---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ICL AND SUN MICROSYSTEMS INK JOINT MARKETING AGREEMENT FOR ICL'S DRS 6000 SPARC/UNIX/OPEN LOOK COMPUTERS SunFLASH Vol 19 #6 July 1990 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRVINE, Calif., --July 10, 1990-- ICL (International Computers Ltd.) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the signing of a joint marketing agreement for Sun SPARC(R) products and ICL's new DRS 6000 Series -- servers that combine SPARC technology with symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP) enhancements. The agreement, which covers U.S. sales, will take effect immediately. Sun and ICL expect to extend this joint marketing agreement to worldwide sales later this year. Under the terms of the agreement, Sun and ICL will cooperate to provide customers with a full range of powerful SPARC RISC products for use in open networking environments. For example, the two companies will make joint sales calls and engage in other activities to promote customer solutions that include SPARC workstations and servers from Sun and the DRS 6000 Series from ICL. "We expect the Sun/ICL partnership and the availability of the first SMP UNIX(R) System V Release 4 systems from ICL to further spur industry endorsement of SPARC/UNIX/OPEN LOOK/ONC technology within the mainstream of office computing," said Scott McNealy, president and CEO of Sun Microsystems. According to International Data Corp. (IDC), by the end of 1990, SPARC-based systems will account for 61 percent of the RISC market. MIPS, the number two supplier, will have 19 percent of the market, reported IDC. Open Systems with Enhanced Price/Performance The DRS 6000 is the first SPARC product to combine UNIX System V Release 4.0, the OPEN LOOK(TM) graphical user interface and symmetric multiprocessing extensions, as well as other standard networking and communications capabilities. ICL's new super-fast UNIX systems thus complement Sun's comprehensive range of SPARC systems with a high-end multiprocessing solution for enhancing workgroup efficiency and functionality. ICL was among the first major computer vendors to commit to SPARC technology for its next-generation RISC systems. In 1988, it became actively involves with AT&T and Sun in order to implement an open systems computing strategy based on UNIX System V.4, the latest version of the industry-standard UNIX operating system, and the SPARC RISC architecture, which form the heart of the DRS 6000 range of platforms. ICL also co-developed the SPARC Applications Binary Interface (ABI), which has selected the DRS 6000 series as the UNIX System V.4 reference port for SPARC ABI. "ICL's and Sun's cooperative marketing arrangement reflects both companies' commitment to meet customer demands for open, heterogeneous computing environments based on industry standards," said Peter Bonfield, chairman and managing director of ICL. "Sun's willingness to jointly market ICL's DRS 6000 validates our belief that SPARC-based computers will be the hardware platform of choice for the new wave of commercial UNIX applications during the 1990s," Bonfield added. A Mutually Beneficial Relationship According to the two companies, Sun's relationship with ICL will greatly enhance Sun's current sales strategies in the commercial information systems marketplace, where ICL historically has been strong. For its part, ICL will gain greater access to technical workstation and workgroup computing markets, where Sun is the industry leader. The joint marketing arrangement is the most recent cooperative effort between Sun and ICL. In Europe, ICL has sold Sun workstations under OEM agreements for many years. In the U.S., Sun has included ICL's popular OFFICEPOWER(R) office automation software in its Catalyst catalog and ICL has successfully sold the product on Sun hardware. International Computers Limited ICL is the largest U.K.-based computer company, with operations in more 70 countries. ICL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the STC PLC communications and information systems group (United Kingdom 1989 revenues $4.4 billion). ICL develops and markets a broad range of UNIX-based computer hardware, software, networking, and integration solutions for the commercial marketplace. ICL is located at 9801 Muirlands Blvd., Irvine, Calif. 92718-2521. Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. ### UNIX is a registered trademark and OPEN LOOK is a trademark of AT&T. SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International based on technology developed by Sun Microsystems. ONC is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. OFFICEPOWER is a registered trademark of Computer Consoles, Inc. (acquired by ICL in 1989). DRS 6000 is a trademark of ICL. All other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations. Press Contact: Marty Coleman (415) 336-3564 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sunflash is an electronic mail news service from Sun Microsystems, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. 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