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In a move to further expand customer choice, Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced that its business model for the Sun Java Enterprise System will be extended to third-party operating systems and hardware platforms. Currently available on the secure, enterprise-class Solaris Operating System (OS) for SPARC, AMD Opteron and Xeon systems, as well as Linux, Sun will add support for the HP-UX operating system on the PA-Risc architecture and the Microsoft Windows Operating System for x86 based hardware, including AMD Opteron-based systems, beginning next year. Customers will now be able to take advantage of the simple, predictable and affordable approach to reducing cost and complexity that the Java Enterprise System provides on hardware platforms of their choice. Further extending the value of the Java Enterprise System, Sun also announced a special systems promotion, under which qualified customers who purchase the Java Enterprise System will receive a Sun Fire V20z AMD Opteron processor-based server (a nearly $4,000 value), the Solaris 9 Operating System (OS) and one year of SunSpectrum Silver(SM) support all for $100 per employee per year. Companies will also be upgraded to Solaris 10 OS at no additional cost, giving them access to new technologies like dynamic tracing, dynamic file system, predictive self healing and N1 Grid Containers, as well as optimized 64-bit Solaris support for Opteron-based systems. The Java Enterprise System enables enterprises to reduce the cost and complexity of running their mission critical software infrastructure, reuse and adapt the infrastructure for new services, and secure their businesses with identity- enabled services and applications. Additionally, the Sun Fire V20z included in this promotion is ideal for proof of concept, testing and development of solutions based on the Java Enterprise System running the Solaris 9 Operating System. For details on this special promotion and others, visit: http://wwws.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem/opteron/index.html. "With today's announcements, Sun is opening up significant new opportunities for customers and partners, and giving them flexibility to mix and match systems to meet their technology needs, help reduce the costs and complexity associated with systems management and leverage Sun's infinite right to use model," said John Loiacono, executive vice president of software at Sun. "Sun is also delivering on its unified systems strategy with this new Java Enterprise System promotion, allowing customers to benefit from industry leading enterprise software on commodity hardware with extreme performance." "Extending the Java Enterprise System for deployment on non-Sun branded hardware, at no additional cost, injects the novel subscription pricing model and mid-tiers solution packaging approach into the server OEM space," said Dana Gardner, Senior Analyst, Application Infrastructure and Software Platforms, Yankee Group. "The likely effect is that, as the costs-benefit analysis becomes clear, enterprise buyers will pull this up through the channel. And that will encourage server makers to offer it on their hardware, which further enhances the value chain reaction. The existing Java Enterprise System business model is steadily changing how companies evaluate and select infrastructure software. This announcement will spur wider examination of the benefits." Sun is also extending its special promotion for qualified small businesses through December 31, 2004. Under this promotion, companies who qualify and have less than 100 employees, will receive the Java Enterprise System software free of charge for one year. Sun is arming small businesses with the tools they need to build a solid and secure IT infrastructure, to develop and extend network services to users at no additional cost and focus on core business goals. For further information on this promotion, visit http://wwws.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem/programs/index.html. Availability The Java Enterprise System is available directly through Sun and Sun iForce(SM) partners on the Solaris and Linux operating systems for Sun and non-Sun SPARC, AMD Opteron and x86-based systems. Support for HP-UX on PA-Risc and Windows platforms is planned for the first quarter of the next calendar year, 2005. The systems promotion for the Java Enterprise System, Solaris OS, Sun Fire V20z AMD Opteron-based server and one year of SunSpectrum Silver support is available immediately through December 31, 2004. The Free Java Enterprise System software promotion to qualified companies with less than 100 employees is now extended through December 31, 2004.