• Novell's Web Services platform chosen over industry competitors including BEA and Sun Microsystems for its seamless IDE integration and enterprise-class feature set

PROVO, Utah - April 8, 2003 - Following a hands-on review of the leading Web services development platforms, the editors of CMP Media LLC's Network Computing (Network Computing) selected Novell exteNd as the "Editor's Choice." Network Computing editors performed a number of rigorous tests on comparable products from BEA, Sun and others, and the Novell exteNd Application Server out performed the competition.

Network Computing editors said that Novell "got itself a winner" with its 2002 acquisition of SilverStream Software and referred to Novell's Web services strategy as "comprehensive." Novell exteNd was chosen not only for its robust features and functionality, but also its ease-of-use, called "astounding" by the publication, crediting the seamless integration between the Novell exteNd application server and its development environment.

"This validation from the well-respected labs of Network Computing provides a clear indication that Novell's Web services products are competitive with the market leaders," said David Litwack, Novell's senior vice president for Web application development. "Novell is committed to providing complete solutions for implementing secure Web services-based applications with Novell exteNd, and we'll continue to innovate and add value for our customers as the market matures."

The article saved its highest praise for the ability Novell exteNd provides developers to deploy a complete Web services applications to BEA WebLogic, IBM WebSphere and Apache Tomcat servers in addition to its own application server.

"Although the company would prefer that you deploy to exteNd, Novell has taken care to ensure flexibility in its architecture, letting you build a best-of-breed environment for your Web services initiatives," Network Computing technology editor Lori MacVittie wrote in the piece. "This move puts Novell in line with the pure Web services platforms, which care little about what application server an engine is contained within and focus more on providing a comprehensive Web services suite."

The Novell exteNd Application Server has also been named as a finalist in the Best Web Services Platform category in Network Computing's "Well-Connected Awards." The complete review is available in the April 3, 2003 edition of Network Computing and online at http://img.cmpnet.com/nc/1406/graphics/1406f2_file.pdf.

Press contacts:
Shawn Dickerson
Novell, Inc.
Phone: 801-861-2932
E-mail: sdickerson@novell.com

Jerry Griffin
PAN Communications
Phone: 978-474-1900