Sun seals deal with Oz firm Telstra

Ziggy plays web services...

Sun Microsystems has beaten off fierce competition to win a multi-million dollar contract to provide Australian telco Telstra with hardware and software for its online services.

Melbourne-based Telstra will use Sun's products to build an integrated network for its web services, such as stock quotes, email and internet connectivity.

Sun said the network will be based on its Sun One web services Java technology to serve fixed-line broadband and high-speed wireless users.

Sun One's chief rival is commonly seen to be Microsoft's .Net strategy. Sun also beat off competition from IBM to provide hardware to support the network.

By basing the network on Java it will be easier to build applications that can be distributed across numerous platforms such as personal organisers or mobile phones, Sun said in a statement.

The deal gives Australian technology a tremendous boost, said Dr Ziggy Sitkowski, CEO OF Telstra.