HP Announces PC-Client Companion Product For Its Global Configuration-Management Solution.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1996-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced SoftBench CM PC-Client -- a new PC companion product that gives PC users access to HP's powerful UNIX(R) system global-configuration-management tool, SoftBench CM. SoftBench CM PC-Client offers complete version-control and configuration-management capability for users of PCs running Windows 95 and NT and is integrated with Microsoft(R) Visual C++ 4.0.

The SoftBench CM tools provide multisite, multiplatform code-management capabilities that differentiate them from such public-domain CM tools as RCS and SCCS. SoftBench CM provides transparent networked access to files, making it easier for distributed teams of developers to work concurrently on complex applications.

HP's SoftBench family of application-development solutions continues to grow rapidly. SoftBench CM PC-Client is the first of the SoftBench tools to appear on a Windows platform. "We recognize that our customers are increasingly moving to cross-platform development of client/server applications, and we believe that SoftBench CM fills an important market need," said Jim Davis, general manager of HP's Software Engineering Systems Division. "Many users of free CM tools are looking for more multiplatform, distributed code-management capabilities. Although higher-end CM tools can meet this need, customers are wary of overbuying and of having to commit to someone else's process. SoftBench is value-priced and works with the customer's existing software-development process."

Software-development organizations are growing in size and geographic complexity. SoftBench CM is a multiplatform, global CM product that makes it possible to control large amounts of distributed code. It was designed to meet code-management challenges among team members, across teams and even across continents. It can be scaled to support a large number of users and hundreds of thousands of files across geographically separated development teams. The SoftBench CM client/server architecture allows easy access to multiple local or remote file servers. Developers no longer have to be on the same local area network to share files, and no intermediate "gateway" product is required to connect remote sites.

Developers may use any combination of supported Windows and UNIX system development platforms. SoftBench CM PC-Client requires at least one copy of SoftBench CM to be running on a UNIX system server for central archive management. This allows powerful security control and addresses some 20 different permissions on a user-by-user and host-by-host basis.

SoftBench CM PC-Client includes its own GUI and also is integrated with Microsoft Visual C++. PC users access all of the necessary CM functionality directly from familiar menu picks in MS Visual C++. UNIX system users enjoy the benefits of integration into all language versions of the SoftBench solution, giving SoftBench programmers a familiar use model by which to manage code. Developers can access SoftBench CM from any of the SoftBench tools, including the editor, builder or static-analysis tool.

U.S. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

SoftBench CM PC-Client is expected to be available worldwide on Windows NT and Windows 95 platforms in June. SoftBench CM PC-Client is $595 per concurrent license to use. SoftBench CM is available now on HP-UX(1) and SunSoft Solaris platforms and is $995 per concurrent license to use.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 108,300 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: (1) HP-UX 9.X and 10.0 for HP 9000 Series 700 and 800 computers are X/Open(tm) Company UNIX(R) 93 branded products. HP-UX 10.10 is an X/Open UNIX 95 branded product.

X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company Limited in the UK and other countries.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited.

Windows is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company

Gary McCormack, 970/229-2370