Sun Follows Microsoft In Hong Kong Partnerships

One the heels of Microsoft (MSFT), Sun
Microsystems (SUNW) has made two separate broadband deals in Hong Kong.

Sun has partnered with Cable & Wireless HKT (C&W HKT), the largest
domestic telecom. and Sun Hung Kai Properties, a prominent property
developer, respectively.

Sun will provide C&W HKT’s ATM broadband network with its iPlanet
range of software and services from the Sun-Netscape Alliance.

Linus Cheung, C&W HKT’s chief executive, said, “Sun Microsystems
and Cable & Wireless HKT aim to exploit their individual strengths to
produce a menu of unparalleled e-commerce solutions exactly when they
are needed most.”

Scott McNealy, chairman and chief executive officer of Sun
Microsystems, said that C&W HKT would, by using iPlanet, take a
leadership position as one of Hong Kong’s top commercial application
service providers.

Sun is also providing training and enabling technologies for Cable &
Wireless HKT’s new E-Commerce Software Development Center that is
being set up in the PRC.

In conjunction with Sun, China’s Ministry of
Education has also committed to provide staff and resources to support the
new center.

Additionally, Cable & Wireless HKT has agreed to join Sun as one of the
major sponsors of the Asia Java Fund. The fund is intended to promote the
development of Java-based e-commerce software in the region.

In separate deal, Sun will assist local property developer Sun Hung Kai
(SHK) in developing a broadband electronic community for its residential
developments.

The project, called SuperHome.net, will combine broadband Internet
access with multimedia applications based on Sun’s Java technology.

According to SHK, more than 30 content and technology providers have
already lined up behind SuperHome.net, including famous local and
international companies along with Hong Kong academic institutions.

Microsoft’s Steve Balmer visited last week to announced deals with the
same Hong Kong companies, C&W HKT and SHK.

The American
software giant debuted a broadband portal venture with C&W HKT and a
commercial property project with SHK.