Curl Brings Rich Client Advantages to Insurance; Partner adisoft Rapidly Develops Web-enabled Version of Hallmark Client/Server Application with Curl Client/Web Platform.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2003

Delivering the cost-cutting advantages of the X Internet, Curl Corporation today announced the insurance industry's first rich client application built on the Curl Client/Web Platform(TM). Developed by partner adisoft AG, the application showcases the advantages Curl can bring to insurance companies by Web-enabling established, successful client/server and legacy applications with a responsive, richly-interactive, client-side user interface.

adisoft used the Curl platform to rapidly develop a Web-based version of EFA, the insurance agent support and management system from Infora. As a client/server application, EFA sets the standard for agency management systems in Europe. By Web-enabling EFA with Curl, adisoft lets insurance companies cost-effectively extend EFA's reach far beyond the user audience they could reach with the client/server edition. Although it runs in a standard browser, the Curl-powered version maintains the rich user interface of its client/server counterpart. Moreover, the Curl version gives companies the centralized deployment and management of the Web, while it cuts costs by reducing server-side processing and network bandwidth demands.

"adisoft provides a perfect, prototypical example of how to apply Curl's rich client platform to a vertical market seeking a way to cut costs and expand the reach of processing-intensive applications," said Bob Hoyt, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Curl. "Historically, these applications have been built on client/server and other legacy architectures. Curl provides the only platform that can take these applications to the Web without crippling their usability."

Added Johannes-Georg Voll, COO of adisoft, "The success of EFA as a client/server application imposed high expectations for the Web version. The user interface, in particular, had to look and perform on par with the client/server version. Curl was the only Web-enabling technology that made sense."

Web-enabling EFA with Curl

EFA's success rests on the control it gives insurance companies over their in-house and independent agents. A comprehensive sales information and management system, EFA includes planning, simulation, and management modules for the staff of all sales units, centralized or de-centralized, of an insurance company. The central component, EFA-Benchmarking, supports an integrated bottom-up and top-down planning approach, helping agents improve their productivity. The availability of aggregated benchmarking results establishes an interactive controlling process. Several provisioning models can be depicted in parallel, making possible the comparison and simulation of alternative provisioning arrangements through different hierarchical levels and distribution channels.

Clearly, EFA gives tremendous advantages to insurance companies that deploy the system. However, as a client/server application, EFA is expensive. Application upgrades and maintenance require the distribution and installation of a fat client for each machine running the application. Moreover, the application's fat client makes it difficult if not prohibitive to distribute to the independent agents that supplement an insurance company's own sales force.

When deciding to Web-enable EFA, adisoft rejected traditional server-side technologies such as Java and HTML, which were judged too expensive as well as functionally deficient. The server-centric approaches generated more network traffic, demanded more server hardware, and imposed a primitive user interface.

Curl emerged as the only viable technology, with its rich user interface and rapid development times earning special merit. adisoft built the Curl version of EFA in less than six weeks with the full-time efforts of just one and a half developers.

Continued adisoft's Voll, "What's really powerful about Curl is that we can use the same platform to develop offline and online applications. The Curl version of EFA is Web-enabled, but it's not Web-dependent. Agents can use the system when they are disconnected from the network."

For more information on the Curl Client/Web Platform, call 617/761-1200, email [e-mail] or visit www.curl.com.

About adisoft AG

adisoft AG (www.adisoft.com) is a leading software company in the areas of online banking, brokerage and payment systems, and mobile data communications. adisoft's customers include financial service providers and other companies that need secure, rapid and cost-optimized data communications. With its communications technology, and the use of the latest development tools, adisoft sets new standards for the design of e-business solutions. adisoft products are used in the financial domain by computer centers, banks and savings banks. In the communications segment, the company's customers include leading insurance companies, public administration offices, telephone companies and Internet service providers. In October 2000, the adisoft product MOBILEmanager(R) was selected by a jury of leading mobile solution providers -- including E-Plus, Compaq and Nokia -- as "the best mobile data solution of the year." adisoft AG was created in 1980 and is today based in Karlsruhe, Berlin, Dusseldorf and Chicago. Currently, adisoft has a basis of 80 employees.

About the Curl Client/Web Platform

The Curl Client/Web Platform(TM) is the industry's first rich client software suite delivering Web-distributed enterprise applications with smart user interfaces and lightning fast responsiveness. Forging the desktop power of Client/Server and the efficiencies of the Web, the Curl platform provides large gains for business productivity and profitability. The platform comprises a runtime environment and an IDE that includes an extensible programming language. Entirely complementary to server-side platforms like Sun's J2EE and Microsoft's .NET, the Curl Client/Web Platform is ideal for the Web-enabled enterprise launching enterprise projects in finance, healthcare, retail, utilities, and other targeted vertical markets.

About Curl Corporation

Curl Corporation (www.curl.com) delivers the cost-cutting advantages of the X Internet, harnessing the power of Client/Server processing with Web-based efficiencies. The Curl Client/Web Platform(TM), comprising a runtime environment and an IDE with a VB-like visual GUI editor and a fully extensible programming language, addresses the needs of Global 2000 enterprises and Independent Software Vendors for application development projects. Founded in 1998 and privately funded, Curl Corporation is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Note to Editors: Curl Client/Web Platform is a trademark of Curl Corporation. All other names, brands or products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.