Sun Microsystems Inc. (www.sun.com), the creator and principal advocate of Java technology, has luanched the NetBeans WorldTour, an initiative for freely distributing and sharing the NetBeans software worldwide. NetBeans' is a fast and full functioning Integrated Developer Environment (IDE) that supports the creation of Java Enterprise Edition, Java Mobile Edition and Java Standard Edition applications.

With 10 global developer events planned from Canada to South Africa, the NetBeans WorldTour will offer developers a chance to experience first hand the modular and extensible IDE that can accelerate Java development across all platforms.

In addition, Sun has created the NetBeans WorldTour CD program, which provides any developer around the world who registers with the Sun Developer Network (SDN), a free NetBeans software CD with free shipping and handling. By shipping the latest NetBeans technology to all SDN registered users and by hosting a number of developer events around the world, Sun is keeping developers on the cutting edge of Java technology.

The NetBeans WorldTour CD currently includes the NetBeans IDE 4.1, the Sun Java System Application Server 8.1 Platform Edition, the NetBeans Mobility Pack 4.1 and the NetBeans Profiler. It is available from: www.netbeans.org/ about/ cd-form.html and will be updated as major enhancements and new releases become available.

Organized around Sun Tech Days, the live NetBeans WorldTour events provide developers the opportunity to hear from Sun experts and experience first-hand other technologies and developments at Sun. And with the upcoming release of NetBeans 5.0, the NetBeans Software WorldTour includes demonstrations of the Project Matisse GUI Builder — a key feature of the upcoming release — and the NetBeans collaboration module, supporting in-context collaborative development for programmers world-wide.