Novell and Compaq Partner to Provide Businesses with Expanded Service Offerings Worldwide

Novell, Inc., the leader in Net infrastructure software, today announced it is partnering with Compaq Computer Corporation to bring co-developed service offerings and high-quality technical support alternatives to mutual Novell/Compaq customers around the world. The partnership is part of the Novell Global Service Partner (GSP) program, through which GSP partners provide jointly developed service offerings with Novell as well as direct support for Novell products to mutual customers.

A natural extension of Novell's and Compaq's decade-long relationship that has included software and hardware collaboration, the Global Service Partner agreement will provide an additional conduit for delivering services that help customers use directory technology to securely extend their networks to the Internet for e-business. More than 1.2 million Compaq servers run Novell's NetWare network operating system, and the GSP relationship combines the two companies' expertise to provide support services, business development, training and support tool development.

"We are partnering with Compaq Customer Services through our GSP program because we are committed to providing mutual customers with the services they need to help them succeed in today's rapidly changing network environment," said Rich Nortz, senior vice president of Novell Customer Services. "Novell's directory technology has helped customers create mission-critical networks around the world, and the combined support strengths of Compaq and Novell will help customers experience the business benefits and efficiencies they expect from their technology investment."

According to Nortz, Novell is establishing comprehensive support-delivery relationships with other companies in the business of providing world-class technical support services in order to enhance customer satisfaction and create business opportunities for Novell, its partners and customers.

Peter Mercury, vice president of Compaq Customer Services, said the high-availability requirements of today's non-stop e-business customers are creating demand for availability services, proactive support, and simplified, accelerated problem resolution. "Teaming with Novell will allow us to better serve our customers by ensuring that their mission-critical networks are continuously available," Mercury said.

Novell and its partners, including other GSP partners Hewlett-Packard and IBM, provide industry-leading technical support around the clock to Novell customers worldwide. From Web-based support and online forums to e-mail and telephone inquiries to FaxBack materials and CD-ROMs, Novell programs ensure customers receive the technical support services they need when they need them. For more information, visit the Novell Support Connection Web site at http://support.novell.com.

Novell's technical support is just one part of the business ecosystem Novell is building for customers and partners. The company's leading networking products and technologies combined with global channel, consulting, developer and education programs make Novell a strategic networking partner for organizations of every kind and size. Reaching virtually every country on earth, this distribution and support infrastructure includes more than 20,000 authorized resellers and 500,000 networking professionals certified to administer and maintain Novell networks.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) is the broadest supplier of Net infrastructure software used to integrate and manage the diverse information resources of private business networks and the Internet. Novell's worldwide channel, consulting, developer, education and technical support programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks and Novell Support Connection is a trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.