HP, which shelled out about $19 billion for acquire rival Compaq Computer, said the shutdown of the Netaction product set would affect the HP Netaction Application Server, HP Netaction Web Services Platform and HP Web Services Registry products in its middleware portfolio.

Instead, HP announced partnership deals with Microsoft and BEA Systems to provide middleware services to support .NET and J2EE environments.

With Microsoft, HP said it would partner to speed up the adoption of .NET and the implementation of Web services in Windows-based environments. The deal with BEA calls for HP OpenView to serve as a solution for application, network and systems management.

The shift in focus would include an increased investment in the company's HP OpenView, HP Utility Data Center, and HP Opencall software suites.

The company said HP OpenView, HP Utility Data Center and HP Opencall would redirect its current and future development and go-to-market efforts in three software categories.

It said the OpenView infrastructure management software would be used to support Web services initiatives as well as tighter integration between business and operations management.

The company said it would focus the HP Utility Data Center to enable corporate clients to deploy a self-managing, self-optimizing programmable data center, including support for Web services.

"Our plan is to extend the software management capabilities in HP OpenView and HP Utility Data Center to create what we're calling a 'management fabric' that will radically reduce the complexity of enterprise and service provider operating environments," said Nora Denzel, senior VP of HP's Software Global Business Unit.

The company also plans to enhance HP Opencall and IN7 telco middleware platforms to continue the fight for market share in the wireless and wireline service and equipment provider markets.

HP said transition program details for the discontinued Netaction products would be made public by September 15, 2002.