Java Enterprise Gains Broader Support

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Sun Microsystems’ Java Enterprise System (JES) is
fast becoming the platform of choice for customers, partners and developers
alike, the company said Wednesday.

This week, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based network computer maker announced
several deals with various interests that help Sun promote one of key
pillars of its software strategy.

Priced at $100 per-employee-per-year, Java Enterprise System includes
Sun’s Web and Application Services, Network Identity Services, Portal
Services, Communication and Collaboration Services, Availability Services
and end-to-end Security Services.

The platform also scales to over 100 CPUs
and includes support for the Web Services Interoperability Organization’s (WS-I) Basic Profile.

Among its new contracts, Sun is hooking up with LogicaCMG, a
European-based global IT services and wireless telecommunications provider
that said it will use JES to bolster its wireless, wireline and broadband
network messaging solutions, including LogicaCMG’s uOne Solutions Portfolio
(voice mail, video mail and video streaming).

Financial details were not disclosed but Sun said its JES would aid
LogicaCMG with increased messaging capacity, lower cost per message, more
secure messaging and a higher throughput of messages per second.

Likewise, Sun said it has strengthened its own JES offerings by
partnering with IT consulting and integration firm Back Bay Technologies.
The division of IT holding company Zanett said it would
provide strategic assessments and custom-built server stacks based on the
Sun Java Enterprise System. Bay Back said it would target organizations in
the finance, insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors with its
services.

In addition, Sun named Back Bay to its National Advisory Council. The
group of U.S. channel partners advises Sun on its partner policies and
programs and in some cases helps shape changes in Sun’s business model.

But of all of its new deals, Sun seems most impressed with the latest
growth spurt in Java vendors adopting its Java enterprise technology.

Sun said Borland Software, Computer Associates (CA),
Compuware, Mercury Interactive and Quest Software are independently using
the Java System Application Server to build, test and install software
programs for their enterprise application development projects.

“Sun has a rich heritage of providing what developers need to stay ahead
of the curve in enterprise development, including early access to innovative
code and free access to industry-standard reference implementations,” Mark
Bauhaus, Sun’s vice president of Java Web Services said in a statement.
“With over 1 million downloads of the Java System Application Server,
developers are making their choice clear. Now we’re driving to the next
level of developer productivity to set the bar for the next generation
application server deployment.”

The momentum behind Java System products is also starting to catch the
attention of some IT market analysts.

A research report published today by The Middleware Company, which
surveyed members of theServerside.com show Sun has 35 percent market
adoption among the J2EE platform-compatible application server in
development, putting the Java System Application Server in second place
behind offerings from BEA at 40 percent, but slightly
ahead of IBM’s at 31 percent share.

In addition, the
analyst firm said the Java System Application Server has 24 percent market
adoption in installations — ranking third behind BEA’s offering at 39
percent and IBM’s offering at 30 percent.