Sun puts Netscape under Tplc banner

Distributor expected to be given green light to supply channel with complete package of Alliance products.

Sun Microsystems' UK master re-seller Tplc is expected to move into the Sun software sector for the first time by taking on products from the SunNetscape Alliance.

Tplc, which until now has only distributed the vendor's hardware, is waiting to be given the go-ahead in the coming weeks to supply a variety of SunNetscape Alliance products to its 350-strong reseller base, which will be marketed under the iPlanet banner.

Unipalm - previously exclusive UK wholesaler for Netscape - will join Tplc on a distribution level.

Mark Norman, managing director of Unipalm, said in addition to products the company held such as Netscape Application Server, it had picked up previously Sun-branded packages including Net Dynamics.

"Tplc will be distributing similar products, although it will have a slightly different focus," he said.

"Things have taken a long time to come to fruition but we are now getting to know who does what. The Alliance has given us access to a wider range of products and re-sellers, and we've been exposed to more business," he added.

Norman claimed the only grey area remained the route to market of Netscape's impending ecommerce package for the corporate sector. The iPlanet Commerce Integration Suite (CIS), is scheduled for release in November.

He said: "It is not around yet, but I'm hoping that it will go through the channel when it comes out."

Simon Welch, marketing manager of Tplc, said: "From our point of view, it absolutely makes sense for us to have the software products because it's all about selling a complete package."

But Welch refused to discuss the exact role the distributor will play in the Alliance as negotiations were still continuing.

The opportunity for Tplc arose when Computer 2000 ended its exclusive distribution with SunSoft. The distributor claimed it was left with too small a slice of the business (PC Dealer, 30 June).

The SunNetscape Alliance was unavailable for comment.