News release

Compaq TrailBlazer Program to Provide Rapid Path to Industry-Standard 64-Bit Computing with ProLiant Servers

New 64-Bit ProLiant Servers Featuring Intel Itanium Due in Q3 2001

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced its program, code-named TrailBlazer, to accelerate the adoption of 64-bit enterprise computing based on Intel^® Itanium™ processor-based ProLiant™ servers running Microsoft's 64-bit Windows Advanced Server Limited Edition and Linux operating systems. Compaq's TrailBlazer program, featuring the forthcoming 64-bit Itanium-based ProLiant server, will help enable the application development community and early adopter companies to realize the benefits of the emerging 64-bit architecture for running Microsoft's 64-bit Windows Advanced Server Limited Edition and Linux-based applications. The program is designed to bring hardware and software development communities together to advance new and emerging solutions for 64-bit industry-standard computing.

Compaq will deliver its first new 64-bit ProLiant server, supporting up to four 733 MHz or 800 MHz Intel Itanium processors, in the third quarter of 2001. The new ProLiant models will be differentiated from competitive offerings by incorporating Compaq's latest advances in system management, and mechanical, thermal and power distribution. The new 64-bit ProLiant will provide the ideal combination of the most stable, reliable and cost-effective platform for developing and porting 64-bit applications for the industry-standard computing environment.

"Compaq has invested five years in our 64-bit industry-standard server technology, the first result of which will be our forthcoming Itanium-based ProLiant server. Now the industry is readying itself to enter the next stage of a multi-year transition that will bring the benefits of 64-bit to industry standard architectures," said Mary McDowell, senior vice president and general manager, Compaq Industry Standard Server Group. "Compaq is setting the standard for enabling our partners to move toward 64-bit applications with the goal of greatly expanding the solutions base for our customers."

"The Itanium-based servers from Compaq mark a new chapter in enterprise-class computing," said Paul Otellini, executive vice president and general manager, Intel Architecture Group. "These systems establish a solid foundation to deliver the performance, innovation and price essential to businesses for many years to come."

As new applications emerge, ProLiant will serve as the reference platform for the development of 64-bit applications for Microsoft's 64-bit Windows Advanced Server Limited Edition and Linux, optimizing the benefits of the new Itanium architecture, which include large memory footprint (64GB), world-class floating-point performance, improved transaction security, and parallel data paths to run multiple tasks simultaneously or a single task faster.

"Microsoft and Compaq have worked together for more than two decades to deliver one of the most stable and reliable industry-standard computing platforms available in the market today," said Cliff Reeves, Microsoft's vice president of .NET Windows Server Marketing. "We have worked hand-in-hand with Compaq in developing the Windows 64-bit server family to ensure the greatest level of interoperability, reliability, and stability on Compaq ProLiant servers. We share a common vision of ushering in the next generation of enterprise computing, providing unprecedented scalability and price: performance in the high-end server market."

TrailBlazer Program Details:

In addition to its tight integration work with Intel and Microsoft, Compaq has been collaborating with independent software vendors (ISVs) and early adopter companies to prepare for the forthcoming Itanium-based ProLiant introduction. More than 50 ISVs and customers have participated in the TrailBlazer program to date, porting 32-bit applications or developing 64-bit applications on the new Compaq ProLiant platform. TrailBlazer participants have unique access to Compaq's technical support, professional services, and the largest Windows 2000 certified field organization in the world. In addition to the extensive work done to date, Compaq will extend and expand the TrailBlazer efforts going forward.

"Compaq and the Itanium processor technology will enable Wells Fargo to significantly enhance its ability to understand and serve its customers through higher MIS productivity, increased efficiency, and reduced implementation time," said François Christen, vice president for Wells Fargo Distribution Strategies. "We are confident that Compaq's implementation of Intel's Itanium technology will enable the bank to undertake projects such as large-scale, highly structured statistical modeling of customer data that are currently very difficult to implement."

"By working with Compaq, Accenture is giving its customers an early lead in bringing high-performance, scalable 64-bit applications to the enterprise," said Raymond Goff, director of the Accenture High Performance Scalability Lab. "In addition to our collaboration on the developmental platform for 64-bit computing, Accenture and Compaq operate high-performance scalability labs devoted to tuning, porting, testing and migrating enterprise applications to the ProLiant platform. We want our clients to enjoy simple, tightly integrated rollouts of these new more powerful enterprise applications."