Sun Microsystems Inc has hitched its internet commerce wagon to Hypercom Corp, a point of sale (POS) and electronic payment firm from Phoenix, Arizona. The companies say they will offer each other’s products to their respective customers. Sun wants to sell Hypercom’s Ascendent POS and transaction processing software, while Hypercom intends to push the Sun Enterprise server family running Solaris as its platform of choice. Over the next year or two the partners hope to collaborate on new software for thin clients, POS devices and real-time loyalty programs. Magnetic stripe and smart cards are set to play a key role in tying consumers to the corporations that serve them, the allies explained.
