BEHR Paints Launches First Laszlo-Based Rich Internet Application.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2003

Leading Paint Manufacturer Uses Laszlo Technology for Web site;

Improves Customer Loyalty and Brand Recognition

Laszlo Systems, a provider of server software for rich Internet applications, today announced that BEHR Paints, the largest provider of premium paints and stains to the North American Do-It-Yourself home improvement market, has launched the first public-facing Laszlo application. The Laszlo Presentation Server(TM) was used to create the ColorSmart by BEHR(TM) application, which is located online at www.behr.com and in approximately 1500 Home Depot stores across North America.

ColorSmart by BEHR(TM) is an interactive program designed to take the anxiety and guesswork out of selecting paint color by enabling customers to preview paint selections before making final purchasing decisions. Customers can browse a library of inspirational palettes, preview thousands of colors in virtual rooms or exteriors, and receive instant color-coordination tips - all of which is accomplished online without the cumbersome, time-consuming and visually disorientating limitations of traditional HTML Web pages.

"Laszlo technology helped us address our most fundamental challenge, namely providing our customers with a visually comprehensive preview of what can be achieved with various color and style combinations," said Mary Rice, Vice President Marketing, BEHR Paints. "Being able to experiment online gives our customers more confidence when it comes time to make the final purchase, and we're greatly encouraged by the initial feedback we've received."

The ColorSmart by BEHR(TM) application was built with the help of Semaphore Partners, an interactive services firm, who recommended Laszlo technology because of its developer-friendly attributes. The Laszlo Presentation Server is a standards-based, XML-native platform that enables developers to use existing skill sets to build sophisticated rich Internet applications. Additionally, the Laszlo Presentation Server fits into standard server-side infrastructures, adding another layer of functionality to previous business logic investments.

"There are a number of technologies available for building 'pretty' Web sites, but Laszlo technology goes the extra mile by coupling a truly breakthrough user experience with the ability to render those applications into any of today's browsers," said Rodney Aiglstorfer, National Director of Technology at Semaphore Partners. "Because the BEHR application is targeted at such a widely diverse audience of home Internet users, it was essential that the underlying technology work the way we envisioned, regardless of who was trying to use it."

Aiglstorfer continued, "At the end of the day, it was our job to build an application that enabled BEHR customers to make more confident purchasing decisions. Laszlo was instrumental in helping to achieve that."

"We're excited to showcase ColorSmart by BEHR(TM) as the debut Laszlo application because it's not just about the best way to choose paint colors; it's about showing people what an online experience should be - namely, Web sites that surpass the responsiveness and intuitiveness of desktop applications," said Barry James Folsom, President and CEO of Laszlo Systems. "The outstanding customer feedback that BEHR has witnessed since implementing the Laszlo application is just the beginning."

To view the BEHR application on-line, visit www.behr.com, or try ColorSmart by Behr(TM) in the paint department at The Home Depot. If you're interested in learning more about the Laszlo Presentation Server, please visit www.laszlosystems.com or send an email to [e-mail].

About Laszlo Systems

Located in San Francisco, California, Laszlo Systems has developed a new generation of server software that enables rich Internet applications to be deployed into any browser today. Laszlo's XML-native platform allows companies to rapidly build Internet applications that combine the superior usability of desktop software with the lower costs of server-based deployment. The end result is a quicker, richer, smarter and more fluid Internet. For more information about Laszlo Systems, please visit their Web site at www.laszlosystems.com.

About BEHR

Founded in 1947, BEHR Process Corporation is the largest provider of premium paints and stains to the North American Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home improvement market. BEHR manufactures paints, decorative finishes, primers, stains and surface preparation products, which are sold at The Home Depot and other specialty retailers and hardware stores. BEHR is a subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS) and is headquartered in Santa Ana, CA.