Sun boosts Sun.Net with i-Planet aquisition

NEWS Sun Microsystems has acquired I-Planet in a move designed to bolster its Sun.Net strategy. Sun.Net enables users to set up a virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet. John McFarlane, president of the Solaris division at Sun, claims the strategy will allow companies to use a VPN without the expense of a separate infrastructure. He said I-Planet's Expresso Java client will be used as the basis for Sun.Net. This will enable users to remotely access emails and scheduling software over the Internet from any Java enabled device. I-Planet will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun.