Sun launches e-biz test centre

Sun Microsystems launched an e-business solutions test centre in Sydney last week to encourage firms to evaluate business solutions engineered by the company and its technology partners.

The centre is the local arm of Sun's international iForce Ready Centre network, which was launched last year.

It consolidates the companies dotcom programs, products, services, solutions and technology partners under one "umbrella" to help customers exploit the Internet for business opportunities.

The facility offers services such as lab tours, solution demonstrations, architecture workshops and proof-of-concept projects.

Sun will also pre-test and offer specific "solution sets" for the retail, wireless, supply chain and online business industries.

Sun Microsystems Australasia managing director, Jim Hassell, said clients can develop solutions faster and at low technical and business risk through the centres.

WA-based solution provider Thin Technologies is one of the first companies to bring its own retail sector solution to market through the iForce program.

Thin will use the centre to demonstrate a retail management point of sale (POS) solution based on Java technology and incorporating Oracle financials.

The iForce lab will also showcase Thin's POS offering, an XSP stack (full ISP providing Internet access), B2B e-procurement solutions, and a digital television solution for consumers.

According to Sun Australiasia national systems engineering manager Angus McDonald, Cisco and Nortel Networks were instrumental in the centre supplying networking equipment for Internet connection.

Other iForce technology partners include Panasonic (for digital TV set design) and Oracle and Sybase.

Sun has invested $2 million in the Australian facility and also has centres in Paris, Tokyo and the US.