Item 7020348 93/04/14 16:09 From: CGEIGER@NEXT.COM@INET# Internet Gateway Subject: Dell, DG, Epson, HP, NEC, Siemens Announce NeXTSTEP Support News: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily Brower Allison Thomas Associates (415) 780-3786 Data General, Dell, EPSON America, Hewlett-Packard, NEC and Siemens Nixdorf Announce Support for NeXTSTEP for Intel Processors Ingram Micro, NeXTConnection, VARs and SIs to Sell New Version REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 14, 1993 - NeXT Computer, Inc. today announced partnerships with several major PC manufacturers and a national distributor to sell NeXTSTEP for Intel 80486 and Pentium-based PCs, beginning May 25. NeXTSTEP for Intel processors runs on a wide range of industry-standard Intel486- and Pentium-based desktop and portable computers and will ship worldwide on May 25 in conjunction with the 1993 NeXTWORLD Expo in San Francisco and Spring Comdex in Atlanta. The user environment will sell for a U.S. list price of $795. The developer tools, named NeXTSTEP Developer, will have a list price of $1,995 in the U.S. Developers need both the user environment and NeXTSTEP Developer, for a combined price of $2,790. "These partnerships lay the foundation for the success of NeXTSTEP in the Intel marketplace," said Steven P. Jobs, chairman and CEO of NeXT. "NeXTSTEP will be running on more than 100 different PCs on May 25. This will complete our transition to a software company." Data General, Dell, EPSON, HP, NEC, and Siemens Nixdorf to Offer Factory- Installed Systems and NeXT-Certified PCs NeXTSTEP will be available factory- installed on the hard disks of Intel486- and Pentium-based PCs manufactured by Data General Corp., Dell Computer Corp., EPSON America, Inc., NEC Technologies, Inc. and Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems AG. Each company will sell fully configured systems through its existing channels of distribution. Hewlett-Packard Company will market NeXTSTEP-certified PCs via their resellers, who will integrate and deliver fully configured NeXTSTEP hardware/software solutions to their customers. "We've maintained a close technical relationship with NeXT throughout the development of this new version and have seen a great deal of interest for NeXTSTEP on Dell hardware from developers and other segments of our customer base," said Charles Sauer, Dell's vice president of software and technology. "NeXT is well-positioned to become a serious player in the operating systems arena with NeXTSTEP for Intel processors, and Dell will provide cutting-edge systems to customers requiring the NeXTSTEP operating environment." Compatible Systems for Other PC Manufacturers NeXTSTEP will also run on more than 100 PC configurations from Altima Systems, AST Research Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Gateway 200 Inc., Intel Corp., Lucky-Goldstar Information Systems, NCR Corporation, Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Zenith Data Systems Corp. and other leading manufacturers. Distribution Through Ingram Micro, NeXTConnection, VARs NeXTSTEP will be made available in North America to resellers through Ingram Micro, one of the leading national distributors in the industry. Ingram Micro will authorize leading VARs and dealers to sell NeXTSTEP to end users. NeXT's current resellers, numbering more than 200, are being pre-authorized to purchase NeXTSTEP for Intel processors through Ingram. "We are pleased to be announcing this distribution agreement with Ingram Micro, which will greatly expand NeXT's capability to recruit, market to and support premier VARs and Integrators for NeXTSTEP," said Erna Arnesen, NeXT's director of channel sales. In addition, NeXTConnection (a division of PC Connection, headquartered in Marlow, NH) will distribute a shrink-wrapped version of NeXTSTEP for Intel processors through its mail order operation. NeXTConnection also distributes third-party software and peripherals for NeXTSTEP. NeXTSTEP VARs, systems integrators, and consultants such as Linotype-Heil AG, SHL Systemhouse Inc., Logicon Ultrasystems, Pencom Software, and Trident Data Systems, will provide a wide spectrum of solutions including vertical packaged offerings and custom client/server applications and integration and consulting services. NeXT's Direct Sales Force NeXT's sales force will concentrate on marketing NeXTSTEP directly to major accounts (e.g. large corporations and government organizations). These Fortune 500 accounts can choose to purchase fully integrated systems from NeXT's OEM partners or resellers, or they can purchase shrink-wrapped software directly from NeXT. Regional sales offices are located in Redwood City, Calif, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York. European headquarters are located in Munich, Germany. Other customers will acquire NeXTSTEP from selected resellers who will obtain NeXTSTEP via Ingram Micro. These resellers include VARs, VADs and systems integrators as well as NeXTConnection. About NeXT NeXT develops and markets the industry-acclaimed NeXTSTEP object- oriented software for industry-standard computer architectures. NeXTSTEP is used by customers to develop and deploy client/server applications, using both custom and shrink-wrapped productivity software. NeXT is headquartered at 900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, Calif., 94063. For Additional Information For additional information about NeXTSTEP for Intel processors from sources other than NeXT, please contact the following: Data General Corporation, Chris Sampson, (508) 898-4288 Dell Computer Corporation, Lisa Rohlf, (512) 343-3782 EPSON America Inc., Jan Marciano, (310) 782 5161 Hewlett Packard Corporation, David Schneider, (415) 541 0873 Ingram Micro Inc., Wayne Stewart, (714) 566 1000 Linotype-Hell AG, Nancy Davies, (212) 334 0334 Logicon Ultrasystems, Peter Farkas, (703) 486 3500 x2538 NEC Technologies, Inc., Geoff Spillane, (508) 264 8835 or Stephanie Allman, (598) 264 8835 NeXTConnection, Chuck Milliken, (800) 800-NeXT (6398) Pencom Software, Elizabeth Richardson, (512) 343 6666 SHL Systemhouse Inc., Bill Bennett, (408) 496 6511 Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems, Ian Robb, (617) 273 0480 Trident Data Systems, Michael Christiansen, (310) 338 3506 NeXT, the NeXT logo and NeXTSTEP are registered trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc. Intel486 and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. All other trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners.