Does Symantec-Juniper deal preface a merger?

Symantec and Juniper Networks announced a marketing and development partnership this week. They said a merger isn't necessary, but were they just floating a trial balloon? To begin the current deal, they'll recommend and resell each other's security products, while hands-on technical collaboration will begin in the unspecified future--they'll decide more within the next few months, officials said. Meanwhile, recently expanded security rivals include Cisco Systems, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. So perhaps if the next few months go well, they'll decide to merge after all, creating a networking, security and storage software giant.

For more on the deal:
- read this VARBusiness op-ed