SUN and Reuters Extend Value and Choice with Low Cost Computing Platform for Reuters Market Data System

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Monday, October 27, 2003; 12:00 AM

SANTA CLARA, Calif., -- October 27, 2003 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Reuters (Nasdaq: RTRSY; LSE: RTR) announced plans today to strengthen and expand support for the Reuters Market Data System (RMDS) on multiple UNIX(r)-based systems from Sun. While continuing to support RMDS on the Solaris Operating System and UltraSPARC(r) architecture, Reuters will also support RMDS on Intel-based servers from Sun which run the Linux operating system. In addition, Reuters will take advantage of features in Sun ONE Studio 8 and Solaris 9 to increase RMDS performance on UltraSPARC, the most widely used platform for RMDS today.

RMDS integrates crucial real-time data and news that a financial institution uses to make its trading decisions and interact with the markets. The system delivers information to thousands of users and applications throughout the financial institution and across the Internet. RMDS combines the best elements of the most widely installed market data systems, Reuters Triarch and the TIB Market Data Distribution System, while enhancing them with components that improve cost of ownership, scalability, and business flexibility.

"Anchored by nearly two decades of joint collaboration, the Sun and Reuters relationship continues to deliver solutions with clear benefits for financial services customers," said Peter Lankford, Vice President, Enterprise Information Solutions . "Thousands of Reuters customers have come to rely on systems and expertise from Sun. Our commitment to support RMDS on low-cost Solaris and Linux systems from Sun underscores our dedication to helping clients reduce the total cost of market data integration through reliable technology partners."

"The securities industry -- particularly over the last couple of years -- has had a laser-like focus on achieving more cost effective ways of delivering and distributing market information to critical business functions. That includes expanding customer options across the Solaris/SPARC and Linux x86 based platforms to help achieve optimal price performance," said Rob Hegarty, vice president, TowerGroup.

To help customers benefit from Sun's expanded end-to-end architecture, RMDS customers will be able to run heterogeneous data center environments, with a variety of servers from Sun, including the Sun Fire V120, Sun Fire V210 and Sun Fire V240 SPARC-based servers for the Solaris Operating System and the Sun Fire V60x and Sun Fire V65x Intel-based servers for the Red Hat Linux operating system. Reuters will also support the Sun Fire B1600 Blade Platform, which can enable customers to mix, match and manage Solaris and Linux operating systems and SPARC and Intel architectures.

"We believe customers make strategic technology acquisitions and adjustments based on real business value and a proven track record," said Robert Youngjohns, executive vice president, global sales organization, Sun Microsystems. "Sun's Solaris OS-based SPARC system is still the number one platform for RMDS customers. By extending value and choice across platforms with low cost components based on industry standard x86 servers from Sun, we extend our unique value to the customer. As a trusted and proven technology advisor, we help enable customers to stay focused on their business, rather than the business of technology."

About Reuters

Reuters (www.about.reuters.com), the global information company, provides indispensable information tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Our information is trusted and drives decision making across the globe based on our reputation for speed, accuracy and independence. We have 16,000 staff in 94 countries, including some 2,400 editorial staff in 197 bureaux serving approximately 130 countries, making Reuters the world's largest international multimedia news agency. In 2002, the Reuters Group had revenues of J3.6 billion. Reuters and the sphere logo are the trademarks of the Reuters group of companies.

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 http://sun.com

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, Solaris, Sun Fire, and The Network is the Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. in the United States and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademark or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the US and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc