Sun Microsystems announced on Tuesday it will acquire software maker Tarantella in a US$25 million cash deal it hopes will boost sales to corporate America.

Tarantella's software helps customers access and manage data, information and applications across a number of platforms, networks and devices -- including remote access. Tarantella's Secure Global Desktop product line, for example, allows customers to Web-enable applications.

The acquisition of California-based Tarantella is Sun's latest software move. Sun is focusing on software to help turn itself around as sales have come under pressure.

Sun announced another software deal just a day earlier, saying it will acquire Procom Technology, a maker of storage system software.

Tarantella's software can run on Sun's Solaris servers and also work with its Java software.

Tarantella was known as Santa Cruz Operation prior to selling its software business to Caldera International in 2001. It adopted the Tarantella name after its remaining product line, which ran software on central servers that desktop computers could access. Following Caldera's acquisition, the Santa Cruz Operation software business went on to become the controversial SCO Group.

The Tarantella deal is expected to close in Sun's fiscal first quarter, which ends this autumn.