Sun's Java Desktop hits the stands

BANGALORE: Sun Microsystems has announced the launch of its Java on the desktop program also known as the Madhatter. Sun also announced its new Java Enterprise System along with Star Office 7 suite.

“The Java Enterprise System combines the software systems approach with a brand new business model. With this system Sun has put forth a strategy to reduce cost and complexity from network computing,” said Sun Microsystems India systems engineering director Anil Valluri.

The company said that the Java Enterprise System integrates enterprise network components at the heart of Web services including network identity, portal, communication, security and web, application and availability services. According to Valluri, some of the major changes made in the system include predictable and dependable releases of the entire stack during the four quarters of the year as opposed to separate releases of components at different points in time. Apart from that, the business model operates on a pay per use policy, which according to Valluri will change the way people look at software licensing.

By the new model, the customers of the Enterprise System will have to pay $100 for every employee on an annual basis for which they get unlimited right of use internally as well as his customer base, support and maintenance and in the case of more than 1,000 employees, education and consulting services also.

Speaking on the Java desktop that was being launched simultaneously, the company said that the desktop had been built keeping in consideration the needs of the customer mainly security and familiarity. The Java Desktop System includes Sun’s latest version of their office suite, StarOffice 7, the latest release of J2EE platform and the Mozilla browser.

Commenting on the same, Valluri said that Sun is in conversation with OEMs, including HCL, Wipro and GID, for bundling of the Java desktop on their machines. He especially mentioned call centers as an ideal market for the desktops. The Java desktops will be available for $50 per employee per year.

When asked about their target in the desktop space, Sun Microsystems Asia South sales Sun software director Terence Ng said, “Studies have said that around 20 percent of the IT expenditure goes into desktops including support. There are at least one million new PCs being added in the Indian market every year and about 1,10,000 office suites. Sun will look at obtaining around 10 percent of the market share here.” He added that the organization was not looking at monetizing on the Java desktop on the consumer front at the moment.

Asked about the clients that the Enterprise System had notched up so far, Valluri said that the system was in beta version among many an enterprise and the organization would notch its first commercial customer soon.

Replying to a question on the layoffs announced by Sun some time back, the company assured that the Indian operations would not be affected by the same and explained that the process was part of a business realignment.