Alliance Expands Gateway's Enterprise Presence and Offers Sun Customers Fully
Integrated Solutions; Gateway Is the First Major PC Company to Bundle
And Support Sun's Application Software Environment
SAN DIEGO and PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that
will significantly foster integration of Internet access for end-to-end
computing solutions, Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Gateway, Inc. today announced
a strategic alliance that will provide customers with one-stop shopping for
heterogeneous, interoperable computing solutions. Under the agreement Sun
sales representatives will refer customers to Gateway(TM) for computers that
meet their enterprise customers' Windows-based PC requirements. Gateway will
pre-load these PCs with the Sun Portal Pack(TM), Sun's webtop application
software, beginning in April.
"Combining Sun's leadership in Internet computing and software development
with Gateway's world-class PCs and vision for Internet-based computing makes
sense for both companies," said Jeff Weitzen, president and chief executive
officer, Gateway. "Our complementary business models provide customers with
solutions that will enable them to leverage the Internet for their business.
Customers will now have a single point of contact for sales and the confidence
that their diverse needs will be met to fully leverage an integrated Internet-
based architecture."
"The world of computing is changing right before our eyes," said Edward J.
Zander, president and chief operating officer, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "As we
race to dot-com our businesses, our schools, our homes and even ourselves, the
need for free, open, end-to-end Internet application software is paramount.
Today's announcement showcases the ubiquity of Sun's software and how
customers can truly run their entire business from any server to any client-
side device."
The companies are leveraging their e-commerce strategies to meet
customers' technology acquisition and support needs. Customers logged into
SunStore, Sun's online e-commerce site, can seamlessly access Gateway's
websites and eSource personalized websites to facilitate customer
transactions.
Under the agreement, Gateway will bundle and support the Sun Portal Pack
on its E-Series desktops and Solo(R) portable computers, giving Sun customers
complete office productivity and access to the growing array of web-based
services. Initially available in the United States, Gateway will roll out
this offering to other international regions.
Customers can purchase Gateway computers with the Sun Portal Pack by
contacting their Sun sales representative or directly through Gateway.
Gateway will provide first level support for the end-user applications in
Sun's Portal Pack, which includes the StarOffice(TM) productivity suite,
Netscape Communicator(TM), Java 2 Platform Standard Edition(TM) software, Jini
connection technology and Java 3D(TM), Java Media Framework(TM) and Java
Advanced Imaging(TM). Consistent with Sun's philosophy of providing open
application programming interfaces and available source code, the Sun Portal
Pack contains the software for accessing, connecting and running Internet
applications, providing a foundation upon which enterprise applications can be
readily built or integrated. Sun will provide back-up support and on-going
product enhancements. Gateway will also integrate and support future versions
of Sun's application software and tools.
The two companies will explore the potential for leveraging each company's
strengths in technology, engineering, manufacturing and supply management for
future solutions for both business and consumers.
About Gateway, Inc.
Gateway (NYSE: GTW), a Fortune 250 company founded in 1985, focuses on
building lifelong relationships with consumers and businesses through complete
technology personalization. Gateway ranked number one in U.S. consumer PC
revenue in 1999(1) and was rated among the top ten best corporate reputations
in America according to a survey conducted in August of 1999 by Harris
Interactive and the Reputation Institute and published in The Wall Street
Journal. Gateway employees worldwide provide clients with services and
built-to-order computers that consistently win top awards from leading
industry publications. Gateway had total global revenue of $8.65 billion in
1999 and shipped 4.68 million systems. For more information, visit our Web
site at http://www.gateway.com.
(1) According to GartnerGroup/Dataquest US PC Quarterly statistics.
About Sun Microsystems
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network is the
Computer(TM) -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), to its
position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and
services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to ".com" their
businesses. With $13 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more
than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.
Gateway, the Gateway stylized logo and Solo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Gateway, Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, StarOffice, Java 2 Platform Standard
Edition, Java 3D, Java Media Frame Work, Java Advanced Imaging and The Network
Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Netscape Communicator is a trademark or registered trademark of Netscape
Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries.
The above statements include forward-looking statements based on current
Gateway management expectations. Factors that could cause future results to
differ from these expectations include the following: general economic
conditions; growth in the personal computer industry; competitive factors and
pricing pressures; component supply shortages; risks relating to new or
acquired businesses and joint ventures; and inventory risks due to shifts in
market demand. Additional factors are described in the Company's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Gateway, Inc.; Sun Microsystems, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sun.com
http://www.gateway.com
CONTACT:
Donna Kather, 949-609-4401,
donna.kather@gateway.com, or Ruth Rosene, 949-609-4498,
ruth.rosene@gateway.com, both of Gateway, Inc.; or David Harrah
of Sun Microsystems, Inc., 408-517-5479, david.harrah@eng.sun.com
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