sun Software Delivers Critical E-Commerce Capability to Internet Shopping Network's "First Auction" - a Dynamic,
Real-Time, Live-Auction Web Site
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1998--Before the Internet Shopping Network launched its FIRST AUCTION Web site in June 1997, the
reliability and scalability of the system had to be guaranteed.
After all, system downtime means lost revenue, and an inflexible network architecture makes adding new services almost impossible. To avoid these problems,
Internet Shopping Network turned to the industry's leading electronic commerce technologies, including software from Sun Microsystems, Inc.
FIRST AUCTION is the first of many retail services to run on Sun's Solaris(TM) operating environment that Internet Shopping Network, one of the Web's
fastest-growing retailers, plans to introduce over the next few years. FIRST AUCTION, firstauction.com, is the Internet's largest, real-time auction,
offering the widest selection of products at some of the lowest prices. Visitors to the FIRST AUCTION site can participate in or simply watch as a number of
products, ranging from computers, to housewares, to jewelry, are sold in a series of live auctions. Currently more than 5,000 items are auctioned off each week.
A Solid Foundation Now And In The Future
''Sun(TM) software ensures that our customers have round-the-clock access to services. It simplifies our network management, and speeds the development of
new applications,'' said Kirk Loevner, Internet Shopping Network President and CEO. ''With Sun's full suite of software products, we can stay focused on our core
business of deploying new retail services without having to become network-administration or software-development experts. Sun software's ease of use and
interoperability helped us create the Web's most dynamic, real-time auction site.''
A Winning Combination
Because of Sun software's support of industry standards, Internet Shopping Network was able to build FIRST AUCTION applications using best-of-class
technologies from Oracle, Netscape, KIVA Software, and Broadvision. ''Using Sun software as the foundation, we assembled an Internet commerce model that will
comfortably take us into the 21st Century,'' Loevner said.
Sun's Solaris operating environment running on Sun(TM) SPARCserver(TM) systems is at both the front and back-end of FIRST AUCTION's operations. When new
customers access the FIRST AUCTION Web site, they are prompted to enter a wide variety of information, including a major credit card account number. This data
is encrypted by Netscape Enterprise Server software, passed through KIVA Software's Internet, and then stored in an Oracle database behind Internet Shopping
Network's firewall. Within seconds, the Solaris based system processes the information and sends the customer a membership code for making product
purchases.
The complex applications supporting FIRST AUCTION are written in Sun's Java(TM) software or in C++. Using JDK(TM) (Sun's Java Developers Kit), and the Sun(TM)
Visual WorkShop(TM) C++ products, Internet Shopping Network engineers quickly built and deployed the applications. The Sun Visual WorkShop C++ graphical,
easy-to-use interface greatly streamlined the process of testing, debugging, and compiling FIRST AUCTION applications.
Easy Network Management
A number of products from Sun's Network Software Group, including the Solstice(TM) Site Manager(TM), Solstice(TM) DiskSuite(TM), and Solstice(TM) Backup(TM)
products, are used by Internet Shopping Network to simplify system management for the company's two on-line retail sites. For example, Solstice Site Manager
software monitors all operations and immediately notifies network administrators if problems arise with the Sun machines or application software (i.e. Oracle,
KIVA, Broadvision, or Netscape). ''With Sun's network software, we have the assurance that our network is running smoothly, allowing us to devote our energy to
serving customers and growing our business,'' Loevner explained.
''By combining creative thinking with Sun's highly-available and scalable software, Internet Shopping Network is giving on-line shoppers some of the Web's most
powerful retail services. With our integrated software suite, Internet Shopping Network can effectively manage and expand its operations, while ensuring that
customers worldwide have uninterrupted access to services,'' said Janpieter Scheerder, president, SunSoft Inc., and corporate executive officer of Sun
Microsystems, Inc.
Internet Shopping Network
First Auction (www.firstauction.com) is the world's only real-time online auction, featuring consumer electronics, computers, home and leisure merchandise and
jewelry. ISNs Computer Superstore (www.css.isn.com) was the first online store in the world when it was launched in April 1994. Internet Shopping Network
(www.isn.com) is the Internet commerce subsidiary of USA Networks, Inc. (USAI), a diversified media and electronic commerce company.
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, ''The Network Is The Computer(TM),'' has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., (NASDAQ: SUNW - news), to its position
as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $9
billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at sun.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, Solstice, Solstice Site Manager, Solstice DiskSuite, Solstice Backup, Java, JDK, Sun Visual WorkShop,
and The Network Is The Computer, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC
trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products
bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
JavaOne Thousands of Java technology developers will descend on San Francisco March 24-27 for JavaOne(SM), Sun's 1998 Worldwide Java Developer
Conference(SM). Join the inventors of Java technology and engineers on the front line for an update on the latest happenings in the industry and a technology
roadmap for 1998 and beyond. To register dial 800/668-2741 (650/372-7077 for international callers) or visit java.sun.com. For press
registration contact Mary Everette Glenn at mary_everette_glenn@yr.com or 202/530-4505.
Contact:
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
David McCann, 650/786-4551
david.mccann@sun.com
or
UpStart Communications for Sun
Julie Squires, 404/256-5512
jsquires@upstart.com |
