Sun Defines Global Email Market with New Sun Internet Mail Server; Software Out-Scales Competing Products at Less Than One Third of the Cost Per User

Business Wire, Oct 7, 1997

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1997--Sun Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today announced Sun Internet Mail Server 3.1, Global Business Edition -- the industry-leading, highly-scalable email server designed from the ground up for Internet interoperability and reliable mail delivery.

In scalability tests conducted by Sun, Sun Internet Mail Server software out-scaled competing products such as Microsoft Exchange, and did so at less than one third of the overall cost per user (for list price comparison of both software and hardware see: www.sun.com/sims/hotnews/competitive.pdf ).

Built on native Internet standards, Sun Internet Mail Server provides direct connectivity and interoperability with the Internet -- no gateways or translations that can lead to unreadable or undeliverable mail. This, along with Sun's business-quality message store and the proven reliability of the market-leading Solaris operating environment, significantly enhances the quality of service that IT managers can provide users.

Also unique in the Sun Internet Mail Server product is a bundled Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory that offers information assistance to any user via a Web browser and a Java based administration tool that delivers point-and-click administration services from anywhere on the network.

"With the Sun Internet Mail Server solution, we're able to offer better service to more customers for less money," said Greg Thomas, chief technology officer at Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD), one of Oregon's largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs). "With Sun's email solution, our growth potential and business opportunity is virtually unlimited."

According to Sara Radicati, president and CEO of the Radicati Group Inc., "Businesses today are having tremendous problems with email reliability, specifically, readable mail and attachments that reach their destinations on time. Cost and administration have become issues as well since most mail systems only scale by adding servers and, as a result, overhead and maintenance costs. We believe Sun Internet Mail Server software offers a viable alternative for businesses that require high scalability and reliability."

"The Internet has driven email requirements right into the core competence of Sun, namely enterprise network computing," said John McFarlane, vice president and general manager of Sun's network software group. "Companies are hitting-the-wall with existing email server products because they were designed for small-scale LAN use. With this new server, Sun is delivering global business messaging -- the high-reliability email communications backbone that can improve a corporation's competitiveness and the bottom line."

Building a Profitable Business with Sun Internet Mail Server

NWRESD is an Oregon-based ISP servicing 3,500 square miles and 19 independent school districts. According to Thomas, costs began spiraling out of control because of the variety of unreliable email solutions, including Microsoft Exchange, cc:Mail and PostOffice that school districts were supporting at each of their school buildings. NWRESD is standardizing on Sun Internet Mail Server software to lower costs and improve the quality of service to their more than 100,000 students and 12,000 faculty customers.

Thomas added, "We evaluated the email server market carefully and Sun Internet Mail Server was the only system powerful enough to handle our volume, performance and administration needs effectively. I would highly recommend this solution to any business that depends on email communications."

Pricing and Availability

Currently available for both Solaris Intel and SPARC systems, Sun Internet Mail Server, Global Business Edition is priced at $1,495 for the departmental and $3,495 for the enterprise version. Each version includes 100 mailboxes. Additional mailboxes can be purchased for $5.00 - $12.00 depending on volume. Sun Internet Mail Server software is also available on CD-ROM.

Mail connectivity services with full bi-directional directory synchronization to Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail and IBM PROFS, will be available before the end of the year starting at $5,000. For more information or to place an order, call 800/786-7638 or access the Sun home page at www.sun.com/sims .

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 hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet.

With more than $8.5 billion in annual revenue, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the Worldwide Web at http://www.sun.com . -0- Sun Internet Mail Server 3.1, Global Business Edition Features and Benefits

According to Sun customers like Master's Institute, corporate IT managers are judged on the quality of service provided by the company's mail system -- does mail get to the right destination on time in a readable format? Sun Internet Mail Server delivers three unique advantages that help improve the quality of service IT managers provide their users: Native Internet Connectivity via Standards, a Business Quality Sun Message Store, and the Proven Reliability of the Solaris operating environment.