Bluestone Embraces JavaServer Pages and Java Servlets With Sapphire/Web Release 6.1 Application Server Platform; Sapphire/Web Provides Distributed JavaServer Pages, JSP, and Servlet Platform.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 1999--

Bluestone(R) Software Inc., a performance leader in Enterprise Interaction Management, today announced Sapphire/Web(R) Release 6.1, the latest release of its platform-independent, 100% Pure Java(tm) Application Server that sets the new standard for enterprise-class Internet commerce (iCommerce).

With Sapphire/Web Release 6.1, Bluestone reaffirms its commitment to delivering a state-of-the-art application server platform by supporting the JavaServer Pages(tm) (JSP) 1.0 specification and the Java Servlet API, the two new key components of Sun's Enterprise Java technologies announced today by Sun Microsystems Inc.

A leader in supporting Java standards, Sapphire/Web was one of the first application servers to be certified as 100% Pure Java and to release full support for Enterprise JavaBeans(tm) (EJBs). Now, Sapphire/Web Release 6.1 provides industry-leading distributed JSP and Java Servlet engines that give JSP and Java Servlet developers the proven load balancing, scalability, fault tolerance of Sapphire/Web, plus technologies such as Internet Quality of Service, real-time management and Hot Versioning(tm).

The Java Servlet API gives Java programmers a platform for Web applications while JSP technology provides a server-side scripting mechanism to broaden the reach of Web applications working with Java. While EJBs remain as the back-end component strategy for complex, reusable business logic, Java Servlets and JSP technology will address the much wider market of developers building Web applications.

"We expect a lot of developer interest and activity in JavaServer Pages and Java Servlet Web applications because they're powerful yet flexible and easy to write and maintain," said Bob Bickel, senior vice president of products at Bluestone. "With Release 6.1, our goal is to keep Sapphire/Web at the forefront of application server technology and provide the developer and user communities with the most powerful, comprehensive solution possible."

"Bluestone has been aggressive in supporting the latest Java technology," said Gina Centoni, director, Java Platform Product Marketing at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "We are pleased that Bluestone is supporting technologies that simplify the work of developers while providing functionality to create dynamic applications. Sapphire/Web is an excellent choice for distributed JavaServer Pages and Java Servlets, providing scalability, management and fault tolerance to customers using these open standards."

Establishing the iCommerce-Grade Platform for JavaServer Pages

and Java Servlets

Development Tool Flexibility -- Sapphire/Web has incorporated native support for the Java Servlet API and the JSP 1.0 specification. This means that any Java Servlet or JSP written in any development tool can now be run in the distributed Sapphire/Universal Business Server, giving developers a distributed platform for unlimited scalability across NT, UNIX, Linux, AS/400, and OS/390. JSP and Java Servlet developers can instantly take advantage of dynamic load balancing, database connection pooling, and all of the other management capabilities inherent in Sapphire/Web.

Customer-Facing Fault Tolerance -- In addition to the Load Balance Broker architecture, Sapphire/Web's proven Customer-Facing Fault Tolerance can assure Web developers the highest level of reliability. Sapphire/Web's Load Balance Broker can be deployed as a Java Servlet itself within a Web server farm, or even as an ISAPI or NSAPI within Microsoft or Netscape Web servers to balance the load across any number of application server boxes hosting the Java Servlet or JSP applications. In addition, Sapphire/Web's Load Balance Broker can take Java Servlet and JSP applications into non-browser based applications by deployment as a JavaBean or Enterprise JavaBean. In conjunction with Bluestone's XML-Server(tm), this new capability offers a completely open platform for developers.

Database Connection Pooling - Included in Sapphire/Web 6.1 is a JDBC Driver Proxy that provides connection pooling for all JDBC-compliant drivers. This means Java Servlets and JSP developers can immediately take advantage of database connection pooling for faster, more efficient database access without making any changes in the way they call JDBC databases.

Internet Quality of Service (IQS(tm)) - Sapphire/Web's ground-breaking Internet Quality of Service facility provides service level differentiation. In practice, the company's best users get the highest application performance possible. Sapphire/Web can also reset service levels dynamically, such that visitors new to a site may enter with a low service level, but are upgraded on-the-fly to higher levels according to their site interactions.

Enterprise Level Management -- Sapphire/Application Manager (SAM) adds key real-time monitoring, control, and deployment options to any JSP or Java Servlet. SAM provides system administrators notification services for outages, performance bottlenecks, and trending. System administrators have real-time control of the application server deployment, which lets them add more application server instances of a JSP or Servlet while the application is running and under peak load. SAM also provides tight integration to Enterprise Management Systems like CA Unicenter.

Hot Versioning -- Bluestone's unique Hot Versioning technology is also available to any Java Servlet or JSP, thereby giving Website administrators the ability to upgrade a site without incurring any downtime.

Extensive Java Application Server Class Library -- In addition, Java Servlet and JSP developers can take advantage of Sapphire/Web's extensive Java class library for such features as Persistent State Servers, Live Object Cache, and Security.

EJB Support - JSP and Servlet developers can also take advantage of any EJB's generated with Sapphire/Web, as well as work with any EJB server, including Sapphire/Web. This delivers on the promise of an open Java platform.

Sapphire/Web Release 6.1 is available in Beta today, with production shipment scheduled for July 30, 1999. Pricing remains unchanged for Sapphire/Web Release 6.1, starting at $25,000 for a starter kit.

About Bluestone Software

Bluestone Software Inc. is a performance leader in Enterprise Interaction Management software. Companies like ARI, Conexant (formerly Rockwell Semiconductor), Dreyfus Corp., Eli Lilly, MCI WorldCom, Reliance National, and Time Inc. depend on Bluestone Sapphire/Web and Bluestone XML Suite(tm) Application Server frameworks to integrate business applications into Web-enabled environments, manage information interactions, and exchange data with employees, partners, and customers. For more information about Bluestone, please call 609/727-4600 or visit http://www.bluestone.com.

Bluestone and Sapphire/Web are registered trademarks, and Bluestone XML Suite, XML-Server, and Hot Versioning are trademarks, of Bluestone Software, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java, JavaBeans, Enterprise JavaBeans, 100% Pure Java, and JavaServer Pagers are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other names, brands, or products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.