Sun Microsystems to Develop Enterprise Management Tools for Netscape Client Software

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (June 22, 1999) - Netscape, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) announced today that Sun will continue development of the award-winning enterprise browser and email management tool suite, Mission Control Desktop. Specifically, Sun will now sell and support the current version of Mission Control Desktop and will provide enhancements that support the next major version of Netscape Communicator, which is based on the open source Gecko browsing engine. Mission Control Desktop provides key deployment and administrative tools that IT professionals can use to centrally manage Communicator configurations. With Mission Control Desktop, IT managers can automatically update desktop software in large and small enterprise environments. Mission Control Desktop for Netscape Communicator 4.5 is available and shipping today.

Mission Control Desktop is a suite of enterprise management tools that enables IT professionals to configure, deploy, update and centrally manage Netscape Communicator across multi-platform, Intranet/Internet desktops. This can provide for a lower cost of ownership through uniform product deployment and operation, greater user satisfaction and fewer support calls. Sun intends to develop Mission Control Desktop for the next generation Netscape browser and email clients running on Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Mac OS, Solaris(tm) Operating Environment and Linux platforms.

"Mission Control Desktop provides IT professionals with powerful tools to configure, deploy and manage Netscape Communicator running on enterprise desktops," said Jonathan Schwartz, Vice President and General Manager of Internet Applications and Performance Tools at Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Software Products and Platforms Division. "We are committed to providing the same high level of functionality and support that enterprise customers enjoy today with Mission Control Desktop and Communicator 4.5, to customers who will take advantage of Netscape's future browser and email technology."

"This effort with Sun will further enhance Netscape's lead in providing enterprise customers with the best Intranet/Internet client browser and email products available in the corporate marketplace," said Bob Lisbonne, Senior Vice President of Client Products at Netscape. "Mission Control Desktop allows IT professionals to configure and centrally manage hundreds of features in Communicator and can dramatically reduce service and support costs."

Key features of Mission Control Desktop include:
- Extensive configuration of many Netscape Communicator features;
- Easy deployment of, and automatic software updates to, Netscape Communicator clients in the enterprise;
- Centralized management of Netscape Communicator's options and preferences.

The cross-platform management tools in Mission Control Desktop complement the capabilities that Sun and Netscape are delivering with the Java (TM) 2 Platform, Standard Edition, in Netscape Communicator 5.0. The Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition, is the definitive environment for developers seeking to create Web-centric software applications that run on a variety of desktops and servers. Support for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition in Netscape Communicator is provided through the Open Java Interface (OJI), which enables users to choose the best-of-breed Java virtual machine on their platform for use within the browser. Mission Control Desktop will enable IT profesionals to update the Java 2 component along with other components of Netscape Communicator 5.0.

The current version of Mission Control Desktop, along with Netscape Communicator 4.5, collectively won InfoWorld's Internet/Intranet product of the year. The software is available today from Sun Microsystems and is currently in use by an ever-growing number of the nations largest companies.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of high-quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.

Netscape is a leading provider of software and services for businesses that want to transform the way they create and keep customers in the emerging Net Economy. Recently acquired by America Online, Inc., Netscape is based in Mountain View, California. Additional information on Netscape is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling corporate sales at 650/937-2555.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Solaris and "The Network Is The Computer" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Netscape and the Netscape N logo are registered trademarks in the United States and other countries of Netscape Communications Corporation, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. Netscape Directory for Secure E-Commerce, Netscape Directory Server, Netscape Certificate Management System, and other Netscape logos, product names and service names are also trademarks of Netscape, which may be registered in some countries.