"Jini technology is fundamentally different from the overly complex and unforgiving networks that we see today," said Mike Clary, general manager of Jini Technology, Sun's Consumer and Embedded. "By connecting a vast range of disparate devices to the network, Jini technology empowers both users and suppliers of network-based information to turn the potential benefits of the Internet into real value, furthering the convergence of business and personal computing. Jini technology is a ground-breaking technology that works simply, combining ultimate mobility with bullet-proof resilience to empower everyone to play together."

Building Upon the Power of Java Technology

What Java technology does for platform independence, Jini technology does for device interplay. Jini technology presents an unrestricted standard that enables any manner of traditionally and non-traditionally networked devices to "talk" to each other, and as a result perform and share services as never before. Because it is a platform-independent, language-based technology built upon the Java platform, Jini technology does not require any particular operating system (OS), processor or application environment. It renders previously incompatible systems compatible, thereby allowing users to seamlessly and instantaneously plug-and-participate anything from a personal digital assistant (PDA) to a digital video device (DVD) into a truly open, ubiquitous network. With the instant connectivity that Jini technology enables, users gain an easy new way to interact with the digital world, linking the home to the office to the street through anytime, anywhere, anything access.

Similar to the dial tone representing continuous access to the telephone, Jini technology provides for a seamless Web tone on the network. The technology is a radical departure from OS-controlled networks, as it completely bypasses the need for a bloated, complex OS and instead allows for direct plug-in to the network using intelligent interfaces. Jini technology uses the existing infrastructure of the network, so legacy devices can be sustained and brought forward as the network evolves.

There are four pillars that comprise Jini technology, which combine to make connectivity truly simple:

• Instant On: Plug a device into a Jini technology-enabled network, and it just works, instantly. The device maintains itself, and behaves like a "good network citizen."
• Special Delivery: All devices connected through Jini technology offer their services to the entire network, thus users can take advantage of any available service on demand.
• Impromptu Community: Jini technology empowers users to create their own personal communities of networked devices, which are mobile, can interact quickly and easily with other communities, and do not require system administration.
• Resilience: Jini technology is fundamentally a distributed system, not dependent on any central server. If a single device should fail, there is no effect on other devices. As a result, the environment is more flexible and adaptive.

Changing the Way Information Is Used

Because the Jini technology-enabled environment is so dynamic and responsive, devices work together to provide continuous, reliable access to a whole new realm of network-based information services. For example, devices linked by Jini technology can automatically interact to continuously shop around for the lowest utility rates, or can tailor and submit multiple home mortgage applications simultaneously. Here is how it works:

• Objects: In the Jini technology-enabled network, every device is recognized as an object. The result is a distributed system that is understood to be a set of distributed services -- everything is recognized, easy to control and resilient.
• Discover and Join: The basic mechanism behind Jini technology is the ability to plug in, look around the network to determine what other kinds of devices and services are in the community, and become connected. The look-up service allows users to browse and see what is available on the network at any given time.
• Automatic Recognition: Devices identify themselves and are brought into the community. No other device drivers are needed for instant connectivity.
• Leasing: Provides a method of managing, sharing and renewing resources in a networked environment.
• Synchronized Transactions: Enables distributed entities to cooperate and coordinate for network resources such as memory, storage, print capability, and bandwidth.

Widespread Adoption of Open Standards Advances Innovation Everywhere

"Sun has always been at the forefront of open, network-centric computing," said Mark Tolliver, president of Consumer and Embedded for Sun. "Jini technology continues Sun's pioneering role, while reaching out to other industry leaders in the Jini technology licensee community to drive innovation everywhere."

See attached press release, entitled "It's Out of the Bottle -- Sun Introduces Jini^TM Connection Technology, Enabling The Simple Connection of Any Device to Any Network, Any Time, Anywhere," for more detail on companies in the Jini technology licensee community.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

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 high-quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $10 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems, Inc. are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape Navigator or Sun's HotJava^TM browser. Type http://sun.com   at the URL prompt.

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