News release

HP Continues to Drive Enterprise Acceptance of Itanium-based Systems with New Independent Software Vendors

Leading Infrastructure Companies Contribute to Network of Itanium-based Tools and Applications

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that independent software vendors (ISVs) are continuing to migrate to HP's Itanium® 2-based server platform, joining industry leaders such as BEA, Microsoft and Oracle in enabling customers to realize a significant and sustainable computing performance edge.⁽¹⁾

Adding to the rapidly growing number of infrastructure ISVs embracing this next-generation IT platform, companies such as Acucorp, Computer Associates, IONA, Mainsoft, Micro Focus, Parasoft, Rogue Wave, SeeBeyond, Sybase, TIBCO, webMethods and Zeus are contributing to the growing network of 300 applications and tools that are accelerating the adoption of the Itanium architecture.

Infrastructure ISVs play a critical role in moving customers to Itanium-based systems by providing key components of the enterprise infrastructure, including databases, EAI tools, Web servers and services, as well as software development tools. They also are key to providing a development environment that enables the easy migration of applications onto HP's Itanium-based platforms.

By running solutions on the Itanium architecture, customers, systems integrators and ISVs can take advantage of the continuum of HP products, services and strategy -- including the HP and Intel Solution Centers and the HP and Intel Development Reference Platform -- to effectively integrate legacy and Web-based applications faster than before, improving enterprise IT productivity and responsiveness.

"HP's commitment and carefully orchestrated strategy over the past 18 months are building a critical mass of ISVs on Itanium. Today's ISV news is another milestone demonstrating how HP continues to drive Itanium to market," said Nigel Ball, vice president, HP Enterprise Solution Partners. "ISVs are moving to Itanium at such a rapid rate because they clearly understand the business case and the customer benefits, including improved productivity and performance."

Accelerating Itanium-based Solution Adoption

HP's Itanium 2-based systems deliver powerful scalability, availability and reliability that enterprise customers need in commercial applications across multiple operating environments.

HP has robust programs designed to accelerate the adoption of Itanium-based platforms with industry-leading ISVs, developers and customers. These global initiatives are designed to help customers develop and deploy Itanium-based solutions quickly and easily.

An important component of these programs is the global network of jointly sponsored HP and Intel Solution Centers. These centers can enable customers to conduct proof-of-concept testing, capacity planning and performance tuning of Itanium-based solutions and provide them with access to HP and Intel specialists. The centers are located in Cupertino, Calif., Grenoble, France and Shanghai, China.

In addition, there are more than 80 separate HP Solution Centers located worldwide that can enable ISVs and customers to test, size and performance benchmark new applications.

About HP

HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its acquisition of Compaq Computer Corporation on May 3, 2002. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

⁽¹⁾ Competitive statements shown reflect results published on www.spec.org as of Feb. 7, 2003. The latest SPECjAppServer2002 results are available at http://www.spec.org/osg/jAppServer2002.

Intel and Itanium are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. SPEC and the benchmark name SPECjAppServer are trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC).

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 and performance 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 quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2003, 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 to update these forward-looking statements.