AlphaServ.com Releases Network Query Language 1.0 for Rapid Development of Bots and Intelligent Agents; NQL ``The Language of Intelligent Agents'' Now Available Worldwide.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2000

The NQL Solutions Internet division of AlphaServ.com(TM) (Nasdaq/NM:ALMI) Wednesday announced the availability and pricing of the full-release version of its Internet software programming language, Network Query Language(TM) (NQL) 1.0.

Douglas J. Tullio, AlphaServ.com chairman, chief executive officer and president said: "The full release of our flagship NQL moves us exclusively into the Internet marketplace from a product standpoint. For the first time, our technology is commercially available on a broad scale, directly to our target audiences.

"This widespread availability is a key component in reaching our strategic goal of making NQL the standard for developing intelligent agent-driven software applications. We strongly believe that NQL is the most robust and complete product in the Internet market today for the creation of bots and intelligent agents."

Tullio continued: "Through the funding we received from our recently completed private placement, we are now developing an aggressive marketing plan for NQL in the coming months. Although we expect to generate revenue directly through the availability of NQL on our e-commerce-enabled Web site, our main focus and goal is to have our technology adopted by Internet solution providers, enabling them to propagate NQL in their targeted marketplaces."

Evan Quinn, vice president of application strategies at the Hurwitz Group which was engaged by the company to review the NQL product revenue model commented, "The market for business-to-business (`B2B') e-commerce application development is growing at a rate far exceeding software industry averages -- easily in excess of a 30 percent year-over-year rate for the next three years.

"NQL is in the position to play a meaningful role in B2B, and in the Web development market in general. NQL simplifies many Web development tasks, contributing to e-businesses' overall efficiency and growth."

"The NQL pre-release period, which began in February, provided us with valuable feedback from our target audiences," said Denny Michael, AlphaServ.com vice president of marketing. "In fact, several of our trial users decided to license our technology during this period so they could build NQL into their infrastructure. These early adopters were then able to deliver their solutions more quickly using the NQL platform vs. any other approach, which is the NQL promise. "

New customers from the NQL pre-release include Palo Alto, Calif.-based Compareitall Inc., which provides a network of more than 100 vertical domain comparison shopping and service sites, and Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Emerge Corp., which specializes in merger and acquisition advisory services. Emerge Corp. will be using the NQL product internally to leverage information for its customers.

"We saw great value in what NQL provides us -- improved speed, quality and quantity of information," said J. Brooke Mastin, chief financial officer of Emerge Corp. Terry Haggin, chief technology officer of Compareitall said, "AlphaServ.com's NQL technology will enable us to dramatically accelerate our time to market for many of our comparison services sites."

The company's market research and interaction with potential NQL users has resulted in an innovative and effective pricing model. NQL 1.0 is now available for license in multiple forms, including a single-user Workstation Edition which is priced at $2,500 per seat, a Server Edition, priced at $5,000 per seat and a Desktop Runtime Edition based at $500 per seat.

The Desktop Runtime Edition has pricing options available including volume discounts and revenue sharing opportunities. Although available at a retail price point through the company's Web site, such as the initial orders now being received, the company also has pricing programs available for integrators, value added resellers (VARs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

An Enterprise Edition of NQL, which will offer advanced features designed for the largest organizations and industries, is under development and currently in beta testing.

"In the coming months," added Michael, "we will be using a variety of marketing and public relations tools, including direct marketing, advertising, e-marketing, trade shows and press relations to introduce and brand NQL. Our target markets include Internet and systems integrators, information systems departments within Fortune 500 companies, other software technology vendors and Web-based businesses such as e-marketplaces and portals.

"NQL differentiates itself from other technical approaches to network and Internet programming by the ease in which it delivers value quickly and seamlessly to practically any organization that uses it. As an infrastructure product, we believe that NQL can play an important role in both B2B and business-to-consumer marketplaces."

What is NQL?

The NQL Solutions division, formerly the AlphaCONNECT Internet division, created NQL to place content management technologies into the hands of the professionals building today's Web solutions, effectively enabling a large and quickly growing market with a capable tool.

NQL users benefit from rapid application development and business process efficiencies, which are a result of intelligent agent- automated Web applications. NQL provides network and Internet programmers with an efficient tool in much the same concept that SQL offers database programmers.

Taking advantage of the rapid-development scripting language, users are able to quickly build agent applications that interface with a multitude of today's Internet/network data communications protocols, including HTTP, XML, WAP, FTP, TELNET, SNMP and many others, while at the same time, efficiently manage content across various computing platforms, including databases, legacy systems, the Web, newsgroups, common business applications and more.

NQL customers use the product to develop applications such as content management systems, transaction-based e-commerce Web sites, corporate Web-based information systems, business-to-business e-procurement systems and personalized systems such as mobile/ distributed computing solutions.

NQL Support

The product is currently distributed and supported via the company's Web site at www.nqlsolutions.com. The company plans to expand distribution points in the coming months and is working to establish strategic alliances. Technical support is now available via e-mail and phone and the first phase of an interactive support community for NQL 1.0 has been incorporated into the company's Web site.

NQL licensees and trial users have access to resources such as frequently asked questions, online documentation, applications notes and a series of helpful hints for maximizing NQL. Users can also purchase direct support with NQL technicians, and professional consulting services are also available.

About NQL Solutions

The NQL Solutions division of AlphaServ.com is a premier provider of Internet software solutions to the global marketplace. This division develops and deploys enabling software technologies based on its Network Query Language to partner systems integrators that create information solutions for today's e-businesses, as well as to Fortune 500 companies and organizations developing software applications and offering Internet services.

For more information, visit www.NQLSolutions.com or call 888/785-3370.

Certain statements in this news release, including the statement that the company believes that NQL is the most robust and complete product in the Internet market today for the development of intelligent agents; expects to generate revenue directly through the availability of NQL on its e-commerce-enabled Web site; intends on using a variety of marketing tools, the company will provide support for its NQL customers, and is planning on expanding distribution points for NQL are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including (i) undiscovered competition in the area of intelligent agent development (ii) the inability of the company to generate revenue from NQL on its Web site (iii) the successful implementation of the marketing tools (iv) the company's ability to manage personnel and external resources (v) the company's inability to establish additional distribution points and (vi) the company's ability to continue developing technology that is competitive according to industry standards. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.