News release

Compaq and Oracle Help Customers Reduce Computing Costs with E-Business Infrastructure Solutions and Services

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) and Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) today announced plans to dramatically lower computing costs by delivering to the market pre-tested and pre-integrated e-business infrastructure solutions encompassing all of the Oracle9i™ platform including consulting services and support. These configurations will result from the newly created Compaq and Oracle® E-Business Infrastructure (EBI) Initiative, which commits to a high level of joint engineering designed to help customers take the guesswork out of implementing, extending and maintaining complex e-business infrastructures. The companies also announced availability of a reference configuration for clustered solutions — the first in a series of joint reference configurations from both companies.

The Compaq and Oracle E-Business Infrastructure Initiative will offer customers a packaged and proven approach to implementing an e-business infrastructure, in the form of a series of stress-tested and optimized configurations. These configurations will enable small, medium and large size businesses to rapidly deploy e-business solutions, allowing customers to conduct business without incurring the high costs historically associated with maintaining and managing their infrastructure.

"This joint initiative and resulting configurations help decrease the time, cost and resources customers spend deploying and managing their computing infrastructure, while providing for optimal e-business functionality," said Michael Rocha, senior vice president, Platform Technologies Division, Oracle. "We've extended our relationship with Compaq to offer assurances that together we will provide the complete set of Internet application services provided by Oracle9i, including clustering, data management, portal, wireless, and caching services optimized for Compaq servers."

"Many companies urgently need to Web-enable their environments to become nimble and flexible in decision making and to remove the costs of the development and maintenance of e-business infrastructure," said Mike Winkler, executive vice president, Global Business Units at Compaq. "Two industry leaders have 'joined forces' to offer engineered, integrated and tested solutions for the most demanding e-business environments."

The reference configurations, tools and consulting services will be delivered across a breadth of technology areas including e-business platform, clustering, Compaq Data Center Program, storage, and joint services and support:

E-Business Platform- Oracle and Compaq offer a complete and simple solution for deploying robust, integrated e-business solutions through the Oracle9i Application Server on all Compaq AlphaServer and ProLiant platforms. With a single, integrated platform from Compaq and Oracle, customers can rapidly leverage the power of caching services, portal software and wireless capabilities in their Web sites and applications.

By combining the portal functionality within Oracle9i Application Server with Compaq AlphaServer or ProLiant platforms, users receive a complete enterprise portal solution that handles delivery of all applications and information to end-users in a single portal view.

The two companies also plan to offer Oracle9i Application Server Wireless Edition reference configurations on ProLiant servers supporting multiple access devices, including Compaq's award-winning iPAQ family. Compaq and Oracle recently showcased a series of mobile CRM and ERP modules of the Oracle E-Business Suite on iPAQ at Oracle AppsWorld in Paris and New Orleans last month.

The engineering relationship between Oracle and Compaq has also defined a new paradigm for deploying standards-based application servers in corporate and service provider environments. The Oracle9i Application Server Appliance combines the innovative technologies from both companies — the Oracle9i Application Server and an optimized, 1U ProLiant DL360 server — to offer a rapid, low-cost, and simple means to build and deploy portals, and increase Web server performance and business intelligence facilities.

Real Application Clusters- Oracle and Compaq recently announced a multi-year technology and business partnership to deliver clustered database server configurations based upon Oracle9i Real Application Clusters and Compaq Tru64 UNIX clustering technology. This partnership is expected to deliver value to customers by enabling them to dramatically reduce the cost and risk of implementing clustered solutions while also speeding implementation, and making more efficient use of critical IT resources.

The newly available reference configuration includes two AlphaServer ES40 systems available with the industry's most powerful microprocessor, the 64-bit 833 MHz Alpha microprocessor; Compaq Tru64 UNIX v5.1 and TruCluster Server v5.1 software; RAID storage; and Oracle8i Parallel Server loaded and ready to use.

Compaq Data Center Program- Jointly developed and tested reference configurations from Compaq and Oracle will be key components of Compaq's Data Center Program, based upon industry-standard ProLiant servers. Compaq will also offer change management for the solutions and will test new Windows 2000 Datacenter updates with Oracle8i before releasing them to customers.

Storage- Compaq/Oracle reference configurations will also include StorageWorks and a Storage Area Network environment providing a broad level of implementation flexibility. Through Compaq's participation in Oracle's Storage Compatibility Program (OSCP), Oracle customers can have confidence that Compaq StorageWorks and SANworks are compatible with Oracle's database products. Compaq is also a qualified vendor in Oracle's Backup Solutions Program.

Joint Services and Support- Compaq Global Services, Oracle e-Business Practice and Oracle Consulting have been working together to develop and deliver a full portfolio of architecture services. Key services in the portfolio will include components to help customers design, test and deploy their e-business infrastructure solutions. The portfolio is designed to provide modular services, which can be purchased separately and are tailored to exact client requirements.

Compaq and Oracle will also provide a joint resolution process with defined procedures to resolve technical support requests quickly and efficiently. This joint resolution process is supported by detailed processes and procedures for call handling: problem escalation, contact information, tools and database processes, roles and responsibilities, and training information.

Availability

The AlphaServer ES40 Parallel Data Server for Tru64 UNIX is available immediately, is orderable under one part number and is installed by Compaq Global Services (or Compaq's selling partners) in a matter of hours — not days. Oracle 9i Application Server Appliance is available through selected Compaq and Oracle channels.

About Oracle

Oracle Corporation provides the software that powers the Internet. For more information about Oracle, please call Oracle at 650-506-7000.