Computer giant ends link with SolNet

By ADAM GIFFORD

United States computer giant Sun Microsystems has severed its 10-year relationship with New Zealand agent SolNet, citing "financial reasons" and raising questions about SolNet's future.

"We have stopped trading with SolNet so they can no longer provide our products," said Jim Hassell, head of Sun Australia and New Zealand.

He refused to disclose the details behind the split.

Hassell flew into New Zealand on Monday with a team of executives to inform SolNet of the decision and to discuss the change with customers and resellers.

SolNet chairman Murray McNae, who sat on the Government's Information and Communications Technology Taskforce, said the axing caught him by surprise, despite indications Sun wanted to change the way it did business here.

"We had been having discussions about the structure of the business and Sun's viability here," McNae said.

"We had a good first quarter performance and a good Q4 as well. In terms of the goals agreed with Sun, we exceeded them for hardware and were for the last two quarters the top performing branch in Australasia."

McNae denied that Sun had conducted an audit of SolNet's books, and said it was too early to say whether SolNet would take legal action over losing the agency.

Solnet