MORRISTOWN, N.J.--MARCH 13, 1990 -- AT&T and Tandem Computers Incorporated today announced a strategic alliance to market and develop UNIX(R) System V-based fault tolerant systems worldwide.

Under the agreement, AT&T acquires rights to market Tandem's UNIX System V-based fault tolerant products and technology on a worldwide basis.

The alliance provides for joint development aimed at accelerating the availability and acceptance of UNIX System V- based fault tolerant solutions, including new hardware and software for the UNIX system marketplace; advancing the delivery of UNIX System V Release 4.0 on the companies' RISC- based fault tolerant platforms; development of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) protocols; and enhanced interoperability between the two companies' products.

AT&T Computer Systems President Richard A. McGinn said, "This agreement combines AT&T's strength in open systems and networking with Tandem's leadership in fault tolerant platforms. The addition of leading-edge fault tolerant capabilties complements our current networked computing capabilities, and will significantly enhance the breadth of solutions we can provide."

"We're very pleased to be working with AT&T, the leader in UNIX and networked solutions," said James G. Treybig, president and chief executive officer of Tandem. "Tandem is the leader in the fault tolerant and on-line transaction processing arena. Together we can offer leveraged solutions to those wanting reliable, high quality standards-based products and service."

AT&T will initially focus on rapidly evolving UNIX-based fault tolerant solutions in the telecommunications and federal markets, and on select commercial opportunities as an extension of its broad array of networked computing solutions.

For the telecommunications marketplace, AT&T Network Systems announced plans to use RISC-based fault tolerant platforms resulting from this relationship as a foundation for certain operations support systems and new intelligent network services it provides to telephone companies and entities within AT&T.

Dan Stanzione, president of AT&T Network Systems' Operations Systems, said, "This is the first RISC platform based on UNIX System V and open systems that has the fault tolerant capabilities to meet the requirements of our telephone company customers. It also complies with the Operations Systems Computing Architecture (OSCA) they want."

"We believe the respective strengths of both companies in telecommunications will result in a range of outstanding solutions for critical business needs," stated Tandem senior vice president of sales and marketing Gerald L. Peterson.

AT&T Computer Systems and Tandem plan to establish enterprise solution centers. These centers will review customer requirements and formulate specific solutions best addressed by the integration of AT&T and Tandem products. The centers will also serve as focal points for working with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) in their development and porting of UNIX system-based fault tolerant applications.

"AT&T and Tandem each bring a long heritage of quality and a shared vision of the future to meet customers' emerging needs for fault tolerant solutions in an open systems environment," said McGinn.

Tandem manufactures and markets computer systems and networks for on-line transaction processing, large database applications, and the UNIX system marketplace. Company headquarters are located at 19333 Vallco Parkway, Cupertino, CA 95014. The telephone number is 408-285-6000.

AT&T Computer Systems, based in Morristown, N.J., designs, manufactures, sells and services a full line of networked computing systems and solutions based on industry standards, including UNIX System V. Company headquarters are located at 1 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960. The telephone number is 1-800-247-1212.

John Skalko - AT&T
201-898-6734 (office)
201-729-8202 (home)

Corinne DeBra - Tandem
408-285-7574 (office)