National Semiconductor, Wyse Technology and Citrix Systems Sponsor Thin Client @ School Contest to Jumpstart Technologies for Educators.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2001

Incentive Program Designed to Promote Implementation of Thin-Client

Systems, Deliver Complete Computing Solutions to Schools

In an effort to make optimal computing solutions readily available to schools and make teaching and learning more enjoyable, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM), the thin-client technology leader, and its two global partners today introduced the Thin Client @ School(TM) Contest. The contest, co-sponsored by National Semiconductor, Wyse Technology and Citrix(R) Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), is aimed at promoting the adoption of thin-client application server computing solutions in schools where affordability, ease-of-use, reliability, and security are key. (http://www.national.com/thinclient@school-award2001)

The Thin Client @ School Contest is targeted for K-12 schools in the United States. Eligible schools should submit their entries online between February 1, 2001 and March 16, 2001. The contest winner will be notified on May 1, 2001.

The Thin Client @ School award consists of a ready-to-deploy thin-client package. It includes 30 Wyse Winterm(TM) 3730LE Windows-based terminals with integrated monitors, and Citrix(R) MetaFrame(TM) application server software to support 70 simultaneous users. These devices are powered by National's silicon technologies. National and Citrix will provide servers, server software, installation and technical training. In addition, National will send a master teacher to the winning school to provide a Global Connections Internet training course to help teachers learn to use the Internet effectively in their classrooms. (http://www.national.com/training)

"Wyse thin clients help schools and school districts give their students and teachers the most technologically advanced computing experience possible at a fraction of the cost of PCs," said Jeff McNaught, vice president of customer marketing for Wyse Technology. "Partnering with National Semiconductor and Citrix Systems to help teachers and administrators spend more time with students and less time trying to fix and maintain computers is a win-win for our whole community."

"We are pleased to help the winning school reach its technology in education goals by supplying Citrix MetaFrame application server software, which not only supports thin clients but also leverages investments made in existing devices," said David Weiss, Citrix vice president of Marketing. "With MetaFrame, schools can use a variety of existing device types, as well as new Windows-based terminals and other thin clients, to access the latest software programs. By giving schools the flexibility to support virtually any type of device, Citrix helps them improve overall student-to-computer ratios."

"As the technology leader in driving thin clients to the education market, National Semiconductor understands the needs of today's educators, administrators and students," said Karen Greenwood, Thin Client @ School Program manager for National Semiconductor. "Thin clients enable teachers to spend more time teaching rather than PC trouble-shooting. Our Thin Client @ School Program is specifically designed to free classrooms of IT maintenance and reduce the total cost of ownership and maintenance. This contest is National's further commitment to bringing schools complete solutions that are affordable, easy-to-use, secure and reliable."

A thin client is a desktop appliance with no hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, or other moving components. The idea behind thin-client computing is simple: computing power, storage, applications and data are centralized on the server, providing users with an cost-effective "client" device that is easy to install while all maintenance and updates are handled from the server. The benefits of using a thin client system include significant cost savings, fewer IT staff, easy control of student access to applications by educators, reliable access to applications, and standardized applications on existing devices.

The Thin Client @ School Contest announcement today follows successful implementation of thin-client technology in K-12 schools worldwide. These schools have adopted cost-effective thin-client technology to improve the educational experience for their students: Baker Elementary in San Jose, California; Lemon Grove School District in California; Jules Verne School in Berlin, Germany; and La Chatlaine Junior College in Chennai, India.

"The server-based computing approach using thin clients answered all of our needs," said Barbara Allen, director of Project LemonLINK at Lemon Grove School District. "We were able to expand our technology program with existing staff and to address the needs of our families who wanted to get online from home. We found that using thin clients to bring more technology into the classroom really did afford us the ability to change how students learn and how teachers teach."

Using thin-client technology, schools can increase access to the Internet, productivity software, and educational content without adding new costs or support staff.

About Wyse Technology

Wyse Technology is the worldwide leader in thin-client devices, and is driving the Post-PC Era for business. Wyse's Winterm line of business appliances is changing the desktop landscape by helping people communicate and access information affordably, regardless of where it resides. Through its channel of Authorized Winterm Partners and well-known original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) labels worldwide, Wyse has helped CIOs worldwide reduce the costs and complexity of modern IT infrastructures by eliminating the reliance on personal computers as the only desktop device for business. The company maintains headquarters in San Jose, California and Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, with offices worldwide. For more information, visit the Wyse Web at www.wyse.com or call 1-800-GET-WYSE.

About Citrix Systems

Citrix Systems, Inc. is a global leader in application server software and services that offer "Digital Independence(TM)" -- the ability to run any application on any device over any connection, wireless to Web. Citrix' solutions enable organizations of all types, from major enterprises to emerging application service providers (ASPs), to reach more users, with more applications, in more locations -- and achieve this with greater speed and predictability, and lower costs. Citrix offerings, including MetaFrame(TM) application server software, NFuse(TM) application portal software, and Independent Computing Architecture (ICA(R)), a core application-server technology, have been widely adopted by the corporate mainstream to achieve key business goals. The firm, which markets its solutions through value-added resellers, system integrators and OEM licensees, is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Citrix is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market(SM) under the symbol CTXS and is part of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For more information, please visit the Citrix Web site at http://www.citrix.com.

About National Semiconductor

National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 10,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.

National Semiconductor is a registered trademark and Thin Client @ School is a trademark of National Semiconductor Corporation. Citrix(R), ICA(R), MetaFrame(TM), NFuse(TM) and Digital Independence(TM) are registered trademarks or trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.