Sun Shines On Mr.Softie

Sun Microsystems(JAVA) and Microsoft(MSFT) show how two firms can both challenge and support one another in their quest for progress.Google(GOOG) is now distributing a free version of Sun's Star Office software.It is part of the Google Pack.Star Office is Microsoft Office-compatible and is also sold by Sun in a version with technical support and free updates.Star Office provides the Open Document Format Alliance,which includes Google,Sun and IBM,with an important open product.The free Star Office has the same basic features as Microsoft Office,which goes for 150-400 dollars.Word-processing,database,graphics,spreadsheets,photo editing and Web publishing are all possible with Star Office.Sun acquired Star Office when it purchased its parent company in 1999.Sun refined the product and contributed to a free version called Open Office before the Google Pack was offered.More than 100 million copies of Open Office have been downloaded.Star Office supports the Open Document file format,which many governments have considered adopting for its free document storage.Star Office is available on Sun's Solaris Operating Environment,along with Microsoft Windows and Linux.At the same time that Sun's Star Office competes with Microsoft Office,Sun is allied with Microsoft on a number of other fronts.Sun now sells servers with factory-installed Microsoft Windows.In this connection,the two firms will even call on customers together.They are also collaborating on interactive television built on Microsoft's Mediaroom software and Sun systems.AT and T wants to use this blend for its U-verse offering.It is clear that Sun and Microsoft are fully implementing their 2004 alliance,while competing in the office software realm.Their complex relations will be of benefit to both of them into at least the next decade.Shares of both Sun Microsystems and Microsoft were up this morning.