essentialtalk Network Adopts Novell Net Services Software

• First Internet-based talk media network adopts eBusiness solution based on NDS eDirectory
• The essentialtalk Network utilizes iChain to customize, secure and personalize their Web site
• Highly scalable solution running on industry leading NetWare platform

Novell, Inc., the leading provider of Net services software, today announced that the essentialtalk* Network (www.essentialtalk.com), North America's first Internet-based, fully interactive talk media network, is adopting Novell's Net services software, enabling them to broadcast customized talk media content on the Net from anywhere in the world. Using Novell's NDS® eDirectory, iChain and NetWare® technology, as well as technology from Compaq, AT&T and Digital Island, essentialtalk.com provides customers worldwide a highly personalized interactive experience not available through traditional radio stations.

"essentialtalk Network's implementation of Novell's Net services symbolizes perfectly the world-wide movement to a one Net economy, with voice and data networks melding into one" said Carl Ledbetter, chief technical officer for Novell. "This solution demonstrates the role of Net services software from Novell in simplifying and accelerating the trend towards Web-based communities and allowing management of large numbers of users across multiple networks and platforms."

Genuis' Network First of Its Kind
The essentialtalk Network, the brainchild of Dr. Mark Genuis, delivers highly personalized talk media to a potential audience of millions over the Internet. Using Novell's award-winning technology brings customized talk media content on social, political, financial, and environmental issues to a primarily North American audience while allowing essentialtalk hosts to broadcast from anywhere in the world.

" essentialtalk's programming and delivery via the Net is way ahead of the curve," states Mark Genuis, founder and president of the essentialtalk Network. "Our Novell based solution in conjunction with our 'essentialtalk Studios' is helping us bring the future of personalized talk media to a vast Internet audience."

The Solution
eDirectory is the core of Novell's Net services software, providing the foundation for eBusiness initiatives for companies of all sizes. eDirectory is a full-service, cross-platform directory service that allows clients to personalize interaction with individual partners, customers and vendors. essentialtalk leverages the scalability of NDS eDirectory to simplify management for each listener on www.essentialtalk.com. NDS eDirectory allows the Web site to effectively manage a potential audience of over a million with no sacrifice in performance.

iChain manages relationships between a corporation's suppliers, customers and partners in an Internet supply chain. Specifically, iChain provides common security, authentication, and management for eBusiness applications in a business-to-business environment. iChain assists in authenticating users of essentialtalk and customizing content for each listener. By using iChain, essentialtalk can key on specific attributes associated with a listener, for example, zip code. Advertising banners would then be displayed based on the listener's geographic area. The result is a highly personalized interactive experience not available through traditional radio stations.

The essentialtalk Network's Web site is powered by Novell's flagship operating platform, NetWare 5, running on a high speed Compaq Proliant server. essentialtalk chose this platform over more costly RISC-based options because of their confidence in NetWare's security and unsurpassed reliability. The Novell solution allows for a modular plan of expansion with additional servers placed strategically across Canada.

A Team Approach
Novell's Net services software was chosen to power essentialtalk's network because of their confidence in Novell's industry leading technologies and because of Novell® Consulting and Developer Lab groups work with a team of vendors including AT&T, Compaq, Digital Island, and MSI Systems Integration. "essentialtalk demonstrates how Net services solutions simplify customers' transition to eBusiness," said Alex Salehi, vice president for Novell Consulting. "Novell's cross platform, open systems approach and ability to integrate a multi-vendor environment is key to the one Net vision."

The essentialtalk Network to Broadcast "Internet Entrepreneur" from Novell Booth at N+I Debuting this month, essentialtalk.com will showcase its Novell based network by broadcasting their Internet Entrepreneur show from the Novell booth (#4917) at NetWorld® + Interop* in Atlanta.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is the leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks the Internet, intranets, and extranets; wired to wireless; corporate and public across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.

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. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/competitive.

Novell, NetWare, NetWorld and NDS are registered trademarks, and eDirectory and iChain are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.