Sun and Samsung working on iPhone killer?

This one sure sounds like a rumor, though I suppose you never know: apparently Sun Microsystems and Samsung are working together jointly on a Java-based phone that's aiming for iPhone territory. There's not much official to go on yet, other than a confirmation from a Samsung spokesperson that the two companies have met to discuss the possibility of a phone partnership. According to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, however, the phone would supposedly "surpass Apple's iPhone in functionality and cost less." With quite a bit of expertise in the field of phone manufacturing and a lock on the flash market, Samsung would definitely be a strong contender in the high-end entertainment smartphone market. But could Sun possibly develop a platform as flashy as the iPhone's UI? Let us know what you think in the comments.

For more on the rumor:
- see this article from the International Herald Tribune