Could an IBM-Sun Microsystems Deal Pass Antitrust Muster?
By Roy Mark The rumor that IBM is willing to spend $6.5 billion to acquire Sun Microsystems raises potential antitrust questions about the enterprise server market, where both companies hold a dominant market share in servers running on the Unix operating system. Then come questions about the competitive future of the storage, middleware, Java and database sectors. Rumors are nothing more than rumors, but that hasn’t stopped the rampant speculation that has burned up the Internet since media reports March 18 broke the news that IBM may be in unconfirmed discussions to buy Sun Microsystems for $6.5 billion in cash. Phrases like “software monolith,” “enterprise giant” and “high-tech juggernaut” have all been used to describe the result of an IBM purchase of Sun. “Illegal,” though, was not being bandied about until Ed Black, president and CEO of the trade group CCIA (Computer & Communications Industry Association) joined in the massive speculation over the possible deal between IBM and Su
