64-Bit Unix Gets Memory-Optimized Real-Time Database From TimesTen; Main-Memory Data Manager Seen as Breakthrough Application.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 1998--TimesTen Performance Software today announced the beta release of TimesTen(TM) 3.0, the first database system architected specifically for the performance potential of 64-bit systems.

With its unique memory-resident design, TimesTen has the ability to power applications 1000% (ten times) faster than conventional disk-optimized databases. TimesTen is the only commercial database solution for applications with real-time performance goals.

With the release of TimesTen 3.0, the size of an in-memory database is limited only by the physical memory capacity of the system, which is easily in the tens of gigabytes on today's 64-bit systems. This enables customers to process large amounts of data in real-time. TimesTen is simultaneously beta testing the 32-bit version of the main-memory data manager.

Internet commerce, event-driven planning, financial trading and risk analysis, and intelligent networking are prime examples of applications that demand real-time performance. These applications are represented by the initial companies in the TimesTen 3.0 beta program including Compaq, PointCast, Andersen Consulting, Portal Software, Tekelec, Hewlett-Packard Company, and DSC Communications.

"It's exciting to watch as the markets develop around this unique and powerful technology. Expanding the in-memory database size with 64-bits is the right move for TimesTen, and the right product to help propel 64-bit systems into the mainstream," said Carl Olofson, Research Director at IDC.

The Long-Awaited 64-Bit Breakthrough

Until now, much of the promised performance benefit of 64-bit systems has gone unrealized by the software products available. Previous products were designed around older computing models, when physical memory (RAM) was expensive and rare, and the only option was to rely heavily upon magnetic disks.

Porting these products to 64-bit systems has allowed them to use more memory, although it is still secondary to their use of magnetic disk.

When an application is architected to use memory as the primary data resource, such as TimesTen, the whole system can be streamlined to remove unnecessary processing overhead. In the case of TimesTen, standard relational database operations are completed using 1/10th the number of instructions as conventional relational databases -- thereby performing on average ten times faster.

With the price of RAM now below $3,000 per gigabyte, the economics of a memory-optimized solution are well justified for applications that need to respond and scale to dimensions far beyond conventional.

"To leverage the power of the next-generation Solaris operating environment, Sun and TimesTen are working closely to deliver an open, 64-bit computing architecture," said Brian Croll, director of marketing, Sun Microsystems.

"Both companies share the belief that applications will increasingly be Web-centric, highly personalized, and driven by a more demanding, impatient audience. With 64-bit computing, an application will perform at a level well beyond current dimensions, and still maintain an aggressive cost of ownership profile. We see Sun and TimesTen as a key enablers of the promise of 64-bit computing."

"HP has been a key driver in the development of 64-bit computing and was one of the first major vendors to market the technology," said Patrick Rogers, worldwide marketing manager for HP's High Performance Systems Division.

"With products such as TimesTen 3.0 running on the HP-UX(1) operating environment, customers can dramatically increase the database applications' scalability and performance at an affordable price."

Familiar on the Outside -- Memory Optimized on the Inside

TimesTen delivers real-time performance within a familiar, standards-based relational database (RDBMS) that fits with existing development tools, packaged applications, and available development talent. Applications interface to TimesTen through a performance-optimized ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver, issuing ANSI standard SQL (Structured Query language) statements.

In addition to support for 64-bit systems, TimesTen 3.0 features include data replication for high availability in the event of a system failure and client/server connectivity for distributing applications.

TimesTen also supports advanced database features such as row-level locking, multi-threaded applications, T-Trees (specialized main-memory indexes), large object fields, group commits, a cost-based optimizer, automatic recovery, and full support for the database ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) properties.

Platform Support

TimesTen 3.0 is being beta tested on 64-bit Unix systems from Sun and HP. The 32-bit version is also entering beta testing on HP, Sun, and Windows NT systems.

About TimesTen Performance Software

TimesTen Performance Software introduced real-time speed to the commercial database market. TimesTen -- the industry's first main-memory data manager -- completes standard relational database operations ten times faster than conventional databases.

This 1000% performance gain has enabled groundbreaking applications in areas such as Internet commerce, event-driven operations, financial trading and analysis, and intelligent networking.

By powering data with real-time velocity, TimesTen gives organizations a way to instantly tailor customer interactions, maintain responsiveness despite unpredictable spikes in traffic, manage the supply chain with zero latency, and quickly bring premium services to market at an aggressive price.

To complement the unique advantages of its real-time database, TimesTen has dedicated itself to an uncommon level of product quality and personalized, 24x7 customer responsiveness.

TimesTen is located in Mountain View, and its web site is www.timesten.com.

(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.0 and later (both in 32 and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.

    CONTACT: TimesTen Performance Software
              Teri Whitaker, 650/526-5110
              [e-mail]
              or
              Morley Hunter Group, Inc.
              Holly Hunter, 408/293-2343
              [e-mail]