Sun : Open source Java due in late '06, '07

23.10.2006

Green: Well, we really have four businesses or four distinct focal points in our software business. We have our developer programs and business, we have our mobile and embedded business where we've been really successful with Java on handsets. We crossed a one billion handset mark a couple of months ago. We have our whole Web and middleware business and the Solaris business. And in each of these areas, we look to figure out if there are growth opportunities organically or through acquisition. We're putting a lot of energy into each of them, and certainly the first two I cited are critically important to Sun's success. So I think that's the best way to look at the prioritization of that work.

IW: Sun has been criticized for coming up with technologies and not making any money off of them. How would you respond to that? I'm thinking of Java and maybe NFS (Network File System).

Green: Well, I guess I strongly disagree. You know, I think it's a comment more on accounting than it is on business. We don't publish our software number breakout and I think that may drive some of the concerns of others. But when you look at the position of Solaris in the industry as the preeminent a Unix platform and increasingly growing in leadership in the open source operating system space, it would be hard to question whether or not our software investment in that area has contributed to the company's success. Our developer programs [are] driving new applications and new ISVs to our platform. In fact, in 2006, we doubled the number of developers enrolled in our Sun Developer Network Program, which is our whole developer campaign. These are going from one million to two million developers. These are folks who are directly connected and affiliated with Sun as developers.

IW: Is Sun making more or less money from Solaris since you open sourced it?

Green: We don't release the financial figures, but certainly the growth in the open source activity is probably an indicator of how we're doing as a business.