Sun, Datafit and Epson Announce Breakthrough JavaPOS Solution for Network Computers

Business Wire, Oct 19, 1998

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 1998--RISCON--

Momentum for JavaPOS Standard Grows as Sun,

Datafit and Epson Optimize Products To Meet

The Need For More Reliability and Flexibility In Store Systems

Sun Microsystems, Inc., Datafit, Inc. and Epson America, Inc. today announced a new in-store POS solution based on the recently announced JavaPOS(TM) standard that allows POS vendors to take advantage of Sun's zero administration JavaStation(TM) Network Computers while making retail transaction data safe and accessible -- even if the network is down.

This marks the first time that major industry vendors have come together to extend the cross-platform capabilities of the JavaPOS specification to NCs -- like Sun's JavaStation NC -- and it's just the latest example of several companies coming together with innovative solutions based on the new standard, which was unveiled by a consortium of leading retailers and technology vendors just 10 months ago.

The JavaPOS solution includes products from all three companies: Sun's JavaStation NC, Epson's TM-H5000II Thermal printer and Datafit's JavaPOS technology-based BeanStore(TM) store automation software. It embraces the best features of terminals, proprietary store systems and PCs -- namely low cost of ownership, high availability, reliability, and graphical user interfaces. Based on the JavaPOS standard, it gives retailers the added advantage of being able to design store systems without worrying about which operating system or instruction set is driving the technology.

"It's exciting to see key industry suppliers, such as Datafit and Epson, marshalling the forces to get behind retailer demands for cross-platform capabilities in store systems," said Steve Tirado, vice president of marketing at Sun Microsystems. "By connecting JavaPOS and the JavaStation NC technologies, we see the potential to make the retail enterprise far more flexible, agile, sensible and cost effective than it is today."

The solution could accomplish that in several ways, most notably by basing the POS system functionality in central locations on the network and by leveraging Java technology's "Write Once, Run Anywhere(TM)" capabilities for developing, deploying, maintaining and updating software.

In this model, all transactions would continue to take place at the point of sale. But with the JavaPOS technology-based solution, that POS system would include Sun's JavaStation NC with added flash memory so that store employees can work "off-line" should the network go down due to power failure or other unusual events. Datafit's BeanStore software then takes over, automatically detecting that network access has been cut and storing all transaction data for retrieval to the Epson TM-H5000 II printer, which has been specifically optimized to perform this function on the JavaStation NC. When network access resumes, BeanStore detects that too, and employees go back on-line -- probably not even noticing the lost connection.

"While this may be an unusual implementation of our printer technology, it is certainly one of the most innovative and relevant implementations we've seen to date," said Bud Weist, director of marketing, system device group, Epson.

The solution will be available from the individual suppliers. The JavaStation NC is available through Sun and its worldwide resellers. Epson's TM-H5000 II printer can be purchased through Epson's VAR Business Partner Program. Datafit's BeanStore application can be purchased through leading OEMs and retail VARs.

"This solution couldn't come at a better time, meeting the needs of many retailers who are looking at ways to extend the capabilities of their present POS systems but worry about getting locked-in to one operating system or vendor," said David Preston, Chief Executive of Datafit. "It's fine for some to go with a single platform, but for those preferring a best-of-breed approach to selecting systems for their enterprise, JavaPOS-based solutions like this one are the way to go. By building this offering entirely on Java technology, were delivering the freedom of choice that many have demanded for some time."

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America, Inc. is headquartered in Torrance, Calif.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $10 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.