Digital Equipment Corporation (NYSE: DEC) today announced that it has been designated by Network Computers. Inc., (NCI) a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq: ORCL), as a Preferred Systems Integration Provider. The company also announced the availability of NCI's network computer server software on Digital's family of 64-bit AlphaServer systems.

Today's announcement results from an extensive collaboration between NCI and Digital to provide a total enterprise-wide network computer solution for NCI's customers. The announcement comes on the heels of Digital's recent joint introduction with NCI of the Digital Network Appliance Reference Design initiative. As a result of this expanded partnership, Digital will provide NCI's customers with a network-based solution comprising end-to-end product and services. Included are Digital's AlphaServer 64-bit family of systems and a suite of life cycle service and support programs for planning, designing, implementing, supporting and maintaining networkcomputers systems incorporating NCI's server software products across an enterprise network.

NCI's server products include NC Server and NC Enterprise server software. NC Server is a complete, packaged, low administration offering for schools, local governments and corporate workgroups. It includes NCOS -- NCI's low cost operating system, personal productivity applications, networking software, and all key services for managing and administering network computers. NC Enterprise is a highly scalable system that provides corporations with all the services needed for the management of network computers, such as initialization, support for printing and file sharing, and server and application management functions.

As a Preferred Systems Integration Provider, Digital will have a worldwide role in helping global enterprises move to a network computer system incorporating NCI's server software. Digital will draw on its highly trained service professionals in over 100 countries and its years of experience designing and implementing local and wide-area networks. Initial service offerings will facilitate the integration of NCs and Digital AlphaServers running NC Server software into the enterprise computing environment.

The service offerings include:

-- Network Architecture Consulting

-- Simulation and Modeling

-- Logical and Physical Network Design

-- Systems and Network Management Design

-- NC Implementation Services

"Digital and NCI have combined their unique strengths to deliver a comprehensive solution set to customers," said Kannankote Srikanth, vice president and general manager, Digital Network and Systems Integration Services. "NCI is a proven leader in developing software for the network computing environment, and their collaboration with Digital will allow customers to take full advantage of it's extensive experience designing and implementing networked business solutions and the superior scalability, reliability and cost-effectiveness found in Digital's high-performance AlphaServer line."

"Known for their high levels of service and support, Digital uniquely offers a complete solution for our NC customers," said Jerry Baker, CEO of NCI. "From a high performance StrongARM reference profile to scalable AlphaServers, the combination of our technology with Digital services provides an excellent platform deploying today's network computing solutions."

Digital's AlphaServers provide the most powerful and scalable platform available for the processing-intensive environment required for NC servers. They are the industry's only complete line of high-performance 64-bit RISC servers.

NCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, develops, licenses and markets all software, technology and support services for the network computer, including NC Access, NC Enterprise and NC Card. With strategic alliances worldwide, NCI's mission is to bring network computing to the corporate, consumer and educational marketplaces.

Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems. Digital's scalable Intel and Alpha platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.

SOURCE Digital Equipment Corporation