What to tell Iranians living in Iran who want go for Sun certificates?

[Darya Akbari]

Hi all,

I was asked several times, here at JavaRanch, by Iranians living in Iran how they can achieve Sun's Java certificates starting from SCJP etc.

Honestly, I have no clue what to tell them, because the only information I have is that those people from Iran, Syria, North-Korea and others are not allowed at all to go for Sun's certificates.

Does anyone here has more information on this issue. Maybe there is a workaround for such cases

Regards,
Darya

[Paul Bourdeaux]

I am not an expert, but I believe that since Sun is a US based company, any country that is facing an embargo from the US cannot do business with Sun.

[kayal cox]

I can see how the conversation would go:

Iranian: Hi, I am from Iran. Can you please tell me how I can get Sun certified?

Friendly Java Rancher: You can start by overthrowing your government and stopping the production of nuclear weapons.

Iranian, and other Friendly Javaranchers pitching in: (start of things that signfiy a mudfight)

Silent observers: And thus the Trash can grows!


[ August 11, 2005: Message edited by: kayal cox ]

[Max Habibi]

Originally posted by kayal cox:
I can see how the conversation would go:

Iranian: Hi, I am from Iran. Can you please tell me how I can get Sun certified?

Friendly Java Rancher: You can start by overthrowing your government and stopping the production of nuclear weapons.

Iranian, and other Friendly Javaranchers pitching in: (start of things that signfiy a mudfight)

Silent observers: And thus the Trash can grows!



[ August 11, 2005: Message edited by: kayal cox ]

Not very friendly comment removed.
[ August 11, 2005: Message edited by: Thomas Paul ]

[Mapraputa Is]

Check your mail, Darya.

[Darya Akbari]

Hi Kayal,

what mudfight are you talking of . Forget about mudfights and give me better some information how I can help our JavaRanch friends from Iran to answer their question.

Regards,
Darya

[Max Habibi]

Hi Darya,

I'll contact my sources @ Sun and ask: maybe they'll even answer :-D

[Michael Ernest]

http://www.sun.com/sales/its/countries/Embargoed.html

In short, they need authorization from the US Government to proceed.

[Darya Akbari]

Sounds good Max

Regards,
Darya

[Chetan Parekh]

Dear Darya Akbari,

See what someone has written in his signature.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
--Mahatma Gandhi


If they are not offering certificates to the residence of you country, don�t search for alternate ways for it.

[Ashok Mash]

See it as an opportunity � set up a Java Certification Lobby and conduct fair and clean Certification exams with questions similar to the original Sun Certification questions � If the setup is sound enough and earns trust from the industry, those who take the certifications will find it working for them just as well as the real thing, and in the mean time use the numbers to convince Sun / IT Industry in Iran / Iranian Governmnet / US Government to do something about this!

Okay, it must be a Friday thing � never mind!
[ August 12, 2005: Message edited by: Ashok Mash ]

[Jason Menard]

If the setup is sound enough and earns trust from the industry

What industry? The "industry" as we generally speak of it exists outside of Iran. As much of the "industry" isn't going to do business with Iran (French government contracts aside), the point of an industry trusted alternate certification in Iran seems moot, doesn't it?

those who take the certifications will find it working for them just as well as the real thing

How so?

in the mean time use the numbers to convince Sun / IT Industry in Iran / Iranian Governmnet / US Government to do something about this!

I don't think people wanting Sun certification is going to cause the US government or any other likeminded governments to lift their embargo, nor are any embargos likely to be lifted in the near future. Sun and the IT Industry in Iran certainly have no influence on this.
[ August 12, 2005: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Ashok Mash]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
If the setup is sound enough and earns trust from the industry

What industry? The "industry" as we generally speak of it exists outside of Iran. As much of the "industry" isn't going to do business with Iran (French government contracts aside), the point of an industry trusted alternate certification in Iran seems moot, doesn't it?

From here:

Iran has 1,000 software companies and its software industry is estimated to
be worth $100 million. IDRO, which has a turnover of $3 billion, is now
moving into IT, biotechnology and other high technology areas and
contributes 25 percent of Iran's industrial GDP. It employs about 100,000
people.

That industry. I am no expert in Iran's economy, but Iran is a big country, rich or poor, its bound to have plenty of use with computers and software, and especially since there is a trade embargo with the US, there is much more chances of a local software development industry there � to meet their internal demand.

Of course, I could be wrong � well, I did warn you though, its that Friday feeling!

[Michael Ernest]

Assuming, say a 20:1 ration of use between Unix- and Windows-based systems -- and I think that's a liberal ratio at worst -- your $100 million industry breaks down to a possible $20 million market for all Unix vendors. Which is plenty of opportunity, but not the kind of money that makes superpower governments rethink their foreign policy.

Honestly, I think the only thing you can tell your Iranian chums is the truth: the US considers Iran hostile to its interests. American-based companies have little choice but to follow suit when the State Department calls.