Novell Adds New Discounts, Bonuses to "Increase Your Net Worth" Education Promotion

Press Release

Promotion Increases Return on Customer Investments in NT Integration and IntranetWare Courses

NETWORLD + INTEROP, Las Vegas, Nevada, -- May 6, 1997 -- Novell, Inc., today announced an expansion of its "Increase Your Net Worth" education promotion, including special pricing and product bonuses for student customers enrolling in the popular 540 Building Intranets with IntranetWare and 555 IntranetWare: Integrating Windows NT courses.

Until 31 October 1997, individuals will receive a free five-user version of IntranetWare with course 540 and free NT integration tools with course 555. In addition, a 25% discount on the corresponding certification exams for both courses, which follow completion of the instructor-led course, is available until 31 July 1997.

"Timely courses in the latest network solutions, and promotions like Increase Your Net Worth make authorized Novell training the smartest and best strategic choice for both organizations and individuals," said Bob Puissant vice president and general manager, Novell Education. "Hiring qualified people with the most current skills ensures that the full potential and power of an organization's networking investment is realized, and individuals need courses that meet the rich complexity of today's intranets and global networks head on--not indoctrination into the agenda of any single vendor. Now is the perfect time for individuals seeking to tap the opportunities within a rapidly growing heterogeneous networking marketplace that is more hungry than ever for Novell certified individuals."

Rapid Return on Education Investment

Novell Education helps organizations increase their net worth by ensuring that their Information Technology (IT) staff is properly trained and certified in the latest network solutions. Research from Novell, International Data Corp. and DataQuest confirms that certification costs are recouped by organizations within nine months or less.

Similarly, individuals increase their net worth by earning the most sought after training and certification in the IT industry. An analysis of major urban newspapers worldwide showed that 77 to 85 percent of all advertisements placed for certified network professionals were for Novell professionals. Microsoft advertisements amounted to 8 to 15 percent and Lotus 7 to 9 percent (Novell Certifications: Dare to Compare, March 1997).

Education for a Networked World

New discounts and product bonuses add value to courses that address the major challenges facing IT professionals in today's networked marketplace. According to an April 1997 IDC survey, user spending on Internet and intranet products and services will skyrocket from about $18.5 billion in 1996 to $92.4 billion in the year 2000.

In addition, a March 1997 survey shows 67 percent of the networking professionals working with an NT server are integrating NT as an application server in a Novell-server environment (Novell Certifications: Dare to Compare, March 1997). In addition, according to an IDC study, staff costs in NT networks run 15 to 43 percent more then NetWare networks.

"Networks and intranets are by their very nature heterogeneous, integrated environments. Novell is meeting customer needs for training in network solutions that are more complex than any single product," added Bob Puissant. "For example, the rapid expansion in intranets and the Internet has created a huge need for qualified individuals who can leverage these networks for increased profits and wider visibility. And there is a great need for expertise in integrating NT and other systems, which students can't get from vendor-specific Microsoft courses focusing on migration instead of integration."

Increase Your Net Worth Promotion

The Increase Your Net Worth promotion offers exam discounts, product bonuses, special programs and a sweepstakes drawing. Special features of the promotion include:

Free five-user IntranetWare with course 540 Building Intranets with IntranetWare
Individuals who purchase course 540 Building Intranets with IntranetWare from an Novell Authorized Education Center (NAEC) between 12 May and 31 October 1997 will receive a free five-user version of IntranetWare.
More incentives to take course 555 IntranetWare: Integrating Windows NT
The first 100 students to purchase course 555 and enter the Increase Your Net Worth sweepstakes will receive a Novell Productivity Pack that includes IntranetWare, GroupWise, ManageWise, Novell Support Connection CD, Novell Consulting Toolkit, and The Guide CD. All student kits will include valuable NT integration tools during the Increase Your Net Worth promotion 12 May to 31 October 1997.
25% discount on certification exams for courses 540 and 555 (instructor-led only)
Individuals who purchase either of these instructor-led courses from a Novell Authorized Education Center (NAEC) from 1 May to 31 July 1997 will receive a 25 percent discount on the corresponding exam.
Increase Your Net Worth Sweepstakes
Students who purchase Novell authorized products through 31 July 1997 qualify to win one of four Compaq Deskpro 6000 MMX2000 Multimedia computers by purchasing authorized Novell Education products from an NAEC.
IntranetWare CNE certification incentives
The new IntranetWare CNE track replaces the NetWare 4 CNE track. Current NetWare 3 and NetWare 4 CNEs can cross-certify as IntranetWare CNEs by passing the exam that corresponds with course 540 which is discounted 25 percent during the Increase Your Net Worth promotion.
Fast track to migrate CNEs to Master CNE certification
For a limited time, CNEs need only complete four exams (corresponding to courses 216 Fundamentals of Internetworking, 605 NetWare TCP/IP Transport, 555 IntranetWare: Integrating Windows NT, 540 Building Intranets with IntranetWare) to become certified. The course 532 requirement is waived until 31 October 1997. For the 60,000+ CNEs who have passed the TCP/IP exam, this becomes a three-exam fast track to Master CNE. As a bonus to all who pursue this path, they automatically become IntranetWare CNEs by completing the exam that corresponds with course 540.
Internet cross-certification for Master CNEs
Through 31 October 1997, existing Master CNEs will be offered the opportunity to obtain a further certification in the Internet/Intranet Solutions track by completing only two exams (corresponding to courses 656 Web Server Management and 658 DNS and FTP Server Installation and Configuration). As an added bonus to those Master CNEs who participate in this offer, they automatically earn IntranetWare CNE certification (without taking the exam for course 540). For details, go to the Master CNE Web site at http://education.novell.com/certification/mcneindx.htm [now www.novell.com/education/certinfo/mcne/].
On-line certification status report and requirements
During the Increase Your Net Worth promotion, customers who update their demographic information are automatically entered in a sweepstakes drawing for a Compaq Deskpro 6000 multimedia computer.
This sophisticated on-line service allows Novell customers to use their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to keep in touch with Novell and check the status of the certifications they have earned, the exams they have taken, and the agreements they have signed. Certified customers can access PIN features through their password-protected benefits site. Non-certified customers can go to http://education.novell.com/networth under the "Power PIN" button.