Sun Microsystems, Inc. Takes Office Productivity To The Net. 'StarPortal' Initiative to Accelerate Transition to Service-Driven Network; Desktop Software Suite Available Now for Free - office productivity software - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Sept 6, 1999

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) Tuesday announced the next stage in portal computing with its unveiling of StarPortal, a major initiative to provide word processing, presentation graphics, spreadsheet and other office software tools to any web browser and eventually portable devices. Sun announced broad industry support from key Internet Service Providers, software developers, Internet outsourcing companies and others in this effort (see separate release).

"The new Service Driven Network is all about accessing the tools you need to do your job anywhere, with any device," said Ed Zander, president and chief operating officer at Sun. "This initiative to 'dot-com' office productivity software and to work with key partners in delivering this functionality via the web will turbocharge this trend."

Early-access versions of the StarPortal office productivity software for the web will be available later this fall. It is based on the award-winning StarOffice software suite technology Sun acquired in its recent purchase of privately held Star Division Corporation of Fremont, California in August. Traditional Version Available for Free

Sun will continue to offer the traditional StarOffice desktop version for free download at www.sun.com/staroffice. StarOffice software runs on the Linux, Windows, Solaris and OS/2 platforms and contains filters for importing other file formats, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and others. Users of Microsoft Office and other popular office suites will require little or no re-training to use StarOffice and can instantly access, modify and even export Microsoft Office files.

"StarOffice has the features and ease-of-use you'd demand in an office software suite," commented Zander. "Users can download it today and get right to work. If you know Microsoft Office, you'll feel right at home. And best of all, you can open, modify and even save files in Microsoft's formats."

Zander noted that Sun's actions Tuesday, in offering a complete office productivity software suite for free and in transitioning the technology to a web-based version, are in direct response to customer demand for software functionality accessible over the Internet. It also enables users a variety of document formats on the web without having to purchase expensive desktop software.

"The Net has revolutionized the way we access information and tools for everyday work," said Zander. "A few short years ago e-mail, calendaring, chat, database connectivity and other software had to be purchased in a shrinkwrap box and had to be installed on your personal computer. Now it's all professionally managed and maintained as part of a hosted service provided by your Internet Service Provider. And in many cases, these tools are free. This will enable broadband service providers to offer complete service packages, including office productivity." Details of Initiative Sun's plans for the StarPortal initiative include:

Distributing the classic version, StarOffice, via free download at www.sun.com for the Windows, Linux, OS/2 and Solaris platforms. CDs can also be ordered for a nominal $9.95 charge that covers domestic shipping and handling. Printed documentation and support can be purchased from $39.95. Higher level support and site-license support will be announced at a future date.

Completing development of StarPortal, a web-based version of the office suite that combines a Java-based client with the software to enable browser access to office productivity tools. StarPortal will provide users the ability to access their office desktop and to synchronize changes from any browser.

Working with key partners to use StarPortal in accelerating acceptance of the network services model. Sun is now in discussions with several major Internet service providers, Internet outsourcing services, providers of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Sales Force Automation (SFA) software, network hosting services and enterprises to integrate StarPortal as part of their services to customers and employees. Sun will make early access versions of StarPortal available later this Fall and is targeting Spring 2000 for final delivery. Sun will sell service and support for StarPortal.

Developing a component model that will enable software developers to integrate StarPortal functionality within their products. For example, a financial web service could embed a basic spreadsheet component within an investment application, and make this available to customers through a browser.

Providing source code under licensing terms. In addition to making the binary version of StarOffice available to end-users and the binary version of StarPortal available to service providers, Sun will publish the specifications to these technologies and provide the source code under Sun's Community Source License.

"This is a groundbreaking initiative," commented Zander. "Office productivity software has been 'dot-commed' into the network age. StarPortal is truly multi-platform, service provider-ready, Java-enabled, componentized, file-format compatible, scalable, and best of all, the right price."