Apple Distributes Beta Version of Open Transport to Developers and
Customers

CUPERTINO, California--April 26, 1995--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced
that the company is distributing the "Beta" version of the new Mac OS
networking and communications system--Apple Open Transport--to developers
and customers worldwide. The recipients will be able to evaluate this
pre-release version of the new software, which is based on industry
standards and brings a new level of networking connectivity, control, and
compatibility to current Macintosh System 7 and System 7.5 customers,
while preserving and enhancing the hallmark of the Mac OS--built-in
support for easy-to-use networking.

For network managers, Open Transport provides significant management
capabilities, such as new flexibility in setting up network
configurations; with Open Transport, the network manager can determine
configuration settings for the users on the network or allow the users to
determine their own settings. Open Transport also supports the Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which is a new standard that allows
network managers to administer addressing and other configuration
information for TCP/IP networks from a central location.

Open Transport provides individual computer users with two important
benefits. First, it makes it easy to switch from one network configuration
to another. For example, a notebook computer user on the go might hook up
to the Internet in various locations, each requiring a different network
configuration. With Open Transport, settings for each network location can
be stored in a file for easy access and use. Second, Open Transport
integrates online help and active assistance, based on Apple Guide
technology, to make it easy for the individual to hook up to a network
without the assistance of a network manager.

For developers, Open Transport makes it easier and more cost- effective to
develop Macintosh-based applications for a wide variety of customers. With
Open Transport, the Mac OS has a built-in networking and communications
environment that is based on cross-platform industry standards, such as
the POSIX compliant X/Open Transport Interface, Unix STREAMS and Data Link
Provider Interface. Applications written to support Open Transport
automatically support a wide range of networking environments (serial,
dial-up network, LAN, and WAN), and multiple protocols (AppleTalk, TCP/IP,
serial, and others). Because Open Transport is "backward compatible," the
thousands of existing applications that support AppleTalk and MacTCP
should work with Open Transport.

The Open Transport software is written to take advantage of the PowerPC
processor in Apple's Power Macintosh computers, and provides new levels of
performance for applications that are also accelerated for Power
Macintosh. Users should see significant improvements in networking speed
for transferring files and in using high-performance applications and
high-performance datalinks such as 100MB Ethernet and ATM (Asynchronous
Transfer Mode).

"With Open Transport, the Mac OS redoubles its lead as the best mainstream
PC operating system for networking and communications," said David Nagel,
senior vice president of Apple's Worldwide Research and Development
division. "Open Transport addresses the needs of individual users,
enterprise customers and developers."

Apple plans to include support for Open Transport in the following
products, as well as many unannounced products: QuickTime Conferencing,
Apple Remote Access, AppleShare, PowerTalk, PowerShare, the Copland
release of the Mac OS.

Developers Endorsing Open Transport

Several developers are today announcing their support for Open Transport:
The AG Group (Net Watchman); Dantz Development Corporation (Retrospect);
Farallon Computing, Inc. (Timbuktu); InterCon Systems Corporation
(TCP/Connect II); Metrowerks Inc. (CodeWarrior and PowerPlant);
Northwestern University (NewsWatcher); Novell, Inc. (NetWare protocols and
client for Mac OS); AGE Logic, Inc. (PacerShare/PacerPrint, PacerTerm);
SoftArc Inc. (FirstClass); StarNine Technologies Inc.; University of
Michigan (X.500); Vicom Technology (VICOM RunTime, MultiTerm, Pro SDK);
The Wollongong Group (PathWay Access); Walker Richer and Quinn, Inc.
(Reflection for Macintosh); and Wall Data, Incorporated (SNA*ps).

"This is the most useful communication technology we've seen from Apple in
years," said Steven Asbury, SoftArc President, developer of the popular
FirstClass electronic mail and communications groupware. "We're impressed
with the capabilities Open Transport provides for multi-protocol network
developers like ourselves."

Seeding of Open Transport among developers has been underway for more than
a year, having reached more than 5,000 developers, with several hundred
developers actively working with Apple on development efforts.

Developer documentation for Open Transport is publicly available by
anonymous ftp on the Internet at
"ftp://seeding.apple.com/public/opentransport/ot(underscore)docs."

Customer Seeding Begins

For Macintosh customers, Apple now is beginning the Open Transport Early
Access Program, an initiative designed to give network managers and other
qualified networking users access to pre- release versions of the new
communications software. Under the Early Access Program, customers can
begin compatibility testing, as well as begin to work with new features
such as IP multicast (for point-to-multipoint data exchange) and DHCP.
Interested parties may request further information by sending Internet
mail to "OTbeta@seeding.apple.com."

Apple plans to ship the final version of Open Transport to customers in the
second half of 1995 through retail, volume license, software maintenance,
OEM, and other Mac OS distribution channels. Pricing and other details
will be announced prior to product availability.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal
digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products,
technologies and services for the business, education, consumer,
scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

Apple Computer Inc
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010

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