HONG KONG (11-30-95) - Hewlett-Packard is currently evaluating Internet-related technology from arch-rival Sun Microsystems for a possible licensing deal.
Wim Roelandts, senior vice president and general manager of HP's Computer Systems Organization, disclosed last week in an interview with Computerworld Hong Kong that HP is studying Sun's Java object-oriented Internet programming language, and is considering the possibility of licensing the technology.
"I think it is a good technology and we are assessing it," Roelandts said. "I don't think [HP has] made a decision yet, although they're probably pretty close to that. It is a technology that the Internet needs - they have developed it, and if our assessment is correct, once we understand the strengths and the weaknesses and what it does and does not do, I have no problem licensing it."
Roelandts noted that such a move would not be unprecedented, as HP already licenses its Network File System (NFS) from Sun.
"Maybe we are already negotiating, but ... I don't think we're at that phase yet," Roelandts said.
"If Sun happens to have good technology for that purpose," he added, "we absolutely will license it from them, no doubt about it.
Java has already been licensed by Borland International, and US Computerworld reported last week that IBM is considering a licensing deal as well.
[Copyright 1995 Computerworld Hong Kong, International Data Group Inc. All rights reserved.]