Would-Be Novell-Microsoft Collaboration Revealed
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1998 SEP 2 (Newsbytes) -- By Robert
MacMillan, Newsbytes. Call it the most interesting partnership that
never happened. A failed attempt between Microsoft Corp. [NASDAQ:MSFT]
and Novell Inc., [NASDAQ:NOVL] to collaborate on Java-based application
programming interfaces (APIs) has become part of the evidence filed by
Sun Microsystems Inc., in its upcoming trial date with Microsoft.
Sun is suing Microsoft, claiming Microsoft illegally used the Java
logo, as well as what it feels were Microsoft's efforts to use a form
of Java that was incompatible with other operating systems. Sun has
filed approximately 1,000 pages of evidence that will be presented at
hearings next week.
According to Microsoft spokesman Jim Cullinan, the companies had met
briefly in 1997 to discuss the possibilities for working together on
Java APIs, but Microsoft in the end opted out of a deal. Novell Chief
Executive Officer Eric Schmidt met with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
to discuss a potential deal. Schmidt formerly served as chief
technology officer at Sun, which introduced the Java programming
language.
Cullinan said Novell approached Microsoft.
According to various news reports, Microsoft specifically walked away
from a partnership because Java-only APIs for Windows NT would erode
the competitive edge to Windows' 32-bit software.
The Java language, built to work across multiple platforms, is
regarded in the high-tech conventional wisdom as one of the chief
threats to Microsoft's Windows operating system, although the companies
in May 1996 originally announced that they would collaborate on Java
efforts.
"We looked to see if their technology and their thoughts would make
sense for ours," Cullinan told Newsbytes. "We listened to what they had
to say, and our basic thought was 'we're on the right track' and it
didn't make sense for our developers or...customers to move ahead."
A Novell representative said she was not familiar with the situation.
Sun officials could not be reached for comment before deadline.
Reported by Newsbytes News Network: newsbytes.com . |
