A Useful Addition
Observations on Software - Markets, Technology, and Companies
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Observations on Software - Markets, Technology, and Companies
Sun Launches Authentication, Access Control Products
Targeting corporations and telecomm providers, the package competes with software only solutions from a very wide mix of vendors. The primary competitor is, as you'd expect, Microsoft and Passport. An Enterprise Edition, managing some 10,000 individuals, sells for just under $150,000. A bulked up version for providers bumps the user limit to 250,000 and the price to a few dollars shy of $1 million.
Compuware Claims IBM Antitrust Violations
In a surprising move, long-time mainframe software vendor Compuware has sued IBM for antitrust violations. The complaint cites four allegations - IBM stole Compuware source code for use in its own products, the vendor is illegally tying purchases of mainframe computers and software, that IBM Global Services is steering customers to IBM products, and that the flow of technical information from IBM has dried up. A convicted monopolist (did you think Microsoft was the first software vendor to run afoul of the law?), IBM has developed a positive reputation for fairness. That reputation was largely the result of changes introduced by Louis Gerstner as he steered the company away from failure. The Compuware suit is the first ding in IBM's reputation in a very long time.
Targeting corporations and telecomm providers, the package competes with software only solutions from a very wide mix of vendors. The primary competitor is, as you'd expect, Microsoft and Passport. An Enterprise Edition, managing some 10,000 individuals, sells for just under $150,000. A bulked up version for providers bumps the user limit to 250,000 and the price to a few dollars shy of $1 million.
Sun releases suite of authentication software, services. Sun Microsystems shipped a package of software, hardware and services that can be used to manage the identity of users on a network and set access privileges for applications, services and other resources. [Computerworld]
Compuware Claims IBM Antitrust Violations
In a surprising move, long-time mainframe software vendor Compuware has sued IBM for antitrust violations. The complaint cites four allegations - IBM stole Compuware source code for use in its own products, the vendor is illegally tying purchases of mainframe computers and software, that IBM Global Services is steering customers to IBM products, and that the flow of technical information from IBM has dried up. A convicted monopolist (did you think Microsoft was the first software vendor to run afoul of the law?), IBM has developed a positive reputation for fairness. That reputation was largely the result of changes introduced by Louis Gerstner as he steered the company away from failure. The Compuware suit is the first ding in IBM's reputation in a very long time.
Compuware sues IBM for antitrust violations. Software vendor Compuware has accused IBM of, among other things, unauthorized use of Compuware's source code and illegally tying customer purchases of mainframe software tools to purchases of other key IBM software products. [Computerworld]