Lutris Technologies and NECSoft distribute Lutris Enhydra

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Author: JT Smith

Lutris Technologies Inc., an Open Source enterprise software and services company, today announced an
agreement with NECSoft Ltd., a division of NEC Inc, to distribute Lutris Enhydra, the first commercially-supported Open
Source Application Server available to the Japanese and Asian markets.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif./TOKYO – October 31, 2000 – Lutris Technologies Inc., an Open Source enterprise software and services company, today announced an agreement with NECSoft Ltd., a division of NEC Inc, to distribute Lutris Enhydra, the first commercially-supported Open Source Application Server available to the Japanese and Asian markets. The companies will partner to deliver Lutris Enhydra as well as provide full support and training to its users as they create and deploy business applications to the desktop as well as any wireless devices.

Under the terms of the agreement, NECSoft has become an official distributor of Lutris Enhydra, the commercially supported Java™/ XML Open Source application server, within Japan. The relationship represents an important step in broadening Enhydra’s acceptance and use by Japanese developers and corporations, and creates a solid base from which additional penetration of the Asian market will take place. Additionally, NEC’s support of Lutris Enhydra and investment in Lutris is further validation of the role Open Source software will play in developing and deploying next-generation Internet applications, including those accessed by wireless devices.

“The agreement between NEC and Lutris to deliver Enhydra to these markets comes as a result of the ongoing desire of international IT departments to leverage Open Source software to gain a competitive advantage,†said Yancy Lind, president and CEO, Lutris Technologies. “The creation of Enhydra was a collaborative effort put forth by a worldwide community of talented developers, many of whom are based in the Pacific Rim. NEC’s distribution capabilities, support functions and solid reputation for top-notch service means companies in this area can quickly create and deliver innovative new business applications.â€

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In addition to distributing Lutris Enhydra in Japan, NEC will provide frontline customer support to companies building and deploying Enhydra applications, and will offer local training and certification programs. All of NEC’s efforts are fully supported by Lutris Technologies’ customer services and consulting divisions, including all required back-line support. Lutris Enhydra is currently available in an English language version, and NEC and Lutris are jointly developing a localized product including documentation and training programs. The companies anticipate that the Japanese language version will be available in the second quarter of 2001. The formal reseller agreement between Lutris and NEC follows participation by NEC in Lutris’ most recent round of funding announced in August 2000.

“NEC has long been an innovator in the information technology industry, and we view our relationship with Lutris as a natural progression in our support of new technologies as well as a competitive advantage,†said Takaaki Seki, president of NECSoft. “The unique architecture of the Enhydra application server, and its inherent capability to deliver content to all manner of devices, both wired and wireless, makes it a perfect fit for Japan’s exploding use of mobile devices. Japan has a long history of quickly adopting Open Source technologies, and we anticipate Lutris Enhydra to lead Internet development in this market. â€

About NEC

NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is a leading provider of Internet solutions, dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its customers in the key computer, network and electron device fields through its three market-focused in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation, with its in-house companies, employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and saw net sales of 4,991 billion Yen (approx. US$48 billion) in fiscal year 1999-2000. For further information, please visit the NEC home page at: link
About Lutris Technologies
Lutris Technologies, a leading Open Source enterprise software and services company, is the original developer and primary sponsor of Enhydra, a leading Open Source Internet application server supporting Java, XML, and wireless technologies. Lutris offers a full range of support services and technical training to Lutris Enhydra customers and provides complete Internet consulting services, including strategy and development services, to the Enhydra community and to Internet-savvy businesses. Clients range from entrepreneurs and companies launching new Web ventures to Fortune 500 IT organizations growing their business with an online presence. Additional information about Lutris products and services is available at www.lutris.com.
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Lutris and Enhydra are registered trademarks of Lutris Technologies, Inc. Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Contacts:
Susan Turner Robert Morton/Joel Richman
Lutris Technologies PAN Communications for Lutris
831 471 9753 x282 978 474 1900
susan.turner@lutris.com lutris@pancomm.com
-Renee Daniels