Sun Microsystems’ shift a sign of things to come?

Last July 25 2007, Sun Microsystems announced that it would start to release corporate news over the Internet [Source]. As such there will be an embargo or time delay of ten minutes in the release of the news between the company website and the news distribution service. And as the news appear on the website the RSS Feeds will then push to all those who have subscribed to the service.

The news was featured in the Financial Times – COMPANIES INTERNATIONAL: Sun to announcekey news first on the web by Richard Watersin, July 25, 2007. Excerpt or summary of the article can be read at the Sun Microsystem’s news site state:

… Sun Microsystems said it would start to release important corporate news first over the internet, in what is thought to be the first time a US company has used the online medium as its main channel for price-sensitive information. [Source]

Specific details and reason of the decision can be read in the post of of Sun Microsystem CEO Jonathan Schwarz’s blog .

Specifically, we will publish our results to this web site on July 30th at 1:00 PM (Pacific Time), which will in turn be disseminated via open syndication protocols (namely, RSS) to those who have subscribed to Sun’s news feeds. 10 minutes after publication to the internet, we will distribute this information via traditional news wires for dissemination to private news agencies and distribution vehicles.

Referencing a dialog we’ve established with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and its Chairman Cox, this will place, for the first time, the general investing public – those with a web browser or a cell phone – on the same footing as those with access to private subscription services. In effect, driving an open dialog directly with investors, rather than routing information through proprietary sources. Open is as open does.

I believe this change will increase the transparency of our business, fulfill our desire to disseminate information on a fair and equitable basis, and allow the network to be used for what it’s intended – connecting people and information. [Source]

These seems to be signs of things to come – the fast and reliable delivery of price sensitive financial information. Maybe in few months we will be sing more and more companies using the Internet and Web 2 applications to distribute price sensitive information.