SCIENCE

PLANO, Texas and PALO ALTO, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding their long-standing business relationship, EDS (NYSE: EDS) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced a program to jointly offer customers an array of complementary, on-demand IT offerings, including web site management, data center outsourcing and ASP hosting services based on Sun's platform. The companies expect the "Continuum of Services" program to generate $3 billion in future sales over the next five years. Under their agreement, Sun and EDS will team to develop and deliver customized solutions for Global 500 customers. The Sun-EDS Continuum of Services program provides customers with a seamless, best-practice approach to building and delivering a wide range of business solutions, using products and services from two leaders in their respective areas of expertise. Sun provides the hardware, software and architecture -- Sun Enterprise(TM) servers, Sun StorEdge(TM) products, the Sun(TM) Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) architecture, Java(TM) technology and technical consulting expertise and iPlanet(TM) software. EDS provides services including systems implementation, integration, consulting and outsourcing. Both companies are developing, deploying and supporting the solutions that result from their joint Continuum of Services program. "This alliance fundamentally changes the rules by allowing customers to easily build solutions without making the usual compromises required under a single source model," said Masood Jabbar, executive vice president of Global Sales Operations for Sun Microsystems. "The Sun and EDS model enables choice and flexibility so customers can select the solution that is right for them." Joint Marketing Model The Sun-EDS program includes joint work in each of these areas: development, promotion, marketing, revenue targets, planned cross-training, account planning, offering development and marketing strategies. "We believe the strategic selling model has changed -- customers demand speed, expertise and the type of relationship that bring all solution elements together -- hardware, software, services and integration," said John Wilkerson, vice president, EDS Global Alliances and Indirect Market Strategies. "The strength of EDS' integration, consulting and outsourcing capabilities combined with Sun's strength in products and services creates an unbeatable offering for our customers." For further information visit www.sun.com or www.eds.com