Contact: Lisa Leonard
Lotus Development Corporation
(617) 225-1263
Nancy Groves
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
(415) 336-641 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lotus Announces Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun
Sun Workstation Users to Benefit from Spreadsheet Power
of Best-selling PC Business Software
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 1990 -- Lotus Development Corporation today
announced Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun, a family of products based on Lotus
1-2-3 Release 3 and optimized for Sun's three computing platforms: the
SPARC(TM)-based workstations; the Motorola-based Sun-3(TM) line; and
the Intel-based Sun386i(TM). The announcement is the result of a joint
development and marketing agreement announced by Lotus and Sun
Microsystems, Inc. last summer.
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is designed for users who want the
spreadsheet capabilities of 1-2-3, combined with the power of the Sun
workstation. The product integrates 1-2-3's rich user environment with
high-performance Sun workstation capabilities, such as distributed
network services, multiple window support, multi-tasking, and support
for large memory. With Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun, Lotus and Sun are
providing users with a powerful computing platform and the business
application software used by millions of professionals today.
"The introduction of Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is a milestone for both
companies and the industry," said Jim Manzi, Lotus president and CEO.
"Users who have made the move to Sun workstations and UNIX(R) will
have the spreadsheet of choice running on this powerful platform. For
Lotus, 1-2-3 for Sun represents a major step in achieving our goal to
provide applications software that operates across a wide variety of
hardware and operating systems."
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Lotus Development Corporationn 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02142 617-577-8500
Lotus Announces 1-2-3 for Sun -- 2/
According to Scott McNealy, president and CEO of Sun, important
applications like Lotus 1-2-3 designed specifically for Sun
workstations signals a major trend for 1990. "We're entering an era of
workgroup computing in which professionals will share information via
powerful, low-cost desktop systems like the SPARCstation 1(TM)," said
McNealy. "The increasing availability of shrink-wrapped UNIX
applications like Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun will spur the rise of networked
workstations as a company's principle information source."
Advanced Spreadsheet Technologies Optimized for Workstation Users
The new Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun includes the advanced spreadsheet
capabilities introduced in 1-2-3 Release 3, including data analysis
improvements, three-dimensional modeling capabilities, relational
database functionality, improved graphics and file reservation
features. Like 1-2-3 Release 3, Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun will make use of
external data access capabilities provided through Lotus' DataLens
technology.
"Lotus 1-2-3 and Sun workstations are natural partners for
business," said Frank Moss, vice president of the Lotus Networked
Applications and Systems Division. "Workstations provide tight
integration of computation, graphics and networking that perfectly
complements 1-2-3's superb analysis, presentation and integration
capabilities. Furthermore, 1-2-3 for Sun is a comprehensive
application solution that allows networked users to work together
efficiently and productively."
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is optimized for the Sun computing platforms,
providing users with powerful capabilities available via SunOS(TM),
Sun's UNIX operating system, running under the SunView(TM) windowing
environment. This enables support for distributed network services,
multiple window operation, multi-tasking, support for large memory and
other workstation fea- tures. Users will be able to view up to 26
spreadsheets at a time, using Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun's three-dimensional
perspective mode operating in a SunView window. Lotus 1-2-3 graphs and
multiple spreadsheet files can be viewed through separate windows,
which can be dynamically re-sized or transformed into icons for easy
access.
Users of Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun will be able to scroll through a
spreadsheet, while simultaneously performing any mixture of the
following: recalculations in the background, executing a macro,
displaying a graph and receiving another worksheet file across a
network. Users can, thus, become more productive and manage a large
flow of applications and data using Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun's
multi-tasking environment.
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Lotus Announces 1-2-3 for Sun -- 3/
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun also supports the Sun networked environment,
with network security, password protection and locking capabilities at
the file level. Users will find the same familiar user interface as
1-2-3 Release 3 running under DOS and OS/2, and full keystroke
compatibility. Files and macros are also fully compatible with 1-2-3
Release 3, and users can utilize Sun's industry-standard Network File
System (NFS(TM)) and PC-NFS(TM) to access any file on a network
created by previous versions of 1-2-3 such as 1-2-3 Release 2.01,
1-2-3 Release 2.2 and 1-2-3 Release 3. This compatibility provides
users with the ability to share 1-2-3 data, files and macros in a
heterogeneous or mixed computing environment, while protecting their
investments in applications development and training.
Lotus to Provide DataLens Toolkit for Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun
Lotus also announced that it will produce a DataLens Developer
TooLkit for Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun. This product will allow third-party
database vendors and corporate programmers to create drivers that
enable application users to access a wide variety of external data
sources from directly within 1-2-3. Drivers under development for
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun include Sybase, Ingres, Oracle and Unify. The
DataLens Developer Toolkit is currently in beta testing and will be
available in the second quarter of 1990.
Pricing, Availability and Support
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is currently in beta testing and will ship in
the second quarter of 1990.
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is priced at $695 for a Standard Edition,
$995 for a Server Edition and $495 for a Node Edition. The Server
Edition is designed for installation on a network server, providing an
efficient way for users to share software. This edition contains
complete Standard Editions, plus network documentation and
administration software, which allows the administrator to determine
the number of licenses available on the network. A single Server
Edition supports users on all three Sun architectures. The Node
Edition provides networked users with an additional license and
documentation.
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun will be available through selected Lotus
Authorized Resellers. These currently include Corsoft, Ingram Micro D,
MicroAge, Softmart, Softsel Worldwide and Univar. Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun
will also be available through Electro Rep, a leading UNIX reseller.
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Lotus Announces 1-2-3 for Sun -- 4/
Lotus will supply traditional Lotus hotline support for Lotus
1-2-3 for Sun, including free support for 90 days. Additional enhanced
support programs tailored to the needs of workstation users will be
announced at first customer shipment.
The Standard Edition of Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun requires a Sun-3,
Sun-4 (including the SPARCstation) or a Sun386i workstation running
SunOS 4.0 or higher, 4 megabytes of RAM and 5 megabytes of available
hard disk space.
Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun is part of the Lotus Spreadsheet Family, and
is a central component in Lotus' long-term cross-platform strategy to
provide users with common applications and services in heterogeneous
computing environments.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Lotus Development Corporation
is the leading developer of applications software for personal
computers and information seIvices delivered on CD- ROM.
Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif.,
is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing
systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX
operating systems and productivity software.
###
All prices and terms are for the U.S.A. only.
SPARC, SPARCstation, Sun-3, Sun386i, SunOS, SunView, NFS and PC-NFS
are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered
trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. UNIX is a registered
trademark of AT&T. All other products or services mentioned in this
document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their
respective companies or organizations.
