Sun Microsystems Inc has quietly authorised Salem, New Hampshire-based Workstation Technology Inc, a little-known reseller of used computers, to resell refurbished Sun boxes the first such deal it has ever cut. Workstation’s agreement, however, is non-exclusive although Sun is not currently anticipating signing other third-party deals like it, it says. Until now, only Sun has sold used Sun equipment. Sun will refurbish end-of-life products for the reseller and Workstation equipment will carry Sun’s typical 90-day warranty. Workstation will be restricted in what it can sell in the way of upgrades that would effectively modernise the iron and enable it to compete with current product. The goods Workstation will sell are discontinued configurations that have been removed from the reseller price list with the exception of spare parts and peripherals. And under its agreement, Workstation cannot sell outside the US or to other resellers, either.
