AST Teams With Leading Software Providers to Deliver Industry's First Turn-key Internet Server Solution; Soon-to-be-announced AST turn-key Internet server will include a full suite of Internet and Intranet software.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1996--AST Computer today announced agreements with Software.com, Inc. and The Internet Factory, Inc., to integrate the companies' marquee products into AST's turn-key Internet server, the Manhattan Commerce PRO.

This is the first in a series of agreements to be put in place to bring to market the Manhattan Commerce PRO, which will be introduced by AST's Advanced Systems Group June 17 at PC Expo `96 in New York.

An Internet server like no other, the Manhattan Commerce PRO will include the extra-powerful hardware and software needed for Internet and Intranet applications. "The collaboration between AST, Software.com and The Internet Factory will offer companies an easy and cost-effective way to develop and maintain an Internet presence," said Chris Norman, Advanced Systems Group marketing director, AST.

"AST chose to team with these companies not only because their innovative products fulfill important market demands, but also because both are committed to consistently being technology leaders."

AST and Software.com to Deliver Complete Electronic Messaging 

Because today's business computer users depend on their electronic messaging systems as a primary means of communication, AST chose to integrate the most complete messaging server software platform available on the market: Post.Office. By including Software.com's Post.Office, the Manhattan Commerce PRO will provide Internet users with an easy-to-use, secure Internet server with the highest level of messaging capabilities and Internet protocol adherence.

The Manhattan Commerce PRO will offer a complete e-mail package through Post.Office. Post.Office provides the industry's best cross-platform, interoperable messaging solution by using open standards based on Internet protocols. In doing so, Post.Office avoids slow and cumbersome proprietary gateways to achieve higher performance and full multimedia message fidelity across the Internet.

"AST is the first hardware manufacturer to understand the messaging needs of its customers as the world embraces the Internet," said Dennis J. Cagan, executive vice president of sales, Software.com. "Internet messaging is the medium through which business communications will be done on a global scale. With Post.Office, AST customers will have a reliable, proven, secure and feature-rich turn-key offering that will provide the most complete Internet messaging server available on the market today."

Post.Office meets the ease-of-use, remote administration, high-performance and security needs of e-mail users and administrators at small, medium and large companies alike. By providing the highest level of security for Internet servers, system administrators can be assured that their Internet server will be virtually impossible to infiltrate.

AST and The Internet Factory Enable Electronic Commerce

The Internet Factory's Web server/electronic commerce bundle, Merchant Builder, will enable rapid set-up of an electronic "storefront" with AST's Manhattan Commerce PRO. Merchant Builder allows companies to completely develop a Web site to sell products to customers over the Internet, from providing initial product information to securely accepting credit card orders and managing post-sale delivery information with Internet links to major shippers such as Federal Express and UPS.

"AST sees that businesses of all sizes are selling products over the Internet," said Ernest Priestly, CEO of The Internet Factory. "Using The Internet Factory's secure and easy-to-use Merchant Builder software on AST's powerful Manhattan Commerce PRO, businesses can begin servicing their customers and handling electronic transactions on-line almost immediately."

Conducting electronic business on the Internet is easy to set up, track and maintain with Merchant Builder's unique development and maintenance features. The "Catalog Builder" feature is a template that allows businesses to input their product pictures and descriptions, pricing, delivery options and tax rates. The remaining "back-office" infrastructure for administration and maintenance is in place for the business owner to be "on-line" and in business in just a few short hours.

By including a "ready-to-run" electronic store, AST's Manhattan Commerce PRO can save business owners thousands of dollars in custom programming and ongoing support costs. Merchant Builder also provides remote administration, so that a business owner can manage a remotely located Manhattan Commerce PRO.

One of the biggest concerns of individuals buying products over the Internet is security. Merchant Builder eliminates this concern by allowing encryption of all customer credit card and personal information using industry standard RSA Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL). Similarly, business owners can protect against unauthorized access to administrative functions by the program's use of SSL encryption plus passwords for various levels of remote administration.

About Software.com

Software.com Inc. is an Internet infrastructure software company whose mission is to provide high-performance, scaleable messaging solutions to Intranet/Internet customers. The company has two flagship products: Post.Office and Intermail, which provide server-based native Internet messaging solutions to customers ranging from small businesses to large organizations with millions of users. Software.com customers include AT&T Worldnet Service, GEIS, Netscape, NCD, Stratus Computer, Banyan and Siemens-Rolm.

The company is privately held and has locations in Santa Barbara, Calif., Lexington, Mass., Orlando, Fla., San Jose, Calif., Atlanta, Denver, and Brussels, Belgium. Software.com can be reached at 805/882-2470 or www.software.com.

About The Internet Factory

The Internet Factory is a leading provider of server software for building Intranet and Internet sites on computers using the Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT operating systems. The company provides web and proxy servers, news groups and chatrooms, and a line of products to help businesses conduct secure electronic transactions. The company is the creator of the Communications Builder and Commerce Builder web and proxy servers and SMX, the Server Macro eXpansion language for rapid development of web-based applications. The Internet Factory's premiere commerce product is Catalog Builder, a "pre-constructed" electronic storefront with robust inventory and order management, and remote administration.

The Internet Factory's headquarters is located in Pleasanton, Calif., at: The Internet Factory, 6654 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 150, Pleasanton, CA 94566. Telephone: [phone] and fax at 510/426-9538. More information on The Internet Factory can be obtained by e-mail at [e-mail], or on the Internet at http://www.ifact.com.

About AST Computer

AST Research Inc., a member of the Fortune 500 list of largest industrial and service companies, is one of the world's leading personal computer manufacturers. The $2.468 billion company develops a broad spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of customer needs, from corporate business applications to advanced home and home office use. Corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone [phone] or 800/876-4278. Fax [phone]. Information about AST, its products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com. -0-

Note to Editors: AST is a registered trademark and AST Computer, Manhattan and Manhattan Commerce PRO are trademarks of AST Research Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks and Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Software.com and Post.Office are trademarks of Software.com Incorporated. All other products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: AST Computer

Misty Ohmart, 714/727-7728 (Analysts)

or

The Benjamin Group

Lisa Zwick, 714/753-0755 (Media)

[e-mail]

or

Software.com

Steve Karlson, 617/674-0100 ext. 224

[e-mail]

or

Internet Factory

John Murray, 510/426-7763 ext. 21

[e-mail]