ORLANDO, Fla.—June 28, 2004— Sirsi Corporation, celebrating 25 years of delivering technology "firsts" to the library community, announced today that it now offers the Sun Ray™ 150 Ultra-Thin Client with integrated smart card technology to users of its Java-based WorkFlows® 2004 staff client software. These interoperable desktop computing solutions are ideal for cost-conscious, productivity-oriented libraries seeking to reduce the maintenance, upgrade, and operations costs associated with most PC client environments. With the Sun Rays, all application processing and storage remain on the server. In addition, the "stateless" nature of Sun Ray Ultra-Thin Clients allows for complete session mobility, improved workflow, central system management, and a rich, simple user experience. The new Sun Rays are available for WorkFlows 2004, the latest version of the powerful, flexible software that the library staff uses to interface with Sirsi's Unicorn® Library Management System.
"These Ultra-Thin Clients with smart cards enable library staff members to access WorkFlows work sessions from any desktop unit within their workgroup," said Lamar Jackson, Sirsi's director of global alliances. "All a staff member has to do is swipe his or her smart card, which contains the staff member's profile, and the Sun Ray client opens up the staff member's work environment - regardless of who may have just been using that desktop. And since all computing occurs on the server, every user gains server-class performance of WorkFlows and other Sirsi solutions; which in turn, reduces the cost of putting comparable resources on every desktop. Users can move their session from desktop to desktop, supporting increased mobility, collaboration, and the ability to share desktops."
Because Sun Ray Ultra-Thin Clients are stateless, the desktop appliance only needs to be plugged in - no setup is required. This reduces time and costs required to install and maintain the units for public access. With no operating system on the desktop, the library is not adding software or other devices to lock down the desktop to make them tamper-proof. This reduces the costs and related risks of security software to prevent the spread of viruses within the library. Continued Jackson, "The Sun Ray delivers server-class performance to the desktop, while providing ease of use and unbelievable cost savings for our customers over desktop PC's. And the Sun Ray's all-in-one design takes up less space - an important benefit to many libraries cramped for sufficient space."
"As libraries look to the future, replacement costs and ongoing maintenance of computers for both staff and patrons are two of the biggest expenditures challenging strained budgets," said Jackson. "Sirsi is confident that many libraries will discover the advantages of thin-client technology as part of a strategy to overcome these budget challenges."
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision - "The Network Is The Computer" - has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software, and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at www.sun.com.
About Sirsi
In 2004, Sirsi Corporation (www.sirsi.com) celebrates 25 years as the strategic technology partner to more than 10,000 libraries around the world. A strong, growing company, we are dedicated to providing the library community with forward-thinking information technology solutions, including Sirsi Unicorn® Library Management System, the first client/server-based and UNIX-based integrated library system; Sirsi iBistro and iLink, the first e-Library solutions with streaming enriched content; Sirsi Rooms, the first suite of context management solutions; and Sirsi Director's Station, the first information analysis tool for library executives. Sirsi maintains operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and China.