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Allied Irish Bank Selects Sun Microsystems Java(TM) Desktop System

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 06:00 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, JavaOne(SM) Developer Conference, June 29

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced that Allied Irish Bank (AIB), one of Ireland's largest banking and financial services organizations, a significant private sector employer and one of Europe's largest indigenous companies, will migrate 7,500 desktop users and transition branch dependent applications across its entire branch network to the Sun Java(TM) Desktop System.

This agreement, in collaboration with Horizon Open Systems, represents the largest financial services enterprise deal for the Java Desktop System, a comprehensive, secure and highly affordable desktop solution, since its availability in December 2003.

AIB branch staff in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom will transition to the Java Desktop System during 2005 as part of the rollout by AIB of its New Branch Banking Platform (NBP). AIB chose the Java Desktop System for its integrated client environment based on open source components and industry standards. In addition, Sun's Services organization will provide technology consulting, support and education services to complement the Java Desktop System implementation.

"The global momentum for the Java Desktop System continues at a rapid pace because of its affordability, enhanced security and manageability, and interoperability," said Curtis Sasaki, vice president, Desktop Solutions at Sun. "We are very pleased to have AIB as a client of Sun and see growing demand in the financial, education and government markets. With Java Desktop System Release 2, the enhanced manageability enables CIOs fine grain configuration and access to the desktops."

Sun has seen an unprecedented worldwide increase in demand for alternative desktop technologies. The Java Desktop System has seen tremendous momentum, including recent government agreements with the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom, and is now available on Microtel PCs from the world's largest retailer. Sun's StarOffice productivity suite, a key component of the Java Desktop System, is also gaining increased momentum in the worldwide retail space with two million copies sold by German partner, Markement, and a multimillion dollar deal with SOURCENEXT Corporation, a leading Japanese computer products distributor, to provide the Japanese version of StarOffice(TM) software, StarSuite 7, to 25,000 retail locations in Japan and via Internet downloads. In addition, StarOffice software is migrating thousands of users in India where Sun has reached a landmark agreement with the Indian state government of Haryana and secured a 10,000-seat win with the United India Insurance Company.

And with over 1,500 developers signed up to certify their applications on Java Desktop System, a wide range of communications, collaboration, entertainment and productivity solutions further the market reach and opportunity worldwide.

The Java Desktop System 2, which shipped in May 2004, is designed to lower computing costs and reduce desktop management complexities while providing a familiar and secure environment. Key features of the Java Desktop System include Sun's StarOffice productivity suite, a familiar look and feel and file and printing interoperability. The Java Desktop System is available on Linux and is scheduled to be available on the Solaris(TM) Operating System and on thin-client solutions from Sun.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com/ .

NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Java, StarOffice, Solaris, The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Melissa Pereira

408-276-6123

melissa.pereira@sun.com

Citigate Cunningham

Vanessa Villacarlos

415-618-8740

vvillacarlos@citigatecunningham.com

Bite Communications

James Taylor/Ruth Andrew

020-8741-1123

james.taylor/ruth.andrew@bitepr.com

http://www.sun.com/news

Contact: allpress@sun.com

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

CONTACT: Melissa Pereira of Sun Microsystems, Inc., +1-408-276-6123, ormelissa.pereira@sun.com, or allpress@sun.com; or Vanessa Villacarlos ofCitigate Cunningham, +1-415-618-8740, or vvillacarlos@citigatecunningham.com,for Sun Microsystems, Inc.; or James Taylor, james.taylor@bitepr.com, orRuth Andrew, ruth.andrew@bitepr.com, both of Bite Communications,020-8741-1123, for Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Web site: http://sun.com/

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