IBM TUNING JAVAOS for BUSINESS to NETWORK COMPUTERS BASED on INTEL PROCESSORS Submitted By: Pleon Thursday, 23 April 1998

IBM TUNING JAVAOS FOR BUSINESS TO NETWORK COMPUTERS BASED ON INTEL PROCESSORS Submitted by: Pleon Thursday, 23 April 1998

23 April 1998 IBM* today announced that it is tuning the JavaOSä for Businessä product to network computers (NCs) based on Intel processors with assistance from Intel. IBM and Intel are also working together to ensure the JavaOS for Business product supports Intel's Lean Client Guidelines. By bringing together the Intel Architecture with the JavaOS for Business software, IBM and Intel are cooperating to expand the choices available to customers seeking network computing solutions. This joint project between IBM and Intel will bring the benefits of the JavaOS for Business product - including ease of use, centralized management, rapid deployment of IT solutions and reduced cost of ownership - to businesses deploying network computers with Intel processors. The JavaOS for Business software is designed to be cross platform and will support both the Network Computer Reference Platform and the Intel Architecture Lean Client Guideline. In addition, IBM will develop a version of the IBM Network Station network computer utilizing an Intel microprocessor, for the high end of the Network Station family. The Intel-based NC from IBM is expected to be available in the first half of 1999, and will take advantage of the JavaOS for Business product. IBM's Network Station will be compliant with both the Intel Architecture Lean Client Guideline and the Network Computer Reference Platform. Intel will assist IBM in working with OEMs considering deploying the JavaOS for Business product for NCs based on Intel processors.

Page 1 "This joint project by IBM and Intel will strengthen and improve the JavaOS for Business product," said Mike Lawrie, general manager, IBM Network Computing Software. "Customers and business partners will benefit from a high performance platform for implementing and developing network computing Java-based solutions. It is IBM's goal to establish the JavaOS for Business software as an industry standard platform for customers in the server-managed environment." "We look forward to working closely with IBM to optimize JavaOS for Business for Intel processors. Our efforts with IBM are key to Intel's Lean Client initiative," said Will Swope, vice president, Business Platform Group, Intel Corporation. "Intel is also very pleased about IBM's decision to use Intel processors for the high end of their Network Station line of computers." The joint work involved in this agreement between IBM and Intel includes the sharing of technology and development resources by the two companies in order to tune performance, installation and manageability for the JavaOS for Business software on NCs based on Intel processors. The two companies are designing a solution to provide for high performance execution of Java applications while maintaining the cross platform benefits of Java. Customers will be able to run Java applications with optimal performance. These same applications will run unchanged across all JVMs (Java Virtual Machines) on a variety of processors. Additional areas being considered for tuning work include device drivers, multimedia, security and communications. In addition, IBM, Intel and Lotus** will

Page 2 pursue enhanced performance of the Lotus eSuite WorkPlace** for use on Intel processors. About JavaOS for Business The JavaOS for Business product will be the industry's most efficient way to run cross-platform Java applications. IBM and Sun Microsystems jointly develop and co-market the JavaOS for Business software in order to provide OEMs, hardware device suppliers, independent software vendors, channel integrators, and enterprise customers with an industry standard operating system designed from the ground up to run Java applications in a network computing environment. The JavaOS for Business software is designed for enterprise users - such as insurance adjusters, bank tellers and call center employees -- that use line of business applications. The applications are stored and managed on the server, where IT professionals can focus on maintaining the computing environment centrally. This server-managed style of computing assists companies in rapidly deploying applications and services to the end user. Customers will benefit from a lower overall cost of computing while employees are able to concentrate on using computers as a simpler, more efficient tool for doing their jobs. Additionally, the JavaOS for Business product is designed so that client machines can connect to any hardware or software platform. This is a huge benefit to companies looking to "plug-in" best-of-breed solutions throughout their enterprise. To date, there are more than 1,000 Java applications available on the market. About IBM Software IBM creates, develops and manufactures some of the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. IBM offers information about the company, its products, services and technology through the World Wide Web. The fastest and easiest way to get information about IBM software is to go to the IBM Software home page at www.software.ibm.com.

Page 3 - Ends - * IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. ** Lotus and eSuite WorkPlace are trademarks of Lotus Development Corp. JavaOS for Business, JavaOS, and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The JavaOS for Business product is the result of a collaboration between Sun Microsystems and IBM. Information regarding JavaOS for Business is available at http://www.ibm.com/java. IBM press releases issued in the United States can be found at http://www.ibm.com/news/uspress.html Ref:98/111 Contact: Simon Phipps Java Development programme manager, IBM Tel: 01962 818339 Email: [email protected] This release and other information from IBM are available electronically on NEWSdesk, the online IT news network. If you are not currently accessing the service, it can be reached on the Internet at: http://www.newsdesk.com, or dial-up

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