Wingcast and Sun Microsystems Form Strategic Alliance

SAN DIEGO and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 6 -- Wingcast and Sun Microsystems announced the companies have forged a strategic alliance to facilitate the delivery of telematics services and the integration of new telematics applications.

Wingcast, LLC, founded by Ford Motor Company and QUALCOMM Incorporated to develop and deliver enhanced telematics services, has selected Sun Open Net Environment (Sun ONE), as the backbone of its telematics service delivery network, which will be introduced in model year 2003. The agreement designates Sun as a preferred technology vendor for Wingcast, which will power its infrastructure on Sun Fire(TM) servers. Wingcast also will use components from the end-to-end Sun(TM) ONE framework, including software from the Java(TM) 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME)(TM). In addition, Sun Professional Services will provide architectural expertise.

``Wingcast is building a telematics service delivery network that provides the flexibility and scalability to meet the consumer demands of today, while keeping our eyes on the needs of tomorrow,'' said Erez Nir, vice president, Service Delivery Network for Wingcast. ``Our alliance with Sun provides us with an open system architecture that promotes the efficient integration of applications developed specifically for cars and trucks, and gives us access to high-quality professional services from one of the leading technology companies in the world.''

The two companies are working closely together to advance the telematics industry, promoting the development of relevant applications that can be integrated into Wingcast's Java technology-based open architecture and jointly developing design architectures for mobile consumer services over the Wingcast service delivery network. Sun also will promote Wingcast services to its domestic workforce and will develop purchase incentive programs to help ignite industry demand.

``Telematics is a burgeoning technology sector, and Sun's flexible and open architecture design is well suited to promote this emerging market,'' said John Loiacono, Sr. vice president, chief marketing officer, of Sun Microsystems. ``As an industry, telematics can reach its potential only when systems are truly interoperable. Wingcast has all the pieces in place to deliver high-quality telematics services, and the Sun ONE platform provides the foundation for developing and deploying services on demand today and in the future.''

Ford Motor Company and QUALCOMM, Inc. announced the creation of Wingcast in July 2000 to offer telematics services -- the integration of computing and wireless telecommunications with motor vehicles to enhance safety, security, productivity and enjoyment for consumers in a mobile environment. According to International Data Corporation, the telematics market is estimated to grow to $42 billion by 2010 from $1 billion in 1998.

About Wingcast, LLC

Wingcast, LLC (www.wingcast.com/) is dedicated to the development and delivery of advanced wireless applications and telematics services that deliver on the promise of ``connected freedom'' for mobile users both in and outside of vehicles.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take their businesses to the nth. Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com .