Nokia Beta Labs launched today, a few hours ago, the Nokia Java Runtime 2.0 for Symbian S60 devices, having been tested only on the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, versions 20.x.xxx and 21.x.xxx and also on the two known versions of the Nokia N97, 10.x.xxx and 11.x.xxx. It is not yet known if it will exist one for Symbian S60 3rd edition, but the odds are good.

We have not yet tried this new Java mobile execution environment, but according to the Beta Labs it gives nice improvements in terms of usuability and performance, and it includes:

• One-click application installation
• Improved application launch user experience
• Improved execution performance

This way it will be faster to download and install an application from any website or from the Ovi Store and to get the applications running smoother.

According to Nokia Beta Labs:

(...)we have made major changes under the hood. From now on, Java Runtime will be developed and released independent from S60 releases. This means that you will always get the latest version directly to your phone, using the built-in Nokia S60 Software Update functionality.

You can download the Java Runtime 2.0 for Symbian S60 here.