Leading Linux-Based Collaboration Server to be Released Under General Public License

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- LinuxWorld Expo -- Netline Internet Service announced today that it would contribute its Open-Xchange Server, the core technology underlying the industry's top-selling Linux-based groupware, collaboration, and messaging application, under the GNU General Public License (GPL) -- giving customers and partners the ability to download the code for free as well as to contribute to the project.

Open-Xchange Server, the engine behind Novell's SUSE LINUX Openexchange Server (NOVL), is a modular, standards-based communications tool that provides businesses with flexible groupware functions including e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks and real-time document storage.

"Open-Xchange is built with open source components -- making the source code available under the GPL was clearly the most logical next-step in its evolution," said Frank Hoberg, chief executive officer, Netline Internet Service. "As demand for an open communications product increases, the open source community will help greatly accelerate innovation."

"ISVs and enterprises alike are seeking design and cost-efficiencies through open sourced components," said Dana Gardner, senior analyst, Yankee Group. "Groupware code is a logical step for them to evaluate as they build applications and business processes that share common elements, common services."

The open source version of Open-Xchange will be available free by download at (http://www.Open-Xchange.org and http://www.openexchange.com) by the end of August and will feature most of the award-winning attributes of the commercial product -- running on the major Linux operating systems (Novell's SUSE LINUX, Red Hat, Red Flag, Debian) -- but without support and maintenance, third-party applications and connectors.

"The GPL release of Open-Xchange is good for customers and developers," said Ed Anderson, vice president of product marketing for Novell's Nterprise platform services group. "Novell has been a leader in collaboration for many years, and we recognize the value of open source in the rapid development of software and its responsiveness to users' needs. That value is now part of SUSE LINUX Openexchange Server as it brings collaboration stability and affordability to customers using Linux."

Open-Xchange is a collaboration platform that integrates open source and proprietary servers and clients. Accessible through a common web browser, Open-Xchange allows users to share e-mail, calendar, tasks, threaded discussions and documents originating from both proprietary and open source systems. For customers who need seamless integration with a Windows client, commercially available connectors will be released later in 2004.

Because the web-based interface of Open-Xchange runs on all major browsers, employees can use its services regardless of the client operating. They can access the entire functionality of Open-Xchange with any computer connected to the Internet and any common platform, including Windows, Linux, Unix, MacOS, and PalmOS.

Open-Xchange features a WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) interface -- considerably speeding the flow of information between workstations and the server. Outlook users can access calendar and contact data as well as tasks and documents stored in Open-Xchange in real time.

The interface also enables the exchange of data sets from project management, ERP, and CRM applications with Open-Xchange automatically integrating key project deadlines and tasks into appointment and task management tools, thus removing the need to maintain multiple calendars.

Open-Xchange also enables online conferences in chat sessions where joint ideas, concepts, and drafts can be jotted down on a virtual whiteboard. Cooperation tools such as a shared text editor and joint brainstorming utilities also increase productivity. About Netline

Netline Internet Service GmbH is a market leader in Linux-based groupware, collaboration, and messaging in the SMB segment. Netline's Groupware which is based on the Netline Java Application Server is the core engine of Novell's award winning SUSE LINUX Openexchange Server. Since 1996 Netline -- based in Olpe, Germany -- has been developing java-based 3-tier web applications for the SMB market.