HP ProCurve Networking Donates Networking Equipment to Schools Online

Business Wire, March 31, 1999

SQUAW VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1999-- Hewlett-Packard Company, a leader in networking technologies, today announced that it has donated more than $128,000 worth of HP networking equipment to Schools Online, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Internet usage and training to educational instructors around the globe. The announcement was made here at NetEvents, an event that brings together the leaders in networking with press and analysts from around the world.

HP has supported education in its philanthropic efforts for most of the company's 60-year existence and is committed to helping schools receive the access they need to thrive in the Internet age. Schools Online helps schools obtain Internet access for student use and assists teachers in using this new resource effectively in their classrooms. HP networking equipment will be used to create instructor training facilities that will provide teachers hands-on Internet education, allowing them not only to utilize the Internet as a resource, but to incorporate it into their daily curricula.

"HP is proud to help facilitate this program and provide teachers and schools with access to the Internet," said Jan Bell, worldwide marketing manager of HP's ProCurve Networking. "We hope instructors around the world will have the teaching tools to better prepare their students and our future workforce."

"The new training facilities created with HP networking equipment will provide instructors throughout the world with the ability to familiarize themselves with the Internet and use it to their advantage in the classroom," said Touraj Rahimi, president of Schools Online. "HP's generous donation will enable us to realize our goal of connecting 3,000 more schools to the Internet in 1999."

Schools Online is a public benefit organization with a mission to help ensure that all schools have effective access to the communication and information resources of the Internet. The organization provides equipment to schools that have limited or no Internet access, and facilitates teacher training and support by local education partners. Since May 1996, Schools Online has helped more than 5,000 schools in 45 states and 17 countries gain online access.

More information about Schools Online can be obtained from Michael Chertok, director of Marketing and Development, at 408/501-0788, or by visiting Schools Online on the Web at http://www.schoolsonline.org.

About HP ProCurve Networking

HP ProCurve Networking is a leading supplier of networking products, including Ethernet hubs and switches, routing switches, and network-management applications that allow customers to build proactive networks.

Information on HP ProCurve Networking can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/procurve.> About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 122,800 employees and had revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.

Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.