Sun buys consumer apps maker
The tiny, privately-held Canadian company makes applications designed to run on Java-enabled consumer devices. These include a browser, e-mail software, and personal management technology. Financial details of the deal weren't disclosed.
"We're delighted to have a set of application products that compliment our core platform technology in this area," Mark Tolliver, president of Sun's consumer and embedded division, said.
Sun will ship Impact browser
Sun (Nasdaq:SUNW) said it would ship Beduin's products with its PersonalJava platform and sell them to computer makers, beginning with the Impact browser. Impact features telephony technology that lets users automatically dial phone numbers by clicking on a Web page.
"This is a really great marriage for Beduin, and I think we really bring some great technology to Sun," said Bob Tennant, president of Beduin, which has only 12 employees.
Sun and Beduin plan first to target the market for connected phones, which allow users to make calls and receive data such as stock quotes. They see that market as having the largest potential, although they also are aiming at set-top boxes, handheld devices and car computers.
Beduin's Impact browser will be available from Sun by the end of the year, and the e-mail and management software should ship early next year, the companies said. The suite of products will be called Sun's Personal Applications.
Big play for networked-devices market
Sun has been making a play for the networked device market with its Java technology.
In July, the company acquired Net Dynamics Inc., an applications server maker that will let companies design their own customized software to run on consumer and other devices. A few weeks later, it unveiled plans for its Jini technology, designed to make it easier for networked devices to talk to each other.
Analysts expect the market for lean software for consumer machines to blossom in the coming year, as more network-connected phones and set-top boxes are deployed. According to IDC, 250 million devices that could use such software were sold last year.
Sun rival Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) also is pushing into the market, touting its Windows CE software for digital assistants, cars and other uses. It also owns WebTV, the major maker of set-top boxes.