“Sun Microsystems Inc. unveiled its vision for the
next-generation of smarter and more flexible Internet services,
revolving around applications built with its own software
development tools. … The announcement was the latest blast in an
increasingly heated marketing battle between Sun — best known for
its high-end network computers — and software giant Microsoft
Corp., over the market both companies see emerging for intelligent
Internet services that surround and follow users.”
“What we’re pointing toward is continued evolution toward smart
Web services,” said Patricia Sueltz, Executive Vice-president of
Sun’s Software Systems Group. Taking a swipe at Microsoft founder
Chairman Bill Gates and his company’s recent push toward
Internet-based computing, Sun said its tools had the advantage of
not tying developers to a proprietary platform. “Ours is open. His
is still working on the concept of lock-in,” Sueltz said.”
“Many of the parts of Sun ONE software toolbox already
exist, although some tools were released on Monday. “This is a
way to put a wrapper around it,” said Mark Tolliver, president and
general manager of Sun and America Online’s e-commerce alliance,
iPlanet.”