Sun Delivers Java WorkShop Development Tool at Market-Leading Price; Enters Electronic Commerce Marketplace

Product Includes One-Year Free Subscription, Enables Java Development Anywhere and Deployment Everywhere

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - August 21, 1996 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today announced an aggressive introductory price promotion of $99 for its Java™ WorkShop™ development tool -- which is as low as one-third the price of competitive products. Beginning August 26, the product is available to be purchased and delivered from authorized resellers. This introductory promotional price period is valid through December 31, 1996. Unlike competitive products, Java WorkShop runs on major business platforms, including Solaris™ [SPARC™ and Intel], Windows 95, and Windows NT.

Customers who buy and register Java WorkShop automatically receive a product subscription, entitling them to one year of free updates and releases.

"This promotion gives our customers access to the most advanced Java development environment available for any platform at an incredible cost savings over competitive solutions," said Larry Weber, vice president and general manager, Sun's developer products group.

According to Sandy Sampson, Managing Analyst, Datapro Information Services Group, "The introduction of Java Workshop Version 1.0 is good news for those who plan to develop in the Java programming language. Literally tens of thousands of people helped Sun to debug the early developer releases; that outside expertise, coupled with the $99 pricing, makes a compelling argument to invest in Sun's Java WorkShop."

Java WorkShop: Innovative Web Browser Interface

This Web browser-based tool lets developers create Java applications graphically, shielding users from command-line coding and ultimately providing corporations with a competitive advantage in developing business applications more rapidly.

"Developing in a Web browser, such as in Java WorkShop, is a complete departure from traditional programming, and one that developers are rapidly adopting," said Serge Pluess, Technical Analyst, Creative Strategies. "The net result is that corporations can reduce the time it takes to develop interactive business applications, and can offer services faster. As the creator of the language, Sun also has the expertise to provide the best commercial Java development environment."

Java WorkShop, written entirely in the Java programming language, is the premier, multiplatform development tool to easily create, compile, organize and publish Java applications.

Availability & Pricing

Customers can take advantage of this limited-time promotion through a worldwide network of reseller, electronic and retail channels. A free 30-day evaluation copy and a list of authorized reseller are available for download at http://www.sun.com/developer-products. The MSRP is US$295; the limited-time promotional price is US$99. Education discount is available. For more information contact 1-800-SUNSOFT.

With annual revenues exceeding $7 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARC workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, Solaris operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No. 1 in the UNIX industry. Java, Sun's platform-independent programming language, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for complex networks, including the Internet. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, SunExpress, Java and Java WorkShop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and in other countries exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd.