software platform for their customers." "In China, quite a few excellent software providers including Kingdee have been gradually maturating in J2EE technology. Intended to take a position in the world, China's software products must be equipped with world-leading technology. Now, technology is not a problem since we have launched our own application server with independent intellectual property right, and been benefiting from its great market value," said Mr. Xu Shao Chun, president and CEO of Kingdee International Software Group ("Kingdee"). "In the future, Kingdee Middleware will be continuously devoted to the research of J2EE and middleware technology, develop middleware products more suitable for market and customers' requirements and committed to be the best and most competitive infrastructure platform vendor in China and enable customers' success." Apusic Application Server, the flagship product from Kingdee Middleware, acts as an effective and highly reliable platform for customers to run, implement, and develop distributed applications when constructing new business systems. Since the successful launch of the Apusic Application Server version 1.0 in December 2000, Kingdee Middleware has continually evolved over the past four years to build on the latest technology specifications and customer requirements. Apusic Application Server has been implemented by many customers such as The People's Bank of China, Guangdong Administration for Industry & Commerce, Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Chenzhou Municipal People's Government, Beijing Highway Bureau, Xiamen Highway Bureau, Guangzhou Dongshan District Government, etc., which has aggressively promoted China's informatization construction. Shenzhen Kingdee Middleware Co., Ltd. ("Kingdee Middleware") was founded in July 2000 from its predecessor -- Central Research Institute of Kingdee International Software Group ("Kingdee Group"). It is a subsidiary of Kingdee Group and a member of Middleware Branch of China Software Industry Association.