More than 4,000 computer company executives, independent software vendors and journalists gathered yesterday in Berlin to hear Sun Microsystem's plans for the future of Java, its network-based language which the company hopes will improve its fortunes at Microsoft's expense.

Sun's vice-president of market development, Mr Mark Tolliver, told Irish journalists at the opening day of the International Internet Associate Symposium (IIAS) that, though the company had pushed Java Stations - Java hardware - in the past, it was now changing its approach and encouraging developers to first write Java software. Sun started developing Java two and a half years ago and says there are now 117 licensed Java developers and hundreds of thousands of programmers.

The chief executive officer, Mr Scott McNealy, used the occasion to unveil Sun's "Road to Java" strategy, intended to encourage and assist businesses which are using Java. The company is planning to establish a global network of Java Centres, offering support, education and training to Java developers.

Initially, most of these support centres will be Sun-operated, but Mr Ed Zander, president of Sun, said around half of the 225 centres are independently run and he expects this number to double annually as Java takes off.

Mr Tolliver outlined the potential uses of Java. He said smart cards containing Java machines, which can hold personal information such as bank account details as well as money itself, will go into production from next February. Sun outlined a range of uses for Java cards and demonstrated a ring containing a Java chip, which can be used as a secure key for unlocking doors.

Microsoft, which is being sued by Sun over alleged breaches of its Java licence, was frequently mentioned at the symposium.

Mr McNealy said he expected the lawsuit to take a long time, and urged developers not to wait for its outcome to start developing Java applications.