ASPs under the Sun

Sun Microsystems has branded its first nine application service providers (ASPs) as ready to sell Web services under its ASP scheme, dubbed the SunTone Certification and Branding Programme.

Sun Microsystems has branded its first nine application service providers (ASPs) as ready to sell Web services under its ASP scheme, dubbed the SunTone Certification and Branding Programme.

The certification programme, launched in the US in May 1999, spells out standards for ASPs, independent software vendors, VARs, Web developers and systems integrators, and other service providers in areas such as infrastructure and operational practices, availability, security and scalability. The standards are established by the SunTone Architectural Council of vendors and service providers.

The scheme, set up to demonstrate Sun's Internet infrastructure and establish the vendor in the growing ASP market as well as guarantee service provider quality, has attracted more than 100 companies so far. Plans are under way to extend the scheme to the UK, although no dates have been finalised.

Sun said nine service providers have now been certified as currently selling services that meet Level One of the certification standard, which deals with infrastructure and operational practices. The service providers include Corio, Digex, Digital Island, eOnline, Exodus Communications, GlobalCenter, Niku and Portera.

Level Two of the SunTone certification programme, due out in the next quarter, covers availability, security and scalability, while Level Three, available this summer, will focus on manageability, according to Ed Zander, chief operating officer at Sun Microsystems.

"I can only think of it as the 'good housekeeping' seal of approval for service providers. I liken it to what Intel did with 'Intel inside' in the 1980s for personal computers," he said.

Sun also unveiled a new logo for the certification programme, as well as a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign.