SANTA CLARA, Calif., November 15, 2004 - At its Network Computing '04Q4 (NC04Q4) launch today, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) announced a revolutionary set of service and support models that will provide customers and partners with a fast, low-risk and cost-effective transition to the new Solaris 10 Operating System (OS). The new services include flexible subscription-based offerings and a comprehensive set of support, migration and education services. Customers and partners will now have free access to the Solaris 10 OS for commercial purposes plus service and support for the Solaris OS that is up to 40 percent less expensive than the leading Linux distribution.

Similar to phone calling plans, the subscription services for the Solaris 10 OS provide customers and partners with choice and flexibility depending on the level of support and service they require. Customers can choose from a right to use (RTU) license for end-users at no cost, as well as basic, standard and premium offerings that offer higher levels of support and value-added services.

"We're radically redefining the economics of operating system licensing for the industry with the new subscription model and services offerings for Solaris 10," said Jonathan Schwartz, president and chief operating officer, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Customers and partners aren't just buying the raw technology of Solaris when they look at the latest upgrade �� they want to know how quickly and painlessly they can leverage the new release for their business advantage. By offering subscriptions for Solaris 10 and tailoring services for them, our customers and partners get the exact solution they need at the price they want."

Today, Sun announced the following subscription services:

• Free right to use (RTU): Includes a RTU license for the Solaris 10 OS for end-user commercial use; security fixes; and update releases via web download. Pricing is $0 USD per central processing unit (CPU) per year with registration.
• Basic Service: Includes all free RTU features plus: all Solaris 10 updates, upgrades and fixes; 90-days installation and configuration support; and one individual online skills self-assessment per system. Pricing is $120 USD per CPU per year.
• Standard Service: Includes all Basic Service features plus: 5x12 phone support; one web course; and optional training credits. Pricing is $240 USD per CPU per year.
• Premium Service: Includes all Standard Service features plus: 7x24 phone support and additional advanced technical and educational services. Pricing is $360 USD per CPU per year.

In addition, through the new Sun Update Connection, subscribers will be able to analyze and update their systems and stay up-to-date from anywhere, all while providing easy access to software baselines and updates. The connection enables users to stay informed with notifications from Sun; act locally using a single-system updater and deploy remotely using our update portal. The Sun Update Connection ensures everyone from the desktop to the enterprise is always up-to-date.

All pricing is based on US list prices for one to four CPU systems. SunSpectrum(SM) Support customers will automatically receive Solaris 10 as part of their existing contract.

Sun Services

Sun's portfolio of Services includes:

• Migration and Performance Services: Customers can use Migration and Performance Services, as well as SunReady(SM) Assessments, to accelerate time-to-value and lower risks of upgrading to Solaris 10. The Migration Services help the customer evaluate, architect and implement the benefits of Solaris 10, as Sun helps make the customer's transition smooth. The Performance Services help the customer obtain improved performance using the capabilities and features of Solaris 10. Whether customers are migrating from another Operating System and/or hardware platform or updating their current Solaris environment, the Solaris 10 OS Services portfolio addresses the Architect, Implement and Manage phases of the process to improve the transition and improve the customer experience.
• Managed Services: Whether customers are upgrading or migrating from another operating system, Sun offers the following services to allow customers to deploy and fully utilize Solaris 10:
• Sun(SM) Interim Operations Management: Sun engineers manage a customer's data center for three to 12 months (in most cases), performing system administration while the on-site IT staff becomes knowledgeable on the new technologies and processes.
• Sun(SM) Site Operations Management: Sun engineers manage a customer's data center operations and are focused on achieving customer-specific service level agreements (SLAs).
• New Education Services: Thousands of customers, partners and developers have already taken part in early access Web- and classroom-based education for Solaris 10 through Sun's extensive education services. Sun now provides a free Web-based Solaris 10 course; free sample Solaris 10 Certification Exam and practice questions; and in-depth Early Advantage instructor led classroom training. Classes include a five-day "Solaris 10 for Experienced Systems Administrators" course and a two-day "Dynamic Performance Tuning and Troubleshooting with DTrace" course.
• Special Programs for Education Customers: Sun offers campuses participating in the Sun Academic Initiative Program courseware at no cost to help prepare students, faculty and staff to become certified in Sun technologies, including the Solaris Operating System.
• SunSpectrum and Software Support Services: Support engineers and technicians can support their Solaris 10 operating system customers and respond to service requests.

For more information about the Solaris 10 Services portfolio, go to www.sun.com/service/solaris10. For education and training resources, go to http://training.sun.com/us/catalog/early_advantage.html. For more information on Sun education services and training, go to http://training.sun.com/US/certification/resources/epractice.html or http://training.sun.com/US/catalog/courses/WGS-PREX-10-QUEST For more information on Sun Academic Initiative, go to http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/edu/programs/sai

Tune into Sun's NC04Q4 web event at www.sun.com/nc and visit our online press kit (http://sun.com/presskits/networkcomputing04q4/) to view all press releases and detailed product launch background.

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

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Solaris, Java and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.