Business Services Industry

Sun Microsystems and the National Retail Federation Foundation Announce Alliance to Deliver New Distance Learning Program for Retailers

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2006

NEW YORK -- Sun Fire x64 Servers Power NRF Universitywired's Web site, Enable Employees to Bolster Skills and Retailers to Increase Competitive Edge

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) and the NRF Foundation (NRFF) announced today that Sun's x64 (x86, 64-bit) industry standard Sun Fire(TM) X2100 servers, powered by the AMD Opteron(TM) processor, will power a new distance learning web site available to NRF Foundation members and non-members. The new NRF Universitywired/e-learning solution has been created by the NRF Foundation, the research and education arm of the National Retail Federation (NRF), and Sun Microsystems. The site will be managed by GeoLearning, a leading provider of managed learning services.

NRF Universitywired simplifies learning by providing a rich curriculum of training courses available through a highly scalable, fully customizable online distance learning system. With NRF Universitywired, retailers can easily and consistently train employees regardless of geography. Launched in 2003, NRF Universitywired currently serves more than 20 million retail employees, enabling retailers to train their workforce with a premier distance education key e-learning source.

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with NRF to build this distance learning offering on the power of our industry standard Sun Fire X2100 servers. Together, we are creating great benefit for retailers and showing the power of Sun solutions for creating network services," said Larry Singer, senior vice president and strategic insight officer, Sun Microsystems. "This alliance helps provide NRF members with a more reliable, cost-effective, secure and easily accessible professional development tool available anytime, anywhere."

"We are pleased to see that our relationship with Sun Microsystems continues to thrive," said NRF CIO David Hogan. "Universitywired is an important component to NRFF's distant learning initiative. We look forward to the added benefits this partnership will present to the retail workforce."

NRF Foundation selects content from numerous content providers, including retailers, and each course is subjected to peer review to ensure that only the best content is offered. Courses can be selected by training managers or human resources professionals interested in tailoring learning programs to individual associates', managers' or executives' needs.

More information on the NRF Universitywired can be found by visiting: www.nrfuniversitywired.com.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

A singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer"(TM) -- guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world's most important markets. Sun's philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at sun.com. Subscribe to Sun Newswire at http://sun.com/news.> About The NRF Foundation

The NRF Foundation (NRFF) is the research and education arm of the National Retail Federation. A non-profit foundation created in 1981, the Foundation conducts industry research, develops education and workforce development programs, and promotes retailing as a career destination. The NRF Foundation benefits retailers, their associates and business partners and allies, and consumers in many ways. Research provides the basis for education about the industry and its importance to the economy, and provides industry and government leaders with an analysis of public policy decisions on consumers, retailers, and the economy. The Foundation's education and career development efforts, including NRF Universitywired, encourage professional development and excellence in performance of retailing for associates and executives at all levels.