HP and Netscape to Offer Hosting Solutions to Enable ISPs and Telcos to Provide Carrier-Grade Service

PALO ALTO, Calif. (September 29, 1998) - Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HWP) and Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced plans to deliver solutions and expertise that enable the world's leading Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunications companies (telcos) to deliver carrier-grade Internet services to their customers. Specifically, HP will resell Netscape's next-generation hosting software, Netscape SuiteSpot Hosting Edition, which includes Netscape Messaging Server 4.0 Hosting Edition, as part of its Internet solutions portfolio for service providers announced earlier this week.

In addition, the companies are developing a "Center-of-Expertise" to assist ISPs and telcos in deploying solutions from HP and Netscape. The new Center-of-Expertise will be located at Netscape in Mountain View, Calif., and will optimize performance of Netscape's hosting solutions with HP technologies. The center, which will be equipped with Netscape's hosting software, HP Smart Internet software, and HP Domain Internet Servers, will be jointly staffed with experts in the business-critical and technical needs of the world's largest ISPs.

"Teaming with Netscape accelerates HP's strategy to deliver complete, robust and scalable UNIX system solutions to leading ISPs," said Sanjay Uppal, general manager for HP's Internet Infrastructure Operation. "Together, we've invested in the people and technology to ensure our customers can profitably and cost-effectively deploy and manage Internet services. Our combined technologies, including HP Smart Internet Suite and Netscape SuiteSpot Hosting, will ensure that our customers can develop, deploy and manage solutions optimized for the Internet."

"Netscape SuiteSpot Hosting will enable the world's largest service providers to provide 'dial tone'-quality global Internet services for advanced messaging," said Korak Mitra, vice president of messaging at Netscape. "Combining Netscape messaging products with HP's Smart Internet Suite solutions, will enable large enterprises and ISPs to provide new levels of messaging and related applications as services to millions of users."

HP continues to roll out successful implementations of HP Smart Internet powered solutions that leverage Netscape's scalable and reliable messaging and web-hosting solution. HP's Smart Internet powered solutions, which include Smart Internet Billing and Usage, will enable ISPs to take their business in new directions with the maximum efficiency, productivity, and knowledge needed to add new services and subscribers.

Netscape offers a full line of software products that enable ISPs and telcos to provide scalable, reliable messaging services to millions of users. Two new products, Netscape Messaging Server 4.0 Hosting Edition and Netscape Delegated Administrator, announced separately today, are central components in Netscape's new messaging strategy, focused on providing solutions for an emerging class of Enterprise Service Providers (ESPs) and ISPs.

Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of software and services for businesses that want to transform the way they create and keep customers in the emerging Net Economy. The company offers a full line of enterprise software solutions, professional services, and a leading Internet portal to help companies build, buy or outsource Internet applications that drive revenue growth, build customer loyalty, and create new levels of business efficiency. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NSCP, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.

Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling 650/937-2555 (corporations) or 650/937-3777 (individuals).

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading supplier of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 127,200 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

Netscape, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape ONE, SuiteSpot, and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in other countries. Other product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.

UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.