Microsoft Corporation and Sun Microsystems have announced that Sun has signed on as a Windows Server OEM. Additionally, Sun and Microsoft will collaborate to further enable deployment of Windows Server on Sun x64 systems.

"Today's announcement is another example of Microsoft's commitment to 64-bit computing," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president, Server and Tools Division at Microsoft. "The Sun hardware platform is an excellent foundation for Windows -based enterprise solutions, such as Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition. Our customers will have an additional choice of Windows Server OEM partners with Sun."

"Sun is now a single source for today's leading operating systems – Solaris and Windows – on the industry's most innovative x64 systems and storage products. Customers can now take advantage of the virtualisation benefits of Windows and Solaris on Sun's energy efficient x64 systems," said John Fowler, executive vice president, Systems Group, Sun Microsystems.

Sun and Microsoft will also continue to collaborate to advance the worldwide deployment of the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform on Sun servers and storage systems.