Oracle's Network Computer, Inc. and Navio Communications Complete Merger
Merged Company Poised To Revolutionize the Living Room with "Enhanced TV(TM)"
Cutting-Edge Technology to Bring Entertainment and Communications into the 21st Century
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIF., AUGUST 13, 1997 - Network Computer, Inc. (NCI) and Navio Communications Inc. today announced the completion of their merger after receiving federal, state and regulatory approvals. The new entity, Network Computer, Inc., will be an affiliate of Oracle Corp. offering the broadest network computer software and technology to corporations, consumers and communities.
Specifically, the merged technology from NCI and Navio will address the consumer market to produce next-generation enhanced television products. Enhanced TV(TM) extends the television experience by combining broadcast and web content, creating a new and dynamic television experience for consumers. With Enhanced TV, consumers can view personalized interactive content such as news, sports scores, stock tickers, electronic programming guides, electronic mail, games, chat rooms or other services - all while watching their favorite television program.
Based on open standards such as Java and HTML-TV, Enhanced TV is a software solution for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), cable and satellite companies, content providers and consumer electronic manufacturers. NCI's Enhanced TV vision has been endorsed by consumer electronics leaders Thomson/RCA and Zenith with the first products scheduled to be delivered in September from Thomson. The first products based upon the merged technology will be announced later this year.
"Today is an important day for our customers and employees," said Jerry Baker, CEO of NCI. "The combined talent and technology of the new NCI will position us as the only company to make network computers the indispensable information and entertainment device for the next century."
"The NCI and Navio merger unites two of the leading network computing companies dedicated towards open standards," said Wei Yen, president of NCI. "Our merged technology will offer new and exciting opportunities for any content provider, consumer electronic manufacturer or service provider to revolutionize the television experience in living rooms everywhere."
"The Enhanced TV vision of NCI has enabled us to create the RCA Network Computer, a product with a multitude of applications for consumers, business, and education," said Thomson Consumer Electronics' Louis E. Lenzi, Vice President - Multimedia Products & Services. "We welcome participation by other consumer electronics and related manufacturers who can take advantage of the open standards platform to design products with equally strong appeal for a broad variety of applications."
The New NCI
NCI has the backing of leading software companies Oracle and Netscape, who retain an equity position in the merged company. Additionally, NCI's board of directors is comprised of a solid management team of industry leaders and visionaries including Larry Ellison, CEO-Oracle Corp., James Barksdale, CEO-Netscape, Jerry Baker, CEO-NCI, Jeff Henley, executive vice president and CFO-Oracle, Ray Lane, President and COO-Oracle, David Roux, executive vice president-Oracle, and Wei Yen, President-NCI.
The merged company will be headed by Jerry Baker, who will remain CEO. Wei Yen, formerly CEO of Navio will become President and Mauro Righetti will remain President of NCI Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). NCI will focus on developing and marketing network computing software and technology solutions to three market segments: corporate, consumer and community.
In September, the new company of 180 employees will be headquartered in a new facility located at 1000 Bridge Parkway, Redwood Shores, California. NCI will continue to have affiliate offices in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific and Japan.
NCI is currently delivering software and technology to the corporate market. Products include NC Desktop(TM), the multimedia and Java system software for the network computer; NC Server Suite(TM), a turnkey, packaged server solution for small businesses, schools and corporations; NC Administration Server(TM) which enables large corporations the ability to deploy network computers on existing Unix and NT systems; and NC Card(TM) a smart card that enables secure and personalized access to network computers.
Network Computer, Inc. (NCI) is a software innovator with its mission of delivering affordable and easy to use products that tap the power of the global Internet. Formed in 1996, NCI is an affiliate of Oracle Corp. and offers its network computer software and services to corporations, homes and communities. NCI is based in Redwood Shores, California, and can be reached at 415/631-4600. NCI's Web site is http://www.nc.com
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Trademarks
NC Server Suite, NC Administration Server, NC Card, Enhanced TV and NC are registered trademarks of Network Computer Inc. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.