News Brief

Novell Powers Newcastle United Football Club Learning Center

  • Novell supports one of Europe's largest community education projects
  • Novell Net services software simplifies and accelerates the delivery of eLearning

BRAKNELL, UK -- Nov. 28, 2000 -- Novell, the leading provider of Net services software, announced it is providing the network infrastructure for Newcastle United Football Club's new purpose-built Learning Center at St James Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Learning Center opened November 3, 2000 by Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Learning Center, developed through the Department for Education and Employment's Playing for Success initiative, will provide eLearning facilities for 1,000 children and 1,000 adults every week, making it one of Europe's largest community education projects.

Novell worked with systems integrator partner, Sx3, to implement a robust and reliable network based on Novell's suite of Net services software, provided with maintenance and technical support.

The Novell solution, based on the NetWare 5.1 operating system and Novell Directory Services, provides fast and secure access to the Internet, with easy-to-configure e-mail facilities using Novell GroupWise. Novell also provides the center with sophisticated 'desktop management' capability provided by ZENworks to streamline the delivery of software to the Center's 60 workstations.

"We are delighted to be playing a major part in Newcastle United Football Club's learning support program," said Mike Hall, Vice President of Marketing at Novell EMEA. "The Club's achievements in learning support for primary and secondary school children are already impressive. Using Novell's one Net infrastructure, Newcastle United will be able to extend its learning community across international boundaries."

"Novell's Net services software has enabled us to develop a strong, reliable platform that meets the needs of the Learning Center today and will support our needs well into the future," said Phil McBride, Manager of Newcastle United's Learning Center. "We are already looking at developing an Internet-based learning program where we can offer distance learning throughout the world. Using Novell technology, these initiatives are well within our reach."

Student enjoys new facilities at the Learning Center
A primary school student enjoys the new facilities at the Learning Center.

Press Contact:
JoAnne Hughes
Novell, Inc.
+44(0)1344 724312
jahughes@novell.com