Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mephisto who wrote (17921)	7/16/1999 8:19:00 PM
From: JC Jaros	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

Michael Armstrong's (T) recent Senate appearance: This kinda puts an interesting spin on the M$/ATT deal. The deal is M$ gets a limited 3 market CE 'showcase', and hands over their APIs. Assuming that this deal indicates an understanding between ATT and M$ that ATT requires 'open' Win APIs, this means that Sun's Project Cascade (Running NT on Solaris) is good to go into NT 2000. -JCJ senate.gov And that's exactly why AT&T negotiated a very pro-competitive relationship with Microsoft. Under our non-exclusive agreement with Microsoft, AT&T agreed to expand its Windows CE-based license to cover an additional 2.5 million to 5 million digital set-top devices, which will enable applications from a number of companies to deliver communications, entertainment and information services. The Microsoft set-top box software will provide an open environment for the creation of services and applications. Microsoft is required by our contract to disclose all Application Programming Interfaces (“APIs”) that it or any other firm uses in the software. This means that any firm will have the technical ability to create services and applications that work with the Microsoft software and that Microsoft will not have any advantage through the use of undisclosed APIs. AT&T made no commitment to deploy the Microsoft set-top box software that it licensed, except in three showcase cities. In the third showcase city, Microsoft is obligated to work with AT&T to deploy Microsoft set-top box software together with a third party's server software. We'll also buy hardware and software from multiple vendors. In fact, we have already signed agreements with Sun Microsystems and Sony for use of their software products in digital set-top boxes. As an endorsement of our broadband strategy, Microsoft has also made a $5 billion passive investment in AT&T, amounting to approximately a 3% equity stake in the company. There are no board seats or other dependencies involved in the arrangement. The investment in AT&T by Microsoft will be used to accelerate the upgrade of AT&T's cable networks. That means quicker delivery of the competitive local telephone service, digital television, and high-speed Internet access we've promised to customers. Now, I can't leave the question of open systems without mentioning the issue of cable unbundling – particularly since I know some of you have been considering this issue. Contrary to some of the rhetoric, our cable networks are not “closed”. Our customers enjoy open systems in terms of content. Our broadband Internet customers can access any non-proprietary site, portal, or online service on the Internet with one click of the mouse at higher speed and with better quality than they could before.