SUN INTRODUCES iFORCE INITIATIVE TO DRIVE COMPANIES TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN THE DOT-COM MARKETPLACE.

Sun Microsystems Inc. announced the iForce initiative, a far-reaching program designed to provide customers with the relationships and expertise they need to get their businesses dot-commed quickly. The iForce initiative brings together under one umbrella all of Sun's dot-com programs, products, services and solutions aimed at customers ranging from startups to large enterprises. As part of today's announcement, Sun also will invest $300 million to help iForce partners go to market.

With the launch of its iForce initiative, Sun announced a series of new or enhanced programs aimed at improving and accelerating companies' dot-com processes. These programs include: Sun Startup Accelerator, Startup Essentials ISV and e-integrator components, iForce road map, iForces Read Centers, iForce solution sets and iForce services.

"We are only at the start of the dot-com learning curve. As the road gets steeper and you don't drive at Internet speed, you'd better keep an eye out for the tire marks on your back," says Scott McNealy, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Microsystems Inc. "The iForce initiative signifies our commitment to adapting Sun to meet the real needs of companies in the digital marketplace and provide the fuel to drive them forward even faster - plus a set of real-world programs, products, a partner community and services necessary to do business while cruising in the fast lane."

In a related announcement recently, iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, introduced its "100 Days to Dot-com" program, designed to extend coverage of the iForce initiative to new partners and other platforms. See http://www.iplanet.com for more details.