Business Services Industry

Sun Unveils Java Card 2.0; Industry Hails New Specification, Makes Revolutionary Innovations In Smart Cards Possible

Business Wire, July 23, 1997

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 1997--Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced today that it will post the Java(TM) Card 2.0 draft specification for public review in early September.

Sun's Java Card API is licensed by companies representing more than 90 percent of worldwide smart card manufacturing capacity. These companies and others in the smart card industry intend to implement Java Card as the worldwide standard for developing smart card applications, which would enable Java-based smart cards from one manufacturer to communicate with readers from another.

"Java Card 2.0 is designed to help enable smart cards to become as widespread, recognizable and accepted as currency," said Alan Baratz, president of JavaSoft, a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Industry-leading smart card manufacturers are building products to the Java Card specification and we may soon see a global smart card network where your smart card would be as widely accepted as your passport."

Companies who have endorsed Java Card 2.0 include Bull, Citibank, First Union National Bank, Gemplus, Giesecki & Devrient, Hitachi, Integrity Arts, Motorola, Schlumberger, Toshiba, VeriFone, VISA and many others (see attached addendum).

Java Card 2.0 will include a host of features designed to create new opportunities for smart card applications, including:

-- The ability to process data using 16- and 32-bit microprocessors as well as 8-bit processors in addition to a more robust file system. Taken together,these features give smart cards the basic horsepower they need to run new kinds of applications - allowing consumers to use one card for many things, such as storing bank account information and keeping track of frequent filer miles.

-- International language support so that Java-enabled smart cards can read and understand multiple languages, allowing for the possibility for customers to use their smart cards in different parts of the world.

-- Improved response time for loading applets from networked devices. Customers would be able to "download" while the smart card resides in a reader - an ATM, for example.

Other features are designed to provide better performance, improved security and smoother integration between smart cards and the devices with which they interact. The final Java Card 2.0 specification is due before the end of the year.

Java Internet Business Expo

Java(SM) Internet Business Expo(SM) takes place August 25-28, 1997 in New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Java industry will converge on this event to showcase the latest applications and solutions that take Java beyond the desktop -- from consumer electronic devices to enterprise-wide Java-based computing. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.javaexpo.sbforums.com or call 888/528-2397.

About Sun

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)" has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., (NASDAQ:SUNW) to it position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $8 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the Worldwide Web at http://www.sun.com . -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, JavaSoft, Java, Java Internet business Expo and The Network Is The Computer, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc., in the United States and in other countries.

JavaCard Endorsers

Contact Information

Bull HN Information Systems, Inc.

Bill Bradley

508/294-5812

b.bradley@bull.com

John Skelly

Citicorp

310/302-3253

john.skelly@citicorp.com

First Union

Mollie Shook