---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun Expands Network Services Offerings SunFLASH Vol 28 #24 April 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forms Partnerships with AT&T and Anixter Brothers Extends Agreement with Cabletron MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --April 30, 1991-- Sun Microsystems today announced it has signed strategic partnership agreements with AT&T Computer Systems and Anixter Brothers for networking services and components. Sun also renewed its contract with Cabletron for similar products and services. As a result of these agreements, Sun offers its customers expanded network solutions, from initial network design and installation to networking expansion and support. These are the latest in a series of agreements based on Sun's "open service" concept of leveraging the products and expertise of its partners to offer customers "one-stop shopping" for their service needs. In 1990, agreements for hardware support were signed with Kodak and Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services; in February 1991, Sun formed partnerships with Andersen Consulting, Cincinnati Bell Information Systems, and INTERACTIVE Systems for software consulting services, for a full implementation of open service. Sun has more than 90 service partnership agreements with companies worldwide. AT&T Computer Systems will sell to Sun cabling, networking products and services, including AT&T's StarLAN, StarWAN and SYSTIMAX products, which Sun will market to its U.S. customers. These products offer the latest in 10BASE-T twisted pair cabling and FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) technology. AT&T will provide training on StarLAN and StarWAN products to Sun's network consultants and will assist them in the design, implementation and certification of the customers' networks. Anixter Brothers is the largest supplier of cabling in the world, with more than 120 locations worldwide. Anixter will provide Sun with rapid delivery of a vast array of cabling and network components such as bridges, repeaters, and connectors, enabling Sun customers to easily expand their networks. Cabletron has been a service partner of Sun since 1986. With the expanded agreement, Cabletron offers its complete line of network products and services through their growing number of offices worldwide, including Europe and the Pacific Rim. The new contract includes Cabletron's FDDI, Token Ring, and Ethernet products. Cabletron will also work with Sun network consultants at customer sites to install and certify the networks. In addition to the products and services from these partners, Sun's array of network services gives customers a broad range of options. Network services are part of the growing portfolio of professional services offered by Sun Customer Support. Other professional services include software installation, configuration, and implementation assistance, and consulting services such as software development and porting assistance. "Our latest agreements expand our ability to offer network solutions to Sun users, as well as to further implement our open service strategy. By continuing to partner with top quality service providers, we can deliver the full spectrum of service and support to our customers worldwide," said Bill Cote, vice president of customer support at Sun. PR contact: Kim Miller (415) 336-7583 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu and paris.cs.miami.edu. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.