By CNET Networks, 14 August 2002 17:01
NEWS By Wylie Wong Software maker Borland is hoping to extend its lead in the Java programming tools market through a closer alliance with BEA Systems. The two companies announced a co-marketing agreement today which will see BEA resell Borland's popular JBuilder Java development tool. Borland, in turn, will build a version of JBuilder for BEA's WebLogic application server software. For Borland, the deal is important because JBuilder will become BEA's tool of choice for customers of its market-leading application server software. WebLogic and other application servers are designed to run ebusiness and related Web site transactions. For BEA, the pact plugs a hole in its product portfolio and allows it to better compete with software rivals IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems because BEA gets a Java tool that is fine-tuned to its application server. Unlike its rivals, BEA does not develop and sell its own Java programming tool, so it relies on partners. The company's previous tools partner, WebGain, has run into financial trouble and has sold its assets to TogetherSoft and Oracle. With the Borland deal, San Jose, BEA will now stop selling WebGain's tools. Analysts say the closer partnership between BEA and Borland works well for both of them. "BEA doesn't have a full-fledged IDE in its own right, and they don't want to be in the business. And Borland is the current market leader," Gartner analyst Mark Driver said. Borland ranks first with 18.1 per cent of the Java tools market, according to a recent survey of about 800 North American developers by market researcher Evans Data. IBM ranked second with 14.4 per cent. The core Java software developers kit and text editor was ranked third with 14.2 per cent, followed by Sun with 13.1 per cent. Oracle was sixth with 7.8 per cent. Wylie Wong writes for News.com
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