[cobalt-users] RE: Fwd: [cobalt-pr] Microsoft Acquires Cobalt Networks (Paul Schreiber)

["Michael Martin" <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Is this some sort of April Fool's joke?

I'm not sure if this will add ANY sort of value to Cobalt. We moved all of
our websites off of an NT platform because we were unhappy with the
performance and lack of customization.

Does this mean that we will no longer get the same level of support for
systems running Linux?

--__--__--

Message: 7
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 11:54:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Schreiber <cheesefactory@xxxxxxxxx>
To: cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [cobalt-users] Fwd: [cobalt-pr] Microsoft Acquires Cobalt Networks
Reply-To: cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Microsoft Acquires Cobalt Networks, an Innovator in Server Appliance
Technologies
Company Will Focus on Expanding Internet Server Capabilities for Microsoft
Platforms

REDMOND, Wash. -- April. 1, 2000 -- Committed to making Internet servers
powerful and easy to use, Microsoft Corp. today announced it has acquired
Cobalt Networks Inc., a worldwide leader of server appliances. Cobalt
Networks's proven expertise in open source and Internet technologies will
complement Microsoft's ongoing efforts to facilitate Internet-enabled
applications, promote Windows technologies and specifically advance
server-based solutions.

Cobalt Networks's engineering team will help Microsoft enhance its Internet
server application programming interface (ISAPI), a reliable, open set of
network APIs for Internet server application developers. With ISAPI,
developers are able to use a rich programming model that utilizes Component
Object Model (COM) to more easily develop Internet-enabled applications,
while customers benefit from a broad choice of customized software
applications provided by various third-party speech vendors.

Cobalt Networks is best known for its industry-leading server appliances,
including the RaQ, Qube and NasRaQ. "We're excited that Microsoft shares our
vision for providing server appliances everywhere and make it ubiquitous for
all types of users," said Stephen DeWitt, president and CEO, Cobalt
Networks,
Inc.

"Cobalt Networks brings expertise and an established track record in
developing and shipping world-class server appliances and development
toolkits," said Steve Ballmer, President of Microsoft. "The Cobalt Networks
team will help us broaden our ISAPI effort to include server appliance
scenarios and begin integrating that knowledge into existing Microsoft
products."

Most of Cobalt Networks's engineering employees currently based either in
the
Mountain View, California headquarters will either relocate to Redmond or
continue to work in the Mountain View office. Patrick J. Conte, Cobalt
Networks's vice president of sales, will stay on board for a limited time to
assist with customer transition issues. Mark Orr and Kelly Herrell will
pursue other opportunities.

The Cobalt Networks acquisition is part of Microsoft's long-term commitment
to delivering server appliance technology in Microsoft products. Over the
past several years, Microsoft has made significant investments in building
world-class development teams, opening research efforts worldwide, and
working with other leading companies such as eShop, Inc.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide
range
of products and services designed to empower people through great software -
any time, any place and on any device.

About Cobalt Networks
Founded in 1996, Cobalt Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq "COBT") is a developer of
server appliances that enable organizations to establish an online presence
easily, cost effectively, and reliably. Cobalt's product lines are used as
Internet and Web hosting server appliances at businesses, Internet Service
Providers, and educational institutions.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Cobalt Networks, Cobalt Qube, Cobalt Cache and Cobalt RaQ are trademarks of
Cobalt Networks, Inc.

All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.