Sun has introduced a new client solution eliminating the expense of traditional desktops while significantly bolstering security and authentication.

"We've been advocating the move to browser-based applications for the past six years -- we believe our customers are now ready to take that next step," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president of Software, Sun Microsystems. "Combining world-class Java CardTM authentication with an open source desktop software stack and off-the-shelf hardware, we can deliver military-grade security with profound savings in acquisition and operational costs. The power, security and economics customers have long enjoyed through Sun's end-to-end architecture are finally coming to the PC desktop. We are disrupting traditional computing economics to benefit our customers while completing our client product line."

Sun plans to extend its reach in the enterprise by initially focusing the new initiative on users in cost and security-sensitive areas such as call-centers, retail banks and class-rooms where personal computers and their applications are generally underutilized, insecure and costly to administer. In these instances, a client is a computing device on which users handle basic tasks such as word processing and email as well as entering reservations or order entry.

The new client desktop includes hardware, the ability to authenticate access using Java Card technology, a complete, open desktop software environment as well as a server for identity, portal and messaging capabilities. This approach breaks entirely new ground in the client-side solution category and disrupts the high-cost economics of the traditional enterprise desktop.

The benefits for the enterprise are significant, with savings in acquisition, maintenance, administration and on-going operational support. This is combined with superior security, the absence of viruses and their associated costs, and an alternative to purchasing expensive Microsoft software. Sun will integrate, support and service the open source technologies that it assembles into the full solution.

The new solution brings together off-the-shelf hardware, open-source software and Sun's own industry-leading intellectual property. These include low-cost desktop systems hardware and several open source software efforts, namely Linux, Mozilla, OpenOffice, Evolution and GNOME. This gives desktop users a familiar desktop environment and the ability to interoperate with Microsoft Office documents, presentations and spreadsheet formats. In addition, with Evolution, the user is provided with a Microsoft Outlook-like client which interoperates with Microsoft Exchange while Sun also provides the fully supported StarOfficeTM open office productivity suite.

With the ability to use Java Card technology for access and authentication to the system, customers can dramatically enhance the security of the upcoming desktop solution. As an open and proven technology Java Card solutions are currently deployed worldwide in industries such as financial services, government and telecommunications.

The total system solution is expected to be available in 2003 with prototype systems available soon at Sun's worldwide iForceSM centers. [...read more...]

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