UK Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Uses Sun Open Source Java Systems

Sun's Radical New Java System Software Wins Whitehall Approval

Sun Microsystems and the UK Government Sign Software Purchasing Agreement to Offer the Public Sector Open, Secure Software Technology and Reduced IT Costs

Santa Clara, California, USA. December 08, 2003.

Sun Microsystems announced today that it has secured a strategic five year agreement with the UK's Office of Government Commerce (OGC), that will allow public sector organizations to realize significant value-for-money savings when purchasing desktop and enterprise software. The arrangement, which is effective immediately and includes the Sun Java Desktop System and the Sun Java Enterprise System, offers the Public Sector a genuine alternative to costly licensing agreements.

The OGC, part of HM Treasury and the central purchasing body for the UK Government, seeks to maximize value for money for the public sector in all areas of procurement. It has entered into the arrangement with Sun as it felt the company's Java Enterprise System and Java Desktop System offered great potential to support the requirements of the UK public sector in terms of size and strategic nature of its operations, and volumes of software being purchased within it. The Java System software is based on a secure, open architecture delivering compelling value - all key requirements for the UK public sector. The use of 'proof of concept' trials in government organizations will look at the practicalities and potential to generate significant value-for-money improvements.

"The UK Public Sector is faced with huge IT purchasing decisions, it requires best value desktop and underlying software architecture that is based on open standards, predictable pricing models and infinite right to use," said Scott McNealy, chairman, president and CEO of Sun. "Our arrangement with the OGC, delivers transparent IT buying to the UK public sector and introduces competition in the desktop space."

About Java Enterprise System

Serious software made simple, the Java Enterprise System seamlessly integrates award-winning and market-leading enterprise network applications and services at the heart of Web services. This complete system of standards-based software is delivered as one entity on a pre- integrated infrastructure. Radically simplified pricing -- $50 (U.S. list price) per faculty and administrative employee per year for the education market -- delivers the peace of mind CIOs need to focus on what they do best: leverage IT to achieve business goals. The Java System Portal Server, Java System Directory Server, Java System Identity Server, Java System Web Server, Java System Messaging Server Java System Calendar Server, Java System Instant Messaging and Java System Application Server are key components of Sun's Java Enterprise System.

For more information on the Java Enterprise System please visit:

http://www.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem

About Java Desktop System

The Java Desktop System is a comprehensive, secure, highly affordable enterprise desktop solution that is simple to use and can interoperate with existing infrastructure. Key features include a well-defined, integrated look and feel, familiar desktop themes, as well as document and printing interoperability with Linux, Solaris and Windows environments.

U.S. list price for the Java Desktop System is priced annually at $100 per desktop user or $50 per employee for existing Java Enterprise System customers. For a limited time, Sun is offering an aggressive trade-up program for users looking to move off of their existing desktop. By providing Sun their proof of purchase to their existing desktop environment, qualified users will be able to purchase the Java Desktop System for $50 per desktop. For more information, visit:

http://www.sun.com/javadesktopsystem

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.

PPQ#Contact#PPQ

Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Brett Smith
Tel: +1 (408) 276-6143
Email: brett.smith@sun.com

Citigate Cunningham for Sun
Eileen McElroy
Tel: +1 (650) 858-3723
Email: emcelroy@citigatecunningham.com

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.

SEARCH Advanced Search ABOUT Site Map CP RSS Channel Contact Us Sponsoring CP About Our Sponsors NEWS Cover Stories Articles & Papers Press Releases CORE STANDARDS XML SGML Schemas XSL/XSLT/XPath XLink XML Query CSS SVG TECHNOLOGY REPORTS XML Applications General Apps Government Apps Academic Apps EVENTS LIBRARY Introductions FAQs Bibliography Technology and Society Semantics Tech Topics Software Related Standards Historic	UK Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Uses Sun Open Source Java Systems Sun's Radical New Java System Software Wins Whitehall Approval Sun Microsystems and the UK Government Sign Software Purchasing Agreement to Offer the Public Sector Open, Secure Software Technology and Reduced IT Costs Santa Clara, California, USA. December 08, 2003. Sun Microsystems announced today that it has secured a strategic five year agreement with the UK's Office of Government Commerce (OGC), that will allow public sector organizations to realize significant value-for-money savings when purchasing desktop and enterprise software. The arrangement, which is effective immediately and includes the Sun Java Desktop System and the Sun Java Enterprise System, offers the Public Sector a genuine alternative to costly licensing agreements. The OGC, part of HM Treasury and the central purchasing body for the UK Government, seeks to maximize value for money for the public sector in all areas of procurement. It has entered into the arrangement with Sun as it felt the company's Java Enterprise System and Java Desktop System offered great potential to support the requirements of the UK public sector in terms of size and strategic nature of its operations, and volumes of software being purchased within it. The Java System software is based on a secure, open architecture delivering compelling value - all key requirements for the UK public sector. The use of 'proof of concept' trials in government organizations will look at the practicalities and potential to generate significant value-for-money improvements. "The UK Public Sector is faced with huge IT purchasing decisions, it requires best value desktop and underlying software architecture that is based on open standards, predictable pricing models and infinite right to use," said Scott McNealy, chairman, president and CEO of Sun. "Our arrangement with the OGC, delivers transparent IT buying to the UK public sector and introduces competition in the desktop space." About Java Enterprise System Serious software made simple, the Java Enterprise System seamlessly integrates award-winning and market-leading enterprise network applications and services at the heart of Web services. This complete system of standards-based software is delivered as one entity on a pre- integrated infrastructure. Radically simplified pricing -- $50 (U.S. list price) per faculty and administrative employee per year for the education market -- delivers the peace of mind CIOs need to focus on what they do best: leverage IT to achieve business goals. The Java System Portal Server, Java System Directory Server, Java System Identity Server, Java System Web Server, Java System Messaging Server Java System Calendar Server, Java System Instant Messaging and Java System Application Server are key components of Sun's Java Enterprise System. For more information on the Java Enterprise System please visit: http://www.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem About Java Desktop System The Java Desktop System is a comprehensive, secure, highly affordable enterprise desktop solution that is simple to use and can interoperate with existing infrastructure. Key features include a well-defined, integrated look and feel, familiar desktop themes, as well as document and printing interoperability with Linux, Solaris and Windows environments. U.S. list price for the Java Desktop System is priced annually at $100 per desktop user or $50 per employee for existing Java Enterprise System customers. For a limited time, Sun is offering an aggressive trade-up program for users looking to move off of their existing desktop. By providing Sun their proof of purchase to their existing desktop environment, qualified users will be able to purchase the Java Desktop System for $50 per desktop. For more information, visit: http://www.sun.com/javadesktopsystem About Sun Microsystems, Inc. Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com. PPQ#Contact#PPQ Sun Microsystems, Inc. Brett Smith Tel: +1 (408) 276-6143 Email: brett.smith@sun.com Citigate Cunningham for Sun Eileen McElroy Tel: +1 (650) 858-3723 Email: emcelroy@citigatecunningham.com Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.