SYSTEMS

Sun Microsystems, Inc. and NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR) are expanding their relationship to deliver comprehensive solutions and services offerings for retail, financial and telecommunications customers worldwide. As part of the global alliance, NCR will work with Sun to develop joint solutions for targeted vertical markets and will sell and deliver installation and support services for Sun's full line of entry to mid-range servers, storage systems and through complementary infrastructure services solutions. "The alliance between Sun and NCR was enhanced to provide complete IT solutions for the retail, financial and telecommunications industries. These solutions will be developed around Sun technology and maintained by NCR's complementary global service capability," said Christine Tenneson, program manager, Network Lifecycle Services for IDC. "With this relationship, both Sun and NCR can jointly leverage their core strengths around the globe." Through the expanded agreement, NCR plans to launch a Legacy Trade-In Program designed to target and replace NCR's installed base of legacy NCR UNIX(R) servers with Sun systems running the Solaris(TM) operating system (OS). In addition, NCR plans to further integrate Sun technology into its IT infrastructure services solutions for the targeted industries. The Sun and NCR complementary IT infrastructure services solutions are designed to help banks, retailers and other organizations install and operate a complete IT infrastructure with decreased risk, enabling customers to more quickly realize a return on their IT investment. NCR uses the Solaris OS as a primary platform for its ImageMark(TM) Archive solution for banks, and also leverages Sun technology in its eCommerce and network security service offerings for banks and retailers. ImageMark enables item-based transactions, both check and remittance, to be digitally captured, processed and retained in an image warehouse. From this warehouse, the electronic image-based transactions can be delivered anytime, anywhere to multiple delivery points. "This expanded relationship provides NCR's retail, financial and telecommunications services customers access to Sun's leading network computing technology," said Sherle Webb, vice president of Global Partner Sales at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Sun's proven infrastructure platform, in combination with NCR's solutions and complementary integration and services capabilities, can help our joint customers increase efficiency and reduce cost in deploying a complete IT infrastructure." "Sun is already one of our key technology, solutions and services partners, and this global alliance helps meet our customers' growing demand for Sun systems, including its market-leading servers, storage and software," said Gerry Gagliardi, senior vice president of NCR Worldwide Customer Services. "Our ability to provide complementary global hardware and software support for the Sun platform gives our joint customers greater flexibility with IT infrastructure operations."