“Sun Microsystems on Tuesday in New York is expected to announce
the acquisition of Star Division’s StarOffice 5.1 suite of
Java-based productivity applications…”
“In scooping up Star’s technology, Sun acquires not only a line
of downloadable thin-client Java productivity applications, but a
slew of multiplatform client applications, which may mean Sun will
soon deliver client devices installed with client software.”
“… Sun’s main objective with the multilanguage Star products
is to rush to become the leading global provider of Internet-based
applications hosting infrastructure — from hardware platforms to
application servers to hosted e-mail to Java productivity applets
— for the fast-growing service provider and portals
businesses.”
“… the ability for home-based users to access a robust set of
free applications from free PCs over inexpensive Internet
connections may soon prompt a radical shift at corporations away
from such large PC client packages as Microsoft Office, analysts
said.”