Digital Semiconductor, IBM, Network Computer Inc., Oracle Corp., and Sun Microsystems Inc. today announced they have signed an agreement with The Open Group, an industry standards organization, to manage the Network Computer Reference Profile and establish a new branding and certification program for network computers.

The Open Group will maintain the Network Computer Profile, formerly called the Network Computer Reference Profile, under The Open Group's Network Computer Program. The program will be supported by a Web-based testing and branding program to be available later this year and will provide a high degree of product commonality, stability and openness. The program will establish guidelines for companies to evolve and enhance the Network Computer Profile.

"The Open Group Network Computer Program will help standardize NC technology by verifying that new and existing products will comply with the Network Computer Profile," said James de Raeve, managing director for specification, testing and branding at The Open Group.

The Network Computer Profile

First announced in May 1996, the Network Computer Profile is a set of defined standards for network computers. The goal of the Network Computer Profile has been to promote the use of open Internet standards to grow the emerging network computer market and to ensure compatibility among software and hardware.

The Network Computer Profile includes standards, such as HTML for publishing Web documents, HTTP and TCP/IP for communicating with servers and Java for running applications. Key areas for extending the Network Computer Profile include "smart card" standards for interoperability, such as the OpenCard framework announced in March, and the Mobile Network Computer Reference Specification announced in June to promote common standards for mobile network computers.

More information about the Network Computer Profile can be found at: www.rdg.opengroup.org/pubs/catalog/x975.htm

About The Open Group

The Open Group is a vendor-neutral, international consortium of more than 200 members whose mission is to cause the creation of a viable, global information infrastructure that is ubiquitous, trusted, reliable and as easy to use as the telephone. The Open Group's members represent end-user organizations, including leaders in government, academia, worldwide finance, health care, commerce and telecommunications, which have combined IT budgets in excess of $22 billion annually.