Once upon a time Java was a bloated framework. Lots of XML configuration files. That was the time when "Enterprise" became a sware word.
Then SpringSource developed the Spring framework and Java became usable again. In general Spring develops a lean and efficient frameworks that make Java a joy to use. From injection frameworks, to security frameworks for web apps to complete web development toolkits (Spring MVC, Web flow), to productivity tools such as Roo.
VmWare [4] is a company that developed a closed source technology that allows you to run virtual machines inside a software. This leads ultimately to huge data-centers that swap virtual machines on real machines without the enduser noticing it. Welcome cloud computing.
Some time ago VmWare bough SpringSource [3] and the strategy becomes now visible. VMware wants to become a player in the field of Cloud Computing via their CloudFoundry [2]. CloudFoundry is more related to Google's approach of the Cloud than Amazon's [1].
I really welcome that step. Spring is great. Java is a mature language and CloudFoundry is even open source. So - virtually - it should be possible to build your own cloud inside your business and make the deployment for your teams hassle free again.
But there is more: I think that Java will even grow larger in the coming years. The technology of Java (it's a virtual machine after all) is just great for the cloud. And services where people can deploy their Java apps "in the cloud" are growing. CloudFoundry is just one example.
Another one is CloudBees[5]. Cloudbees is a productivity provider that manages the complete development lifecycle tools for you. They run repositories, CI systems and help you to deploy your final app simply to their cloud (a standard war archive after all).
[1] http://ars-machina.raphaelbauer.com/2011/05/cloud-computing-two-approaches.html
[2] http://cloudfoundry.com/
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpringSource
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vmware
[5] http://www.cloudbees.com/