Sun Microsystems announced on Tuesday, February 13, that it has made available special packages for professional software developers in Jordan, as a step towards greater involvement and a more visible presence in the Kingdom. Special development packages for application and content providers are now available to qualified companies who have already enlisted in the Sun Developer Connection program, Sun officials told a press conference on Tuesday.
“With two million members worldwide, the Sun Developer Connection is now the fastest-growing, second largest developer community in the world,” said Amanda Cummins, Sun's marketing programs manager for the Middle East. Launched three years ago in the US, the Connection program has already attracted 600 members in Jordan, who can download for free or receive by e-mail technology information, training, tools and support.
“We are now taking the program to the next level, by offering discounted hardware, software exclusively for professional developers in Jordan,” said Juliette Lacoste, the Connection program's manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Lacoste announced that Connection's members in the Kingdom can now purchase hardware-software packages—including Sun's most complete set of development tools—at a discount of up to 75 percent.
“Every time that we [Sun officials] visit, we see positive developments and so much interest from universities, professionals, and associations,” she said. Sun's country manager for Egypt, the Levant and French-speaking Africa, Stavros Vougas said his company “sees Jordan as a very strong intellectual capital.”
Lacoste added that the software giant was increasingly interested in “spending more and more time” and in investing in Jordan because of “a few successful Jordanian companies that have made themselves known in the region and beyond.”
Ayman Mazahreh, executive directors at STS, which is Sun's authorized distributor here and was also appointed to deliver the Sun Developer Connection offer, said Jordan was succeeding in providing a “model that can be replicated elsewhere” for the development of the information technology (IT) sector. “Things cannot happen overnight,” Mazahreh said. “But the level of awareness is getting better and we'll soon see the results on the ground.”
Sun pledged to announce developments on the establishment of an incubator for IT businesses discussed one year ago at Jordan's first IT Forum, held at the Dead Sea. Company representatives also anticipated that announcements will be made soon on possible deals with local universities for certification programs. — ( Jordan Times )
By Francesca Sawalha
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
