News release

HP's Carrier Grade Servers with Linux Outperform Sun's Netra Servers on Key Industry Benchmark

HP Carrier Grade Partner Program Meets Customer Deployment Needs

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 3, 2002

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) today announced that its HP Carrier Grade Servers running RedHat Linux 7.1 outperformed Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Netra 20 servers by 32 to 44 percent on a key performance benchmark, the SPECInt2000.(1) The high-performance HP Carrier Grade Servers cc2300 and cc3300 were the first Linux-based carrier grade servers on the market from any major server vendor.

In addition, HP has developed an extensive network of partners, including Packet Video, VoiceGenie, GoAhead, HeyAnita and Amnis, for its carrier grade solutions in order to meet the deployment needs of customers. The HP Carrier Grade Partner program helps provide complete and reliable solutions for network equipment and service provider customers while offering partners technical and business benefits, access to HP carrier grade server equipment, hardware and software, and marketing services.

"These benchmark results deliver on HP's commitment to provide industry-leading performance for carrier grade applications," said Mark Butler, business operations manager, HP Telecom Systems Operation. "These HP servers are well-suited for vendors providing converged voice and data solutions, 3G wireless solutions, telecommunications provisioning and assurance and usage management solutions for central office environments."

The Linux-based HP Carrier Grade Servers cc2300 and cc3300 achieved a SPECInt2000 Peak of 550 and SPECInt2000 Base of 541 compared to a SPECInt2000 Peak of 417 and a SPECInt2000 Base of 377 delivered by Sun's Netra 20 server.⁽¹⁾

Introduced in January, the servers are the first commercial, off-the-shelf Linux servers designed specifically for the telecommunications industry. The servers' powerful combination of Intel® architecture and multi-operating system environment allows network equipment and service providers to design, develop and deploy networks with components that meet stringent telco requirements, while also providing a choice of platforms for the central office architecture. HP Carrier Grade Servers cc2300 and cc3300 are available in 20-inch deep 1U and 2U designs, respectively, are NEBS Level 3-compliant and feature support for both AC and DC power supplies.

HP's carrier grade customers and partners also have access to the HP and Intel Solution Center in Grenoble, France, providing them with a completely outfitted data center environment for testing and development needs. Designed specifically for telecom carriers and service providers, the center is staffed by experts from HP and Intel who can provide effective, thorough testing in a real-world environment. Software developers can test their applications on a variety of operating systems and hardware platforms, helping them accelerate their time to market and reduce their overall development costs.

"HP's capabilities as a leading provider of carrier-class hardware, software and systems integration complements PacketVideo's end-to-end mobilemedia solution," said Nick Karter, vice president of Channel Partner Alliances, Packetvideo. "Our alliance with HP strengthens our ability to deliver a turnkey offering for our carrier customers, enabling them to quickly implement enhanced service offerings such as mobilemedia."

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 all. HP had total revenue of $45.2 billion in its 2001 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

⁽¹⁾ SPECint_base2000 -- HP cc2300: 541 vs. Sun Netra 20: 377. SPECint_peak2000 -- HP cc2300: 550 vs. Sun Netra 20: 417. Further information is available from http://www.spec.org.

Intel is a U.S. registered trademark of Intel Corporation.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed 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 HP's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001, 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 assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.