News release

Major Travel Industry Players Go With Compaq NonStop Systems and Solutions to Cope With Internet Growth

New Business Partners for NonStop Technology Compliment Strong Customer Base

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) has bolstered its presence in the travel and leisure market with the addition of new partners to its Solutions Alliance Program. Key partners have joined the program to deliver comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the needs of the travel and leisure industry.

These solutions, which include server level hardware and software, enable users to secure lowest fares, manage complex reservations, and provide a comprehensive single view of all customer activity. This program leverages Compaq's NonStop platform that provides the highest levels of system availability with extreme scalability required to meet the needs of travel providers' most demanding customers.

"The Internet is creating a new level of demand and challenge for travel shopping and booking and our customers need solutions that meet those needs," said Chris Rooke, vice president, marketing, Compaq's NonStop Division. "The NonStop platform provides the lowest total cost of ownership and best return on investment for customers who need their systems to run 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Working closely with partners like Atinera, Fourth Dimension Software and Gestation, Inc., experts in the travel and leisure industry, Compaq is able to drive down costs of distribution, and improve customer service simultaneously."

Atinera, Fourth Dimension Software, Gestation Join Solution Alliance Program

Compaq's Travel Solution Alliance Program is focused on meeting the specific needs of the travel and leisure industry. Program benefits include technical assistance for alliance members and their customers, joint marketing program support, and training and consulting on Compaq products. Program members include Atinera, Fourth Dimension Software and Gestation, Inc.

As an alliance member, Atinera provides travel software and hosted technology solutions worldwide for tour operators and travel suppliers running on the Compaq NonStop server platform. Together, Compaq and Atinera deliver a range of scalable, integrated solutions that enable travel companies of any size to take advantage of advance reservations and inventory management, dynamic packaging of multi-component travel, and Web automation.

Gestation is an enterprise solutions provider specifically focused on the travel industry. Working closely with Compaq, Gestation provides technology-based solutions that improve the overall competitiveness and efficiencies of travel businesses by offering a state-of-the-art enterprise integration architecture and a suite of applications designed to provide immediate cost reductions, operational and transactional efficiencies, and advanced marketing and business intelligence tools.

Fourth Dimension Software provides Contour, the software infrastructure, which is the foundation of Atinera and Gestation solutions.

Select Travel and Leisure Customers Using the NonStop Platform

• Sabre – Will allow airlines and travel consolidators to update fares and seat availability faster and with greater frequency and reliability than with any other e-commerce system in the industry.
• Abercrombie & Kent – Provides agents with the ability to create, market, sell and operate exceptional travel experiences on all seven continents using the Gestation solution.
• Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) – The principal airline and travel provider in Scandinavia, uses the Atinera solution to create and deliver reservation, inventory and automation processes for Fly and Stay, a new leisure tour operator for its Pleasure brand.
• Travelocity – Travelocity.com, the most popular travel site on the Web, uses the Atinera solution to service select reservations made under the Travelocity Vacations brand.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of information technology products, services and solutions for enterprise customers. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets information technology equipment, software, services and solutions, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, personal desktop and notebook computers, and personal entertainment and Internet access devices that are sold in more than 200 countries directly and through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.