The decision by arch-rivals Sun and Microsoft to settle
a bitter legal dispute will give users wider choice over hardware
and software platforms.
Although exact details of the future collaboration have yet to
emerge, analysts believe the agreement will simplify IT operations
for users by allowing closer integration between Microsoft and Sun
products.
Earlier this month the two suppliers settled a long-running dispute
over Java and access to Microsoft-specific technologies, which
resulted in Microsoft paying Sun £490m to resolve anti-trust issues
and £380m for patent issues.
The feud predates the US Department of Justice's legal wrangling
with Microsoft, even though Sun only filed its suit about Java in
March 2002.
Although there are few definitive details of the collaboration
between Sun and Microsoft, the settlement stands to yield a number
of benefits for users.
The sharing agreement will ensure that Microsoft continues to
support Java in its Internet Explorer web browser. With Java now
widely used in websites, support for Java in browsers has become
increasingly important.
Companies developing IT projects using web services architecture
also stand to gain by the agreement.
Sun and Microsoft have undertaken to make their rival web service
architectures, Java Enterprise Edition and .net, interoperable.
They will also collaborate on Windows server and client
technologies and work to allow identity information to be shared
between the two rival directory systems, Active Directory and Java
System Identity Server.
Analysts said the agreement was good news for users.
"This creates a surprising new ally for Microsoft in the face of
pressure from IBM and Linux," said Brian Gammage, vice president at
analyst firm Gartner.
Dave Shearer, chairman of the Sun User Group, said, "This widens
users' choice, but will it trickle down to usable products? Sun and
Microsoft already have products in the pipeline for the next 12 to
18 months."
Sun/Microsoft deal: key benefits
- Java support
Microsoft will support Java in Internet Explorer web
browser
- Web services
J2EE and .net web service architectures to be
interoperable
- Windows on Sun
Windows server and client collaboration
- ID support
Identity management systems to work together