"Evolution Connector allows Microsoft Exchange Server 2000/2003 users to easily manage their e-mail, calendars, group schedules, address books, public folders and tasks from Linux desktops."

So, now what holds you back from moving to a GNU/Linux system?

"The Evolution Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server source code can be found at http://ftp.ximian.com, and developer information about Evolution can be found at http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution. The Connector code is now available to the public along with the rest of Evolution under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Beginning May 14, current Evolution users will be able to download Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server for no charge at http://www.novell.com/products/connector/download.html."

Here is the press release. You will notice they call the GPL an "open source license", which isn't precisely correct, I don't think, unless you are speaking very loosely. It would be more accurate to call it a free software license. The Free Software Foundation is not affiliated with open source, and they prefer the term "free software license" for the GPL, and because they created the GPL, they should be allowed to call it whatever they want. But, Novell is new. They mean to get it right. Releasing this under the GPL is a wonderful thing to do, and Novell should be commended for it, and I do commend them. No. No word from the court yet.

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Novell Announces Evolution 2.0 and Release of Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server Under Open Source License

-- Novell Evolution 2.0 coming in the third quarter with native GroupWise support

-- Novell's Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server will be integrated into Evolution 2.0 and is immediately available as open source

WALTHAM, Mass., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced its Connector for Microsoft* Exchange Server will be integrated into Evolution(TM) 2.0 and made available as open source, beginning today with the current Connector 1.4. Evolution is Novell's award-winning e-mail and workgroup client for Linux* systems and is the most widely used collaboration suite on Linux. Evolution Connector allows Microsoft Exchange Server 2000/2003 users to easily manage their e-mail, calendars, group schedules, address books, public folders and tasks from Linux desktops.

"As companies deploy Linux on the desktop, they must ensure that users of either Windows* or Linux can collaborate with each other using existing back-end systems and familiar processes," said Nat Friedman, vice president of the desktop technologies group at Novell. "Technologies like the Connector which allow Linux desktops to operate inside a mixed proprietary/open source environment make choosing a Linux desktop easier for IT administrators. With the release of the Connector source code, the entire Evolution product is now available under the GNU General Public License, and we're excited that customers are going to see the benefits in Novell's next Linux desktop as well as in future releases of SUSE(R) LINUX."

Novell(R) Evolution 2.0 includes a number of new features aimed at improving user productivity and collaboration, such as built-in spam filtering, S/MIME and PGP security certificate management, and tight integration with the Linux desktop and Gaim instant messaging client. Evolution supports key data exchange and communications standards, such as IMAP, POP, SMTP, LDAP and iCalendar, and features vFolders, threaded e-mail view, in-line text editing and synchronization with Palm* and PocketPC handheld devices.

In addition to support for Microsoft Exchange, Evolution 2.0 features integrated support for the newly available Novell GroupWise(R) 6.5 for Linux, giving users the ability to use Evolution to access their GroupWise mail, calendars, contacts and global address books. Other features new to Evolution 2.0 include improved offline support for IMAP accounts, calendar improvements and enhanced contact management. These enhancements complement current Evolution collaboration capabilities including the Connector for Novell's SUSE LINUX Openexchange Server.

"HP is committed to building on innovation to bring customers better value through open systems," said Martin Fink, vice president of Linux, HP. "Building on our recent announcement to bring Linux onto the desktop, HP today joins Novell to help make the Linux desktop experience more rich and manageable."

Mitchell Baker, president of the Mozilla Foundation, said, "The open source release of Novell's Connector for Exchange adds an important element to the open source desktop's interoperability with existing enterprise deployments. The Mozilla Foundation applauds Novell's decision to move this technology into the open source world."

Availability

Novell Evolution 2.0 will be available in the third quarter as part of Novell's Linux desktop. For more information about Evolution, visit http://www.novell.com/products/evolution . The Evolution Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server source code can be found at http://ftp.ximian.com, and developer information about Evolution can be found at http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution. The Connector code is now available to the public along with the rest of Evolution under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Beginning May 14, current Evolution users will be able to download Connector for Microsoft Exchange Server for no charge at http://www.novell.com/products/connector/download.html.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure(TM)), Web application development (Novell exteNd(TM)) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise(TM)), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell Ngage(SM)). Active in the open source community with its Ximian(R) and SUSE LINUX brands, Novell provides a full range of Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net -- a world without information boundaries -- helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at 888-321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

NOTE: Novell, GroupWise and Ximian are registered trademarks; Evolution, exteNd, Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE LINUX AG, a Novell company. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.