Wow... if this came out yesterday, i would have thought it was an April fools joke. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Kerr" <jim@xxxxxxxxxx> To: <thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 10:16 AM Subject: [THIN] GOOD NEWS - Microsoft and Sun > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > > > Microsoft and Sun Microsystems Enter Broad Cooperation = > Agreement; Settle Outstanding Litigation=20 > > Ten Year Agreement Sets New Framework for Industry = > Cooperation; Reduces Cost and Complexity for Customers > > SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- April 2, 2004 -- Microsoft Corporation = > (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) today announced = > that they have entered into a broad technology collaboration arrangement = > to enable their products to work better together and to settle all = > pending litigation between the two companies. The companies have also = > entered into agreements on patents and other issues.=20 > > "This agreement launches a new relationship between Sun and = > Microsoft -- a significant step forward that allows for cooperation = > while preserving customer choice," said Scott McNealy, chairman and CEO, = > Sun Microsystems, Inc. "This agreement will be of significant benefit to = > both Sun and Microsoft customers. It will stimulate new products, = > delivering great new choices for customers who want to combine server = > products from multiple vendors and achieve seamless computing in a = > heterogeneous computing environment. We look forward to this opportunity = > -- it provides a framework for cooperation between Sun and Microsoft = > going forward." > > "Our companies will continue to compete hard, but this = > agreement creates a new basis for cooperation that will benefit the = > customers of both companies," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive = > officer, Microsoft. "This agreement recognizes that cutting edge R&D and = > intellectual property protection are the foundation for the growth and = > success of our industry. This is a positive step forward for both Sun = > and Microsoft, but the real winners are the customers and developers who = > rely on our products and innovations."=20 > > The agreements involve payments of $700 million to Sun by = > Microsoft to resolve pending antitrust issues and $900 million to = > resolve patent issues. In addition, Sun and Microsoft have agreed to pay = > royalties for use of each other's technology, with Microsoft making an = > up-front payment of $350 million and Sun making payments when this = > technology is incorporated into its server products.=20 > > The agreements signed today include the following elements: > > a.. Technical Collaboration: The Technical Collaboration = > Agreement will provide both companies with access to aspects of each = > other's server-based technology and will enable them to use this = > information to develop new server software products that will work = > better together. The cooperation will initially center on Windows Server = > and Windows Client, but will eventually include other important areas, = > including email and database software. For example, one of the important = > elements of large scale computing environments is software to manage = > user identities, authentication and authorization. As a result of this = > agreement, Sun and Microsoft engineers will cooperate to allow identity = > information to be easily shared between Microsoft Active Directory and = > the Sun Java System Identity Server, resulting in less complex and more = > secure computing environments.=20 > b.. Microsoft Communications Protocol Program: Sun has = > agreed to sign a license for the Windows desktop operating system = > communications protocols under Microsoft's Communications Protocol = > Program, established pursuant to Microsoft's consent decree and final = > judgment with the U.S. Department of Justice and 18 state attorneys = > general.=20 > c.. Microsoft Support for Java: The companies have agreed = > that Microsoft may continue to provide product support for the Microsoft = > Java Virtual Machine that customers have deployed in Microsoft's = > products.=20 > d.. Windows Certification for Sun Server: Sun and = > Microsoft today are announcing Windows certification for Sun's Xeon = > servers. In addition, the Windows certification process for Sun's = > Opteron-based servers is moving forward.=20 > e.. Future Collaboration for Java and .NET: Sun and = > Microsoft have agreed that they will work together to improve technical = > collaboration between their Java and .NET technologies.=20 > f.. Patents and Intellectual Property: The parties have = > agreed to a broad covenant not to sue with respect to all past patent = > infringement claims they may have against each other. The agreement also = > provides for potential future extensions of this type of covenant. The = > two companies have also agreed to embark on negotiations for a patent = > cross-license agreement between them.=20 > g.. Legal Settlements: The two companies are settling and = > terminating their lawsuit in the United States. Sun is also satisfied = > that the agreements announced today satisfy the objectives it was = > pursuing in the EU actions pending against Microsoft.=20 > Press Contacts: > > For Microsoft:=20 > > For more information, media only: > > Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 443-7070, = > rrt@xxxxxxxxxx > > For more information, broadcast media only: > > Media Relations, Global Communications & Television, (212) = > 339-9920, mediarelations@xxxxxxxx > > For more information, financial analysts only: > > Curt Anderson, Microsoft Investor Relations, (425) 706-3703 > > For Sun Microsystems: > > Debbie Walery > 650-786-8075 > debbie.walery@xxxxxxx=20 > > Lisa Poulson > 650-868-6590 (cell) > > About Microsoft=20 > > Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide = > leader in software, services and solutions that help people and = > businesses realize their full potential. > > 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 > > Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional = > information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft=AE Web page at = > http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate information = > pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of = > publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, = > journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or = > other appropriate contacts listed at = > http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp. > > Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in = > the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies = > and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective = > owners. > =20 > > Related Links=20 > > Media Alert:=20 > > a.. Media Advisory: Microsoft Corp. and Sun Microsystems, = > Inc. Press Conference - April 2, 2004=20 > > Microsoft Resources:=20 > > b.. Microsoft Legal News on PressPass=20 > > =20 > =20 > =20 > > > > -- No attachments (even text) are allowed -- > -- Type: image/gif > -- File: Trans.gif > > > -- No attachments (even text) are allowed -- > -- Type: image/gif > -- File: 1pxt.gif > > > ******************************************************** > This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. > Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert > consulting services you can depend on. > http://www.go-eol.com > ********************************************************** > Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: > http://thin.net/links.cfm > *********************************************************** > For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or > set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: > http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. 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