Lord of the Web

Traditionally, Sun Microsystems and Microsoft corporation are adversaries. They were(are?) bitter enemies, and in 2004, Sun got around $2 billion in a patent and antitrust settlement payout from Microsoft for its handling over Sun’s Java software, among other issues.

In what is being seen as some desperate measure, Microsoft has made an agreement with Sun whereby those downloading Sun’s Java software will be asked whether they would also like to download a toolbar featuring a Microsoft Live Search box- a move to increase its share of the Search Engine market where it is at a distant third behing Google and Yahoo.

Java’s importance and prominence in the world of Internet need not be stressed, with 9 out of 10 computers connected to the internet having it. More importantly, rhe Java sofware reveives millions of downloads every month and thus the deal has immense potential for Microsoft which hopes to increase the usage of its LIVE web search- a good enough but under-rated and unused search engine.