Sequent Computer Systems Inc says it is in serious talks with Sun Microsystems Inc to license technology and deliver Solaris APIs to its Dynix/ptx Unix customers (CI No 3,251). The choice we face, according to chairman and CEO Casey Powell is SCO, HP, or Sun. I don’t believe that SCO is the correct path to the high end of the business and HP doesn’t seem to have as good a grasp on how to do business in the open systems world of coopetition. Sequent is seeking to license system software technologies for future 64-bit versions of its Unix operating system that run on the high-end ccNUMA servers which are driving its business. The company believes Solaris’ impressive base of third party vendors at the low and medium end of the market will develop quickly into the high end. Powell maintains no deal’s yet been signed as says that Wall Street’s enthusiastically projected outcome is simply a reflection of their business – to guess.
