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10/2/2005
Sun Introduces New Version of StarOffice SoftwareSun Microsystems, Inc. |
Microsystems, Inc., today announced the availability of StarOffice 8
software, the latest version of the award-winning desktop productivity suite.
StarOffice 8 software is the first commercial office suite using the Open
Document Format for Office Applications, the OASIS open standard that makes
sharing files easier. Sun also announced today new relationships with leading
software publishers Encore Software, Avanquest Software and a continuing
relationship with SourceNext to make StarOffice 8 software available to
consumers and businesses worldwide.
StarOffice 8 software is an easy to use office productivity suite with
powerful word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and database
capabilities. Based on open source technology, OpenOffice.org, StarOffice 8
runs on Windows, Linux and Solaris operating systems. The suite is comprised
of five key components: StarOffice Writer, Impress, Calc, Base and Draw.
StarOffice software provides excellent compatibility with Microsoft
Office. StarOffice 8 software further improves import and export of Word,
Excel and PowerPoint documents, even password-protected MS Word and MS Excel
files and presentations with complex animations, autoshapes and slide
transitions. StarOffice 8 software also provides features that look more
familiar to Microsoft Office users. The Format Paintbrush allows simple
transfer of styles from one section of a document to another, and the Impress
multi-pane user interface simplifies creation of high-impact presentations.
StarOffice 8 software is the first commercial office suite to use the
OpenDocument format, standardized at OASIS through an open transparent
process. The OpenDocument format provides improved interoperability and
enhanced programmability and is increasingly adopted by government agencies,
including the European Union and the state of Massachusetts.
"The StarOffice 8 software not only allows users to transparently read and
write files in Microsoft Office formats, its new default OpenDocument file
format ensures their data won't be bound to a single product, now or in the
future," said John Loiacono, Executive Vice President, Software Group, Sun
Microsystems. "With our expanding base of software publishers, StarOffice 8
software is easily accessible to cost-conscious customers at retail locations
around the world and on the Web. This is part of our overall effort to ensure
all customers -- from students to governments to enterprises -- have access to
information in an open, secure and freely available fashion independent of any
vendor or product."
StarOffice 8 Enterprise Edition software builds on the OpenOffice.org code
base by simplifying configuration across desktops enterprise-wide with its
bundled management tools. Using built-in MS Office file analyzer, users are
better able to manage migration from Microsoft Office. StarOffice 8 software
includes a Macro Migration Wizard to convert VBA macros, a commercial
spellchecker, the Adabas D database engine and additional clip art, fonts and
templates on top of OpenOffice.org.
"Organizations are seeking out ways to both reduce their costs of using
information technologies and also make their IT investments provide real,
measurable benefits in a very short term," said Dan Kusnetzky, vice-president,
system software research, IDC. "Software, such as Sun's StarOffice 8, could
neatly fit into both of these requirements. It could be used to reduce the
software costs for each of their many desktop or mobile computers while also
keeping the staff-related costs in check."
Customers Impressed with StarOffice 8
"StarOffice 8 software allows our employees to go from Microsoft Office
files to StarOffice files effortlessly," said Mike Prince, CIO, Burlington
Coat Factory. "Burlington Coat Factory has been using StarOffice software for
years, so we are doubly pleased that we can roll out StarOffice 8 software
now."
"StarOffice 8 software combines low cost with support for open standards,
ease of use, a full range of business features and compatibility with other
products," said Stewart Long, Head of ICT at Bristol City Council. "Sun has
consistently listened to our feedback and continuously improved StarOffice
software, implementing features that matter to us. The low acquisition cost of
StarOffice software has enabled us to direct investment into staff skills and
knowledge, improving our efficiency and productivity."
New Software Publishing Model Extends Availability to Consumers
Sun is expanding the StarOffice software publisher model to increase
retail distribution worldwide with new agreements with Encore, Avanquest and a
continuing relationship with SourceNext to provide marketing, manufacturing
and distribution. Encore will leverage its pervasive retail and wholesale
distribution channels to make StarOffice 8 software widely available to
consumers in retail and e-tail locations in the U.S. and Canada. Avanquest
will be the software publisher in Europe and initial coverage includes Italy,
France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain, Austria and
Switzerland. In Japan, SourceNext will continue to offer StarSuite
software, the version of StarOffice software for Asian languages, in up to
15,000 retail outlets.
"Sun has clearly taken StarOffice 8 software to the next level with the
latest round of improvements," said Michael Bell, CEO of Encore. "We're
thrilled to provide retailers and consumers with such an impressive and
cost-effective home office suite alternative."
Pricing and Availability
StarOffice software is available in seven languages and StarSuite software
is available in another four. The suggested list price for the packaged
software product is $99.95 and the download price is $69.95. For enterprise
customers, StarOffice 8 software is priced on a tiered, per-user basis,
starting at $35/user and $25/user for upgrades. Education organizations can
continue to obtain StarOffice 8 software at no-charge. StarOffice 8 software
downloads are available immediately at
http://www.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/get.jsp and packaged
configurations will be available starting in October.
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