Sun and Adobe to Advance Document Workflows on Sun's New Java Desktop System

International Journal of Micrographics & Optical Technology, 2003

Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Adobe Systems Incorporated, are working together to enable users to leverage Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) documents in their business-critical processes. Adobe and Sun announced the completion of an agreement granting Sun the right to redistribute Adobe's award-winning Adobe Reader software with Sun's Java Desktop System.

As Sun is targeting the mobile workforce, government, education, and transactional users, the need to view, share and print Adobe PDF documents is a critical requirement. Sun's Java Desktop System addresses these issues by providing enterprise customers with a secure and cost-effective desktop alternative based on open standards. The inclusion of Adobe Reader with Java Desktop System underscores the shared view of Sun and Adobe to enable open standards that address the needs of customers.

Adobe's intelligent document solutions leverage the ubiquity of Acrobat Reader, the strength of PDF for presentations and XML for data exchange to enable power users, workgroups, and business professionals across the extended enterprise to efficiently create, share, review and archive business critical documents.

"For years, Adobe has led the industry by defining key standards that have enabled new markets with Postscript and PDF. Sun and Adobe share the belief that the next wave of desktop adoption will benefit from a more secure, and more portable document architecture. We are delighted to be working closely to integrate the renowned Adobe Reader in Sun's secure enterprise desktop," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president, Software at Sun. "As we continue to gain momentum and partners in Sun's Java System, we strongly endorse Adobe's intelligent document architecture and its enterprise initiative to enable organizations and governments worldwide to integrate documents into business-critical processes."

"We expect to see continued innovation and growth in the open standards-based desktop market fueled by efforts like Sun's Java Desktop System," said Shantanu Narayen, executive vice president, Worldwide Products, Adobe. "Sun's decision to include Adobe Reader with this new system will enable customers to leverage the considerable strength and versatility of Adobe PDF to drive document-based processes."

Sun Java Desktop Systems are designed to provide enterprise customers with a secure and cost-effective desktop alternative to proprietary PC desktops. The integrated platform utilizes a Linux kernel for IA32 systems and will be available on the Solaris/SPARC platform. It includes the key desktop applications necessary to provide users with a more secure, functional, desktop experience. The solution includes the award-winning StarOffice personal productivity suite, which reads and writes Microsoft file formats; the latest version of Sun's Java technology platform; the latest GNOME desktop environment; messaging, calendaring and instant messaging; connectivity to enterprise messaging servers for file and print sharing; and will support the industry standard Java Card platform for SmartCard authentication and security.

Contact Sun. Web: www.sun.com.