“Sun snapped up NetBeans, a Java development tool firm based in
the Czech Republic. Sun also launched a $200 million investment
fund to entice programmers to build Web applications using its
‘write-once, run-anywhere’ Java technology. Sun follows in the
footsteps of Oracle and other firms in creating its $200 million
investment fund. Sun plans to invest in start-ups that will promote
Java technology…”
“The NetBeans acquisition is the first major move since former
IBM executive Pat Sueltz joined Sun as president of its software
division, which is responsible for Sun’s Java technology as well as
its Solaris operating system. It’s up to Sueltz to pull off the
integration of the companies…”
“Giga Information Group analyst Phil Costa said the NetBeans
acquisition will help the company foster more support of Java in
the developer community. NetBeans has been popular among Linux
operating system and open-source advocates because at least some of
its tools are given away.”
“NetBeans tools support Windows, Solaris, and Linux operating
systems and offer users a graphical user interface for designing
applications. The low-end NetBeans tool has been renamed the Forte
for Java Community Edition and will be offered free to developers,
said Jonathan Schwartz, Sun’s vice president and general manager of
Internet application and performance tools.”
“Costa said the NetBeans purchase will keep Sun’s hand in
Linux, while it tries to figure out what to do with the Unix-like
operating system. Schwartz said Sun is pushing Solaris as the
operating system to write business software, but added: ‘Linux is
clearly gathering momentum in the marketplace.’ “
