AGREEMENT REACHED ON HARDWARE REFERENCE PLATFORM FOR PowerPC MICROPROCESSOR; Open platform to create broad array of computers that run multiple operating systems.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 7, 1994--Apple Computer Inc., IBM Corporation and Motorola Inc. today agreed on a new hardware reference platform specification for the PowerPC(a) microprocessor that aims to deliver a much wider range of operating system and application choices for computer customers.

The new platform defines an architecture -- a framework made up of open technical concepts, definitions, specifications and interfaces -- that can be used by any hardware or software vendor to build compatible PowerPC-based computer products that are ready to run a tremendous variety of applications written for a number of industry operating systems.

The new hardware reference platform for the PowerPC microprocessor is expected to support popular computer operating systems, such as Mac OS(b), OS/2(a) for the PowerPC, AIX(a) and Microsoft Windows(c) NT. (Editors' note: Novell, Inc. today also announced its plans to provide Processor Independent Netware (PIN) support for the new platform--see related Novell release entitled, "Novell, Inc. to Support New Apple, IBM, and Motorola Hardware Reference Platform for the PowerPC Microprocessor.") Many of these operating systems already support current PC applications through software emulation or hardware extensions.

To ensure that the vast majority of applications written to current specifications will run largely unmodified on the new hardware reference platform, the platform will combine many technical characteristics and features from Apple's Power Macintosh architecture and from the current IBM and Motorola PowerPC Reference Platform, adopted by a number of hardware and software vendors.

Each company intends to take technical and financial responsibility to port an operating system to the new platform. Apple will be responsible for porting the Mac OS, IBM for OS/2 for the PowerPC and AIX and Motorola for Windows NT. The three companies will continue to work together with other vendors on porting their operating systems to the new platform.

In a joint statement, the three companies said, "The PowerPC microprocessor has already established itself as the industry's price/performance and technology leader. By combining that technology with an open hardware platform and the industry's broadest range of operating system availability, we are creating a new industry standard -- one whose entrance means greater value and performance for customers, greater opportunities for developers and greater competition for the industry."

The hardware reference platform aims to create new business opportunities and alternatives for software developers and hardware vendors who demand a higher return on their investment. This new platform will allow them to invest once in developing a product and have it reach a huge installed base of computers from a variety of vendors.

The objective is to achieve 100 percent compatibility with current PowerPC-based hardware and software application products, while creating a new base standard that offers advanced function and future capability. These features include designs for the industry-standard high-performance peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus technology, system boot or start-up that works independently of the operating system and industry standard components and I/O systems for compatibility.

More technical information on the new hardware platform will be published in the Spring of 1995. The companies intend to present prototypes of the systems based on the specification in 1995, and the first computers are expected to be available in 1996.

PowerPC is a family of RISC-based microprocessors developed jointly by Apple, IBM and Motorola and a key plank in the 1991 technology alliance between the three companies. Since then, the companies have garnered broad industry support for the PowerPC. Currently, more than 25 companies are developing or marketing PowerPC systems, including Apple, Bull Systems, Canon, FirePower, Hitachi, IBM, Motorola, Power Computing, 3DO, the Taiwan New PC Consortium and Toshiba. -0-

(a) Indicates trademark or registered trademark of

International Business Machines Corp.

(b) Indicates trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

(c) Indicates trademark of respective company

CONTACT: IBM Corporation

              Tara Sexton
              914/766-1806
                  or
              Apple Computer
              Laurence Clavere
              408/974-8643
                  or
              Motorola Inc.
              Donna Shuster
              602/438-3576