News release

HP, Discourse Technologies and Wireless Information Networks to Offer Total e-Learning Solutions for K-12 Schools

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 13, 2000

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HWP), Discourse Technologies, Inc. and Wireless Information Networks today announced plans to offer complete e-learning solutions to K-12 schools.

HP, Discourse Technologies and Wireless Information Networks plan to provide participating schools with hardware, software, training, support and assessment, allowing access to the Internet from school and home, and offering a one-to-one computing environment that provides real-time results for students and teachers.

"Discourse Technologies and Wireless Information Networks" products are consistent with HP's commitment to one-to-one e-learning," said Brent Boyer, director of HP's e-School program, HP Mobile Computing Division. "The e-School program is dedicated to making sure there is a wireless, Internet-connected laptop for every student and extensive training and support for every teacher."

Discourse software provides classrooms with an interactive learning environment in which all students have the opportunity and responsibility to participate fully in every lesson through the use of networked laptop computers. It enables teachers to monitor student participation, keystroke by keystroke. The use of Discourse WebTravel, the newest edition to the Discourse product line, allows incorporation of the Internet into lesson plans, thus enabling instruction with the Web.

"This is an ideal relationship between two e-learning providers," said Simmy Ziv-el, president, Discourse Technologies. "HP is a leading supplier of laptop computers, support and accountability for the education market, and we believe our software application immeasurably improves the use of laptop computers in the classroom."

As a wireless LAN/WAN integrator for education, Wireless Information Networks provides educational institutions with the opportunity to create an engaged learning environment, ensuring curriculum integration in every classroom and "Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone" learning school-wide. Wireless Information Networks offers network connectivity solutions which effectively "paint" an entire school with a wireless RF signal, thus providing access to servers and the Internet virtually anywhere in a building or campus in a matter of days.

"We realize that no single vendor can offer a complete and comprehensive solution individually," said Tom Crotty, president, Wireless Information Networks. "That's why this collective effort between HP, Discourse and Wireless Information Networks is so important."

About Discourse Technologies

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Discourse Technologies is a pioneer in the development of a new class of educational technology that facilitates interactive group learning. The company's products, which are applicable to the post-secondary and corporate training markets in addition to the K-12 school market, differ from other educational technology applications because -- instead of separating users from the group -- they improve the effectiveness of the group learning environment.

The company's major backers include Rockefeller & Company's Odyssey Fund, McGraw-Hill Education, Clarion Capital and Alfred McDougal founder of McDougal-Littell.

About Wireless Information Networks

Wireless Information Networks is a premier network integrator providing wireless Internet and local area network access to educational institutions across the United States. Wireless Information Networks is part of the AVAYA National Educational Technology Team, selected as AVAYA's recommended wireless LAN/WAN integrator for education.

Wireless Information Networks brings educational institutions and their associated communities the opportunity to create an engaged learning environment, which ensures curriculum integration in every classroom, to every student, teacher and parent, and fosters "Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone" learning within schools.

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 88,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $48.8 billion in its 2000 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 1999, and subsequently filed reports. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.