Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA) announced yesterday that the world's second-largest maker of computer systems will begin using Sun Microsystems' Solaris operating system as an offered feature of its new hardware servers. Dell will also custom build new servers around Sun's software.

The CEOs of both companies, Dell's Michael Dell and Sun's Jonathan Schwartz, announced the unique partnership and although this is being seen as a major step forward in Dell's attempt to release the shackles of Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) grip, no specific financial terms were disclosed. Since Dell opened up its consumer and business PCs and server computers to processors from Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD) and the freely-available Linux operating system, this is yet another way the Round Rock, Tx. company is trying to diversify its offerings in the wake of slowing sales and market share losses to competitor Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) in 2007.

Sun CEO Schwartz said that "Dell's offering of Solaris redefines the market opportunity for both companies," and he's right. Dell's hardware and distribution expertise will easily help Sun grow its market share for server computers, many of which power some huge web properties around the globe. Dell's ability to partner with multiple hardware and software platforms in the last 12 months or so really stands as a testament to its desire to reach any and every customer it can (in any segment) with a wide variety of offerings to suit every need. Microsoft shouldn't feel threatened -- yet.