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             TWO THOUSAND SPARCWARE PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE
SunFLASH Vol 17 #8					 	May 1990 
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Sun's Third-Party Software Program Continues Its Success
  
 
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --May 15, 1990-- Sun Microsystems today announced
that the number of third-party products for its SPARC(TM) systems has
surpassed the 2,000 mark -- a fourfold increase in the past year.  This
is a significantly greater software selection than that available for
all other RISC/UNIX(R) workstations combined.  Included in Sun's list
of new third-party software are important PC-class products such as
Lotus 1-2-3, WingZ from Informix, FoxBase and WordPerfect, as well as
many other business and technical applications.  Other leading PC
software vendors like Ashton-Tate have previously announced their
intention to create SPARCware(TM) products.

One year ago, there were 500 SPARCware solutions.  The dramatic
increase since then reflects not only the success of Sun's SPARC
systems in the marketplace but also Sun's ability to support vendors
through its worldwide Catalyst third-party program.  For example, Sun
has just added a range of new services to support its Catalyst vendors
(see news release).

The announcements were made at Sun's International Developer's
Conference, being held May 15-17 at the Santa Clara Convention Center,
with nearly 500 developers and resellers from around the world in
attendance.  The event coincides with the launch of Sun's newest RISC
desktop computers, the SPARCstation(TM) SLC and SPARCstation 1+ -- and
a new server, the SPARCserver(TM) 470.

With Sun's desktop SPARCstations now selling at an annualized rate of
125,000 systems, this RISC-based computer family has the largest
installed base of any RISC/UNIX system.  The SPARC platform has become
one of the three volume desktop computing leaders, along with Intel/DOS
and Macintosh.

"It's clear from the leadership of SPARC and SPARCware that developers
and customers prefer system vendors who support one solution rather
than a menu of choices," said Bill Larson, director of Catalyst market
development for Sun.  "Unlike other computer manufacturers whose
development and marketing energies are diffused by offering a variety
of hardware platforms and a myriad of operating systems, Sun has a
single open platform:  SPARC/UNIX/OPEN LOOK/ONC."

Major Software Vendors Support SPARC

Many well-known minicomputer vendors have recently announced their
support of the SPARC platform, such as NYNEX Information Solutions,
Mentor Graphics, Andersen Consulting and Landmark Graphics.  Within the
last year, an ever-increasing number of major PC-class software vendors
have jumped on the SPARC bandwagon, offering powerful UNIX applications
for SPARC at PC prices.  For example, available today for SPARC are
Lotus 1-2-3 at $695, WingZ at $699, SlimTPS from Interleaf at $795 and
FrameMaker at $999.

Other SPARC applications from leading vendors now available include
WordPerfect, SCO Professional (a 1-2-3 work alike), FoxBase (a dBase
III work alike), T/Maker ClickArt and AutoCAD from AutoDesk.
Previously announced and soon to be released are products for SPARC
from Ashton-Tate (dBase IV) and other prominent PC vendors.

OPEN LOOK Applications Now Available

Many SPARCware vendors are now developing applications using the OPEN
LOOK(TM) graphical user interface, designed by Sun and AT&T, as a way
of combining the ease of use of a PC with the power and performance of
UNIX.  OPEN LOOK development kits are in the hands of hundreds of
developers.  Many OPEN LOOK applications are available today from
third-party vendors such as Informix, Ingres, VersaSoft, Bristol Group
and Elan.  More than 300 additional OPEN LOOK applications are expected
to be shipped within six months.

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.

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UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T.  SPARCstation SLC, SPARCstation
1+, SPARCserver 470 and SPARC are trademarks of Sun Microsystems.  All
other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by
the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or
organizations.

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Sunflash is an electronic mail news service from Sun Microsystems,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Please address comments to FLASH [John McLaughlin] 
(sun!sunvice!flash or flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM). (305) 776-7770.