Sun puts software under ONE umbrella

Sun Microsystems on Monday said it has reorganized and re-branded its disparate software lines and put them all under the Sun ONE umbrella.

By re-branding its software, Sun hopes to better explain, and hence sell, its software to large corporate customers. As a result, the iPlanet Web Server, software for running large Web servers, will be rechristened the Sun ONE Web server, while the Chilisoft ASP will go by the name Sun ONE Active Server Pages.

The reorganization will affect the iPlanet line of server software the most as the iPlanet name will largely disappear. Originally, iPlanet was a joint effort between Sun and America Online, but the entity largely fell into Sun's orbit and was officially transferred to Sun in mid-March.

The shift also appears to expand the role of Marge Breya, vice president of Sun ONE, who will now oversee a wider variety of products.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based server manufacturer has long been one of Silicon Valley's most prolific companies when it comes to code and product names. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that many of Sun's software products, such as StarOffice and iPlanet, originally arose out of acquisitions or strategic alliances. In other words, Sun inherited many of these product names.