IPNet Solutions Enters ASP Market Powered by HP's Infrastructure-On-Tap E-Service

Business Wire, April 18, 2000

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

PALO ALTO and NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2000

HP and IPNet Solutions form Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Growth

of Business-to-business Virtual Trading Communities

Hewlett-Packard Company and IPNet Solutions, Inc. today announced a strategic marketing alliance, marking IPNet's entrance into the Applications Service Provider (ASP) arena. The new ASP service from IPNet Solutions will enable business-to-business companies to create, manage and scale Virtual Trading Communities(TM).

As part of the agreement, HP will participate in co-marketing efforts with IPNet Solutions and will take an investment position in the e-business software developer in the form of a warrant.

IPNet eBizness Suite(TM) 3.0 comprises XML-based, integrated software services that allow businesses to leverage the Internet to securely share valuable ERP, MRP or SCM information and conduct business transactions throughout their supply chain. With IPNet, business interactions are facilitated, and cost savings and profitability are maximized -- turning supply chains into optimized supply networks.

"Becoming an ASP was an important strategic decision for us, but one made easier by HP's new Infrastructure-on-Tap e-service," said Don Willis, founder and chief executive officer for IPNet. "Infrastructure-on-Tap allows us to swiftly execute on our ASP strategy, which in turn means we can meet customer demand and gain significant economies of skill, time and scale."

Based on HP's Internet utility computing model, Infrastructure-on-Tap eliminates the need for Internet businesses to design, build, operate and own IT infrastructure. Instead, customers "plug in" and pay monthly for this scalable, always-on, high-availability e-service, according to usage.

"HP is committed to supporting next-generation companies actively using the Internet utility computing model and e-services to create, manage and grow virtual trading communities," said Frank Barker, general manager of HP's Computing Utility Services Division. "As one of the first companies to plug into Infrastructure-on-Tap, IPNet's foresight and the strength of its business model encouraged us to support their efforts. Their new role as an ASP is an indicator of the potential growth of the business-to-business market over the next few years."

"An alliance between HP and IPNet Solutions is appealing," said Stan Lepeak, vice president of electronic business strategies for META Group. "It integrates resources of a key player in the emerging Inter-Enterprise Integration [IEI] space with those of an established high-tech and operation services provider to accelerate business-critical IEI application deployment. By spreading costs and creating a turnkey implementation, a full-service ASP offering also can enable small and midsized organizations to deploy these critical commerce chain infrastructure components.

"This alliance helps business-to-business customers leverage the power of IPNet's supply-chain optimization technology, with the assurance that the back-end infrastructure they rely on will be there when they need it," said Barker. "Infrastructure-on-Tap allows companies to reliably connect electronically with their trading partners for everything from collaboration to decision-making to business transactions."

More information on Infrastructure-on-Tap is available from HP at http://www.hp.com/go/e-services-on-tap/.> About IPNet Solutions Inc.

Founded in 1996, IPNet Solutions Inc. offers the industry's only complete, fully integrated collaboration, order management, and transaction management solution to help Global 2000 companies create Virtual Trading Communities(TM). By seamlessly linking companies and their partners and providing secure, real-time access to key information, Virtual Trading Communities enable faster, more accurate and more profitable decisions. IPNet's XML-based solution allows businesses to leverage the Internet to extend the benefits of their ERP, EDI, SCM and other legacy systems. IPNet provides a risk-free migration path from VANs and paper processes to the Internet. Companies can achieve 100 percent trading partner participation in eBusiness initiatives, regardless of trading partner size or technology. Migrate to eBizness Suite(TM) 3.0 at your pace - one trading partner or document at a time, or all at once - with no business interruption.

IPNet customers include HomeBase (NYSE: HBI), Hanover Direct (AMEX: HNV), Celarix, 3dfx (NASDAQ: TDFX), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Shop `n Save (NYSE: SVU), SMC Networks and U.S. Foodservice (NYSE: UFS). IPNet corporate headquarters is located in Newport Beach, California, with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Houston, Chicago, Columbus, Raleigh, Toronto, Washington D.C. and Rutherford, New Jersey. For additional information, contact IPNet Solutions at 949-476-4455 or 888-882-6600, or visit www.ipnet-solutions.com.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.