HP eliminates several middleware products

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) confirmed Monday that it is discontinuing several middleware products and will instead address that market segment though partnerships with other vendors, including Microsoft Corp. and BEA Systems Inc.

HP's Netaction Application Server, Netaction Web Services Platform and Web Services Registry are being eliminated, HP said. Transition program details will be announced by Sept. 15, according to HP.

HP's Netaction product line was created through the company's estimated US$470 million acquisition of Bluestone Software Inc. in early 2001. But the products never gained much traction among customers, and HP's software priorities remained elsewhere, according to analysts. HP executive Peter Blackmore told analysts at a meeting in June that HP would soon be retiring its middleware line.

HP will focus its software development efforts around its OpenView network management portfolio, its Opencall communications suite and its Utility Data Center software for automating data center operations, the company said.

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