AlphaBlox Announces ActiveBlox Based on Microsoft's ActiveX; Building Blocks Enable Rapid Application Assembly for the Intranet.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--AlphaBlox Corp. today announced ActiveBlox, application building blocks that enable rapid assembly of mission-critical solutions for the Intranet and Internet.

ActiveBlox is based on Microsoft's ActiveX, which is an open integration platform that provides developers, end users and Web producers with the ability to create new applications and content for the Intranet and Internet.

ActiveBlox fully leverages ActiveX, embracing Java and COM to provide new Intranet and Internet capabilities, while extending and capitalizing upon existing customer investments.

"We see an explosion in the number of ActiveX controls and tools coming to the market, and we are pleased to be developing a next- generation set of high-level application building blocks based on Microsoft's technology," said Michael Skok, chairman and chief executive officer of AlphaBlox Corp.

"Our Blox will address the requirements of corporate users, IS groups and developers who need a robust means to rapidly assemble mission-critical applications throughout the enterprise. ActiveBlox will provide tremendous benefits in development time, cost of deployment and maintenance for business-based Intranet and Internet applications."

Microsoft's ActiveX technology defines a comprehensive set of open standards for how software components interact and how they can be assembled into custom solutions for the enterprise and the Internet.

"We are excited to see AlphaBlox further leverage ActiveX," said Brad Chase, vice president of marketing for Microsoft's Internet Platform and Tools Division. "Since ActiveBlox is based on ActiveX, developers will be able to use them in a wide variety of development and authoring tools from Microsoft and third parties."

"ActiveBlox is aligned with Microsoft's DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model), a key ActiveX technology, assuring our high-level building blocks are compliant with both Java and ActiveX components," said Scott Fraize, director of technology and chief architect at AlphaBlox. "ActiveBlox is also designed from the ground up for COM and DCOM, facilitating universal database connectivity, open standards, and a unified n-tier client/server architecture for distributed component-based software development."

AlphaBlox is currently expanding its customer advisory board, which consists of early adopters of ActiveBlox technology in the finance and banking industry. These customers play an integral role in the design and development of both the AlphaBlox core technology and the first implementation of ActiveBlox focused on mission-critical, network-centric applications for the Intranet.

AlphaBlox (http://www.alphablox.com) develops, markets and sells reusable software building blocks (Blox) which facilitate the rapid assembly of applications for Intranet/Internet-based, enterprise-wide solutions.

The company is dedicated to enabling its customers and partners to achieve significant improvements in development, deployment, documentation, training and administration of their Intranet/Internet solutions. AlphaBlox is based in Mountain View, Calif.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. -0-

Note To Editors: AlphaBlox, ActiveBlox, Blox and the AlphaBlox Corporation logo are trademarks of AlphaBlox Corporation. Microsoft, ActiveX, DCOM and COM are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: AlphaBlox Corp.

Michael Skok, 415/526-1700

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