Sun To Shine Globally

Sun Microsystems announced the selection of four cities to replace Silicon Valley as its research and development center.

Attracted by lower operating costs and multitudes of programmers, Sun chose Bangalore, Beijing, St. Petersburg, and Prague.

“We are over-invested in high-cost geographies like the U.S., and underinvested in low-cost geographies like India,” Stephen Pelletier, senior vice president of global engineering, said.

Dispelling claims of a Silicon Valley pullout, Pelletier said the Santa Clara, Calif., facility will remain at the current level of staffing.

“We are not pulling out,” he said. “We are going to have a big presence in the Silicon Valley for a long time.”

Four years ago, Sun downsized by 13,000 employees to about 30,000.

Sun expects the number software engineers to double in Bangalore from 1000 currently on staff.

The other three centers are expected to see similar growth.