ACADEMIA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), a leader in systems and solutions that make the Net work and a founding member of the Liberty Alliance, today announced its support of the Liberty Alliance version 1.0 specifications for federated network identification. Details on how Sun will integrate the technology into Java(TM) technology, Solaris(TM) Operating Environment and Sun(TM) Open Net Environment (Sun(TM) ONE), and other news, will be made July 16, 2002. The Liberty Alliance Project today announced the public availability of its version 1.0 specifications, the first set of open federated network identity specifications from the cross-industry consortium that was formed less than a year ago. The Liberty version 1.0 specifications focus on interoperability between systems to enable opt-in account linking and simplified sign-on functionality. The Liberty Alliance also released details today on its next set of identity specifications already in the early stages of development. Please visit www.projectliberty.org for more details on this announcement. "Sun was the catalyst for the formation of the Liberty Alliance back in September 2001, and we are extremely proud to see the delivery of the first specifications," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president, Software, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Identity is not a technology issue but a business policy issue. With over 65 members representing trusted brands and billions of online identities, the alliance has delivered a comprehensive, open, non- proprietary standard allowing companies to offer single sign-on without compromising either their customers' information or their own." With Sun's identity offerings, enterprises are able to administer each identity within its organization, from customers to employees to partners and equipment, in a secure fashion -- streamlining access and increasing productivity. Managing these network identities allows businesses to build stronger, more tailored relationships and services -- equipped to handle varying levels of security, including capabilities such as biometrics, depending upon requirements. Featuring the Liberty Alliance version 1.0 specifications, Sun ONE helps enable commercial and non-commercial organizations to protect the privacy of vital identity information while economically benefiting from the business partnership advantages of network federated identity. "Less than a year after the Liberty Alliance was formed, we've made great progress in delivering a secure, technologically agnostic identification infrastructure that can support a wide range of identity products and network access devices," said Eric Dean, chairman of the Liberty Alliance Management Board and chief information officer of United Airlines. "Sun's support and implementation of the Liberty specifications is a testament to the ease-of-implementation, commercial value and significant need for an interoperable network identification solution."