Novell and Texas Instruments Team to Accelerate the Delivery of Broadband Services

Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) and Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) today announced that the two companies will demonstrate broadband services gateway technology that speeds the delivery of next-generation Internet services to homes and businesses. Ultimately, the demonstration will show how service providers can easily, quickly and cost-effectively provision, differentiate and add digital services on a customer-by-customer basis using an intelligent broadband services gateway device built upon TI's programmable digital signal processing (DSP) technology and proven asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) expertise with Novell's Net services software, including NDS eDirectory. For more information see TI at South Hall booth #6755 or Novell at South Hall booth #5023.

"The combination of TI programmable DSPs and Novell's NDS eDirectory will allow service providers to extend their current offerings beyond data-only services to consumers," said Karuna Uppal, senior analyst for the Yankee Group. "Intelligent gateway technology, as demonstrated by TI and Novell, should enable the acceleration and overall growth of the broadband connectivity market, which we expect to reach over 13.25 million subscribers in the United States by 2003."

A broadband services gateway is an intelligent, always-on, personal Internet-access device that aggregates, distributes and manages multiple services through a single broadband access connection. These devices bring entertainment, computing, communications and networking services such as music, streaming video, multiple high-speed Internet connections, multiple toll-quality voice lines and the ability to support a wired or wireless network to residential and business consumers on demand, all the time. The demonstration at N+I will show how TI and Novell technologies are key enablers for these next-generation broadband devices. Examples of dynamically provisioned applications highlighting business-to-business and business-to-consumer use will be included in the demonstration.

The TI/Novell gateway, built around the framework of the industry's Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi) specification, underscores both companies' commitment to accelerate broadband deployment. Broadband data services and personalized content are widely accepted as the next big frontier for service providers, and the delivery of broadband service gateways to customer premises paves the way for realizing that market potential.

Intelligent gateway technology, with connectivity to Novell's NDS eDirectory, simplifies the management and control of the network, creating a secure, automated foundation for easier and less expensive deployment of broadband services. With NDS eDirectory powering management of the carrier network, configuration of equipment and the provisioning of services becomes automated, eliminating the need for multiple on-site support visits at the customer premises, further reducing costs and speeding deployment. Management by NDS eDirectory is fully scalable and will help carriers achieve rapid customer growth on the order of millions of subscribers. In addition, Novell's NDS eDirectory provides compatibility, through DirXML technology, for carriers to integrate customer premises equipment and services with legacy systems for management functions, such as billing.

"With current requirements for deployment of broadband services, demand has increased beyond the carriers' capacity to provide the necessary support," said Carl Ledbetter, senior vice president of business and corporate development for Novell. "Using intelligent gateways powered by Novell eDirectory and TI's world-leading DSPs, carriers will be able to remotely and securely configure equipment, provide support and offer valuable add-on services."

TI's programmable DSPs provide broadband services gateways the ability to deliver the broadband connection over standard copper wires (via ADSL) or coaxial cable (via cable modem), and to handle real-time flow of high-bandwidth services, routing information intelligently and securely. As the engines of broadband access and Internet appliances, TI programmable DSPs also provide the access methods to and throughout wired or wireless networks so consumers can utilize and personalize the bandwidth in homes and businesses.

"The demonstration with Novell complements our broadband strategy to enable the delivery of broadband services such as voice, video and data to consumers and business users," said George Barber, vice president and general manager for TI's Broadband Access Group. "TI's proven expertise in ADSL, and Novell's success in directory services, offers an ideal solution for enabling manufacturers and service providers to offer personalized broadband services."

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. The company's businesses also include materials and controls, and educational and productivity solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the Web site at www.ti.com.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. is a 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. Net Services software gives IT organizations a way to adapt and accelerate their transformation to eBusiness, simplify the management and control of all networks, create a secure foundation for doing business on the Net, and help deliver a consistent and high-quality experience to end users in all locations. 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. Novell is traded on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbol NOVL). More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.novell.com.

Trademarks

Novell and NDS are registered trademarks, and DirXML and eDirectory are trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries.