CBIS Implements New Telecom Customer Care and Billing Solutions on Sun Platform; Network Infrastructure Helps Telecommunications Companies Expand Services.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1997--Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced that Cincinnati Bell Information Systems (CBIS) has engineered the Precedent 2000 Wireless Business Management System, a sophisticated customer care and billing solution running on Sun(TM) Ultra(TM) Enterprise(TM) servers and scalable Solaris(TM) multi-threaded operating system.

The Precedent 2000 solution features an innovative open-systems infrastructure that gives CBIS customers in the wireless and PCS industries optimum billing efficiency, real-time rating, and high-availability on-line processing.

Precedent 2000 leverages the power of Sun servers in a three-tiered, client-server architecture for its most mission-critical processing. "We chose to run all of the application logic and processing on Sun servers because we wanted a highly reliable system and a scalable platform to handle the complexities of customer care, real-time message rating and billing," said Jim Holtman, CBIS's vice president for Systems Architecture.

Precedent 2000's three-tier architecture is comprised of a GUI client tier running end-user application windows, a powerful middle tier that uses a combination of Sun's SPARCcenter(TM) and Ultra Enterprise servers to handle customer data inquiries and background application processing, and an Oracle Relational Database in the back-end tier running on a Sun Ultra Enterprise 6000.

CBIS customers run the portable application on PCs connected via a Local Area Network. These LANs are linked to CBIS's state-of-the-art data center infrastructures in Cincinnati and Orlando where the middle application tier processes the users' requests for data or action. The application layer, developed entirely on Sun SPARCstationTM and development servers, also receives Call Detail Records directly from the switch and rates them.

"The distributed architecture and the Sun platform give our customers the fast response and consistent uptime they need to provide the best service to their clients," said Holtman. "We're delighted with the Sun servers because not only is the hardware reliable and the software stable, but Sun's support has been unwavering. We've had a lot of help from Sun. They aren't just a vendor, they're an important partner."

"CBIS is an important customer and we're very pleased that they have applied the power of Sun to create this industry-leading infrastructure for customer care and billing solutions," said Nasser Iravani, market development manager for Sun Microsystems Computer Company.

CBIS is Cincinnati Bell Information Systems, the global leader in the provision and management of customer care and billing solutions for the communications industry. CBIS's state-of-the-art data center infrastructure centered in Cincinnati and Orlando, and client sites, produce more than 260,000,000 bills for cable TV, wireless and wireline telephony, and convergent services each year.

CBIS uses its extensive billing systems expertise and service bureau experience to create advantages for leading companies in wireless, wireline, cable, and emerging communications services. CBIS -- a subsidiary of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE:CSN) -- is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to a diverse work force. CBIS is on the Internet at http://www.cbis.com .

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., (NASDAQ"SUNW"), to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the WorldWide Web at http://www.sun.com . -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Ultra, Ultra Enterprise, and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape or NCSA Mosaic. Type http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt.

CONTACT: Sun Microsystems Computer Company

Debra Woods, 415/786-5214

[e-mail]

or

Nadel Phelan for Sun

Paula Phelan, 408/439-5570 x222

[e-mail]

or

CBIS

John Pratt, 500/447-2247

[e-mail]