Hello Friends:

Abtech announces settlement with HP over used broker suits

Agreement reportedly takes broker out of HP 3000 sales, training and
support markets

        One of the three companies named in HP lawsuits regarding illegal
license transfers announced a settlement agreement with Hewlett-Packard on
May 6, when Abtech said HP had resolved its lawsuit against the hardware
broker and third-party support company.

        Company spokesperson Tracy Winter said the agreement, signed by all
parties on May 5, stops the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company from reselling
any more HP 3000 equipment or offering support services to new customers.
The agreement reportedly gives Abtech the right to retain its current
support customers, as well as continue to resell used HP 9000 systems.

        "We have come to a resolution with them and we have an agreement to
continue business in the HP world, but not with the 3000," Winter said. "We
have on our own agreed to get out of the 3000 business. They did not force
us out, but there's a lot things surrounding the operating system that are
a little questionable. Up to this time, HP has never offered any guidelines
on how to handle MPE and the HP 3000 business. Until they do so, it's
probably better that we don't resell, support or train on those systems."

Paid subscribers to the NewsWire have been e-mailed more details, and we're
posting the full story to the paid subscriber Web site
(http://www.3000newswire.com/newswire/subscribers/Flash9905-AbtechSettle.html).
We'll be interviewing Rob Rhine, Abtech's operations VP, for an update.

<Plug>
The full story will also be part of our May FlashPaper. 3000 customers who
haven't had a free trial subscription in the last 12 months can sign up to
receive the issue on our FreeNews Web site,
http://www.3000newswire.com/newswire/wiresub.html
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Ron Seybold, Editor In Chief
The 3000 NewsWire
Independent Information to Maximize Your HP 3000
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