Esker Enters the Web-to-Host Integration Business with a New Product Line called Esker PLUS; Esker Previews the Next Generation Of Web-To-Host Integration Software, an All-in-One, Application and Data Access Package for The Enterprise.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1997--Esker, a leading provider of data and application access software, announced and previewed today at IT/Forum in New York and GUUG in Weisbaden, Germany, Esker PLUS(TM), a new product line which provides all-in-one Web-to-Host access and integration.

This new product line extends Esker's existing enterprise wide connectivity solutions to the Web and provides immediate benefits to end-users, system administrators and developers.

"Web-to-Host is a new strategic direction for Esker," said Benoit Borrits, CEO and Chairman of Esker. "After taking the company public in July, the decision to pursue this new market segment is the most important milestone for us this year. IDC recently stated publicly that Web-to-Host will be a $1 billion market by the year 2001, and Esker intends to be a leader in this market," added Borrits.

Benefits of Esker PLUS:

-- Gives end users immediate parallel access to the legacy applications and data on most corporate systems straight from their client and without having to wait for MIS to install and configure their desktop. Authorized End users simply deploy Esker Plus from their web browsers as and when they need it. If they lose a file or want an update, Esker Plus immediately responds with the necessary web download in a timely fashion. Applications can be integrated into the familiar and easy to use Windows desktop. Network services such as printing, file sharing, and file transfer are provided as needed and the system is fully compatible with most popular intranet servers.

-- Provides system administrators with the tools needed to install, configure and offer end-user deployment of all applications and services. Individually customizable end user configurations can be created and installed once and then made available to specific clients. They no longer require local installation and configuration to set terminal emulation or database access parameters. With Esker PLUS, all installation, configuration and management is handled centrally on the Web server.

-- Allows the developer to create new applications and reports that leverage the investments in the network, without having to modify the mission-critical systems. The application integration tools include a development language which can be combined with the screen management and database access functions to fully automate repetitive, expensive and error-prone operations. The tools also allow developers to create Windows look-and-feel interfaces and/or to integrate legacy data and applications with Windows applications.

-- Supports a broad range of hosts and database formats, including most popular mainframe, midrange, UNIX and Windows NT services, and is compatible with Novell; Netware for SAA and Microsoft SNA Server.

Esker PLUS Features:

    -- Parallel application access to legacy applications on
       mainframes, mini computers and UNIX servers.
    -- Parallel multi-host data access to host databases
    -- Intranet integration tools
    -- Standard web browser interface
    -- Management and network services

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Esker is a leading provider of data and application access software for heterogeneous computer environments. Esker's product lines include; terminal emulation software, database access, networking and Web-to-Host solutions. The company has been in business since 1985 and is traded on the French Stock Exchange (Le Nouveau Marche, Esker). Esker's operations span North America, Europe and Asia. U.S. Corporate headquarters are located at 222 Kearny Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, California, 94104. Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: 415/675-7775 Internet: [e-mail] Web site: http://www.esker.com -0-

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