Applix announces shipping of Applixware 4.3, offering new Web features and groupware security; New version allows organizations to utilize secure intranets as an extension of the local file system.

WESTBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 1996--Applix, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLX) today announced the shipping of Applixware 4.3, the latest software release of the Applixware family of integrated personal desktop tools developed for both UNIX and Microsoft Windows NTT. With Applixware 4.3, Applix brings to market a version of Applixware offering users capabilities including new Web features, groupware security and user interface improvements.

"We are very pleased to announce the latest version of Applixware," said Tony Giannelli, vice president of business development and marketing at Applix. "Applixware 4.3 exemplifies our goal to meet the demands of today's users with a set of powerful applications, enabling them to access, analyze and communicate time-critical and historical data from a universal desktop across heterogeneous client/server environments, including the Web."

Applixware 4.3 provides users with hyperlinks to HTML or other format documents inside Applixware documents. For example, activating a hyperlink will automatically launch the appropriate application including a Web browser. With its enhanced Web features, Applixware 4.3 allows organizations to utilize secure intranets as an extension of the local file system for distributing documents.

Security features are extended in Applixware 4.3, allowing users to work from a central file system without overwriting others work. Additionally, users have access to files that can be controlled on an individual basis without regard to UNIX groups.

User interfaces for Applixware 4.3 have been enhanced to remain consistent across the applications and to reflect a more industry standard look and feel. This new version includes other new user interface features such as a hierarchical directory display, jump history, the ability to create directories and to open files as read-only.

In addition, all of Applixware's powerful applications have been enhanced. These include:

-- Applix Spreadsheets - Applix has added over 65 statistical functions found in Microsoft Excel as well as new spreadsheet non-statistical functions such as Columns, Rows, Lookup, Match and Offset.

-- Applix Word/Applix Author - Applixware 4.3 introduces HTML Author as a fully supported product and also provides improved Words formatting, menus and express line features.

-- Applix Data - Applix Data now offers ODBC connectivity, binary large objects (BLOBs) support through ODBC and a new Report Writer offering. Also, Applix's new version offers a link to Arbor s Essbase multidimensional database, allowing users to do on-line analytical processing (OLAP) queries directly from spreadsheets.

-- Applix Graphics/Applix Presents - The presentation and graphics application within Applixware has been improved with new capabilities including new import filters (PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, Harvard Graphics and JPEG), additional chart types and a new outline view option.

-- Applix Real Time - Applixware 4.3 brings to Applix Real Time a new settable gateway speed/throughput and gateway enhancements including greater programmatic control and additional user interface improvements.

-- Applix Builder - Applixware 4.3 brings to Applix Builder a set of new features including the ability to access C++ classes, command line compilation macros, global search and RTSQL support, increased security and support for TS1 and Arbor Essbase MDDBS.

Pricing and Availability

Available today, Applixware 4.3 is priced starting at $695 per concurrent user.

About Applix, Inc.

Applix, Inc., based in Westboro, Mass., provides solutions for the Real Time Enterprise -- those organizations that seek and gain competitive advantage by converting raw data into effective action in the shortest possible time. Applix develops, markets and supports Applixware, Applix Enterprise software and Applix Anyware.

Applix Enterprise is an integrated set of support automation applications for handling the dynamic data needs of customer interaction environments. Applixware for the Real Time Desk is an open suite of integrated personal desktop tools that enable individual users with time-critical and historical data needs to access, analyze, display and communicate information from a universal desktop across heterogeneous client/server environments, including the Web. Applix Anyware is the first commercial applications solution that leverages Java to develop and deploy interactive business applications to networked desktops.

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CONTACT: Applix Inc.

Tony Giannelli, 508/870-0300

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Neva Group

Patty Walsh/Gina Marchese, 617/441-4000 ext. 232/253

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