PROCESSORS

Sun Microsystems and Vignette Corp. today announced an agreement to extend the level of integration between the two companies' product lines and define solution architectures for customers who want their technology to deliver more with less complexity and fewer headaches. As part of the multifaceted agreement, Vignette will integrate the Sun(TM) Java(TM) System Directory Server with its industry-leading Vignette V7 content management suites. At the same time, in an effort to provide organizations with a wider array of technology choices, Vignette will add support for Sun Java Enterprise System software components, such as the Sun Java System Application Server , and work with Sun to develop and support a portlet library connecting Vignette V7 content management suites to the Sun Java System Portal Server. Joint Sun and Vignette customers can benefit from lower integration costs as the result of decreased complexity and the integration of Vignette and Sun Java Enterprise System components. "Today's announcement is evidence of a collective commitment to deliver greater value to our customers -- especially in specific vertical and horizontal markets such as federal and state government and employee portals -- including faster time to implementation and increased ROI for Vignette solutions on Sun Java Enterprise System software," said Stuart Wells, senior vice president, market development, Sun Microsystems. "Because of this agreement, Vignette and Sun can help customers accelerate the deployment of mission critical Vignette solutions with Sun's integrateable Java Enterprise System middleware components, designed to scale as business requirements and priorities evolve." The agreement between Sun and Vignette is partly anchored on the integration of Sun's Java System Directory Server with the industry-leading Vignette V7 content management suites. With more than 1.5 billion licenses, the Java System Directory Server is the most widely deployed general-purpose, LDAP-based directory server on the market, and provides a central repository for storing and managing identity profiles, access privileges, application and network resource information. Often selected based on its affordability, the Java System Directory Server also gives customers improved access to critical information and applications across an extended enterprise. Sun and Vignette's commitment to J2EE(TM) technology-based standards helps ensure that customers can leverage their existing and future investments in Java technology. "The Vignette and Sun alliance has been a benchmark relationship, producing world-class solutions for our joint customers since its inception. Today's agreement further enhances Vignette's ability to help customers power the enterprise Web, minimize costs and decrease roll-out time, through the integration of key Java Enterprise System components with Vignette's leading solutions," said Patti Jones, senior vice president of worldwide sales and distribution at Vignette. "Vignette and Sun have a history of successfully integrating our products to drive efficiencies and lower the total cost of ownership for joint customers. With this expanded agreement, the two companies are making it easier and faster for organizations to realize the benefits of our combined solutions." Joint marketing and development aspects of the agreement also include development of Vignette proof of concepts in Sun's iForce(SM) Solution Centers and Vignette's use of Sun's Executive Briefing Centers. Alongside the agreement, the two companies have intensified their focus on building solution architectures that enable the rapid deployment of Web services. The public sector and employee portals are two of the initial market areas where the two companies will jointly develop and take to market solution architectures, with additional solutions to follow.