Novell Powers Newcastle United Football Club Learning Centre

• Novell supports one of Europe’s largest community education projects
• Novell Net services software simplifies and accelerates the delivery of e-learning

Bracknell, UK - 3 November 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 Centre at St James Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, opened today by Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Learning Centre, developed through the Department for Education and Employment's Playing for Success initiative, will provide e-learning 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® and a sophisticated ‘desktop management’ capability provided by ZENworks to streamline the delivery of software to the Centre's 60 workstations.

"We are delighted to be playing a major part in Newcastle United Football Club’s learning support programme," 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 Centre today and will support our needs well into the future," said Phil McBride, Manager of Newcastle United's Learning Centre. "We are already looking at developing an Internet-based learning programme where we can offer distance learning throughout the world. Using Novell technology, these initiatives are well within our reach."

Prime Minister Opens Landmark 'Learning Centre' at Newcastle United FC

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL), is a leading provider of Net services software that delivers services to secure and power all types of networks --the Internet, intranets, and extranets; wired to wireless; corporate and public-- across leading operating systems. Novell's Net services software provides the foundation for one Net-a single global network that supports new applications and forms of business. Net Services software gives IT organizations a way to adapt and accelerate their transformation to e-business, simplify the management and control of all networks, create a secure foundation for doing business on the Net, and help deliver a consistent and high-quality experience to end users in all locations. Worldwide channel, consulting, education and technical support programs, along with strategic alliances, combine Novell Net services software with third-party products and services to form complete Net solutions.