Jim Guinn, national practice director at Houston-based Sun solution provider Consultants Choice, is positive on the pact but wants to see details on how interoperability will be achieved. He characterized the companies' plan to foster interoperability between the Sun Java System Identity Server and Microsoft Active Directory as a "very positive win for Sun's unified identity strategy and Liberty. ... It most likely means [Microsoft] Passport, which has been hot and cold, will become more open."
Linus Torvalds, the leader of the open-source movement who invented and trademarked the Linux operating system, said he is no business expert but he viewed the deal as two hurting vendors licking each other's wounds, more than a battle cry against Linux.
"Sun is probably very tired of that 'everything we do is to screw Microsoft over' approach to technology and marketing, which clearly has never worked," said Torvalds, via e-mail to CRN. "If you want customers, you should show yourself to love your customers, not hate your enemies. That Sun war against Microsoft has obviously made people wonder about whether Sun has any real positive strategy at all. And Microsoft was probably more than willing to make friends too, since Sun certainly isn't threatening them and they probably want to make [themselves] look [like] good guys in light of the EU sanctions."
The top Sun and Microsoft execs said the deal was signed at 4:15 a.m. Pacific time Friday. At the end of the press conference Friday morning, Ballmer characterized the pact as good for everyone.
"I think there's nothing in this, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, that will do anything other than delight customers." we're looking for the downside, and we don't see downside," said a triumphant Ballmer.
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