Briefs: IBM Supports Unix

IBM Corp. agreed to have its AIX Unix operating system run Web server, directory server and other Internet applications developed by Sun Microsystems Inc. and Netscape Communications Corp., even though the Sun/Netscape iPlanet suite competes with IBM's own WebSphere e-commerce products. IBM made the move to keep e-commerce users in its RS/6000 installed base, said Brad Day, an analyst at Giga Information Group Inc. in Norwell, Massachusetts.

Qwest Wins Contract

Qwest Communications International Inc. in Denver won a US$50 million contract to support the backbone network at the Department of Energy's Energy Sciences Network (ESnet). ESnet connects more than 30 research sites that focus on new energy sources, genetics, global climate change and other scientific issues.

Under the contract, Qwest said it will provide performance levels up to 1T bit/sec. by 2005.

AOL in Handheld Deals

America Online Inc. announced two separate agreements for services that give wireless e-mail access to users of handheld computers from Compaq Computer Corp. and Tokyo-based Casio Computer Co. AOL said it's developing free software to allow subscribers to send and receive e-mail with Compaq's Aero and Casio's Cassiopeia devices. Last month, AOL acquired an online mapping service and a maker of text-entry software for mobile phones.

Short Takes

The Web-hosting services market is expected to almost double to more than $1.8 billion, according to International Data Corp. in Framingham, Massachusetts.

... PeopleSoft Inc. in Pleasanton, California, closed its acquisition of Vantive Corp., a Santa Clara, California-based vendor of customer relationship management software, for $560 million. ... Open-source software vendor Red hat Inc. in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, has bought privately held Hell's Kitchen Systems Inc. in Pittsburgh, a maker of e-commerce payment processing software, for about $89 million.