[comp.sys.novell] Novell and Action to deliver a common MHS standard..

manoj@ca.excelan.com (manoj @ Messaging Product Marketing) (03/06/91)

The News Manager)
Nntp-Posting-Host: ca
Reply-To: manoj@ca.excelan.com (manoj @ Messaging Product Marketing)
Organization: Excelan, Inc., San Jose, Califonia
References: <91030.010126ALG106@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 1991 02:38:42 GMT

NOVELL, ACTION TECHNOLOGIES ACCORD STRENGTHENS 
NETWARE MHS MESSAGING STANDARD


Novell Assumes Full Ownership, Control of NetWare MHS; 
ATI to Focus on NetWare MHS Applications and Porting Issues

BOSTON, Mass, NETWORLD -- February 12, 1991 -- Novell, Inc., 
and Action Technologies, Inc. (ATI), today announced an 
agreement that strengthens the Message Handling Service 
(MHS) engine by assuring customers of a single standard 
version, fully supported by Novell's distribution channels 
and backed by Novell's infrastructure.

The agreement clarifies each company's role in future 
NetWare MHS development.  While NetWare MHS was originally 
developed by ATI and licensed to Novell, each company has 
continued to develop the service independently.  

Under the agreement, Novell assumes full ownership of the 
NetWare MHS messaging engine and control of the evolution of 
the NetWare MHS standard.  ATI will continue as a premier 
developer of NetWare MHS-based applications, such as The 
Coordinator electronic mail software package, as well as 
advanced groupware programs.  In addition, ATI will develop 
NetWare MHS engines for use with network operating systems 
other than Novell's NetWare.  Both companies also announced 
plans to continue marketing a standalone version of NetWare 
MHS, which allows a single user to send and receive messages 
through a dial-up connection to a network-based NetWare MHS 
engine.  

According to the agreement, Novell will assume full 
ownership of NetWare MHS source code and "any other 
intangible property rights," such as ownership of MHS 
trademarks.  Novell has granted ATI a license to use 
Novell's NetWare MHS source code in support of ATI's 
existing OEM customers and to port NetWare MHS to other 
network operating system platforms.  Financial terms of the 
agreement were not disclosed.

"Messaging is one of the primary reasons customers buy 
networks, along with networking functions such as file, 
print, database and communications services," said Bob 
Davis, director of product marketing at Novell's San Jose 
development center.  "This agreement fulfills our promise to 
ensure the availability of well-integrated applications, 
built on a single messaging standard and capable of spanning 
a variety of network platforms.  This is consistent with 
Novell's commitment to accelerate the growth of network 
computing."

"It is in everyone's interest that MHS thrive as an industry 
standard," said Tom White, president of ATI.  "With Novell 
in charge of that standard, ATI is implementing engines with 
NetWare MHS, building other message-enabling technologies, 
and developing work-management applications that work with 
NetWare MHS across multiple platforms."


NETWARE MHS TECHNOLOGY

NetWare MHS provides a standard messaging service that can 
be shared by many applications, handling the collection, 
routing and delivery of messages and files across multiple 
computing environments.  As a development platform, NetWare 
MHS handles all networking connectivity functions, allowing 
developers to concentrate on specific application functions 
and the user interface.  NetWare MHS also acts as a standard 
back-end connectivity engine, transporting messages across 
local area networks, internet bridges and asynchronous 
lines, as well as through gateways.  

NetWare MHS is the foundation for more than 80 available E-
mail, database, FAX, voice mail and imaging products from 
more than 20 third-party software developers.  

Action Technologies, Inc., a privately-held company founded 
in 1983, is a pioneer in developing technologies and 
applications for managing work.  Its first groupware 
product, The Coordinator, is a work management and 
communication software application.  The company also 
markets Business Design Technology (BDT), a system for 
developing applications that manage and track the completion 
of business actions in order to produce customer 
satisfaction.

Novell, Inc., (NASDAQ:  NOVL) develops NetWare systems 
software products that manage and control the sharing of 
data across a variety of network computing environments, 
including computer workgroups, departmental networks and 
business-wide information systems.

-- 30 --




Regards!

   O        manoj goel 
  o o       Novell Inc., Product Marketing, 
 o o o      2222 Trade Zone Blvd, San Jose, CA 95131, USA
o o o o     Internet: manoj@novell.com   Voice:408.473.8369   Fax:408.433.0775
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