ALPNET Tears Down Language Barrier for Global Companies With Release of Globelix Translation System.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2000

ALPNET, Inc. (Nasdaq:AILP), a leading provider of multilingual information management solutions to Global 1000 companies, today announced the release of GLOBELIX(TM), a fully integrated translation database system. A client-server application for enterprise-wide globalization and localization management, GLOBELIX allows companies to get their products faster to worldwide markets by significantly reducing the time it takes to translate product information. GLOBELIX is a key component of ALPNET's InfoCycle(TM) philosophy, which is based on the concept of turning information into a corporate asset by maximizing its lifecycle.

GLOBELIX connects an unlimited number of translators and users in a globally networked environment, offering significant advantages over first-generation translation memory and productivity tools, which provide isolated functionality on a workstation level. GLOBELIX also allows linking of language resource data in an unlimited number of languages and allows searches of language combinations in all directions. The technology can be integrated into most enterprise applications, like content management, ERP systems, and corporate Intranets.

"We believe GLOBELIX will potentially reduce the cost of translation by more than 50 percent, helping companies to dramatically accelerate time-to-market in the new globalized economy," said Jaap van der Meer, president and CEO of ALPNET. "ALPNET was founded with the mission to tear down the language barrier -- the last remaining hurdle to truly global organizations and people. We want to empower businesses and other organizations to enter and grow new markets around the world with confidence, unhindered and unconcerned by issues related to cultural and language differences."

Novell, the leading provider of Net Services Software, is working with ALPNET in piloting GLOBELIX. The pilot will measure the impact of GLOBELIX in the production of localized Novell product offerings. "We believe with the release of GLOBELIX and its ability to connect our partners anywhere on the Net, ALPNET is well on its way to establishing a new standard in the localization industry," said Ian Dunlop, director of International Product Development at Novell. "We look forward to our continued work together."

GLOBELIX allows translators, authors and information users to connect to a central database and share localized content over the Internet and virtual private networks (VPNs). GLOBELIX uses Oracle's powerful 8i engine as the translation database backbone. It provides the functions of alignment of text and management of language resource data on various component levels. A complete Unicode-based model, GLOBELIX is SGML/XML-optimized and compatible with most other business document formats. It can easily be integrated within corporate workflow systems, content management and authoring systems, and other enterprise application systems.

The GLOBELIX Editor is one of the key applications of this new technology that makes many GLOBELIX features possible. The GLOBELIX Editor is a thin Java-based 'client' software program that allows translators to utilize all the power of the GLOBELIX technology on their remote workstation without having to load and maintain the hefty functionality on their local PC. When connected to the server, the translator can process its file to retrieve any previously translated material, complete the translation of the document, upload it for full formatting in the appropriate output format and deliver it. This centralization of the language resource data ensures maximum leverage as well as quality control.

GLOBELIX was originally developed for a large European institution with around 600 translators, all needing to share and reuse a database of translations. This massive requirement set GLOBELIX apart from first generation translation memory tools that were originally designed for the individual freelance translator or for small scale translation agencies with work groups of 10 translators at maximum. ALPNET continued the development of GLOBELIX in close cooperation with Sun Microsystems in early 1999. The resulting technology platform is tuned to the latest Internet technology and designed to the philosophy of enterprise-wide automation using 'thin clients' and storing critical data in highly secured central servers. The completed GLOBELIX system is now being tested at Sun Microsystems, Novell and at the World Bank. ALPNET is integrating GLOBELIX into its end-to-end workflow system.

"We tested GLOBELIX for our web based products. It has demonstrated to be a very economic system for information management in a multilingual environment," says Andrew Draheim, business manager Translation & Interpretation of The World Bank. "ALPNET has built in a link to a machine translation system which also proved to work very successfully."

ALPNET has GLOBELIX fully integrated in its internal workflow system. The GLOBELIX technology is running on a secure server in a data warehouse at the core of ALPNET's wide area network. Localization jobs from ALPNET clients will be processed through a dedicated client database on the GLOBELIX server. This state-of-the-art infrastructure will benefit ALPNET service clients who seek faster time to market and reduced cost of localization.

Suppliers of ALPNET will have access to the GLOBELIX server using the GLOBELIX Editor. They don't need to invest in proprietary and often insufficient workstation tools. ALPNET keeps the software up to date and will make upgrades available from time to time.

About ALPNET, Inc.

ALPNET is one of the world's largest, publicly owned, dedicated suppliers of multilingual communication services, with more than 650 employees working in 15 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America and South America. ALPNET provides a comprehensive range of multilingual B2B solutions and information management (InfoCycle) consulting capabilities supporting the globalization of businesses in the Internet, information technology, automotive, telecommunications, electronics and financial markets. ALPNET's distinctive InfoCycle vision and supporting technologies help global companies reduce time-to-market and transform their information into a corporate reusable asset. Additional information about ALPNET is available at www.alpnet.com, and an investor package can be obtained by contacting Jose Castaneda in our investor relations department at 888/292-2819 or 303/292-1501, or by e-mailing us at [e-mail].