BEA trying to make its app server the standard in airline industry Server software vendor BEA Systems Inc. has struck a five-year volume discount pricing agreement with the Star Alliance airline consortium, in a move aimed at making its application server and integration software standard in the industry.The consortium, comprised of 15 airlines including United Air Lines Inc., Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Lufthansa AG, will now be able to get bulk deals on software, like they do with jet fuel and planes, BEA said Tuesday.Under the agreement, Star Alliance members will get volume licensing discounts on BEA’s WebLogic Server and WebLogic Integration products as well as discounts on maintenance. The alliance members have already developed ticketing, baggage handling and loyalty software applications on the WebLogic platform, BEA said. About half of the consortium’s members already use BEA middleware, according to Star Alliance Director of Purchasing Raymond Davidson. Through the bulk licensing program, members will be able to get new software and maintenance at discounts of up to 42 percent, he said.The deal means members get attractive prices from BEA, but are still free to buy from other vendors such as IBM Corp., according to Davidson. “I see IBM and BEA as the two major players in this industry and we are looking at products from both,” he said.The Star Alliance agreement comes as BEA and IBM continue to battle over the middleware space, with San Jose, California, BEA looking to strengthen its position in the industry-specific space, as well as with resellers. Software DevelopmentTechnology IndustrySmall and Medium Business