Sun shrinks 225 Java products to six systems

Sun Microsystems has used its Network Conference in San Francisco to launch its third quarterly set of co-ordinated product releases, combining 225 products into just six systems.

As part of its push towards reduced cost and complexity, Sun announced that it will in future deliver systems around six Java-branded software products.

These are designed to integrate all needed applications and services on server, desktop, development and operational environments.

A new simplified charging approach, priced per employee, was also introduced. For instance, the core Java Enterprise System will cost $100 per employee in the US.

Introducing the products, Sun executive vice president of software Jonathan Schwartz claimed that this approach meant that serious software had become much simpler, making software audits to set pricing a thing of the past.

"Every service will ultimately become a shared network service. So the purpose is to enable and encourage shared network services and making it simple," he said.

So, for instance, network identity, communication and collaboration, portal services, web and application services are all integrated into the single Java Enterprise System.

In addition, Schwartz said that Java smartcard access was becoming the de facto secure authentication method for e-commerce. Java card authentication services was one of the new products announced.

To avoid such things as identity theft, everyone must move towards smartcard authentication, according to Schwartz. "Anonymity breeds mischief," he said.

Also announced at the conference were 10 new or enhanced network services components included in the Java Enterprise System.

These include Software Express, a method for allowing customers early access when key software environments are revised and enhanced.

The six Sun systems with their US pricing are:

Java Enterprise System
This consolidates the entire Sun network services architecture. Price: $100 per employee per year covering unlimited internet application access.

Java Desktop System
Formerly Project Mad Hatter, this includes new StarOffice version 7, Mozilla browser, Ximian Evolution e-mail and calendaring, RealNetworks RealONE and Macromedia Flash. Price: $100 per desktop or $50 per employee as an add-on to Java Enterprise System.

Java Enterprise Studio
An integrated development environment and consolidated developer tool-set including plug-ins, connector builders, code samples support and runtime environment. Price: $5 per employee as an add-on to Java Enterprise System.

N1
An operator's environment which provides virtualisation and provisioning services for storage, servers and blade servers. Newly-released N1 CentreRun 4.0 aims at one-keystroke deployment for any new shared services. (Pricing not supplied.)

The remaining two services were announced for future deployment:

Sun Java Mobility System
An integrated environment for delivering services to Java-enabled devices including phones and PDAs. (Sun estimates that there are over 200 million of these available today.)

Sun Java Card System
This provides personal authentication services for secure e-commerce and service delivery on Java-based smartcards. (Sun estimates that there are 500 million already deployed worldwide.)

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