BEA Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: BEAS), the world's leading application infrastructure software company, today announced new alliances that further cement BEA's role as the leading global provider of Java Virtual Machines for the booming Linux operating system. SUSE Linux, a product unit of Novell, has agreed to co-develop solutions and bundle BEA WebLogic JRockit? with its upcoming SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 to help customers build and deploy a cost-effective, high-performing application infrastructure. Optimized for Intel-based hardware, BEA WebLogic JRockit is one of the world's fastest Java Virtual Machines-a technology that is critical for running Java applications on Linux.
Today's announcement with SUSE Linux builds upon previously announced BEA alliances designed to make BEA WebLogic JRockit the leading Java Virtual Machine for Linux customers running Java applications. With a leadership position in Europe and strong U.S. presence, SUSE Linux can extend the reach of BEA WebLogic JRockit on a global scale-offering customers worldwide reduced hardware costs and incomparable performance. Last year, Red Hat joined forces with BEA to co-develop solutions and bundle BEA WebLogic JRockit. Recently, Red Flag Software Co. Ltd., the leading Linux distributor in China and a leading Linux distributor in Asia Pacific, and BEA signed a memorandum of understanding in which Red Flag expressed intentions to bundle BEA WebLogic JRockit with an upcoming version of its product.
"BEA WebLogic JRockit has proven itself a necessity in helping our customers enable Java on Linux in the enterprise," said Uwe Heine, chief alliance officer, SUSE Linux. "The combination of the industry-leading technologies from BEA and SUSE will help our customers establish powerful infrastructures to run their businesses reliably. And with the cost savings associated with Linux, customers can re-direct IT resources to realize competitive advantages."
According to Forrester Research [Schadler, "Linux Is More Than Ready For The Enterprise," 24-June-03], 17 percent of large North American companies already use Linux, and 72 percent of companies surveyed plan to increase Linux usage in the next two years. Outside North America, Linux adoption is equally strong. As an example, the Lower Saxony (Germany) police selected Linux as the core operating system to transform the communication process among police officers to tackle crime. BEA WebLogic JRockit will power Lower Saxony's enterprise-class Java applications on Intel Itanium 2-based servers. Similarly, mmO2, a leading provider of mobile services, under the O2 brand in the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland, selected BEA WebLogic Platform 8.1 to reduce the complexity of J2EE development and provide an enhanced service delivery platform for the O2 portal and O2 Active. BEA WebLogic Platform 8.1 is running on Intel-based servers with the Linux operating system.
"Linux is approaching critical mass around the world as more and more companies realize its immense value, and in fact, Linux is one of BEA's fastest-growing software platforms," said Bob Griswold, vice president and general manager, Java Runtime products group, BEA Systems. "To respond to these ever-growing demands, BEA is working closely with Linux leaders to offer pre-configured, production-ready solutions designed to help customers rapidly realize increased performance and dramatic price reductions. As a result, BEA WebLogic JRockit can serve as the software cornerstone for thousands of applications worldwide." In separate BEA news today, BEA announced BEA WebLogic JRockit 1.4.2, a new version of its industry-leading Java Virtual Machine. BEA will demonstrate this product, and other innovative technologies and programs, at the LinuxWorld Conference & Expo this week at The Javits Convention Center in New York. BEA is in booth #239.
About BEA
BEA Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAS) is the world's leading application infrastructure software company, providing the enterprise software foundation for more than 15,000 customers around the world, including the majority of the Fortune Global 500. BEA and its WebLogic® and Tuxedo® brands are among the most trusted names in business. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., BEA has 77 offices in 31 countries and is on the Web at www.bea.com.
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking, including the statements regarding future growth of BEA WebLogic JRockit and BEA WebLogic Platform on Linux; future product releases and features; the completion, implementation, benefits, and details of the alliance between BEA and SUSE Linux ("Alliance Partner") and the memorandum of understanding between BEA and Red Flag Software; the development efforts, product delivery and other goals related to these third-party relationships; the features and benefits of BEA's and Alliance Partner's products; and data regarding companies' plans to increase use of Linux in the future. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially include risks associated with: any unforeseen technical difficulties related to the development and optimization BEA's; Alliance Partner's or Red Flag's products; the timing of additional investments of resources by BEA, Alliance Partner and Red Flag related their respective product development and any joint development initiatives; changes in the marketplace for enterprise-wide software solutions, including the introduction or increased sales of products competitive with BEA's or Alliance Partner's products; any software errors related to Linux, BEA's, Alliance Partner's or Red Flag's products or the integration thereof; and any unforeseen impediments to the growth of Linux due to such factors as competition, security concerns or the ongoing legal dispute related to SCO's intellectual property claims regarding Linux. Readers should also refer to the risk disclosures set forth in BEA's 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2003 as filed with the SEC and subsequent reports filed thereafter by BEA from time-to-time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof, and BEA does not assume any obligation to update such statements nor the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in such statements.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.
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