HP Scraps Netaction Software Suite

Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP on Monday announced the
discontinuation of its Netaction Software suite as part of what it described
as a “post-merger shift in software strategy.”

HP, which shelled out about $19 billion for acquire rival Compaq
Computer, said the shutdown of the Netaction product set would affect the HP
Netaction Application Server, HP Netaction Web Services Platform and HP Web
Services Registry products in its middleware portfolio.

Instead, HP announced partnership deals with Microsoft
and BEA Systems to provide middleware services to
support .NET and J2EE environments.

With Microsoft, HP said it would partner to speed up the adoption of .NET
and the implementation of Web services in Windows-based environments. The
deal with BEA calls for HP OpenView to serve as a solution for application,
network and systems management.

The shift in focus would include an increased investment in the company’s HP
OpenView, HP Utility Data Center, and HP Opencall software suites.

The company said HP OpenView, HP Utility Data Center and HP Opencall would
redirect its current and future development and go-to-market efforts in
three software categories.

It said the OpenView infrastructure management software would be used to
support Web services initiatives as well as tighter integration between
business and operations management.

The company said it would focus the HP Utility Data Center to enable
corporate clients to deploy a self-managing, self-optimizing programmable
data center, including support for Web services.

“Our plan is to extend the software management capabilities in HP OpenView
and HP Utility Data Center to create what we’re calling a ‘management
fabric’ that will radically reduce the complexity of enterprise and service
provider operating environments,” said Nora Denzel, senior VP of HP’s
Software Global Business Unit.

The company also plans to enhance HP Opencall and IN7 telco middleware
platforms to continue the fight for market share in the wireless and
wireline service and equipment provider markets.

HP said transition program details for the discontinued Netaction products
would be made public by September 15, 2002.