First Products Using Novell Embedded Systems Technology (NEST) Take Spotlight At Business Technology Expo #95

Six Leading Office Equipment Vendors Exhibit NEST's Ability to Expand Network Connectivity

The exhibit at Business Technology Expo #95, which opened here today, shows Novell delivering early on its promise to bring NEST-enabled products to the marketplace by the end of 1995. Over 45 NEST OEMs have now produced 140 product designs with NEST software development kits, which first shipped in February, 1995.

NEST provides OEMs and software developers with an open architecture that shortens development cycles for implementing network connections to intelligent devices. NEST makes it easy for vendors to integrate devices such as digital copiers, printers, scanners, multi-function devices, storage devices, PBX systems and print servers with their data networks. By relying on NEST to provide network connectivity, vendors can free resources to incorporate a wide range of network services into their products.

"NEST's success in shortening development cycles demonstrates Novell's commitment to open architectures within its technology," said Tom Jones, office products marketing manager for Novell's Extended Networks Division. "Novell is honest with its product timetables, and we know that we will be able to keep our promise of seeing NEST-enabled products come to market before the end of 1995. With NetWare extending its reach to so many new kinds of devices, Novell is well on its way to building a billion node network."

Since its launch in February, NEST has gained wide acceptance as a versatile way to build networking capabilities directly into any intelligent device. Novell and major automobile manufacturers are now discussing the possible use of NEST in vehicle systems to support remote diagnostics over wireless networks. Novell has also signed an agreement with Microware to implement NEST in interactive TV set-top boxes.

Though these consumer applications of NEST indicate its broad potential, the technology is first achieving commercial success in office-based solutions. NEST enables office equipment to communicate and exchange information over both local and wide-area networks. Users can connect NEST-enabled devices in systems providing integrated access to data, voice, and video. Users can also combine NEST-enabled products with leading network applications such as Novell's GroupWise network messaging system and PerfectOffice network suite to improve productivity, communicate, and collaborate in valuable new ways.

Industry Sees NEST for the First Time

NEST OEMs exhibiting products at Business Technology Expo 95 include:

• Canon is showing a GP Series multi-function device which provides workgroup support for printing, faxing, copying and scanning/filing. In addition to the network connection, NEST brings NetWare Directory Services (NDS) to the GP Series;
• Cheyenne is demonstrating FAXserve, a facsimile management service for Novell networks, and BitWare, a fully integrated communications solution that provides a wide range of facsimile, voice, data, and paging services in a single package. NEST Autoroute software expands fax delivery options to include E-Mail mailboxes, copiers or a user's desktop;
• Digital Products is showing NETPrint 1000, a 3-port multi-protocol print server that uses NEST to support printing under NetWare 4 using NetWare Directory Services (NDS);
• QMS is showing a QMS Magicolor LX Print System and a QMS 1660E Print System both enhanced with advanced networking capabilities through the use of NEST;
• Ricoh is highlighting the Ricoh FAX2700L fax machine featuring NEST Autoroute software that allows faxes to be delivered not only to other fax machines, but also directly to the computer of another user or to that person's E-Mail;
• SerComm is showing the PrintMate Plus Print Server, a stand-alone multi-protocol print server which supports NetWare, IPX/SPX, TCP/IP and AppleTalk environments. Support of NDS is made available with NEST.

"In today's rapidly growing and changing technological environment it is important to have products that meet the needs of the business community", said Yoshio Kawajiri , vice president of Fax R&D for Ricoh Corporation. "Our partnership with Novell does that. It broadens Ricoh's product line so that we have a solution for the diverse requirements of local-area-network environments."

Novell and its OEM partners are demonstrating these NEST-enabled products and services at booth 1902 in the Las Vegas Convention Center August 1-3. The fact that vendors are able to demonstrate product so quickly shows that not only is NEST a powerful tool for development, but also how excited the industry is about a technology that allows them to fully utilize the network and expose to users all the services a device has to offer.