SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) said on Tuesday it would support Sun Microsystems Inc.'s (SUNW.O) Java programming language in the Windows operating system nine months longer than first planned, to give customers more time to make the transition between the software platforms.

Originally, Microsoft had said it would support Java in Windows only until the end of 2003, under an agreement that lets programs written in the Java programming language run on top of Windows. Microsoft and Sun said in a joint statement they would extend that by nine months to Sept. 30, 2004.

"We've put our differences aside since we've heard from customers that they would like a little more time as they are in the process of migrating," said Chris Jones, Microsoft's vice president of the Windows client division.

The two bitter rivals said one of the main issues concerning customers and software vendors is the ability to preserve software security during the transition so hackers won't get a chance to exploit software flaws.

Microsoft said it would provide migration tools and information for developers.

Microsoft and Sun have shifted their development efforts into next-generation standards for delivering software and services over the Internet. Microsoft's .NET initiative is going head to head with Sun's J2EE platform and other standards.

Sun, which is seeking $1 billion in damages against Microsoft, has been locked in a legal battle with the world's largest software maker for more than three years over Java.

Sun originally alleged that Microsoft promoted an incompatible form of Java that worked best on Windows. After being sued by Sun, Microsoft dropped Java from Windows, but added it back after a court ordered that it be included again in the operating system.

Microsoft then appealed that order and got the ruling overturned so it would no longer be forced to include Java in Windows. Microsoft is no longer including its version of Java in Windows, but as a result of Tuesday's announcement, will support it for another year.

Legal experts had said the last ruling, made in June, set the stage for a settlement. Microsoft has settled several civil lawsuits since it ended its antitrust case with the federal government last year.

Microsoft agreed to pay $10.5 million last month to a group of U.S. customers who claimed that it overcharged them for software, and earlier in September, settled an antitrust suit by Be Inc.(BEOSZ.PK), agreeing to pay the failed software developer $23 million to drop its suit accusing Microsoft for destroying its business through anti-competitive practices.

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft also reached a $750 million settlement and strategic partnership agreement with AOL Time Warner Inc. (AOL.N) in May.

In January, Microsoft settled a number of class-action lawsuits filed in California for $1.1 billion. That settlement returned money to consumers in the form of vouchers to buy computers and computer-related items.