Sun announces new technologies and business models

Sun Microsystems Inc has delivered more than 30 new technology innovations along with new subscription and utility-based delivery models at its second quarterly Network Computer '04 launch. At the SunNetwork Conference in Shanghai--where more than 5,000 Asian business leaders, IT professionals and partners gathered--the vendor introduced new products, solutions and services to help customers lay the foundation for deploying new services over the network while slashing the cost and complexity of network computing infrastructures.

Major announcements include new subscription models that make flexible computing a reality including new subscription-based Sun Preventive Services, StorEdge Utility Computing whose pricing is based on its mission-critical StorEdge Power Units starting at Rs 138.49/GB/per month (minimum contract terms of 36 months and 30 StorEdge power units) and the Java Enterprise Developer Promotion which offers Sun Developer Network program members Sun's Java developer tools, running on the Solaris Operating System and bundled on Sun's newest entry-level AMD Opteron-based server, the Sun Fire V20z, at a 3-year software subscription price of Rs 2,02,695 (available in Singapore and India only) per year.

Sun also unveiled major updates to the Solaris operating system. In addition, the company

unveiled the second release of the Java Enterprise System, a new portfolio of identity management products as well as the second release of the alternative desktop, the Java Desktop System. In addition, Sun announced that 80,000 users and 30 ISVs are currently previewing Solaris 10 through software express, allowing them to implement the latest technologies in production environments. 

Sun also announced new features and updates to the Java System along with new UltraSPARC and Solaris-based systems and solutions: The Dynamic File System, available today in Solaris 10 via Software Express, is the a self-healing, self-managing OS file system technology and provides 16 billion times more capacity than current 64-bit file systems, providing virtually unlimited scalability.

Sixteen new Sun Reference architectures and solutions that allow customers to gain quicker access to information and improve business intelligence, advance data center efficiency and achieve 70% scale out utilization at a fraction of the cost.

Sun also launched the new Netra 440 server - a four-way UltraSPARC server running the reliable, enterprise-class 64-bit Solaris OS complemented by new NEBS-compliant storage arrays and Sun Java Enterprise System 2004Q2 with per-citizen pricing model for federal, state and local governments and extended support for the Solaris x86 OS and Linux.

It also introduced Sun Java System RFID software, simplifies the way companies integrate and leverage RFID data within their enterprise information systems and Sun Java Desktop System Release 2 with integrated management tools gives customers total control over the desktop environment, its applications, access rights and interface policies.