Novonyx fills boardroom as channel remains nonplussed about product

Channel players are demanding clarification from Novell and Netscape after the joint startup company announced its management team last week.

Novonyx, formed in March with joint investment from the two companies, will be headed by Robert Hicks. Thomas Creighton has been appointed VP of engineering, William Donahoo VP of marketing, Ty Mattingly VP of sales and business development, and Steven Bentley chief financial officer.

The company promises to deliver Netscape?s Suitespot Web server on the intranetware platform by Q3. Steve Voller, managing director of Netscape UK, said Novonyx will provide a combination of both companies? technologies, aimed at the Netware user base. But he admitted it was ?unclear? whether there would be Novonyx-specific branding.

Nick Kandola, UK product marketing director at Azlan, said: ?Until they?ve defined a product, it?s very hard for the channel to plan how to take it to market. They need to be clearer.? Kandola said Novell should reduce its distributor line-up to target Novonyx products effectively.

Brian Prangle, software product manager, SCC, said: ?It?s a good strategic alliance but we need to know how the products are going to fit together.?