Allied Irish Bank (AIB) is rolling out Sun Microsystems' Java Desktop System (JDS) to 7500 users across its branch network.
AIB branch staff in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK will move to the Linux-based JDS product during 2005 as part of the rollout of the bank's new branch banking platform (NBP). Under the contract, Sun's services organisation will provide AIB with consulting, support and education services.
Sun says the deal, which was secured by local reseller Horizon Open Systems, is the largest financial services contract for JDS since the product was released last December. The latest release of the software - Java Desktop System 2 - was shipped in May 2004 and includes Sun's StarOffice productivity software.
Curtis Sasaki, VP, desktop solutions, Sun Microsystems, says: "The global momentum for the Java Desktop System continues at a rapid pace because of its affordability, enhanced security and manageability, and interoperability."
Sun says it has also recently secured government agreements with the People's Republic of China and the UK for JDS. The vendor also won an agreement with United India Insurance Company (UIIC), one of the largest insurers in India, which is rolling out Sun's StarOffice office productivity software to 10,000 users.