---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SMCC AND EDS COMMERCIAL SERVICES GROUP JOIN FORCES TO OFFER SUN'S OPEN SYSTEMS TO RETAILERS SunFLASH Vol 45 #34 September 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- September 29, 1992 -- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) today announced it has teamed with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Commercial Services Group to provide retailers with high- performance, low-cost Solaris(R)-based UNIX(R) client-server solutions. EDS has developed automated software tools based on Sun's(TM) SPARC(R) workstations and servers, that can be used to quickly and easily create a portfolio of customized retail applications. The partnership between SMCC and EDS, a leader in providing information technology services to large commercial customers, coincides with a move by retailers away from traditional, host-based systems to open, client- server solutions. According to a recent International Data Corporation survey, 42.4 percent of the U.S. retailers polled said they are planning to pursue a UNIX open systems strategy. To address this need, SMCC and EDS are offering a hardware/software solution, which will reduce retailers' costs for computer hardware, software licensing, hardware maintenance, programming maintenance and application development. An important component of this partnership is INCASE, an automated software development tool from EDS that is used for designing new applications and re-engineering existing mainframe software to run on open client-server platforms. Running on Sun's workstations and servers, INCASE enables EDS to rapidly prototype, develop and implement low-maintenance applications for retailers. EDS is presently using INCASE to develop a portfolio of retail applications under its Retail Enterprise Model. These applications fully support the retailers' business processes and include: purchase order management, merchandising, "big-ticket" and finance and administration. The Retail Enterprise Model reflects an integrated approach to business and information planning, process reengineering and rapid application development to enable retailers to enhance the overall performance of the retail enterprise through the application of information technology. Under a cooperative marketing and sales arrangement, SMCC and EDS are targeting specialty stores, department store chains and drug and grocery chains. "We are working with Sun because they are a leader in providing a cost-effective, client-server based hardware solution," said Greg Granello, vice president of sales and marketing for the Retail Services Division at EDS. "Their client-server strategy and workstations' price/performance curve are essential ingredients in successful retail information technology strategies for the 1990s." Added Bob DeLaney, SMCC's manager of retail market development, "Our goal is to help retailers re-tool their information systems. Since we offer open technologies that support a multivendor environment, retailers need not throw away all their existing equipment. Rather, they can adopt a client-server model that includes both old and new systems." SMCC's momentum in the retail industry is continuing to increase. Retail applications already on the Sun platform include point-of-sale support, inventory management, credit card authorization, labor management, location evaluation and many other mission-critical applications. SMCC retail customers include McDonald's, Carnival Cruise Lines, JC Penney, Kash & Karry, Value City, Abraham & Straus and Dunkin' Donuts, among many others. EDS is the leader in applying information technology to meet the needs of businesses around the world. EDS' Retail Services Division has signed a dozen retailers, including: PACE Membership Warehouse and Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Inc., to the Retail Enterprise Model this year, and is delivering a complete range of services to the retail industry including consulting, systems development, systems integration and systems management. Press Contact Wendy Moro at Hi-Tech Communications, 415/904-7000 x234. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au 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. TRACE: To: sunflash@suntri Errors-to: owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com