cisco systems and hewlett packard drive new communications business model

partnering to deliver an open internet platform for combined data, voice and video services

san jose and palo alto, calif. oct. 27, 1998 — Cisco Systems, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company today announced a new communications business model for service providers and an open Internet platform for combined data, voice and video services.

The alliance and business model is expected to change the way telecommunications is delivered and to accelerate the introduction of new-world services such as Internet telephony, audio email, and a new type of Internet shopping that offers interactive voice and data service. These types of personalized Internet communications are expected to create new service choices for customers and new revenue opportunities for service providers, increasing customer satisfaction and profitability, respectively.

Cisco and HPâs collaborative efforts are driving the Internet Economy by creating a new-world communications framework — an open-systems model for developing and delivering personalized services and applications. A critical driver of these new telco services will be a jointly developed family of products called the OpenCall Multiservice Controllers, which deliver integrated voice and data services to users anywhere in the world. The Cisco and HP efforts are focused on delivering products and programs in three areas: an intelligent and open Internet infrastructure; service

management for combined data, voice and video services; and new communications services for businesses and consumers.

"Our alliance with HP expands our vision of partnering to accelerate the consolidation of data, voice and video services over an open Internet-based network," said John Chambers, president and chief executive officer of Cisco Systems. "This communications business model will allow service providers to deploy new Internet services and seize additional revenue opportunities in a consolidated communications market. It also allows enterprise customers to offer new services on the network that carry data and voice. These types of innovative services are enabling companies to use the Internet in a powerful and compelling way to achieve competitive advantage and to be a driving force for the Internet Economy."

"By bridging the worlds of voice and data, HP and Cisco are extending their alliance into one of todayâs hottest markets in the communications industry," said Lewis E. Platt, HP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Service providers can leverage HPâs and Ciscoâs strength in the enterprise to provide their customers with combined voice and data solutions, enabling them to deliver new-world services for the electronic world."

intelligent infrastructure
The two companies are offering a jointly developed solution for integrating service offerings across the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Voice over Packet Network (VoPN). This new OpenCall Multiservice Controller platform family combines HP OpenCall, the industry-leading, open Intelligent Network (IN) service platform, with Cisco IOS® technologies). OpenCall Multiservice Controllers are a key piece of the open-systems framework that enables ISVs, system integrators, service providers and subscribers to collaborate to develop and quickly deliver customized services supporting data, voice and video over a single voice or data network.

service management
Ciscoâs and HPâs efforts in service management are designed to leverage existing operations-management solutions while integrating new-world operations solutions. Also announced today (see "Cisco Systems and HP empower ISPs to offer new, value-added services to customers") was the HP and Cisco Internet Usage Program. The go-to-market program built around the Internet Usage Platform, announced in April, includes ongoing, joint technology enhancements; the HP and Cisco Partner Program; and the development of competency centers. This program will encourage participation by Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and systems integrators by tackling new-world operations challenges, managing a single network carrying data, voice and video. The program also provides service providers with best-in-class choices to offer differentiated services with flexible payment models to their customers.

new communications services for businesses and consumers
Cisco and HP will continue partnering on existing enterprise solutions to enable service providers to build and deliver hosted applications for their business subscribers. This will enable service providers to offer high-value applications on an outsourced, managed basis to customers ranging from small/medium businesses to enterprise customers.

more information regarding todayâs announcement is at http://www.cisco.com/go/hptelecom or http://www.hp.com/telecom

about cisco systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

about hpâs telecom business unit HP, a worldwide leader in IT infrastructure for telecommunications, delivers UNIX® and NT® world-class technology, products and services that help service providers and ISPs be successful as the Internet and telephony worlds converge.

about hp
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and Intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 127,200 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.

Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other certain countries. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Windows NT is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.