Boye Janus Boye

Die hard for FatWire Spark

14-Sep-2005

Tags: Portals and Content Integration, Web Content Management, Marketplace at Large, Selecting Technology, , FatWire Content Server

After FatWire acquired the Content Server product line from divine in 2003, most commentators expected the original FatWire "Spark" product to fade away. Although sold almost exclusively in the USA and not easily upgradable to the more robust Content Server package, FatWire has kept Spark alive and today announced that Sun Microsystems will offer an unlimited - use license free to Sun Portal Server customers. This is an interesting move for two vendors struggling to find their niche. FatWire may see Spark as a lead generator, but some Sun licensees might come to find Spark limiting -- although, to be fair, other portal vendors' CMS tools are similarly light. Other customers might be frustrated that Sun, and not FatWire, will handle product support. Internationally, the FatWire sales force could be left in an awkward position, with Sun giving away Spark for free while the FatWire reps try to push the more complicated (and expensive) Content Server product.

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