Sun bags Rs 2 crore software deal

 In one of the single biggest office software deals in the world, Sun Microsystems has sold 10,000 user licences of its Star Office productivity suite to United India Insurance. The deal is valued at Rs 2 crore.

 Sun outsmarted software giant Microsoft in the bargain for the deal. A similar big order in the past by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation for about 8,000 odd user licences was won by Microsoft.

 Based on open standards, Star Office offers word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and database capabilities.

 The deal will see United India install the office productivity software across 1,100 operating offices and 24 regional offices in the country.

 Senior Sun executives refused to comment. United India officials confirmed the deal and said the company expected to roll out the entire package across its offices next month.