Banyan Announces Intranet Messaging Suite; Enhances and Expands Banyan Intelligent Messaging Server to Support New Mail Clients and Year 2000-Compliance.

WESTBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 1998--Banyan Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:BNYN) today announced the Banyan Intranet Messaging Suite product, an enhancement to its Intelligent Messaging Server for StreetTalk for Windows NT product. Banyan customers who install the Intranet Messaging Suite product on their StreetTalk for Windows NT network can promptly deploy a variety of new standards-based mail clients, such as Microsoft Outlook 98, Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator and Lotus Notes, while maintaining a unified messaging back-end and enterprise directory service.

The Intranet Messaging Suite product enables organizations to take advantage of features offered by new and existing mail clients, without having to make costly changes to the underlying email infrastructure.

"Over the past several years, we have been working to integrate open standards support across our product line," said Bill Warner, Banyan's senior vice president of product management and development. "With the Banyan Intranet Messaging Suite, we're giving our customers the flexibility to choose among several mail clients, without requiring them to make any changes to their underlying messaging backbone."

The Banyan Intranet Messaging Suite product provides support for leading open messaging standards such as the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) for client/server messaging, the Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP - provided by Incognito's iSMTP MTA for StreetTalk for Windows NT product), and the Messaging Application Program Interface (MAPI) for 32-bit Microsoft Windows platforms. Banyan's Intranet Messaging Suite product includes two components: Banyan's IMAP Service for Intelligent Messaging version 1.0 component, and Banyan's MAPI Client Service Provider Interfaces version 2.0 component.

Using virtually any IMAP-compliant mail client, such as Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator, with the Intranet Messaging Suite product, users can access and manipulate mail messages and folders stored in Banyan's Intelligent Messaging Server, and can synchronize client and server message stores all through standards-based protocols. Through it's MAPI support, the Intranet Messaging Suite product will also support a range of Outlook features, including interpersonal calendaring, electronic notes, and other PIM functions, as well as remote access features such as offline compose. Application developers will be able to design customized mail forms for Outlook while transmitting their properties accurately among applications and message stores.

"We've been using Banyan messaging products for over 5 years because they are easy to install, fully integrated with Banyan's StreetTalk directory service and automatically generate an enterprise-wide address book," said Michael Wickenhauser, network designer, BRZ Gmbh, a premier network integrator for public administration agencies located in Austria. "From my perspective, with the delivery of the Intranet Messaging Suite, Banyan is continuing its leadership role in delivering standards-based Year 2000-compliant intranet messaging solutions, giving us more choices for cost-effective, open computing environments."

Banyan Intranet Directions

Banyan has launched several intranet-focused initiatives that help customers incorporate Internet standards into enterprise networks. These include LDAP support for Banyan's SwitchboardT directory service, the Internet's leading white and yellow pages directory; LDAP support for the StreetTalk directory service, its VINES networking product; and its BeyondMail Professional Internet Edition messaging system. Most recently, the company announced Banyan Intranet Connect 1.5, innovative intranet server-based software that provides a simple way to access network files, printers and e-mail from any location using a standard web browser.

Banyan Year 2000 Readiness Program

Banyan's Intranet Messaging Suite version 1.0 is a Year 2000 Ready product. As part of the company's Year 2000 Readiness Program, Banyan has released Year 2000-compliant versions of its current messaging server, networking, and directory products. "Year 2000 Ready" for Banyan means that Banyan-developed products will be able to correctly generate, process and/or receive data for dates through the year 2000 and beyond.

Pricing, Availability and Services

For specific product pricing, contact your local reseller or Banyan sales representative. The Intranet Messaging Suite 1.0 release is available to customers immediately. Customers who are covered by an existing VINES or StreetTalk for Windows NT Value Investment Protection Plan (V.I.P. Plana), are eligible to receive promotional Intranet Messaging Suite pricing.

About Banyan Systems Inc.

Over eight million business users, including half the Fortune 1000, depend on Banyan technology and solutions. Banyan Systems (NASDAQ:BNYN) is a pioneer and leader in providing proven, standards-based directory and messaging products for enterprise networks. Coupled with professional and support services, these unique offerings help people to communicate simply and easily across the enterprise, intranets and the Internet. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Westboro, Massachusetts, USA, the Company markets products and services worldwide through its direct sales force, authorized network integrators, resellers and international distributors. Banyan can be reached on the World Wide Web at http://www.banyan.com. Banyan, VINES, StreetTalk and BeyondMail are registered trademarks of Banyan System Mike Farnesi, 508/870-2138

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KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMED COMPUTERS/ELECTROINCS INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INERNET

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