Sun Microsystems Announces Java Technology and Linux Deliver Network Computing to Millions of Desktops and Devices

Jonathan Schwartz Keynote at LinuxWorld -- Sun Demonstrates Alternative Desktop, New Innovations Leveraging Java and Linux

SAN FRANCISCO -- LinuxWorld Conference & Expo -- August 5, 2003 -- In a keynote speech today at LinuxWorld, Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's executive vice president of software at Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) , challenged the status quo in personal computing with the unveiling of a new Linux-based alternative desktop and Java-based innovations that will shatter the dimensions of the traditional user experience. Sun coupled this debut with a series of announcements designed to accelerate the innovation and distribution of Java and Linux.

During his keynote, Schwartz also previewed -- for the first time publicly-- Project Mad Hatter, Sun's fully-integrated open desktop environment for Linux, Solaris and SunRay deployments that includes Java technology, the GNOME desktop environment, Ximian Evolution and Sun's StarOffice productivity suite. Sun's alternative desktop, due later this year, will deliver dramatically lower per-seat costs in business environments while delivering familiar look and feel, interoperability and comparable functionality to the typical PC more securely. Schwartz also showed the future of this effort when he demonstrated a three-dimensional evolution of the desktop built entirely in Java on Linux. Sun will formally launch Project Mad Hatter at its SunNetwork conference in September 2003. (See related Sun desktop innovation announcement.)

"Project Mad Hatter will change the economics, definition and experience of desktop computing," said Schwartz. "But this is only the beginning. The combination of Java and Linux is a driving force-- bringing network services to 1.2 billion devices supported by over 3 million developers. Our Linux strategy is to leverage the powerful combination of Java and Linux to open and grow new markets for network computing."

Finally, Schwartz reaffirmed Sun's commitment to open communities and open standards by detailing its contribution of over 8 million lines of code to the open source community, driving participation in OpenOffice.org, Mozilla.org, java.net and its recent membership in the Open Source Development Lab (ODSL).

Sun's key LinuxWorld announcements include:

  • Sun is joining Open Source Development Lab (OSDL): Sun joined OSDL, a global consortium of leading technology companies dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Linux, to help drive the development of open-standard software including Linux and to lend its expertise in the data center and carrier-grade markets.
  • Sun's x86-based systems, which run Solaris x86 or standard Linux distributions, drive momentum in education and mid-market segments. Continuing the reduction of cost and complexity for customers, the Sun Fire V65x system was reduced in price. The Sun Fire V60x system will also receive a processor upgrade to 3.06 Gz.
  • Last week, Sun and SuSE Linux announced a global alliance to expand the reach of SuSE Linux and Java technology in the rapidly growing Linux market. Under the terms of the agreement, Sun will ship and provide full customer support for SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and SuSE committed to become a Java 2 Standard Edition source licensee. In addition, SuSE committed to distribute Sun's Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to further expand the deployment of one of the world's most popular application environment.
  • Sun Microsystems showcased growing momentum of Linux projects on java.net with new, leading edge Linux telecommunications projects that demonstrate the convergence of Java-Linux developer communities: jinux, a 100 percent Java operating system on top of minimal Linux kernel; wirelessvoip, a Linux gateway and DA via 802.11 that includes a Linux telephony server; and sip-communicator, a JAIN-SIP video phone project. java.net, the source for Java technology collaboration, was launched 60 days ago and is one of the fastest growing collaboration communities with over 16,000 registered users, over 460 projects, more than 15 Java communities, and host to more than 40 Java technology and community-related weblogs, and over 30 Java user groups from more than 11 countries.
  • Sun also announced it has teamed with AMD to provide native Java technology support for the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor. By supporting the 64-bit Linux and Windows platforms on the AMD Opteron processor, Sun is allowing companies to migrate their current Java applications from a 32-bit to 64-bit computing platform with little or no changes to the code, as well as enabling the development and deployment of new Java applications and Web services.

    Register for SunNetwork 2003 Conference and Pavilion

    The SunNetwork 2003 Conference and Pavilion is the only conference 100 percent dedicated to showcasing end-to-end solutions from Sun and our iForce partners. SunNetwork 2003 will provide information and insights through more than 200 education and technical sessions about products and innovations designed to reduce the cost and complexity of network computing.

    LinuxWorld Conference and Expo attendees also planning to attend SunNetwork 2003 are eligible for a discounted registration rate. Stop by the Sun booth #1247 to pick up the discount code. More information about SunNetwork 2003 and registration is available online at http://sunnetwork.sun.com.

    About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

    Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) 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

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