SANTA CLARA, CALIF -- Nov. 4, 2005 --- Continuing to drive interoperability between its Java technology and the .NET platform, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) today announced it will help facilitate interoperability with the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) via developing and distributing open source implementations of key WS*-specifications.

Once achieved, the ability to seamlessly integrate Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) and .NET environments will help developers create applications on a diverse range of operating systems including the Solaris Operating System (OS), Windows and Linux, that can co-exist and interoperate across heterogeneous computing environments. Seamless integration will also enable greater collaboration for enterprises, by allowing them to leverage a larger ecosystem of partners in application development. Additionally, interoperability between the two platforms will help pave the way for greater adoption of web services and service-oriented architecture (SOA) -based application development by reducing the associated cost, complexity and risk.

"With heterogeneous computing environments being a fact of life in the enterprise, our customers and partners have been looking for greater interoperability between Java and .NET," said Mark Bauhaus, senior vice president, Business Integration, Application Platform and Identity, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Today's announcement demonstrates Sun's continued commitment to open standards and community building, and is major step forward in facilitating Java and .NET interoperability. Sun is providing developers with the tools to build the next generation of Java technology-based web services and most importantly, breaking down the barriers to enable enterprises to realize the benefits of a service-oriented architecture."

Sun plans to implement WS*-specifications pertaining to SOAP-based Messaging, Metadata, Security and Quality of Service, and will make them available to the community via Sun's Glassfish project, the open source development project for Sun's Java System Application Server Platform Edition 9. Additionally, Sun will provide the Java community with tools, sample applications, and supporting materials via its integrated software system platform, the Java Enterprise System (Java ES), and through its Java Web Services Developer Pack (Java WSDP). Early access to the Java WSDP will be available in the first half of 2006.

Today's announcement builds on Sun's commitment to help enable greater interoperability between its Solaris OS and Java technologies and Windows and .NET and its interoperability efforts around Single-Sign-On (SSO) and identity. Together with other standards such as the Java Business Integration specification (JSR 208) and the Liberty Alliance, this web services interoperability effort lays the foundation for developing, deploying and managing SOA-based applications. As a result, companies will be able to leverage their existing IT investments in both Java technology and .NET through the development of composite applications, creating an IT environment that reduces interoperability challenges and fosters innovation to meets the needs of the enterprise.

More information on the Glassfish project is available at https://glassfish.dev.java.net/.

About Java Business Integration

The Java Business Integration (JBI) specification (JSR 208) defines the core of a service oriented integration bus and component architecture for SOA. It standardizes the common message routing architecture, plug-in interfaces for service engines and bindings, and a mechanism (Composite Service Description) to combine multiple services into a single executable and auditable unit of work. More information on JSR 208 is available at http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=208.

About the Liberty Alliance

The Liberty Alliance is an alliance of more than 150 companies, nonprofit and government organizations from around the globe. The consortium is committed to developing an open standard for federated network identity that supports all current and emerging network devices. Federated identity offers businesses, governments, employees, and consumers a more convenient and secure way to control identity information in today's digital economy, and is a key component in driving the use of e-commerce and personalized data services, as well as web-based services. Membership is open to all commercial and noncommercial organizations. More information on the Liberty Alliance is available at http://www.projectliberty.org.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

A singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world's most important markets. Sun's philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com.

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