IBM and tplc to seal deal

But Sun not best pleased?

A contract between IBM and Sun Microsystems channel development partner tplc over the distribution of Big Blue's storage and Unix products is to be signed within the next three weeks, according to channel sources.

Tplc confirmed that it is in discussions with IBM at the beginning of May, and sources have indicated that a deal could be signed by the first week in July.

"We have heard that a formal announcement is due at the beginning of July," said one source. "Tplc could be waiting for Sun to have its year end, and make sure it gets a share of that revenue."

Another channel source claimed that the announcement in May had caused "quite a bit of upset" at Sun.

"Tplc has a difficult hand to play," said the source. "People in the channel are wondering how tplc can do it; it can't expect to replace its Sun revenue with IBM revenue overnight."

Sun representative John Tutcher said: "It is a matter between IBM and tplc. We have no further comment."

Tplc was unavailable for comment.