by Mark Jones

Sun to rename its Projects

news
Sep 12, 20032 mins

Sun Microsystems will next week announce the new names of its desktop software bundle Project Mad Hatter, and its Project Orion infrastructure stack, a PR rep told me this afternoon. Of course, he didn’t actually disclose the names because that, together with official confirmation of pricing details, will mostly likely be the only two components of “real news” left to discuss at the SunNetwork show that kicks off Tuesday.

Sun’s been leaking like a sieve with regards to “Project” news. Executives have selectively disclosed nuggets of information to various publications over the past two weeks – most of it previously reported. What bugs me about Sun PR in this case is an apparent lack of coordination.

Anyway, the latest nugget I bring to the table is the components of Orion that will NOT be included in this Tuesday’s announcements. Missing from the first release will be a high availability app server, mobile access products, grid software, and peer-to-peer capabilities. Sun told me this week that Project Orion (or whatever it’s called next week, it doesn’t matter) will ultimately be comprised of up to 100 different products. No wonder they’re selling the “Project” as a bundle. Enterprise technology buyers are loathe to contemplate that many SKUs.