OpenText Brings Business Process Solutions to Windows Azure

OpenText and Microsoft Expand Global Alliance to Widen Support for Cloud Computing Initiatives Including Hybrid Offerings and BPM

WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - OpenText (NASDAQ: OTEX, TSX: OTC) today announced the expansion of its global alliance agreement with Microsoft Corp. to include wider support for Microsoft cloud computing initiatives. As part of the agreement, OpenText's newly formed Business Process Solutions (BPS) Group will be delivering a set of process management and case management solutions on the Windows Azure cloud computing platform.

OpenText was among the first enterprise software vendors to add support for Windows Azure with records management and archiving solutions announced over three years ago. More recently, the OpenText M3 modeling suite achieved Windows Azure competency last year. Now, the tighter alignment between the two companies will give customers more flexibility in the way OpenText applications are deployed: fully in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid of cloud and on-premise.

This latest agreement extends the current OpenText-Microsoft agreement to encompass OpenText BPM and Microsoft cloud technologies. It represents a four-year commitment of technology and customer-facing resources and fits within OpenText's broader strategy to offer customers a full range of cloud-based solutions along with flexible deployment options.

"We are excited to see Windows Azure incorporated into OpenText's Business Process Solutions," said Walid Abu-Hadba, Corporate Vice President, Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Corp. "Together, Microsoft and OpenText are committed to helping businesses drive process efficiency and scalable service solutions. This announcement underscores the shared commitment of Microsoft and OpenText to the continuing innovation that the cloud has to offer."

To bring the cloud to life, OpenText and Microsoft will work together to develop industry-specific applications tailored to business and user requirements in industries, such as financial services, oil and gas, utilities and public sector. Going beyond just moving existing applications to the cloud, the companies will also be collaborating on new scenarios that take full advantage of the elasticity, availability and connectedness of cloud-based computing.

"This is another example of how OpenText and Microsoft are continuously tightening and strengthening our relationship for the benefit of our joint customers," said James Latham, Chief Marketing Officer for OpenText. "The Windows Azure cloud opens up a number of interesting new application possibilities while also giving customers more deployment options that will lead to greater efficiency, simplified deployments and lower operating costs."

OpenText and Microsoft

With many organizations using SharePoint, Office, SQL Server, Visio, Lync, Dynamics and the Windows Azure cloud as part of their core infrastructure, there is a strong need for complementary solutions that extend, enhance and build upon the Microsoft platform. OpenText has stepped up to meet this need with solutions for archival, governance, document capture, faxing, extended records management, business process management, case management, and more as detailed in Better Together Central. An example of how OpenText BPM applications extend SharePoint can be seen in this demo video.

OpenText's strategic emphasis on developing solutions for the Microsoft platform has led to a strategic, collaborative relationship with Microsoft. Over the past several years, OpenText has won multiple Microsoft partner awards including the 2011 ISV/Software Industry Partner of the Year. Open Text is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner.

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About OpenText
OpenText, a global ECM leader, helps organizations manage and gain the true value of their business content. OpenText brings two decades of expertise supporting 100 million users in 114 countries. Working with our customers and partners, we bring together leading Content Experts™ to help organizations capture and preserve corporate memory, increase brand equity, automate processes, mitigate risk, manage compliance and improve competitiveness. For more information, visit www.opentext.com.

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Certain statements in this press release may contain words considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities laws. These statements are based on OpenText's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which the company operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and the actual outcome may be materially different. OpenText's assumptions, although considered reasonable by the company at the date of this press release, may prove to be inaccurate and consequently its actual results could differ materially from the expectations set out herein.  For additional information with respect to risks and other factors which could occur, see OpenText's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC and other securities regulators. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, OpenText disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright © 2012 by OpenText Corporation. OPENTEXT and OPENTEXT BUSINESS PROCESS SOLUTIONS are trademarks or registered trademarks of OpenText Corporation in the United States of America, Canada, the European Union and/or other countries. This list of trademarks is not exhaustive. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, product names, company names, brands and service names mentioned herein are property of OpenText Corporation or other respective owners.

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