Novell Acquires Fax Routing Technology

Product adds document routing capabilities to existing and future fax, copy and print devices

Orem, UT---April 25, 1995---Novell, Inc. announced today the acquisition of patented software technology that, in conjunction with existing Novell technologies, lets users send faxes and other information across Local- and Wide-Area Networks (LANs and WANs) as well as telephone lines -- directly to a recipient's desktop computer, local printer, fax machine or copier. NEST Autoroute is one of the first applications to take advantage of Novell Embedded Systems Technology (NEST). Introduced earlier this year, the NEST software developers kit (SDK) brings the communications, collaboration and information delivery power of network computing to a broad range of non-traditional intelligent devices.

NEST Autoroute lets Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) add document routing capabilities to existing and future fax, copy, scan and print devices quickly, with minimal expense. Fax server vendors can add routing features to their products by using NEST Autoroute with NetWare. Using Novell's open, standards-based environment for routing communications and connecting devices to networks, OEMs will be able to implement new technologies quickly while focusing on competitive features and functionality. NEST Autoroute will be available toOEMs during second quarter 1995.

When used in conjunction with the NEST SDK, NEST Autoroute will be capable of utilizing advanced NetWare technologies including NetWare Directory Services (NDS). Adding NEST Autoroute is a software-only modification, with no specific hardware or software requirements, making it simple for OEMs to implement regardless of their chosen processor or operating system.

"Fax routing has been available for ten years, but almost nobody used it because the solutions were proprietary, complex and costly, often forcing companies to utilize one manufacturer's machine and even a specific model to reap the benefits," said Darl McBride, vice president and general manager for Novell's Extended Networks Division. "NEST Autoroute will provide a framework for addressing and routing faxed information, allowing OEMs to focus on ease of use and functionality."

Using the standard Group 3 T.30 protocol for routing information, NEST Autoroute works by including an alphanumeric code (or codes) with each fax transmission. Similar to an email address, the code provides the system with the information required to deliver a fax to its destination. Consider that an average two-page fax includes a cover sheet followed by the actual content document. Using NEST Autoroute, the requirement for a cover page is eliminated, reducing the transmission expense of that fax by half. Autoroute also eliminates the problem of faxes lost or misplaced at the receiving end, since electronic copies can be sent directly to the recipient's desktop.

NEST Autoroute will also reduce the cost of corporate fax transmissions through its extensive broadcasting capabilities. Today, sending the same fax to multiple recipients requires repeated WAN or long distance telephone connections. NEST Autoroute's relay broadcasting capability eliminates this expense by sending the fax once via the WAN or phone connection, then broadcasting it to multiple recipients over the receiving end's LAN.

Using NDS, NEST Autoroute can further expand addressing and management capabilities. Information Systems managers will gain single-point administration, managing fax and copy resources just as they do any other network device. Through NDS, users will have the ability to "look up" recipient's fax routing codes as published on a global basis.

Novell will deliver two developer kits encompassing NEST Autoroute to both hardware OEMs and software vendors. The NEST Autoroute Development Kit will enable hardware OEMs to build Autoroute functionality into new model fax machines, printers, scanners and other devices. It will also allow fax server vendors add routing capabilities to their products. The kit includes routing code definitions and complete documentation for the development of software solutions based on NEST Autoroute.

The NEST Autoroute Hardware Specifications Kit enables OEMs to add NEST Autoroute functionality to existing hardware devices through an add-on encoder box, enabling backwards compatibility. This kit includes everything in the above development kit, as well as hardware design, timing diagrams, schematics and documentation for the development of an external hardware device.

Pricing and Availability

Both development kits will be available this quarter. For pricing and ordering information contact your Novell OEM Sales Representative. Support for the development of NEST Autoroute products will be provided directly through Novell. In addition, Novell will provide a testing and certification program for all NEST Autoroute products, ensuring a consistency of excellence that will meet end-user expectations.

Novell Extended Networks Division

The Extended Networks Division develops and delivers software solutions for extending access to the network beyond computers to non-traditional computing devices such as television set-top boxes, building controls and office automation equipment.

Its core product, the Novell Embedded Systems Technology (NEST) Software Developer's Kit (SDK), enables OEMs to embed the client component of NetWare in their hardware devices resulting in that device becoming a node on a NetWare network. Novell and third party developers will provide applications for those devices (i.e. NEST Autoroute) that help users access the network and its comprehensive services. More than 30 OEMs are working with Novell to include NEST capabilities in upcoming products, furthering the industry's drive towards Pervasive Computing.