Informix and Wallop Team on Breakthrough Technology

FOSTER CITY, CA, November 11, 1996 � Wallop Software, Inc. and Informix Software, Inc. today announced a wide-ranging technology and marketing partnership focused on delivering the well-known benefits of relational database technology � reliability, scalability, and security � to Web application development and deployment. The combination of Wallop Build-IT and Informix's Universal Web Architecture provides customers with the ability to store all their Web site content (images, maps, photos) HTML pages, and application logic within an Informix database creating an intelligent Web application.

Wallop's Web application assembly environment, Wallop Build-IT, offers the only way to seamlessly move tens of thousands of Web components stored in flat file-based Web servers to storage and management in Informix's suite of object/relational databases. This is the first time that Web sites and their dependent components can be stored and deployed from within the database architecture. The partnership enables the Informix WebSmart database architecture and Wallop Build-IT to quickly become the leaders in development and deployment of Web applications based on a robust, scalable object-relational database platform.

"Automatic migration from flat file-based Web sites to populating an Informix database is a significant breakthrough," said Brett Bachman, general manager of Informix's enterprise products group. "Wallop Build-IT is the first tool on the marketplace that performs such a function. We are excited about our two companies working together."

"Building intelligent Web applications is critical to customers' ability to keep up with the rapidity of change associated with the Web," said Rob Bolt at Wallop Software. "Informix's Universal Web Architecture coupled with Build-IT provides unprecedented manageability of Web applications."

The partnership calls for three levels of product integration, a product bundling arrangement, and a variety of joint marketing activities:

• Build-IT will import Web components from production Web sites, and redeploy them to Informix's object and relational databases based on the WebSmart architecture. It will dynamically update all relationship information, making the migration extremely easy. Web masters will be able to use Informix databases to serve some or all of the Web site content from their production sites.
• Storage of the 'metadata' Build-IT keeps about Web components in an Informix database as an option instead of the file system, providing a much more scalable application assembly environment.
• Storage of development and test versions of Web components in Informix databases throughout the application development process. The components are then accessed from the Build-IT environment, enabling large development teams to modify the components using their favorite authoring tools, and integrate and assemble them into cohesive, reliable applications.
• Informix will bundle a trial copy of Build-IT free of charge with every Informix database sold.
• Joint training of each other's sales forces and business partners, along with joint selling of the combined Wallop/Informix solution.

"Storage of metadata and components in Informix's suite of object/relational databases ensures the scalability and reliability that our Fortune 1000 customers are demanding for Web applications," said Robert Bolt, chief executive officer of Wallop Software. "In addition, diverse teams of developers now have a way to view, store, and share Web components helping them to work productively and collaboratively together, no matter where they are geographically located."

The joint solution of Wallop Build-IT and Informix's suite of object/relational databases offers organizations developing enterprise-class Web applications a wide variety of benefits:

Reliability, Availability, and Security of Deployed Web Applications

Just as relational database technology brought reliability, high-availability, and increased security to client/server applications, now it does the same for Web applications. Build-IT provides the ability to seamlessly move Web components from storage in file system-based Web servers to storage in object and relational databases. This means a dramatic improvement in the robustness of those applications. Web applications hosted on a database platform will now have all the security, backup and recovery, replication and redundancy, and controls that a database platform provides.

Equally important, the content-rich components and objects within a Web application can now be intelligently manipulated and deployed using the most appropriate methodology, either object or relational.

Enterprise-Wide, Team-Based Web Application Development Platform

Development of Web applications today is highly decentralized, occurring primarily at a departmental level within organizations. There is minimal infrastructure or process to support sharing of expertise and application components across departments, resulting in tremendous inefficiencies in application development, redundancy of components, and inconsistencies across applications. The ability for an entire organization to store Web components in a robust, shared repository, and to access them seamlessly throughout the development process via Build-IT brings tremendous gains in productivity to development teams, and provides the infrastructure for rapid construction of Web applications that look and function like the hallmark applications of that enterprise. Centralized, secure storage of Web components protects and encourages the re-use of these valuable corporate assets.

In addition, because the 'metadata' about the components will also be stored in an Informix database, Build-IT will increase its robustness as an enterprise-scale Web application assembly environment. (Metadata is descriptive information about a component, such as who created it, when it was last checked out and modified and by whom, dependencies between that component and others, which applications it is part of, and more). Storage of metadata in a centralized, scalable Informix database dramatically increases Build-IT's team development capabilities, enabling support of thousands of simultaneous users, geographically dispersed around the world all sharing a common set of Web application components.

Also part of the Informix Universal Web Architecture announcement are partnerships with NetObjects Fusion and NetDynamics. Wallop's Build-IT environment works equally well to import and manage applications and Web sites build with NetDynamics and NetObjects Fusion tools to provide the same benefits of collecting, importing and managing the web sites and apps written in these environments from within the database.

Wallop Software, Inc.

Wallop Software, Inc. is an emerging leader in Intranet application development whose mission is to provide products and services specifically designed to meet the specialized needs of corporate developers building Intranet applications. Wallop Build-IT provides a revolutionary Web application assembly environment that enables developers to integrate best-of-breed development tools and objects from the leading vendors to build, deploy, and maintain a new generation of business applications specifically designed for the Intranet. Founded in 1995, Wallop Software is headquartered at 1155 Triton Drive, Foster City, CA 94404. Wallop's home page is located at: http://www.wallop.com/default.htm.

Informix Software, Inc.

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their businesses. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments, ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas.

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Wallop is a trademark of Wallop Software, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated and are hereby recognized as such.

Informix Makes "Promise of the Web" A Reality With New Universal Web Architecture

MENLO PARK, CALIF. (November 11, 1996) -�Informix Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:IFMX) today announced INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture, the first open Web development and deployment environment that allows businesses to build and manage high-performance, "Intelligent" Web sites, easily. Intelligent Web sites are a dynamic, new breed of multimedia-rich Web applications created to deliver customized content that present a corporation�s Internet, Intranet and Extranet users with a tailored view of information when the application is accessed.

"With the introduction of the Universal Web Architecture, Informix is the first company to provide a superior solution for enabling customers to build Intelligent Web applications," said Jim Barksdale, president and ceo of Netscape Communications Corporation. "Informix is Netscape's database of choice for enterprise Intranet application development and deployment. INFORMIX-®OnLine Workgroup Server is bundled with Netscape LiveWire Pro, Netscape SuiteSpot and is available in Netscape Payment Kit and Netscape AppFoundry applications. Since we began bundling Informix technology in June 1996, thousands of customers have already benefited from the powerful combination of Netscape and Informix."

INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture, which consists of Informix�s database servers and tools, INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect, Informix�s Web DataBlade® Module, strategic partnerships with leading Web vendors and special programs, enables today�s businesses to unlock the Web�s potential by allowing them to create truly Intelligent and interactive Web applications for both publishing and transaction-based environments across the distributed enterprise.

Unlike all other Web solutions which store Web applications as flat files and scripts in a Web server, INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture stores the entire Web site including application logic, application templates and multimedia content in the Informix database. Businesses can leverage the database power and scalability inherent in Informix�s Web architecture to reduce Web development and site management costs, protect investments in existing client/server applications and build the most dynamic content available on the Web today.

"The vision of the World Wide Web promised to provide companies with an immediate, interactive medium to communicate and conduct business with key audiences," said Brett Bachman, general manager of enterprise products at Informix. "The INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture provides Web developers with a flexible environment to easily build and manage a new breed of Intelligent Web applications that finally make the World Wide Web vision a reality for their organizations."

"We build mission critical, enterprise wide business systems," said Eugene Rooney, president of Sage Solutions. "Our clients rely on us to choose technologies available today that will provide the foundation and tools essential for tomorrow�s Web-based applications. Informix�s Universal Web Architecture has the breadth and depth of products that allow us to provide such solutions with confidence. The Informix Universal Web Architecture allows us to unlock the Web�s potential and create truly Intelligent Web applications, easily."

Intelligent Web Applications:

• Easily Manage Web Site Content - All Web site content including Web pages, images, maps, application templates and application logic is stored within a single integrated database. Developers can easily modify Web applications by simply changing any information stored in the database; tedious link management as well as the need for any programming is eliminated. Centrally storing all Web site content in the Informix database allows developers to collaborate throughout the development process as well as reuse content. For example, a large retail outlet with kiosks featuring catalog content in every store, can easily update or make changes to the content because it is stored in a central database. Once the content is updated in the database, it is immediately replicated to the kiosks in each store using the underlying database replication features.
• Dynamically deliver individualized content to users - Informix�s architecture allows Web developers to deliver tailored content to each user. This new breed of Intelligent Web applications built with the INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture, creates pages "on-the-fly" that deliver a tailored view of information for each visitor. With Informix�s Web Architecture, businesses can leverage Intelligent Web applications to communicate one-on-one with its Web audience.
• Broadcast content directly to subscribers - Companies can automatically provide users with the most up-to-date information. Users simply subscribe to information of interest and automatically receive notification when that information is available, changed or updated. For example, users interested in financial information can subscribe to specific stock quotes that interest them, and receive updated quotes throughout the day. A shipping company, can notify subscribers when their packages ship, rather than require the user to connect to the company�s homepage.
• Allows users to intelligently query the content of Web applications - Users can make more informed business decisions by leveraging the powerful content query capability of Informix�s extensible servers to make intelligent queries of Web application content including presentations, documents and pictures. For example, an automobile company is building a new line of cars and needs to order wheels. An inventory control manager could issue a request for all the wheel manufacturers that are within 30 miles of the manufacturing plant and have wheels in stock that look like photo A.

The INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture includes the following key components:

• Web-enabled databases through Netscape and Microsoft � Informix�s entire line of database products are Web-enabled out of the box with Netscape Communication Corporation�s market-leading Internet and Intranet software. The Informix/Netscape solution offers customers a high-performance scalable database solution that connects distributed enterprises via the Web for either Internet or Intranet applications on a single CD sold and supported by Informix. As an open systems company, Informix is Web server and Web browser independent and therefore supports Microsoft�s Internet Information Server and Microsoft�s Internet Explorer. Informix has direct API integration with Netscape (NSAPI) and Microsoft (ISAPI).
• Java Support - Informix�s comprehensive Java strategy is a Java-Anywhere solution that allows users to create Web application logic and content in Java and execute it in the client layer, middle layer on an application server, or natively in the database engine for optimal application performance
• INFORMIX-JWorks™ Tool - the only drag-and-drop Java development tool that allows developers to build Intelligent Web client/server applications for Informix database servers. JWorks can be used with any Java-based Web development environment to easily create pure Java Web client/server applications automatically without actually writing code.
• INFORMIX-Web DataBlade® Module - The Informix Web DataBlade Module is the application development and management environment that is the primary means for storing all content and application logic with the Informix database. The Web DataBlade Module allows developers to create, manage and deploy Intelligent Web applications fast and easier, while reducing the time and effort required to update Web sites.
• INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect™� Informix�s Universal Web Connect provides an open platform that enables Informix�s Web partners and customers to write Intelligent Web applications. INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect services include an Application Page Builder API, state and connection management features, subscription and notification features, Java connectivity and a security interface.
• Key Partner Support - INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture provides an open platform for every Web tool and application developer to create Intelligent applications. The following partners are the first to integrate with Informix�s architecture and INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect platform: Bluestone, FutureTense, HAHT Software, NetDynamics and Wallop Software.
• Universal Web Solution Specialists - Informix certified consulting organizations which combine unique domain expertise, pre-built application templates and knowledge transfer services to help customers rapidly deliver Intelligent Web applications. The first four Web Solution Specialists are: ECOlogic, ICON, Sage Solutions and WebFactory.
• Electronic Commerce - Informix is the database in many Electronic Commerce applications. Informix will continue to foster partnerships with the leading Electronic Commerce vendors to provide a total solution to our customers. Companies such as Open Market Inc., Tandem Computer Company, Signal Internet and NetGravity are all offering electronic commerce solutions by developing DataBlade modules or by other database integration. Currently, Informix is the embedded database for MediaBase from Silicon Graphics, Inc.

Informix�s Universal Web Architecture is scheduled to be rolled out between Q4 1996 and the first half of 1997. Specific scheduled availability is as follows:

• Web-enabled OnLine product family - available now
• INFORMIX-Web DataBlade Module - available now
• INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect for the OnLine product family - December 1996
• INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect for Informix Universal Server - Q1 1997
• Web Solution Specialists - December 1996
• INFORMIX-JWorks - 1st half of 1997

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world�s leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups, to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix�s database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas.

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Note to Editors: The following are worldwide trademarks of Informix Software, Inc. Informix Corporation, or their subsidiaries, registered in the United States of America as indicated by "�" and in numerous countries worldwide: Informix®, The Informix logo®, DataBlade®, Universal Web Connect™ and JWorks™. Netscape, Netscape Communications, Netscape Suitespot and Netscape AppFoundry are all trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Informix Unveils INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect™

MENLO PARK, Calif. (November 11, 1996) �Informix Software, Inc., (NASDAQ: IFMX) the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect™ as part of its Universal Web Architecture. Informix�s Universal Web Connect is an open platform that provides high performance connectivity between Web servers and databases. Universal Web Connect enables Web developers and partners to create "Intelligent" Web applications that dynamically deliver multimedia rich, tailored Web pages to a corporation�s Internet, Intranet and Extranet users.

INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect offers the highest performance and scalability of any solution currently available. Universal Web Connect provides developers and partners with powerful facilities to create application logic in any language (C, C++, Java, Active X, IIOP, etc.) for flexible execution in the client layer or middle tier. In addition, Universal Web Connect is the first platform to deliver broadcast capability that enables developers to publish information based on user subscriptions.

INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect provides the following set of services to build Intelligent Web applications:

• URL Interface � The URL interface allows Web developers a single point of access to application logic and content stored in the database. This content can include dynamically constructed or static HyperText Markup Language (HTML) documents and associated multimedia content. Users gain advantages of a database-driven Web application because Informix�s Universal Web Connect passes URL requests directly into the database for fast, personalized content delivery � all transparent to the user.
• Application Pages (AppPages) � An App Page is an HTML page with embedded SQL statements that dynamically construct the HTML document displayed in the browser. AppPages provide a powerful HTML scripting paradigm whereby Web authors can easily develop sophisticated database-aware HTML documents. AppPages supports Netscape ONE by enabling developers to drop Java script or Java applets in the AppPage.
• Application Page Builder API � Storing Web site content (static HTML pages and associated multimedia objects and Informix AppPages) within the database allows for fast, simple Web site management. The Application Page API allows pages and content to be posted to the database automatically. This is a Microsoft Visual C++ object-oriented interface which allows Web developers and Web site tools vendors such as Bluestone, FutureTense, HAHT Software, NetDynamics and Wallop to create, manage and deploy Web applications stored in an Informix database.
• Programmable Interface � This set of API services provides a framework for programmers to easily port or develop client/server database applications on the Web. It provides a core set of services that enable state and connection management. Through this interface, connectivity with other distributed object brokers (IIOP and CORBA) is achieved . Programmers can use any language to create their applications (C, C++, Active X, or Java).
• Subscription/Notification � Subscription/notification allows Web site visitors to subscribe to specific information. Events, or updates to the database such as an inventory change or new listing, can be registered with the system. When the event occurs, the subscribing Web site visitor is automatically notified. For example, in a retail catalog application, user preference profiles are logged into the database. When a desired item becomes available, the application could automatically issue an e-mail message directly to the subscriber, notifying him/her that the product is available.
• Java Connectivity � This set of Java classes is an extension of the Netscape Internet Foundation classes in the Netscape ONE™ Open Network Environment. It allows the Java programmer to access and retrieve content stored and managed by an Informix database. The transport mechanism can be determined at deployment time and the Java application code remains the same regardless of the transport mechanism.
• Security Interface � The INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect product offers specific drivers for the Netscape SuiteSpot Servers™ and Microsoft Web server product lines. Specific integration in these drivers enables the authorization and user authentication mechanisms to be database driven. As a result, all of the power and security of the database can be applied, allowing for audit trails and access control over Web server access. Writing directly to the Web server APIs provides a truly integrated approach to security whereby the database and Web server share the same schema.

Specific scheduled availability is as follows:

INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect for the OnLine product family - December 1996

INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect for the INFORMIX-Universal Server - Q1 1997

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com and http://www.illustra.com. ###

(C)1996. The following are worldwide trademarks of Informix Software, Inc., Informix Corporation, or their subsidiaries, registered in the United States of America as indicated by "®" and in numerous countries worldwide:Informix®, the Informix logo®, DataBlade®, Universal Web Connect™NewEra™, JWorks™. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Informix's New Java Environment Delivers Breakthrough Advantages for Intelligent Web Applications

MENLO PARK, Calif. (November 11, 1996) � Informix Software, Inc., (NASDAQ:IFMX) the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced Informix Java Environment, the first Java-anywhere strategy which enables developers to run Java content or application logic on any layer to optimize Web and client/server applications. This combination of Java�s flexibility, security and portability, and the Informix�s Java-anywhere strategy provides developers with a fast, platform-independent and easy solution for developing Intelligent Web applications.

"Informix�s Java-anywhere strategy is an illustration of Informix�s commitment to Java development," said Eric Schmidt, vice president and chief technology officer of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Customers can enjoy the benefits of a low cost desktop like the JavaStation™ coupled with Informix�s Universal Web Architecture to build this new breed of Intelligent Web applications."

Informix�s Java-anywhere strategy allows developers to create application logic and content in Java and to execute it in the client layer, middle tier on an application server, or natively in the database engine for optimal application performance.

The Informix Java Environment is comprised of a Java API, JDBC support, INFORMIX-JWorks™ development tool, INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect™, INFORMIX-Web DataBlade module and a Java in the Server feature of the INFORMIX-Universal Server. This environment is a key component of the Informix Universal Web Architecture, which includes database servers, tools, INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect open platform, partners and programs allowing customers to build transaction-and-publishing-based Intelligent Web applications for the distributed enterprise

"Informix�s Universal Web Architecture, including our Java strategy, represents our commitment to provide customers with a Web-enabled environment running Intelligent applications that support the changing needs of the distributed enterprise," said Brett Bachman, general manager of enterprise products at Informix. "With Java as the emerging language standard for the World Wide Web and distributed environments, organizations are looking to Java because it�s open and portable. With Informix providing the first and only Java in the Server feature, developers now have a high-performance, Java-anywhere development environment, that they can run and evolve their Java applications at the speed of their business."

Java API and JDBC

Informix is the only database vendor to offer a Java API that allows customers to access the database directly via Java from the client or middle-tier. Java developers will use the Java API to build Java applications that access data stored in any of Informix�s database servers. Informix also provides JDBC support.

Java on the Client

INFORMIX-JWorks tool, the only drag-and-drop Java development tool that allows developers to build Intelligent Web client/server applications for the Informix�s servers. The JWorks tool can be used with any Java-based Web development environment to easily create pure Java database forms automatically without actually writing code. Developers can also write Java with the Java API and JDBC.

Java in the Middle

INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect allows Java programmers to access and retrieve content stored and managed by an Informix database. With the Java API, JDBC and INFORMIX-Universal Web Connect, application developers can create business applications and logic in Java that can run in the middle tier on an application server.

Java in the Server

Informix is the only vendor to provide Java developers with the performance and scaleability to run Java code natively in the database server. Customers and third-party developers will be able to develop DataBlade modules in Java for the INFORMIX-Universal Server, or developers may add Java functionality to existing DataBlade modules.

Availability

The Java API and JDBC is scheduled to be available at the end of the year with INFORMIX-Universal Server. INFORMIX-JWorks is scheduled to be available in the 1st half of 1997.

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, California, provides innovative database technology that enables the world�s leading corporations to manage and grow their businesses. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments, ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix�s database servers, application development tools, superior customer service and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas.

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Note to Editors: The following are worldwide trademarks of Informix Software, Inc., or its affiliates, registered in the United States of America, as indicated by ® and numerous other countries worldwide:INFORMIX®, The Informix logo®, JWorks™, and DataBlade®. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Informix Announces INFORMIX-JWorks™ Development Tool

MENLO PARK, Calif. (November 11, 1996) � Informix Software, Inc., today announced INFORMIX-JWorks, the only drag-and-drop Java development tool that allows developers to build Intelligent Web client/server applications for Informix databases. INFORMIX- JWorks tool can be used with any Java-based Web development environment including to easily create pure Java Intelligent Web applications that access the Informix database without writing any code.

The development environment includes pre-built database aware Java components that extend existing client/server applications to the Web. Unlike other Web development environments, JWorks supports the new SQL3 standard and INFORMIX-Universal Server DataBlade® modules to provide access to corporate data in the Informix servers with worldwide Internet or corporate Intranet applications.

INFORMIX-JWorks Features

INFORMIX-JWorks automatically generates Java code in a simple drag-and-drop environment. Using the tool, developers visually design a client/server form and JWorks automatically creates all code required to interface with the database. JWorks provides developers with a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool to generate Intelligent Web forms for any Web-oriented client/server application such as data entry, content management, online transaction processing or datawarehousing.

In addition to generating all the Java code for a database form, developers can customize any form by adding their own Java code. The result is an interactive Java applet that provides high performance database access to the Informix servers.

JWorks is tightly integrated with INFORMIX-Universal Web Architecture to provide a dynamic new breed of multimedia-rich Web applications that deliver customized content to users. JWorks applets are stored and managed in Informix servers to provide the easiest most flexible distribution of Web client/server applications available. Other development tools require browser plug-ins to provide a runtime environment for the Web application they create, but JWorks Java applications are stored in the Informix database and are automatically extended.

JWorks applications fully support the INFORMIX-Universal Server DataBlade modules. As the server is extended with new DataBlade modules, they are made available to the developer via Java Bean technology to provide access to the new DataBlade module without writing any code, so applications are extended as the server extends.

Availability

INFORMIX-JWorks will be available the fist half of 1997.

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com and http://www.illustra.com.

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Note to Editors: The following are worldwide trademarks of Informix Software, Inc., or its affiliates, registered in the United States of America, as indicated by ® and numerous other countries worldwide: INFORMIX®, the Informix logo®, JWorks™, and DataBlade®. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

The Seattle Times Launches Intelligent Web Site Based on Informix Universal Web Architecture

MENLO PARK, Calif. (Nov. 11, 1996) � Informix Software, Inc.,(NASDAQ: IFMX) the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced that The Seattle Times, the largest daily newspaper in Washington state and the leading regional newspaper of the Pacific Northwest, has selected Informix�s Universal Web Architecture, an open Web development environment, to build "Datebook", the publication�s new interactive entertainment Web site.

"Datebook", http://www.seattletimes.com, is an intelligent Web site which allows visitors to plan their leisure activities by searching on area events and creating personalized "datebooks" on the fly. Visitors can add appointments and scheduled activities to their personal datebook which can be modified throughout the week to create an online social planner or hard copy printout. In addition, visitors will be able to submit their own reviews of favorite restaurants, movies, plays, or events and publish them to the Web site, along with hundreds of professional reviews by Seattle Times staff writers.

The Seattle Times built the site using Informix�s Web DataBlade® module, a rapid application development and management environment designed specifically for creating dynamic, scalable, multimedia-rich Web applications that enable developers to simply and quickly keep pace with change. Sophisticated search capabilities allow a visitor to search for a movie theater, then find the nearest Indian restaurant that accepts Visa cards and stays open after midnight. Using the power of the Web DataBlade module, the application interprets the search criteria, builds an optimized SQL query, and dynamically generates an HTML page to display results in a personal datebook.

"As a newspaper publisher, The Seattle Times understands the need to gather, store and retrieve information from many sources," said Dave Wagner, publishing systems manager at The Seattle Times. "Informix�s Illustra Server was best suited for this project because of its ability to manage various data types and perform ad-hoc complex queries."

"Datebook puts all the knowledge and information of Seattle�s most popular newspaper into a program that can be used by people all over the world whenever they need it," said Cynthia J. Nash, associate managing editor at The Seattle Times.

Extensible DataBlade Technology Used to Build Robust Web Site

The Web site was created in just seven weeks by a collaborative team of developers from Axis Consulting and The Seattle Times using Informix�s Web DataBlade module. Informix and Axis Consulting, a premier Web developer, leveraged their success in content management, cyber publishing and remote authoring from their participation in this year�s "24 Hours in Cyberspace" real-time Web publishing event to build the site.

"Datebook" utilizes Informix�s Illustra Server to manage complex data types such as graphics, images, and HTML. The Web DataBlade module, a Web application development tool, lets visitors create and maintain the personal datebooks and submit opinions and reviews of restaurants, movies, and other events. The Personal Library System (PLS) DataBlade module is used to search and retrieve restaurant reviews, to scan movie listings for favorite actors, or group all theaters showing a particular movie. The Image DataBlade module allows for intelligent image retrieval; visitors can search for still images of movies, performers, venue seating charts, and other graphic elements. In future releases the 2D Spatial DataBlade module will enable geo-mapping queries such as "show me the closest restaurant to this concert."

"Using Informix�s industry-leading content management capabilities, The Seattle Times is providing added value to its customer base by delivering customized information via the Web," said Kim Wesselman, director of Web marketing at Informix. "By providing a truly interactive experience The Seattle times employed the rapid application development environment provided by the Informix Web DataBlade module to keep the Web site information fresh and interesting."

About The Seattle Times

The Seattle Times is the leading newspaper of the Pacific Northwest and the largest in Washington state. In addition, The Seattle Times has a new and expanding presence on the World Wide Web, which can be reached via Internet at www.seattletimes.com. So far, in addition to the new Datebook arts and entertainment site, it offers Election '96 coverage, personal technology, top news stories and regional classifieds ads as well as educational projects for students and teachers.

The Seattle Times is a locally and privately owned newspaper, now celebrating its 100th year of independent family ownership. Its family shareholders represent the fourth generation of family ownership since the newspaper was founded by Colonel Alden Blethen in 1896.

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com and http://www.illustra.com.

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(C)1996. The following are worldwide trademarks of Informix Software, Inc., Informix Corporation, or their subsidiaries, registered in the United States of America as indicated by "®" and in numerous countries worldwide: Informix®, Illustra™, DataBlade®. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Warner Bros. Online Selects Informix Universal Web Architecture for Intelligent Web Sites

Warner Bros. Online selected Informix products because the company�s dynamic Web site demanded fast, efficient performance to provide visitors with real time, interactive experiences. Also, Informix�s extensibility allowed Warner Bros. Online to store multiple data types such as images, audio and video, today and into the future.

"All of our dynamic Web sites are based on Informix. Database technology is required for personal, interactive Web experiences that differentiate the Web from television, film or any other preceding medium," said Jim Banister, vice president at Warner Bros. Online. "We required a robust database to deliver rich, dynamic content and to easily maintain the sites� content. We plan to take advantage of the INFORMIX-Universal Server when it becomes available to store all of our multimedia assets and to offer dynamic content in many Warner Bros. Online Web sites."

Warner Bros. Online has already designed several Web sites using Informix�s Web, Text, and Image DataBlade® modules and the INFORMIX-Illustra Server, including:

• Virtual Lot http://www.virtuallot.com�mirrors Warner Bros.� TV and movie lots using new technologies such as Quick Time VR where a Web surfer can visit the set of TV�s "ER" and move around the hospital using his mouse.
• WB Animation http://www.wbanimation.com � shows kids their favorite cartoons, including animation clips, games, and biographies of cartoon characters and the voices behind them.
• Rosie O�Donnell http://www.rosieo.com�lists her talk show�s special guest for that day�s episode and features audio and video clips of past shows. Visitors can also "Ask Rosie" questions interactively.
• Six Flags Online http://www.sixflags.com � Visitors can locate the Six Flags amusement park closest to their home; check out the latest attractions and special events; plan a personalized "Perfect Day" by submitting their favorite types of rides, attractions, and restaurants (the database will dynamically generate a customized park directory for that guest); and experience the thrills and spills of the newest roller coasters with a first person view of the ride (using Quick Time and AVI)

"Warner Bros. Online offers interactivity and personalized Web experiences as well as rich content including one of the first displays of gif animation on the Web," said Skip Glass, general manager of Informix�s Web Solutions business development unit. "This leading-edge Web site demonstrates the advanced functionality Informix provides to second- and third-generation Web applications."

About Warner Bros. Online

Warner Bros. Online is a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. Warner Bros. Online produces entertainment, informational and promotional programming for commercial online services and the World Wide Web.

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com and http://www.illustra.com.

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