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News Release

EDS and Autodesk Announce Plans for Interoperability in Their Mutual Product Design Software Architectures

Feb 26, 2002
NEW YORK, Feb 26, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EDS (NYSE:EDS) and Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK) today announced a preliminary agreement aimed at enabling interoperability between software applications based on EDS' PLM Solutions Parasolid and Autodesk's ShapeManager software architectures.

Seamless connectivity between these two platforms will enable customers to share information between systems, boost productivity and lower costs. The initiative was announced today at the Daratech SUMMIT 2002 in New York.

The development of a direct link between these two powerful technologies allows for seamless sharing of design information between ShapeManager-based Autodesk Inventor, and the numerous Parasolid-based applications, including Unigraphics and Solid Edge from EDS PLM Solutions.

"`Open by design' is good for the industry, and our customers demand it," said Chuck Grindstaff, president PLM Products, EDS PLM Solutions. "By enabling an open environment, manufacturers can enjoy greater flexibility in how technology is deployed and it also creates new opportunities for the PLM solution providers. Autodesk and EDS have many mutual customers, and those companies in particular will quickly benefit from this initiative."

"The need to move design data up and down the supply chain with high fidelity is an essential component of our customers' business processes," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Division at Autodesk. "This is especially true in the automotive and aerospace sectors of the manufacturing industry where we see business opportunity. By enabling this type of interoperability, our customers will be able to use data from different systems without employing third party translators, neutral file formats of other methods. This should vastly improve their results and time to market."

    About Autodesk
Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity, Autodesk helps customers throughout the value chain leverage digital design data to work better, faster, and smarter. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

    About EDS
EDS, the leading global services company, provides strategy, implementation and hosting for clients managing the business and technology complexities of the digital economy. EDS brings together the world's best technologies to address critical client business imperatives. It helps clients eliminate boundaries, collaborate in new ways, establish their customers' trust and continuously seek improvement. EDS, with its management-consulting subsidiary, A.T. Kearney, serves the world's leading companies and governments in 58 countries. EDS reported revenues of $21.5 billion in 2001. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. Learn more at www.eds.com.

Note to Editors: Parasolid, Unigraphics, and Solid Edge are trademarks or registered trademarks of EDS or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

Autodesk and Autodesk Inventor are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT:          Autodesk
                  Cindi Goodsell, 415/507-8452
                  cindi.goodsell@autodesk.com
                  or
                  EDS PLM Solutions
                  Mary Ward, 513/576-2151
                  mary.ward@eds.com

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