Dell Joins Microsoft and Novell Collaboration

REDMOND, Wash., and WALTHAM, Mass. – May 6, 2007 – Microsoft Corp. and
Novell Inc. today announced that Dell Inc. is the first major systems
provider to join the business collaboration that was formed by Microsoft
and Novell in response to customer demand for greater interoperability
and intellectual property (IP) assurance. As part of the agreement, Dell
will purchase SUSE(R) Linux* Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft
and establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux
users who are not Dell Linux customers to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

“We’re focused on delivering solutions that help simplify
customers’ IT operations,” said Rick Becker, vice president of
solutions at Dell Product Group. “Our customers have told us they want
interoperability and expect technology vendors to work better together.
Dell is the first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and
Novell in this collaboration, and we intend to lead in this space. This
move is a huge success for the industry and, more specifically, for
customers who haven’t purchased Linux through Dell and who want to
migrate to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for the IP assurance and
interoperability benefits.”

Under the agreement, Dell will establish a customer marketing team for
migrating Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers to SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server. The marketing effort will focus on three areas:
Interoperability Workshops, Migration Proof of Concepts and Migration
Services.

“Dell’s embrace of the Novell-Microsoft agreement reflects a
growing market reality: The two platforms of the future are Linux and
Windows(R), and customers want them to work better together,” said Susan
Heystee, vice president and general manager of global strategic
alliances at Novell. “Novell continues to grow our SUSE Linux
Enterprise business because we are addressing customer needs. Dell
recognizes this, and we are proud to have them as a customer and
marketing partner to help spur continued adoption of SUSE Linux
Enterprise.”

“The Microsoft-Novell agreement was a result of our customers
demanding more of our industry in interoperability and IP protection,”
said Susan Hauser, general manager of strategic partnerships and
licensing at Microsoft. “Customer response to our agreement with
Novell has been overwhelmingly positive. Dell has recognized this
demand, and it is the first mover in its space to provide these benefits
to its customers.”

The Microsoft-Novell Agreement

On Nov. 2, 2006, Novell and Microsoft announced a series of agreements
to jointly build, market and support new solutions to improve
interoperability; deliver powerful new virtualization capabilities; make
Microsoft and Novell products work better together; and give customers
peace of mind that both companies stand behind the products they
deliver.

Since the announcement, more than 40,000 new certificates for
three-year priority support subscriptions to SUSE Linux Enterprise
Server have been activated under the Microsoft and Novell collaboration
agreement. AIG Technologies Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Credit Suisse, HSBC
and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are among the first companies taking advantage
of the benefits of the interoperability agreement between Microsoft and
Novell.

More information about the Microsoft and Novell agreement, including
other customer announcements, can be found at
http://www.moreinterop.com.