Sun to distribute Microsoft's toolbar

Usually when I get news about Sun Microsystems and Microsoft working together, it is some highly technical enterprise collaboration stemming from their lawsuit settlement a few years back.

On Monday, though, the companies announced something in the consumer arena. Sun will start distributing the MSN toolbar to Internet Explorer users when they download Sun's Java Runtime Environment.

The companies said that Sun's Java runtime is downloaded tens of millions of times per month.

"This agreement with Sun Microsystems is another important milestone in our strategy to secure broad-scale distribution for our search offering, enabling millions more people to experience the benefits of Live Search," Microsoft senior vice president Yusuf Mehdi said in a statement. "With the vast array of Java software-based Web applications that are downloaded every month, this deal will expose Live Search to millions more Internet users and drive increased volume for our search advertisers."

On its own, the news won't change the shape of the Internet. However, it does represent some shifting allegiances for Sun, which had been allied with Microsoft's rivals.

Until just recently, those downloading the Google Pack of desktop software received Sun's StarOffice, though that has apparently reached an end. As part of a 2005 deal, Sun was also to distribute Google's toolbar. Sun also has distributed Yahoo's toolbar.

[contentcreator--2008]

A perfect reason to uninstall the java stuff altogether. One less set of security updates each month, and one less security hole.

Folks: get a clue. If you include a piece of crapware in your install, you're going to be dumped also.

[YankeePoodle]

sun needs money desperately and I think since MSFT will pay. At the end of the day, the so called Silicon valley companies for all the "moral gospel" thown at "sinners", are nothing but companies trying to make a buck or two.

Save me from Open Source Salvation.

[joetesta70]

Newsflash: Sun to bundle Spark servers with ShamWow extra absorbant shamies! Only $19.99! Act now!!!!

[AppleSuxLeo]

This is like hell freezing over for Sun. Remeber the Sun/MSFT wars well , over Java. This is like Apple promoting Windows. This just shows that MSFT really has changed , and is growing it`s business , even with former enemies.

[kojacked]

LOL! How the mighty have fallen! Yet Microsoft is still here despite the naysayers.

So on to the suckage: more check boxes to turn off when installing or updating Java... Yeah!

[danxy]

My understanding is Google dropped StarOffice as it competes with Google's office suite. It's not because of a toolbar (Google has one of it's own btw).

[MMC Racing]

Besides anti-virus programs, the number 1 program to bring an older PC to its knees is Google desktop search.. I avoid installing anything google ( or any other toolbar or desktop search ). I use Google for web search and that's it.

[Penguinisto]

One more reason to use Firefox, methinks.

[jlm429]

methinks people that need java to run internet applications has nothing to do with the browser they are using

[Penguinisto]

Yes and no... look up "gcj" and get a mild surprise. :)

[jemiller0]

I hate when companies do this. If I download one product to install, that means I want that product and that product alone. I don't want a bunch of other crap.

[NickH]

Welcome to the world of "ad-supported" business models. The cost of "free" is that you get barraged with ads or crapware. (I'm fairly certainly that Java wont force an install of toolbar, BTW).

Sun needs to make money - do you think Java would have been as successful if the runtime had cost even $5 per install? Do you think Google would be what it is today if they had charged even 1 cent per search? Just 'cos its free to us, doesn't mean it cost nothing to build.

I have to say, as a professional software developer, ad-supported software (and to a lesser extent, open source) is rapidly devalueing software development, in a bad bad way. Why do people have the expectation that all software should somehow be cost free?

[sal-magnone]

Laughing too hard .... can't reach phone to call 911 ... blacking out ...