News release

Microsoft and Compaq Announce New Joint Certification Program for Service Providers

Genuity Named First Partner to Complete Joint Certification Process

Microsoft Corp. and Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced a new development as part of their strong alliance, introducing the Joint Certification Program for service providers. Combining the Microsoft® Gold Certification and Compaq SP Signature Certification programs into a single on-site assessment, the Joint Certification Program is a comprehensive review of a service provider's environment, hardware, operating system, applications, databases, networks and IT management practices, validating its ability to deliver high-quality services.

Microsoft and Compaq are pleased to announce that Genuity Inc. is the first company to successfully achieve joint certification status through the new program. divine Managed Services, the hosting sphere of divine inc., also has achieved the qualification for both Microsoft and Compaq certifications.

"Microsoft is pleased that Genuity and divine Managed Services have successfully achieved this new joint certification," said Enrique Fernandez-Laguilhoat, director of certified partner programs for Microsoft. "By meeting the rigorous competency requirements for this certification, Genuity and divine have clearly demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality services based on Microsoft and Compaq technology."

"Microsoft and Compaq's Joint Certification Program offers service providers the opportunity to gain two prestigious certifications in a single service engagement delivered by Compaq's Business Critical Consultants," said Jerry Coffey, director of Business Critical Services at Compaq. "The joint certification is a comprehensive review of a service provider based on industry best practices as well as criteria developed by Compaq and Microsoft, and it demonstrates that the provider is delivering a high-quality service to its customers."

Empowering Service Providers With the Only Joint Certification Program

Compaq and Microsoft are the only companies that have worked to combine certification programs into a single process. Completing these two industry-leading certifications at one time saves service providers substantial time and energy, and offers significant savings in certification costs and the manpower expenses associated with the rigorous certification processes.

"We are proud to be the first service provider to attain this joint certification from Microsoft and Compaq," said Karl Weintz, vice president of product management at Genuity. "This certification gives customers the assurance that our Black Rocket Hosting platform will provide them with high-quality managed hosting infrastructure as they deploy Microsoft .NET Web services. It also confirms that we have achieved tight integration for Microsoft operating system and application software and Compaq hardware platforms."

In addition to cost savings, Microsoft and Compaq's Joint Certification Program provides market recognition to premier xSP organizations that utilize Compaq and Microsoft technologies and the Microsoft .NET Framework. Achieving joint certification from Microsoft and Compaq gives service providers a method and channel to promote their top-of-the-line operations, technologies and solutions to customers. In today's competitive environment, service providers need this industry-leading certification to differentiate their services for customers.

Identifying areas in which service providers can improve their operations and provide better service for their customers, the Joint Certification Program features an extensive in-depth evaluation of a service provider's end-to-end IT service. Confirming that certified partners have taken every precaution to ensure that a high-quality service is being delivered, joint certification from Compaq and Microsoft distinguishes service providers' entire infrastructure utilized to deliver the certified service, including the environment, hardware, operating system, network, applications and databases, and IT service management. Genuity and divine have proven their ability to deliver the highest-quality services to customers, meeting rigorous standards and industry benchmarks evaluated by a qualified and independent assessment team.

The Joint Certification Program attests that Genuity's Black Rocket Hosting and divine's Managed Services have met the stringent standards of the Microsoft AIP Gold Certification for Managed Web Hosting and the Compaq SP Signature Certification.

"divine is extremely pleased to achieve this joint certification from Microsoft and Compaq," said Sunny Vanderbeck, president of divine Managed Services. "divine stands out as one of the few managed services providers with the expertise, proven experience and intellectual property necessary to deliver infrastructure solutions with the highest levels of quality and customer satisfaction."

For the Joint Certification Program, Compaq Global Services will deliver Microsoft Gold Certification assessments in the following categories:

• Application infrastructure providers
  - Managed Web hosting
  - Managed application services
  - .NET hosted services
• Application service providers - Hosted Exchange
  - E-commerce
  - Office online

The Compaq SP Signature Certification applies to any provider running on a full range of Compaq platforms, including storage, and joint certification can be applied to any of the Microsoft categories listed above. Compaq Global Services delivers a Microsoft certification on behalf of Microsoft through Compaq's Business Critical Consultants, experienced and trained in evaluating IT operations through a range of consulting services that focus on IT service quality and risk evaluation.

Additional information on the benefits, processes and pricing for Microsoft and Compaq's Joint Certification Program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/serviceproviders/ or http://www.compaq.com/enterprise/sp/cert.html.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software—any time, any place and on any device.

About Compaq

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 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.