CAST introduces Jacada, first automated generation technology to deliver Java clients for host applications.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1997--INTERNET EXPO--Client Server Technology Ltd. (CST) introduced today Jacada(TM), the first automated generation technology to deliver Java clients for mainframe and midrange systems without requiring any change to the existing application.

Jacada uses CST's proven rules-based technology to automate the generation and maintenance of feature-rich graphical Java clients. With Jacada, businesses can deploy an on-line transaction processing (OLTP) architecture for their mission critical applications -- leveraging their existing intranet and the low-cost of ownership of network computers. The Java-delivered clients also enable the enterprise to provide internet access to their host applications as needed.

To enable OLTP applications, Jacada delivers a persistent, secure application communications architecture. Jacada works in cooperation with, but independent of internet browsers, web servers and HTTP -- deploying the Java client using standard web facilities, but connecting to the host with dedicated TCP/IP sockets.

"Jacada makes deploying graphical clients easy while making the client-to-host connection robust," said Ofer Timor, president, Client/Server Technology Ltd. "We solved the problems of persistence and security by eliminating the browser and the web server from the transaction architecture and providing a dedicated synchronous connection between the Java clients and Jacada server."

For existing customers of CST, Jacada works seamlessly with CST's GUISys and VBSys products. All three products use CST's KnowledgeBase, the company's rules-based automated generation capability. Customers who have generated Windows or Visual Basic clients, with GUISys or VBSys respectively, can simply re-generate these clients in Java using Jacada.

At the announcement, CST demonstrated Java-enabled applications from nine customers: ActionWare, Ceridian's TesserAct division, CheckFree Software Solutions, Computer Associate's Acacia, Friedman Corp., Infinium Software Inc. (formerly Software 2000 Inc.), Marcam Corp., Pace Financial Corp. and Synon Corp. The applications are in accounting, banking, human resource planning, call center and sales management, healthcare information management, manufacturing enterprise resource planning and workers' compensation. Demonstrations of these applications are available at CST's home page at www.cst.com .

In related news, Synon Corp. and CST announced a joint development agreement to enable the business rule maintenance capabilities of the Synon/2 data model to work seamlessly with CST's rules-based KnowledgeBase engine. The joint development will enable enterprise applications built with Synon/2 to be re-generated with feature-rich graphical Java clients and deployed using thin client configurations. Synon/2, the most widely used AS/400 development solution, enables developers to efficiently build application design models.

Availability

CST's Jacada is available today in limited distribution. The current release supports NT and Windows 95 web servers. CST also announced today commitments, working with IBM, to deliver support for AS/400 and S/390 web servers. AS/400 and S/390 support is scheduled for release later this year. CST also intends to support Sun Solaris servers by year end. Jacada's support for OS/400, OS/390, NT, Windows 95 and UNIX-based servers will provide customers total flexibility in hosting and scaling their intranet applications.

Pricing

Jacada deployment pricing is based on a number of concurrent sessions. Introductory pricing starts at $20,000 for a 40 concurrent session license for NT and Windows 95 servers. CST's software development kit for Jacada starts at $17,000.

Services

Conversion and design assistance can be obtained directly from CST or through a number of CST service providers. Formal training and consulting services can be obtained through a number of sources. CST and its partners can provide all levels of conversion assistance from skills transfer to turnkey solutions.

About CST

Founded in 1990, Client/Server Technology Ltd. provides quality products and services for automating the generation of graphical clients for host-based applications. CST offers three products -- Jacada, GUISys and VBSys -- to automatically generate desktop graphical clients for host applications running on mainframe and midrange platforms. GUISys automatically generates a Windows graphical client. VBSys automatically generates the new client application in fully functional and Visual Basic. Jacada is a web-enabling generation technology which generates the client in Java. Customers include leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Value Added Resellers and large multinational corporate accounts. CST can be reached visiting its homepage on the worldwide web (http://www.cst.com ). Readers who want additional information should call CST at 1-800-773-9574.

CONTACT: NEI Communications Inc.

Carl Nelson, 617/237-5654

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