Sun Microsystems' SPARCstation Voyager systems create a "virtual office" for attendees at DAC '95

Business Wire, June 12, 1995

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 1995--At the Design Automation Conference (DAC) today, Sun Microsystems Computer Company (SMCC) showcased a "virtual office" in the form of 50 Sun(TM) SPARCstation(TM) Voyager(TM) systems located throughout the show that allow attendees instant access to the Internet.

To demonstrate the networking and graphics capabilities of its advanced workstations, Sun Microsystems has teamed up with MP Associates, managers of DAC, to provide conference attendees with the DACnet Mail and Information System, a "virtual office." This is the fifth year that the Sun/MP Associates team has provided this service to DAC.

Using 50 Sun SPARCstation Voyager portable systems conveniently located throughout the Moscone Center, attendees will be able to send and receive messages globally via the Internet and to access exhibitor home pages on the World Wide Web. The Web currently has an estimated one million to two million users who navigate its thousands of addresses using browsing software such as Mosaic or Netscape. Sun Microsystems is a major player on the Internet: according to the Internet Society, 56 percent of the Internet traffic runs on Sun servers.

"Use of DACnet has increased every year since we first introduced this service in 1990, proving its value to our show attendees. Based on this acceptance, we have broadened the scope of our service to the EDA industry by supporting a DAC home page on the World Wide Web," said Pat Pistilli, president of MP Associates.

"To meet the computing needs of today's mobile engineering professionals, powerful portable workstations such as the SPARCstation Voyager system are the answer. DACnet '95 provides an ideal forum to demonstrate the Voyager's network computing and graphics capabilities," said Tom Minot, manager, design automation, SMCC. DAC '95 attendees also will have online access to the conference agenda and late-breaking news from the exhibit floor, and, via private mailboxes on the local DACnet, they will be able to communicate with other attendees."

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available via the World Wide Web by typing http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt. To visit DAC's home page, type http://www.dac.com/dac.html at the URL prompt.

MP Associates, Inc. has been providing fully-integrated conference management services for DAC and other conferences since 1985. DACnet is only one of the numerous activities and services that MP Associates coordinates for DAC to ensure every attendee has a positive experience while attending the conference. For further information, contact MP Associates in Boulder, Colo., at 303/530-4562, or mpa@dac.com.

Sun Microsystems Computer Company (SMCC) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of network computing systems and is a division of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Recognized for quality and innovation, the company's SPARCstation(TM) desktops and multiprocessing servers each hold the No. 1 UNIX(R) marketshare position. These systems are used primarily by businesses, educational institutions and governments worldwide for technical, commercial, industrial, and software development applications. -0-

Note to Editors: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems and SPARCstation Voyager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCstation is licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape or NCSA Mosaic. Type http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt.

CONTACT: Sun Microsystems Computer Company

Steve Fritz, 415/786-8082

or

Burson-Marsteller

Lou Harm, 212/614-4967