Update: BEA gains hardware vendor backing

Hewlett Packard (HP) and BEA are teaming up to offer a free application server to HP-UX customers. But the deal is more significant for the burgeoning relationship than the free software, according to industry watchers.

The two firms will confirm this afternoon that a free evaluation copy of BEA's WebLogic 7.0 application server will be provided to all new and existing HP-UX 11i customers.

All HP-UX 11i customers will receive a six-month trial of the leading application server, used for deploying business applications, with 20 user and 20 client licences.

"This will allow users to develop proper proof-of-concept applications, while also being able to evaluate our application server," said Peter Cook, alliances director at BEA UK.

Existing HP-UX users will receive a CD containing the optimised application server. They will also gain access to BEA's online support service.

"This allows users to get up and running as soon as possible," said Cook.

While this option will be attractive to firms looking to buy an application server, or those unhappy with their current one, it is unlikely to persuade businesses to jump to BEA, warned Tony Lock, an analyst at Bloor Research.

"The cost of building test systems is not inconsiderable. My guess would be that most companies receiving the CD won't bother to install it," he said.

Currently, HP users account for around 20 per cent of BEA's customer base, but the strengthening relationship between the two firms will suit both.

BEA has seen its lead in the application server market challenged by strong competition from IBM.

Meanwhile, HP has been looking to strengthen its partnerships with middleware firms, having decided to sell off many parts of its portfolio earlier in the year.

A closer relationship between HP and BEA would provide mutual benefits, said Lock, with BEA getting support from a vendor with a long customer list and HP benefiting from BEA's software sales expertise.

"But I think an acquisition [of BEA] is unlikely for the foreseeable future," he added.