Microsoft / Sun Pact Seeks New Framework for Collaboration

Microsoft and Sun Microsystems announced a ten year agreement that settles all pending litigation between the two companies and sets a new framework for industry cooperation in server technology and communications protocols. The Technical Collaboration Agreement will provide both companies with access to aspects of each other's server-based technology and will initially center on Windows Server and Windows Client.


The companies are working on ways to allow identity information to be easily shared between Microsoft Active Directory and the Sun Java System Identity Server. Sun has agreed to sign a license for the Windows desktop operating system communications protocols. Microsoft will continue to provide product support for the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. The companies will work together to improve technical collaboration between their Java and .NET technologies. The companies are announcing Windows certification for Sun's Xeon servers, and the Windows certification process for Sun's Opteron-based servers is moving forward.


The agreements involve payments of $700 million to Sun by Microsoft to resolve pending antitrust issues and $900 million to resolve patent issues. In addition, Sun and Microsoft have agreed to pay royalties for use of each other's technology, with Microsoft making an up-front payment of $350 million and Sun making payments when this technology is incorporated into its server products. http://www.microsoft.comhttp://www.sun.com