Sun cuts prices to lure Microsoft users

Sun Microsystems has cut the price of its web server software by 37 per cent in an attempt to lure away Microsoft server software customers.

The company said it would cut the price of its iPlanet Web Server Enterprise Edition 6.0 from $1485 to $940 per computer processor for any customer changing from a competing program.

The promotion follows a recent Gartner advisory which strongly recommended enterprises hit by both Nimda and Code Red to immediately replace their Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) software with a more secure server application such as iPlanet Web Server.

Joe Keller, vice president and general manager of application services at iPlanet, said: "iPlanet takes product design issues very seriously, and security is a top priority for all the products in the Sun Open Net environment portfolio."

According to Keller, the company has seen overwhelming demand for a program that offers a quick, easy way to migrate to iPlanet Web Server so that companies can reduce concerns about the growing list of new security vulnerabilities.

Sun said that its program represents a cost-effective alternative for firms concerned about frequent Microsoft IIS security warnings, and for those which want to move to a more secure alternative without disrupting their business.

The trade-up, available at www.iplanet.com/gosecure, includes product discounts, a website with guidelines for making the transition and free Chili!Soft software that allows customers to move a site built on Microsoft Active Server Pages code to iPlanet Web Server without interrupting their business.

An alliance between Sun and AOL Time Warner, iPlanet will become a division of Sun in March 2002.

Meanwhile, Microsoft last week launched a new security programme, the Strategic Technology Protection Program, which includes free tools and free virus-related product support designed to improve security.