Apple/IBM Announcement

Apple and IBM Outline Technology Initiatives for the 1990s

San Jose, California--July 3, 1991--Apple Computer, Inc. and IBM will work to create powerful new open system software platforms for the 1990s, according to a letter of intent signed today by both companies. The companies will develop and market new technologies which both Apple and IBM will integrate into existing and future products, as well as offer for use on other vendors’ computers.

The letter of intent covers four areas of general understanding:

1.) Joint venture for object-oriented software. Apple and IBM intend to create a new open system software platform that will be based on object-oriented technology. The new platform will offer major new user and system functionality, while greatly simplifying the process of application programming. It will span a wide range of computing platforms--from laptop computers to large servers--and is expected to run on major industry hardware platforms, including Intel’s x86, Motorola’s 680X0, and IBM’s RISC System/6000 POWER architecture. Apple and IBM intend to use object-oriented technology in future product offerings, as well as in current operating systems, assuring that applications written for current operating systems, including AIX, OS/2 and Macintosh, will run in these new environments.

In order to implement this plan, Apple and IBM will form a new system software company to be jointly owned and independently managed. The software will be offered for sale for both IBM and Apple computers. Additionally, it will be marketed widely by the new company for use on other vendors’ systems.

2.) Apple Macintosh computer integration into IBM’s enterprise systems. IBM and Apple plan to work together to further integrate Macintosh into the client/server enterprise environment in two ways. First, Apple and IBM will develop, market, and support networking and communications products that will further extend the ability of the Apple Macintosh computer to operate in the IBM enterprise environment. Second, IBM and Apple will develop and market an enhanced AIX (IBM’s industry-standard UNIX operating system) that combines the best of IBM’s open systems with Macintosh and its thousands of user-oriented productivity applications. The enhanced AIX will span the range from desktop workstations to servers, and will offer Macintosh and OSF/Motif user interfaces.

3.) Significant new markets for the IBM POWER RISC architecture. Apple intends to adopt future single-chip implementations of IBM’s RS/6000 POWER architecture--called POWER PC--in future Apple Macintosh personal computers. Both companies will use POWER PC microprocessors in workstations and file servers. Motorola, Inc. and IBM will use their expertise to design and manufacture a new family of world-class POWER PC chips. Motorola will serve as a source to IBM, Apple and other open systems vendors. Motorola intends to market the POWER PC microprocessors in configurations that will target a broad spectrum of systems.

4.) Common multimedia platforms for the industry. IBM and Apple plan to work together to create and license platform- independent software environments that will stimulate widespread industry development of this new technology. New multimedia technology resulting from this effort also will be made available for use on other vendors’ products.

Implementation of the letter of intent is contingent on the execution of definitive contracts. The companies intend to complete the contracts later this year and will release further details only at that time. Products resulting from these agreements are expected to reach the marketplace over the next two to three years.

Contact:

Paul Bergevin
IBM
914-765-6630

Barbara Krause
Apple Computer, Inc.
408-974-3719

Ken Phillips
Motorola, Inc.
602-952-3637

Apple Computer Inc., Apple, and the Apple logo and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. IBM, AIX and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. POWER and POWER PC are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX Laboratories. OSF/Motif is a trademark of Open Software Foundation.