Press Release

Microsoft Licenses Linguistic Technologies from Novell for Use in Future International Software

OREM, Utah -- March 19, 1997 -- Novell, Inc. today announced a multimillion-dollar agreement with Microsoft Corp. to incorporate Novell linguistic technologies into future Microsoft software products.

The technologies covered by this licensing agreement include the Novell Collexion™ Grammar Checker, a flexible writing tool that lets users spell-check and correct grammar in documents of multiple languages; and the Novell Collexion Morphology, a linguistic tool that breaks words down into root forms and facilitates grammar checking and advanced searching. The agreement gives Microsoft the option to incorporate the Novell Grammar Checker into any future Microsoft product for the following languages: French, Dutch, German and Spanish. The Morphology agreement includes: French, Dutch, German, and Spanish, as well as English.

"This agreement signifies that Novell and Microsoft are committed to working together to benefit our mutual customers," said Novell senior vice president Vic Langford.

Added Rudy Montigny, vice president of linguistic development for Novell, "It also shows that Novell and Microsoft bring to the software market the advanced linguistic technologies that users want integrated into software, solidifying Novell and Microsoft as leaders in linguistic technologies."

About the Novell Linguistic Technologies

The Novell Collexion Grammar Checker provides a comprehensive solution to improve writing quality for any end user and for any writing style. The technology examines text and then suggests corrections at various levels with ten, user-selected checking styles, ranging from very strict business and technical styles to very informal communication styles. The Novell Collexion Grammar Checker also assigns the correct parts of speech to all words in a sentence using its sophisticated morphological dictionary and state-of-the- art parsing algorithms. This advanced linguistic analysis gives users the most accurate suggestions available from any grammar checking solution.

Novell Collexion Morphology is the linguistic tool that reduces single words in a sentence to root forms. Morphology annotates single words with rich lexicographical information. This technology, implemented into text retrieval engines, facilitates and enhances intelligent searching capabilities making them faster and more intelligent.

Founded in 1983, Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) is the world's leading provider of network software. The company offers a wide range of network solutions for distributed network, Internet, Intranet and small- business markets. Novell education and technical support programs are the most comprehensive in the network computing industry. Information about Novell's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com.

Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. Novell Collexion is a trademark of Novell, Inc.

Press Contact:
Randy G. Morris
Novell, Inc.
Phone: (801) 222-7274
Fax: (801) 222-7277
Internet: rgmorris@novell.com