---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun Microsystems Extends Customer Support Capabilities SunFLASH Vol 26 #1 February 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forms Partnerships with Andersen Consulting, Cincinnati Bell Information Systems and INTERACTIVE Systems MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --February 4, 1991-- Sun Microsystems today announced it has signed strategic partnership agreements with Andersen Consulting, Cincinnati Bell Information Systems (CBIS) and INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation to provide software consulting services to Sun customers in the United States. Worldwide expansion of this program is currently underway. These partnerships further enhance Sun's growing strength in customer service and support by giving Sun customers a broader variety of software consulting services from recognized UNIX(R) experts and industry specialists. The three new partners will provide services including: feasibility studies, system design and development, application porting, and device driver development and implementation. The software consulting services agreements complement similar hardware service agreements established under Sun's Customer Support "Strategic Partners Program." In February and May of 1990, Sun signed agreements with Eastman Kodak and Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services, respectively, which extended Sun's delivery of hardware-related customer service in the United States. Working closely with the new partners will be Sun's own customer support consultants, whose worldwide organization provides a comprehensive suite of network and consulting services, ranging from startup assistance to specialized software consulting. Sun's group will leverage the partners' resources and expertise to ensure complete software consulting coverage for Sun customers. "Through the continued growth of our Strategic Partners Program, Sun customers receive broad service coverage and industry expertise," said Bill Cote, vice president of customer support at Sun. "Andersen Consulting, CBIS and INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation are high-quality service organizations with demonstrated expertise in software development tools, UNIX, and knowledge of Sun and our customer base. Each is a recognized leader in their respective market areas and has worldwide service capabilities." Current predictions by The Ledgeway Group (a division of Dataquest) show that the largest growth potential in the customer support arena in the `90s will be in value-added services. In particular, software consulting services are expected to experience an average annual growth rate of 18.7 percent from 1989 to 1994. "Our Strategic Partners Program and `open service' strategy are consistent with this trend," Cote added. "By partnering with leading service vendors, we will more easily absorb this rapid growth and thus respond to more customers more effectively." 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 of UNIX Systems Laboraties, Inc. All other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations. PR contacts: Kim Miller (415) 336-7583 Lisa Ganier (415) 336-5637 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu and paris.cs.miami.edu. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.