Sun brought to the deal its highly regarded NetDynamics utility server software.
Netscape offered a wide range of technology, from program servers to directory software.
Alliance executives acknowledge past missteps and say they are now on the right course.
After a year of transition, Sun-Netscape is ready to take on rivals.
She acknowledged it had been tough to combine two different corporate cultures.
At the very least, they say, the venture can continue to make money marketing its brand name.
The alliance stems from an agreement Sun and AOL made after AOL acquired Netscape in late 1998.
The two companies last March detailed astrategyto build and sell software that allows businesses to create e-commerce Web sites.
For example, Rinat took about 20 former NetDynamics employees with him to a new start-up calledModelN.
Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen also took some Netscape alumni to Loudcloud, his new start-up.
Then the companies had tofigure outhow to pare down overlap in their product lines after the alliance.
And in January, the companylaunchedan extensive advertising and marketing campaign, renaming its products “iPlanet.”
It’s difficult to gauge the alliance’s success because of the complex three-year deal between Sun and AOL.
The companies do not break out separate financial data for the alliance.
In exchange, AOL agreed to buy $500 million of Sun hardware.
Sun chief executive Scott McNealy said last year that he expected the alliance to become profitable in two years.
It is also unclear what will happen to the partnership after the three-year contract ends.
Regardless, Gartner Group estimates that the company’s revenues grew last year, earning about $474 million.
Breya said Sun-Netscape plans to do just that.
The biggest challenge for the alliance will now be reclaiming credibility with potential customers, said Patel.
