Sun Microsystems and Google have formed a software
alliance to take on Microsoft.
An agreement between the pair will make it easier for millions
of users to freely obtain the Google Toolbar and the OpenOffice.org
office suite, which is an open-source rival to Microsoft’s Office
suite.
The partners will also jointly promote Sun's Java software for
the desktop, which rivals Microsoft's desktop technology.
Java software for the desktop, also known as the Java Runtime
Environment (JRE), needs to be installed on a machine in order for
it to run Java-based applications. Over 700 million desktop users
already use Java technology, according to Sun.
Sun will include the Google Toolbar as an option for consumer
downloads of the Java Runtime Environment and the companies have
agreed to explore opportunities to promote and enhance
OpenOffice.org.
The agreement fell short of earlier expectations that the two
companies would jointly promote and sell Sun’s more feature-rich
Star Office 8 suite, which has just been launched and is much
cheaper than Microsoft’s Office.
Scott McNealy, chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems,
said, "Working with Google will make our technologies available
more broadly, increase options for users, lower barriers and expand
participation worldwide.
“Free and open-source technologies, such as OpenOffice.org, the
OpenSolaris operating system and Java, have never been safer or
offered more choices.”
Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, said, "Google
and Java are two of the most widely recognised technology brands.
The Google Toolbar offers useful internet search services while
Java enables richer interactive content. We look forward to
exploring other related areas of collaboration."