Sun Microsystems' Award-Winning Java Card Platform Breaks Free With Full Contactless Functions

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. AND PARIS, FRANCE – Cartes IT & Security Nov. 15, 2005 – Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), the creator and leading advocate of Java technology, today announced the Java Card platform is now running on contactless smart cards. Sun and its partners announced the worldwide availability and deployment of contactless Java Card technology with demonstrations of Java Card contactless products at the Sun booth at the Cartes IT & Security 2005 tradeshow, Booth 4 M 086 in Paris.

The Java Card platform is the number one technology for multi-application smart cards with over 1.25 Billion cards shipped. With the advent of contactless Java Card products, Sun will enable new waves of smart card deployments to benefit from its secure, market-proven multi-application Java Card technology. According to Frost & Sullivan, contactless smart cards shipments are expected to top 815 million units annually by 2009. Government identification and ePassport projects are currently being rolled out worldwide with contactless Java technology.

“Contactless support creates exciting new market opportunities for Java Card technology,” said Tom Goguen, Vice President, Software Group at Sun Microsystems. “This opens new doors for enterprises and government bodies that demand smart card security, the convenience of contactless operation, and the flexibility to easily create or migrate innovative applications. When Java Card 2.2.2 specifications are released with contactless support, we expect it to further increase Java card technology's market leadership.”

Java Card technology offers a secure environment for applications that run on smart cards and other devices with very limited memory and processing capabilities. Multiple applications can be deployed on a single card, and new applications can be added even after it has been issued to end users. Applications written in the Java programming language can be executed securely on cards from different vendors. With over one billion cards deployed worldwide, Java Card technology is the leading open, multi-application platform for smart cards. Card issuers benefit from a number of unique features of Java Card technology in contactless products, including interoperable cards, a certified multi-application platform, and an open environment for writing new applications using widely available development tools. on a diverse range of operating systems including the Solaris (TM) Operating System (OS), Windows and Linux. Java Card applications can be seamlessly executed on contact, contactless or dual-interface cards, while meeting the performance requirements of contactless usage.

Java Card technology is licensed to over 50 companies in 18 countries, representing the majority of the world's smart card manufacturing capacity. It provides a range of new opportunities for original equipment manufacturers and their partners across several industries. In particular, the applet interoperability provided by Java Card technology allows card issuers to mix and match third-party applications, including standard payment, stored value, computer authorization, data management, and many more.

Sun will demonstrate contactless Java Card technology-based products and solutions from Gemplus, Trusted Logic, Aspects and Activcard at its booth at the Cartes IT & Security 2005 conference. Java Card contactless products are available today, and Java Card 2.2.2 specifications with enhanced contactless support will be available in Spring 2006. For more information on Sun Microsystems and the Java Card platform, please visit Sun at Cartes IT & Security 2005, Booth 4 M 086, or visit http://java.sun.com/products/javacard/

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
A singular vision -- “The Network Is The Computer” -- guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world's most important markets. Sun's philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com/.

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For more information

Bob Wientzen
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
303.661.4993
bob.wientzen@sun.com

Asa Fenton
Bite Communications, for Sun
415.365.0473
asa.fenton@bitepr.com

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