News release

HP Provides Customer Usage Management Tools for Next-generation Mobile Service Providers and GPRS Carriers Worldwide

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 13, 2000

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HWP) today announced the successful deployment of mobile IP content metering tools to several leading-edge mobile service providers worldwide. HP Smart Internet Usage (SIU) mediation software, a key component of HP's "always-on" Internet infrastructure, can now extract customer usage information from Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola GPRS network equipment, TANTAU Software's Wireless Internet Platform, CMG's WAP Service Broker™ Product Line and Phone.com's WAP-based gateway, UP.Link server. This information enables content billing and marketing applications such as churn management and profit analysis.

Mobile service providers in Europe are racing to position themselves as leaders in the much anticipated mobile e-services market, but must first build expertise in the creation of services based on Internet Protocol (IP) content. HP SIU, already the leading IP mediation platform for wireline Internet service providers, has expanded its capabilities to help solve the complex data collection and correlation problems wireless network operators encounter in deploying wireless IP services.

To address the unique infrastructure management needs of mobile service providers, SIU has developed extensions to process Abstract Syntax Notation.1 (ASN.1) call detail records directly from GGSN and SGSN switches and GPRS charging gateways, which allow operators to solve complex data collection and correlation problems. Additionally, these extensions enable carriers to augment current voice billing models to initiate usage-based billing services. Several GSM operators in Europe are currently undergoing deployment of these SIU extensions.

"HP has always been at the forefront of the IP mediation market, and SIU is now leading the way into content metering and billing for mobile IP services," said Vikash Varma, HP worldwide program director for SIU. "Our close cooperation with industry-leading partners, coupled with the expertise of key mobile service providers, is accelerating the pace toward new mobile services that are technically feasible and commercially viable."

Due to SIU's flexible and scalable plug-in architecture, information gained by the service providers from early trials of the mobile solution can be readily incorporated into existing production-scale deployments of SIU on an immediate basis. SIU's mobile offering also is easily customized to meet individual service providers' needs.

About HP Smart Internet Usage

SIU is an integral part of HP's end-to-end Internet-critical software and services. SIU's open, scalable architecture easily integrates with multiple Independent Software Vendor (ISV) applications, enabling service providers to understand their customers' usage and tailor their offerings accordingly -- whether it be for tiered service plans or for advanced business-intelligence applications in e-commerce and marketing. The SIU solution has already been deployed by a number of major service providers, including Telewest in the United Kingdom.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services -- is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses through simple appliances, useful e-services and an Internet infrastructure that's always on.

HP has 86,000 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $42.4 billion in its 1999 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.