Hp And Ics Join Efforts To Help Sun Users Move To Hp Pa-Risc Platform And Hp-Ux Operating System

Business Wire, April 24, 1995

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 1995-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced a joint marketing agreement with Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. (ICS), a leading open-systems development company that specializes in Motif(tm) graphical user interface (GUI) development tools, training and consulting services and technical support. This announcement is part of the latest initiative in HP's Open Migration Program, designed to make it easy and cost effective for Sun Microsystems' installed base to move to the HP PA-RISC(1) platform using the HP-UX(2) operating system.

Under the terms of the agreement, HP's Professional Services Organization (PSO) and ICS will work together to provide consulting, hardware replacement and installation services, software and software-license-transfer assistance, porting tools, technical support and training for Sun customers who want to integrate HP 9000 workstations and servers into a Sun installation, or move completely to the HP platform.

"In responding to the many Sun customers who have asked us for support, we have made it a major objective to provide the industry's best consulting services; we achieve that, in part, through strategic initiatives with established companies like ICS," said Bernard Guidon, general manager for HP's Workstation Systems Group. "HP and ICS, with its track record and expertise in the Sun market, can make it easy for Sun customers to take advantage of the performance, reliability and application availability of the HP 9000 platform."

ICS is a leader in advanced, easy-to-use development tools that help Motif developers write mission-critical applications quickly and cost effectively. ICS' product line includes its flagship product, Builder Xcessory, as well as Database Xcessory, DatabasePak, EnhancementPak, ICS/Motif and Ada Xcessories. To complete the technology transfer for Sun customers, ICS will provide worldwide integrated support for these tools, including training and consulting.

"We see HP as a major supplier of UNIX(R) systems worldwide and are pleased to be a part of HP's Open Migration Program," said Judy Lazaro, director of marketing for ICS. "We look forward to working closely with HP to bring Motif, GUI, database and Ada development solutions to customers using the HP platform. Clearly, this alliance will leverage our experience in providing superior Motif development tools for HP's large and growing installed base of UNIX workstations."

This agreement is expected to further HP's strategy to move users from other vendors' platforms to its own, a strategy that began with the introduction of HP's Open Migration Program in 1990 after HP acquired Apollo Computer. The program initially was developed to help customers move from the proprietary, CICS-based Apollo Domain operating system to the higher-performing, standards-based, PA-RISC and HP-UX operating-system-based platform.

Since the program's inception, the majority of companies in Apollo's customer base has moved to the HP 9000 platform. HP is leveraging the expertise in interoperability and investment protection it gained through working with Apollo customers to provide similar solutions for the Sun installed base.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., ICS provides products and services that help developers working with OSF/Motif to become more productive. Founded in 1987, ICS was the first company to offer training and products based on the X Window System and supply OSF/Motif to developers working on Sun workstations. ICS is affiliated with a number of major industry groups, including the X Consortium, Open Software Foundation and the X Users Group. The company is headquartered at 201 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass. 02139. Telephone: (617) 621-0060. fax: (617) 621-9555.

HP is the second-largest computer supplier in the United States, with computer-related revenue of $19.6 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.

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 98,200 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year. -0- (1) PA-RISC stands for Precision Architecture-reduced-instruction-set computing. (2) HP-UX is based on and is compatible with Novell's UNIX(R) operating system. It also complies with X/Open's(tm) XPG4, POSIX 1003.1, 1003.2, FIPS 151-1 and SVID2 interface specifications. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited. -0-

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

Motif is a trademark of the Open Software Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.

CONTACTS: Hewlett-Packard Company

Jim Barbagallo, 508/436-5049

or

Copithorne & Bellows for HP

Holly Zmetrovich, 617/252-0606, Ext. 255