HP (Agilent Technologies) acquires Qosnetics

Agreement with New Hampshire company expands HP's carrier-class IP test and measurement portfolio

PALO ALTO, CA -- Sept 20, 1999

Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that it has acquired Qosnetics, a startup company located in Portsmouth, N.H., for its Agilent Technologies subsidiary. Qosnetics develops IP-based conformance verification and performance stressing tools required to deliver Quality of Service capabilities to today's Internet networks. The acquisition will expand Hp's range of test and measurement solutions for providers of carrier-class IP services and developers of gigabit/terabit routers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Agilent Technologies is the diversified technology company formed by Hp's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies.

The Qosnetics QA Robot (TM) System is a comprehensive IP test product that combines router protocol conformance, validation and stress testing with intelligent traffic-generation capabilities.

"The acquisition of Qosnetics is just one example of our ability to respond quickly to meet customer needs," said Edward W. (Ned) Barnholt, chief executive officer of Agilent Technologies. "The addition of Qosnetics' products and IP testing expertise will enhance our ability to offer industry-leading communications test solutions that enable customers to design and build the networks that make up the global communications infrastructure."

"We are excited about becoming part of Hp's expanding range of Internet-related test solutions," said Dr. Paul Goransson, president of Qosnetics. "HP is a most respected and admired company, and our alliance with them creates new opportunities, both for our employees and for the further development of the QA Robot technology. "

Qosnetics employees will join the Advanced Networks Division, which has operations in Melbourne, Australia and Vancouver, Canada. The Advanced Networks Division is part of Hp's Communications Solutions Group.

About Qosnetics

Qosnetics was established in 1995 and has become a leading provider of internetworking test solutions that improve the quality, performance and reliability of new classes of internet-related equipment, networks, and Quality of Service products. Qosnetics has 32 employees, located in Portsmouth, NH

Qosnetics is a charter member of the QoS Forum. The company's products enable equipment manufacturers, Internet service providers and enterprise users to validate a large number of network functions.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies will be a diversified technology company, resulting from Hp's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 43,000 employees serving customers in more than 100 countries, Agilent Technologies will be a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components.

The company will serve markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences, healthcare and semiconductor products. The businesses comprising Agilent Technologies had net revenues of nearly $8 billion in fiscal year 1998. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.agilent.com.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of Hp's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments. HP has 123,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

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