---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SUN AND FORCE COMPUTERS SIGN SPARC TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE SunFLASH Vol 25 #13 January 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPARC Real-time to be Available on VMEbus and Futurebus+ MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --January 14, 1991-- Sun Microsystems and FORCE Computers today announced the signing of a strategic technology alliance aimed at making SPARC(R) the leading RISC architecture in the embedded systems market. FORCE, the industry's leading independent manufacturer of VMEbus products, will utilize its experience and success in the embedded systems market to build and sell SPARC-based real-time and UNIX(R) boards and systems. FORCE will also introduce SPARC technology to the Futurebus+ market. The FORCE product family will include SPARC-based boards for VMEbus and Futurebus+ markets based on Sun's SPARCengine(TM) 1E and 2 technologies. The boards will run SunOS(TM) and selected real-time software as well as Sun's networking standard ONC(TM) and the OPEN LOOK(R) graphical user interface. All products will leverage the 2,100 SPARCware(TM) solutions available from Sun and third-party vendors. Aimed at both real-time and UNIX embedded applications, the products from FORCE will be used in commercial and government markets including simulation, factory automation, medical instruments, telecommunications, and command and control. According to market research firm Venture Development Corporation, the embedded VMEbus board market will achieve $600 million in sales by the end of 1991 and the Futurebus+ market will reach $300 million by 1994. "FORCE has well-established marketing and sales channels that can quickly bring the benefits of SPARC and SunOS to the embedded systems market," said Scott McNealy, president and CEO of Sun. "Sun anticipates that the combined market and sales impact of the two companies will make SPARC the leading RISC architecture on VMEbus by the end of 1991." Under terms of the agreement, FORCE will manufacture and market boards under license that will conform to Sun's SPARCengine 1E design. The SPARC 1E boards will be available with SunOS and selected real-time operating systems. Additionally, FORCE will design, manufacture and market VME boards based on Sun's SPARCstation TM 2 board and chip technologies. FORCE will port SunOS 4.1.1 to the SPARC 2E platform. Other real-time operating systems will also be made available from FORCE, thereby offering customers a broad base of integrated software development and real-time board environments. SPARC OEM customers gain an alternative manufacturing source for SPARCengine 1E boards and a migration path to SPARCengine 2E technology. The second-generation SPARCengine technology will be available to Sun to purchase and remarket to its customer base. Sven Behrendt, president and CEO of FORCE, said, "The marriage of the leading UNIX development environment with a family of real-time products and software offered by FORCE Computers provides OEMs and systems integrators with an unmatched development and target environment. The new environment allows OEMs and systems integrators to bring their products to market more quickly using tools that will set the standard for embedded development for years to come." This alliance will create a powerful marketing presence as Sun continues to sell and support the SPARCengine 1E board family to the embedded UNIX board market through its direct sales force. FORCE will sell its SPARC-based boards to both the UNIX and real-time markets through distributors, independent representatives and its direct sales force. VMEbus board products based on the SPARCengine 1E design with integrated SunOS and real-time capability will be available from FORCE in the first quarter of 1991. The SPARCengine 1E board with SunOS is available today from Sun. Real-time software for the SPARCengine 1E today is provided by third-party vendors. The leading independent designer and manufacturer of VMEbus products, FORCE Computers is headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with subsidiaries in Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Sales, service and product support are provided on a worldwide basis. 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. ### SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International, Inc. Products bearing the SPARC trademark are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. SPARCstation, SPARCengine and SPARCware are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. OPEN LOOK and UNIX are registered trademarks of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. SunOS and ONC are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, 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 contact: Whitney Greer (415) 336-0598 FORCE Computers Karron C. Esmond (408) 370-6300 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.