Compaq Affirms Commitment To OpenVMS; Dynamically Adapts IT Compute Power With Galaxy Software; And Provides Major Enhancements To OpenVMS.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 1998--Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today affirms its commitment to OpenVMS as a key part of its enterprise computing strategy.

As proof of this commitment to OpenVMS, Compaq is today announcing its innovative OpenVMS Galaxy software architecture, major enhancements to its OpenVMS operating system, and COM for OpenVMS as part of its Affinity for OpenVMS Wave 6 program. These join with an expanded set of nearly 20 new and enhanced products and services to provide a new and advanced level of application integration between OpenVMS and Windows NT.

"Recognizing that customers today are demanding a compatible data center environment with Windows NT, Compaq embraces OpenVMS as one of the most compatible operating systems with Windows NT," said John T. Rose, Compaq Senior Vice President and Group General Manager, Enterprise Computing Group. "OpenVMS provides those customers with a robust 64-bit computing environment they can trust to support their most demanding mission-critical computing needs today and in the future.

"With this announcement," Rose added, "Compaq is sending the clearest message possible that Compaq is committed to continued investment in OpenVMS products and services for the millions of new and existing users around the world who depend on OpenVMS for their most business-critical computing needs."

Affinity for OpenVMS is a continuing program which delivers to customers seamless integration between OpenVMS and Windows NT in an enterprise computing environment.

Interoperability Plays a Key Role

These offerings extend the commercial strength of OpenVMS, advance new levels of interoperability with Windows NT as evidenced by the recent joint Compaq-Microsoft announcement of September 10th, and enable thousands of Compaq customers to take advantage of the high performance, scalability, and availability of OpenVMS clients, servers and clusters while easily integrating Windows NT into their enterprises.

(A complete description of all new and enhanced products and services is contained in an addendum to this press release).

Galaxy software architecture on OpenVMS enables enterprise IT infrastructures to respond to business demands with unheard of flexibility at a fraction of the cost. OpenVMS Galaxy is an evolution of the OpenVMS operating system which delivers greater scalability, and highly available computing with extremely flexible operating features in a single computer. It enables multiple instances of OpenVMS to execute cooperatively in a single computer, giving customers the ability to manage unpredictable, variable, or growing workloads.

OpenVMS V7.2 features seamless integration between OpenVMS and Windows NT, breakthrough performance and flexibility for large-scale SMP systems, and ongoing improvements in performance, reliability, and availability. It continues to enhance Internet readiness with Netscape FastTrack, delivers high quality and rich functionality with TCP/IP V5.0, and robust and reliable file and print services with Advanced Server V7.2.

COM for OpenVMS is a new implementation of the Microsoft COM object technology on OpenVMS for secure distributed application development. It provides a new level of application integration between Windows NT and OpenVMS by increasing application portability, making software maintenance easier and less expensive, and provides for rapid prototyping of new applications.

Oracle Says Galaxy Enhances Long-Standing Relationship

"Galaxy for OpenVMS builds on the strength of our 20-year relationship with Compaq by creating an environment that offers increased availability, and the potential for greater scalability and performance on OpenVMS," said Gary Bloom, Executive Vice President, System Products, Oracle Corporation. "More than 80 percent of OpenVMS customers who run a database, run Oracle, and this collaboration with Compaq on OpenVMS Galaxy is just one example of our ongoing commitment to these joint customers."

Customers Rely on OpenVMS Capabilities

"We've handled up to $2.9 trillion in U.S. Government securities transactions per day, our core transaction applications depend on Compaq's Digital platforms, and they've never let us down," said Rob Palatnick, Managing Director of Information Technology, Government Securities Clearing Corporation, New York, New York. "We began with clustered VAX systems, and now have a multi-site OpenVMS cluster of 10 AlphaServer 4100 systems. The performance is always there, the service is 24 by 7 and immediate, and their products evolve with - and are often ahead of - the industry."

Analysts Commend Compaq's Galaxy Architecture and Commitment to OpenVMS

"The Galaxy architecture confers the strength of Compaq's OpenVMS

enterprise capabilities on distributed applications that require highly available services from the data center," said Jean S. Bozman, an analyst with International Data Corporation, Framingham, Massachusetts. "As Internet applications and Windows NT-based applications grow, Compaq intends to supply reliable and highly available back-end data servers that will process data requests from dozens of distributed servers, and thousands of end-users. Importantly, as network demand for service peaks, IT managers will gain flexible system administration because of the support Galaxy provides for multiple compute partitions that can be reconfigured on-the-fly."

OpenVMS a Leader

OpenVMS systems enjoy a leading market share in many worldwide business-critical markets, and its growth continues as noted that one out of every five OpenVMS AlphaServer 8200 and 8400 systems are being purchased by customers new to Compaq. OpenVMS is the number one rated operating system in the healthcare market, and OpenVMS has a dominant share of the world's lottery market. More than 90 percent of the world's CPU chips are manufactured on lines running OpenVMS, more than 50 percent of the world's cellular phone billing systems run OpenVMS. And 75 percent of the world's top financial exchanges run on Compaq OpenVMS and Tandem systems.

OpenVMS and Affinity - A Look Ahead

Looking to the future, Rich Marcello, Vice President of Compaq's OpenVMS System Software Group, said "Compaq's product plans and investment roadmaps for OpenVMS AlphaServers and Alpha workstations are solid for the next several years, bringing us well past the year 2000 with plans to support future releases of OpenVMS. New releases will continue to focus on delivering exciting new functionality in the areas of high availability, with ongoing enhancements to the OpenVMS Galaxy software architecture and seamless integration with Windows NT through future support for Windows NT V5.0.

"These new features will ensure that OpenVMS remains one of the most available and scalable operating systems in the world," Marcello noted, "and when these capabilities are coupled with the industry's best Windows NT integration, the resulting platform solution is unbeatable.

"And," he added, "particularly exciting is Compaq's renewed commitment to provide OpenVMS customers with ongoing enhancements and support for OpenVMS workstations, and more details on these workstation plans are scheduled to be announced in early 1999."

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 100 company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices.

Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products are available at http://www.compaq.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: All press attending DECUS'98 in Los Angeles, CA October 5-8, 1998 are invited to attend the Affinity for OpenVMS Wave 6 keynote presentation by Rich Marcello, Vice President of Compaq's OpenVMS Software Systems Group on Monday, October 5, 1998 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 502B in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Marcello and other OpenVMS executives will be available for onsite interviews at DECUS. To schedule onsite interviews, contact Compaq Group Public Relations Manager Dick Calandrella in the Compaq booth on the show floor.

Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

ADDENDUM TO AFFINITY WAVE 6 PRESS RELEASE

New and enhanced products and services being announced as part of Affinity for OpenVMS Wave 6 which provide expanded elements of high availability and seamless integration are:

HIGH AVAILABILITY

OpenVMS Galaxy --- This new OpenVMS Galaxy software architecture is an evolution of the OpenVMS operating system. It enables multiple instances of OpenVMS to execute cooperatively in a single computer. Galaxy offers customers greater levels of performance, greater scalability, and highly available computing with extremely flexible operating capabilities. The license will be available for order immediately, and is priced at $4,500 per CPU. The OpenVMS Galaxy architecture is scheduled to be available in January 1999 with the release of OpenVMS V7.2.

OpenVMS V7.2 --- Its new features provide seamless integration and the highest level of interoperability between OpenVMS and Windows NT, breakthrough performance and flexibility for large scale SMP systems, unlimited high-end capabilities to Windows NT, and ongoing improvements in performance, reliability, and availability. It is scheduled to be available in January 1999. Concurrent use licenses are available in increments from one user to 256 users, and prices start at $128 per concurrent use.

Netscape FastTrack Server V3.0 for OpenVMS --- Now available on OpenVMS, this is an enhancement to the general purpose Web server for creating, building, publishing and serving Web pages and applications. Based on open Internet and intranet standards, it can be installed and operational in minutes. It enables users to manage a Web site from any desktop, and enables high-fidelity communication and information sharing within and beyond the organization. It is available immediately at no cost bundled with OpenVMS Alpha V7.2, and can also be downloaded free from Compaq Web site: http://www.openvms.digital.com.

Java Development Kit V1.1.6 --- This enhancement allows users to create applets that run in Java-enabled browsers and develop Java applications that can be written once and run on any operating system that implements the Java runtime environment. It is available immediately at no cost bundled with OpenVMS Alpha V7.2, and can be downloaded free from Compaq's Java home page: http://www.digital.com/java.

Reliable Transaction Router V3.2 --- This enhanced transactional messaging middleware provides industry-standard XA and Microsoft DTC support on Digital UNIX and Windows NT platforms. It also provides improved operator controls for 24x365 application availability, nested transaction support for integration with other applications, performance enhancements for remote site recovery, and support for a BMC Patrol Knowledge Module available from a third party. It is scheduled to be available in January 1999 on OpenVMS, Windows NT, Digital UNIX, and other vendors' UNIX platforms. A front-end license starts at $338, and back-end license starts at $10,143.

IBI Datamart Suite for OpenVMS and Windows NT --- This new suite of products from Information Builders, Inc. provides all the middleware tools, technology, and services required to build, manage, and use either a client server or Web-based data mart. Included are tools for database modeling, data extraction, transformation and movement, multi-dimensional data storage, reporting and analysis, Web access and administration. This suite is available immediately in any combination on OpenVMS systems (VAX or Alpha) or Windows NT systems (Intel or Alpha), and pricing is based on selected workgroup, departmental or enterprise levels.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION

COM for OpenVMS --- This is a new implementation of the Microsoft COM object technology for secure distributed application development, and is a native port of the Microsoft code that supports the COM draft standards. It will enable developers to create small, platform-independent software objects that can be distributed across networks. With this capability, existing OpenVMS applications can be encapsulated easily, and a Windows NT client can be added to extend the life of critical applications and data. COM for OpenVMS is scheduled to be available in January 1999, and is priced at $2,500 for a single system developers' license.

Digital OpenVMS Enterprise Toolkit for Visual Studio --- This new product provides an interactive development environment based on Microsoft's VisualStudio. It enables software developers to develop OpenVMS applications using the Windows NT environment on their desktop. It is scheduled to be available in February 1999, and can be downloaded at no cost from Web site http://www.openvms.digital.com/commercial/cace.html.

DEC C V6.0 for OpenVMS VAX/Alpha --- This release offers significant new functionality. DEC C is an ANSI-compliant implementation of the C programming language with Digital/Compaq extensions. The Digital C compiler runs under the OpenVMS Alpha and VAX operating systems and generates optimized, position-independent code. It is scheduled to be available in December 1998 for Alpha and VAX. Prices start at $1,399 for a personal use license.

Digital C++ V6.0 for OpenVMS Alpha --- Formerly known as DEC C++ for OpenVMS, this major new release offers industry-leading software development technology. It provides a significant performance increase over previous versions to make customers more productive. It is scheduled to be available in December 1998, and prices start at $1,799 for a personal use license.

DIGITAL COBOL for Windows NT --- This enhanced version is designed to be closely compatible with VAX COBOL for OpenVMS VAX systems, DIGITAL COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha systems, and DIGITAL COBOL for Digital UNIX Alpha systems. It is available immediately, and prices start at $1,650 for an individual use license.

DIGITAL BASIC Translator --- This enhanced version assists users in migrating established DEC BASIC and VAX BASIC applications to a distributed environment by accepting BASIC source code as input, translating it into Visual Basic. In combination with the run-time library, the resulting Visual Basic source code compiles and executes on the Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95 platforms. It is available immediately, and prices start at $15,000.

DECset Clients V2.0 --- This enhanced software allows PC desktop access to CMS libraries and frequently used CMS and MMS features that reside on OpenVMS systems. It enables developers in an Affinity client/server environment to have the functionality and security of the DIGITAL Code Management System (CMS) and DIGITAL Module Management System (MMS) on OpenVMS systems, while maintaining the speed and ease-of-use of the PC. It is scheduled to be available in December 1998, and prices start at $ 375 for a single user license.

Office Server MAPI Driver V6.0 --- This software enhancement, which is installed on a PC running Windows 95 or Windows NT, allows MAPI-compliant clients such as Outlook and the Exchange clients to use Office Server for OpenVMS as their server for message storage, transport, and directories. It is available immediately. Client access licenses are available in volume packages, and the minimum order is a 100-client pack for $2,500. Prices decrease for large volume orders.

TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS V5.0 --- This enhanced software sets a new standard for OpenVMS TCP/IP implementation. It is a proven technology that offers enhanced interoperability and new features, which include DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing), GateD, and PathMTU. It is scheduled to be available in January 1999 for both Alpha and VAX implementation. Stand-alone licenses are available from $766 to $10,199.

Advanced Server V7.2 for OpenVMS --- An enhanced networking product based on PATHWORKS V6 for OpenVMS Advanced Server, it enables OpenVMS to fully participate in a network with a Windows NT server. It also enables Windows NT desktops to access applications and data on OpenVMS, and provides seamless interoperability with Windows NT servers. It is scheduled to be available in December 1998, and is priced from $129 for a single license up to $30,000 for 1,000 licenses.

DECforms Web Connector V1.0 --- This new layered software product provides transparent Web access to interactive OpenVMS applications with no modifications. This provides a cost-effective method to preserve application system investments and extend an application's life. It is available immediately and prices start at $6,995.

LifeCycle Services for OpenVMS --- Compaq Services offers lifecycle packaged services for Windows NT software, OpenVMS and Digital UNIX, to provide customers greater ease of integration and migration. Compaq Services also offers a Priority Service Plan, which combines hardware and software support in easy-to-buy, easy-to-use packaged offerings that are designed to help customers achieve their desired levels of system availability. These services are available immediately at standard package pricing from resellers, and custom services pricing directly from Compaq.