News release

Compaq and Sendmail, Inc. Deliver Industry's First Enterprise-Class E-Mail Solutions on Linux for ProLiant Servers

Combined Solutions Offer Most Compelling Performance and Lowest Per User Cost of Any Linux-Based E-Mail Solution

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), a leader in global enterprise technology and Sendmail, Inc., a leading provider of e-mail solutions, today announced the availability of the first enterprise-class, Linux-based e-mail solutions for industry-standard Compaq ProLiant servers. The customizable solutions combine ProLiant servers with Sendmail's Mailstream Manager™ and Sendmail's Integrated Mail Suite™ (IMS). These highly available, secure e-mail systems are ideal for organizations and service providers that are looking to reduce the costs associated with deploying and maintaining their current RISC-based e-mail infrastructure, and extend e-mail access to additional users.

"Cost-effectiveness is a top priority for e-mail and messaging solutions," said Mark Levitt, research director for Collaborative Computing at IDC. "The combination of Sendmail, Inc.'s software with Compaq's Linux-based servers is designed to deliver highly available systems that can grow easily and cost-effectively to support rising e-mail volumes and expanding user populations."

"More CIOs depend on Compaq ProLiant servers to keep their e-mail up and running than any other vendor in the industry⁽¹⁾," said Rick Becker, vice president of operating systems marketing and business development, Compaq Industry Standard Server Group. "Compaq's partnership with Sendmail adds to our Linux portfolio a highly available, secure, enterprise-class e-mail solution that offers customers a significant cost-savings compared to RISC-based solutions."

These e-mail solutions take advantage of industry-standard software and server platforms to provide maximum availability and a superb price performance ratio. Performance testing indicated that Sendmail, Inc. software running on Compaq ProLiant server clusters significantly surpassed more expensive RISC-based servers in message throughput. A 2-way 32-bit Compaq ProLiant system can outperform and has a lower acquisition price than a 4-way 64-bit Sun E450. For instance, at 10,000 users the price performance per user of running Sendmail on the ProLiant DL380-G2 platform was 215 percent better than on the Sun E450 platform.

"Compaq's leadership in the Linux server market combined with the strong management capabilities of Compaq's products, make ProLiant an excellent platform for delivering enterprise-class e-mail solutions," said Greg Olson, chairman and co-founder of Sendmail, Inc. "Our lab tests have shown the price/performance ratio to be stunning."

The Compaq and Sendmail, Inc. solutions can stand alone or enhance existing messaging and groupware platforms with additional security and availability. The high availability offered in these solutions is ideal for enterprise customers and service providers who consider e-mail to be a critical component of their 24x7 business operations. The solutions provide additional mail security filters, directory services, secure mail routing and centralized administrative tasks into a single secure SSL-based management interface.

Early adopters of the Compaq and Sendmail, Inc. package include a leading GSM mobile telephony provider and one of the most respected health care companies in California.

The Compaq and Sendmail, Inc. solutions are available immediately. For pricing information please visit www.sendmail.com or call 1-87-SENDMAIL (877-363-6245). Information is also available at http://www.compaq.com/products/software/linux/mailmsg/.

About Sendmail, Inc.

Sendmail, Inc. delivers mission-critical Internet e-mail solutions to corporations and service providers. As the primary source of commercial software based on sendmail, the de facto standard Internet mail server, Sendmail, Inc. leads the development of Internet mail standards and ensures their early implementation in its commercial and Open Source products. The company is headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., with offices in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. For more information on Sendmail, Inc., visit its Web site at www.sendmail.com or call 1-87-SENDMAIL (877-363-6245).

About Compaq

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.