Trials of IBM Network Stations will be held in Hong Kong within a few weeks.
General manager of network computing and cross industry solutions for IBM's Greater China Group, Cindy Cheng, said the release of Java version 1.1 with double-byte character languages had heightened interest in IBM's device for the NC (Network Computer) reference platform developed by a subsidiary of Oracle.
Ms Cheng said large PC accounts were looking at deploying the Network Station for network users as well as a replacement for terminals running legacy applications.
'Like everything else, a box needs all the applications to make it worthwhile running on a network,' Ms Cheng said.
'We are hoping they will be available very soon, especially with the double-byte developer's kit for Java now available.' IBM's software subsidiary, Lotus, is expected to release its Kona suite of Java applets in the next two months.