Sun and Unisys to jointly deliver next generation interface systems technology; Unisys also to...

COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 1995--Sun Microsystems Computer Company and Unisys today announced a program to work with S.W.I.F.T. (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) to migrate banks and financial institutions to SWIFTAlliance Access on a network computing

model based on the Sun(TM) SPARC(TM) Solaris(TM) architecture. The alliance will ease the migration path for SWIFTAlliance users by leveraging Unisys installation, configuration and systems integration expertise, and Sun's proven network computing architecture and hardware.

S.W.I.F.T. interface software is currently installed on approximately 6,000 Unisys machines in more than 2,300 banks around the world.

Separately, Sun and Unisys also announced that Unisys will resell Sun workstations and servers for the SWIFTAlliance solution and provide integration services and support for moving the current installed base to the Sun platform.

"SWIFTAlliance has been ported to the SPARC Solaris platform to take advantage of Sun's network-centric approach to computing," said Rob Theis, director, financial services group at Sun. "The scalability, increased functionality and high availability characteristics of the Sun platform will allow S.W.I.F.T. members to cost effectively keep pace with incremental demands for resources and technology as they move to the year 2000 and beyond."

"S.W.I.F.T is pleased that customers will benefit from our SWIFTAlliance application on Sun and from the integration expertise of Unisys," said Victor Abbeloos, senior group product manager, interfaces, at S.W.I.F.T.

Marc Lambotte, international account director, Unisys, said, "Unisys has served S.W.I.F.T. and its members well and we will continue to do so through this agreement. Our experience managing complex bank integration projects - and with S.W.I.F.T. payment systems in particular - has given us the experience, skills and resources to expertly migrate users from one platform to another. We look forward to working with S.W.I.F.T. and Sun to deliver the advantages associated with a network computing architecture."

Through S.W.I.F.T. more than 5,000 financial institutions around the world communicate with each other 24 hours a day, seven days a week, securely and cost effectively. S.W.I.F.T. currently operates in 130 countries and processes more than 500 million messages a year, or almost 2.5 million messages daily.

As an information management company, Unisys acts as a solutions and systems integrator for business and government, complementing those integration skills with a full range of consulting and implementation services, information technology and vertical industry expertise. The company's perspective extends beyond supplying technology to delivering comprehensive information solutions. Further information is available through the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web http://www.unisys.com.

Sun Microsystems Computer Company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of network computing systems and is a division of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Recognized for quality and innovation, the company's SPARC(TM) workstations and multiprocessing servers each hold the No. 1 UNIX(R) market share position. These systems are used primarily by businesses, educational institutions and governments worldwide for technical, commercial, industrial, and software development applications.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network is the Computer and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape or NCSA Mosaic. Type http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt.

CONTACT: Burson-Marsteller for Sun Microsystems Computer Company

Steve Foley, 212/614-5036 (SIBOS Stand 94)

or

Unisys Corporation

Michel Legrand, +32-2-728-0711 (SIBOS Stand 102)

or

S.W.I.F.T.

Euan Sellar, +32-2-655-3243