jmatrow@ncrwic.Wichita.NCR.COM (John Matrow) (02/14/91)
From the Novell Mailing List: From: Janet Perry <janetp%NOVELL.COM@uga.cc.uga.edu> Here is the second press release sent out yesterday (Tuesday) about Novell, MHS,and Action Technologies: 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. Janet Perry Mgr, Higher Ed Programs Novell, Inc. 415-975-4480 janetp@ca.novell.com -- John Matrow 6091 Engineering, NCR Peripheral Products Division NCR:654-8851 <J.Matrow@Wichita.NCR.COM> (316)636-8851 <uunet!ncrlnk!ncrwic!j.matrow> FAX:636-8889 "I fought the LAN and the... LAN won."