Expersoft unveils first "NT-centric" distributed object management environment.

SAN DIEGO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1996--Expersoft Corporation today announced a new version of its PowerBroker Extended C++ distributed object management environment developed especially for Windows NT and Windows 95.

The new version, PowerBroker Extended C++ for Windows Programmers, provides the world's first complete distributed object computing solution for Visual C++ 4.0 and Windows NT 3.5.

PowerBroker Extended C++ for Windows Programmers is a distributed management environment, which makes a network appear as one unified computing resource by taking care of such complex programming tasks as network programming, network communication protocols and differences in machine architectures.

PowerBroker contains a pre-processor, class libraries, and management tools which allow C++ programmers to naturally distribute their code through extensions to C++. The pre-processor parses user-written C++ class specifications and generates code to distribute those classes transparently.

"End users don't want to have both a UNIX box and a PC on their desk," said Nelson Carbonell, president of Alta Software, Inc. (Reston, Virginia), a long-time PowerBroker Extended C++ developer. "Expersoft has delivered a fully integrated environment in which the front-end interface and back-end distributed objects all run under NT."

"This is the first distributed environment that doesn't force Visual C++ developers to sort through UNIX code to figure out how it works in their environment," said Rick Berzle, Expersoft vice president of marketing. "From the management tools to the services to the documentation itself -- everything about this package has been built with the NT platform in mind."

PowerBroker Extended C++ for Windows Programmers makes use of NT Services, rather than daemons normally associated with UNIX environments. As a result, PowerBroker acts as a well-behaved object request broker -- so that, after initial configuration, the distributed services are setup automatically upon machine power up.

The package also contains all new documentation written specifically with the Visual C++ programmer in mind. All code examples include a Windows NT graphical user interface, written using the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFCs).

Production systems, not just prototypes

PowerBroker Extended C++ support for distributed objects goes well beyond the simple capabilities offered by the current beta version of Microsoft NT and its Enterprise OLE technology. By offering robust object services and management tools, PowerBroker enables developers to create not just working prototypes, but production-level distributed object applications.

Alta Software, for example, has employed PowerBroker Extended C++ to build engineering design systems for currency and bond trading, video on demand, supply chain management, and distribution planning.

"A big advantage with Extended C++ is that you don't need to master a separate programming language or environment," Carbonell said. "Just learn some very straightforward extensions to the C++ language, and you are building distributed applications. PowerBroker also allows us to define things like load balancing and scaling at runtime for the distributed object system-which is critical for building these applications."

Expersoft products enable a new breed of distributed, event-driven applications within several important industry sectors. These applications include financial trading, telecommunications network management, electronic commerce/online banking, transportation management including traffic control, fleet optimization, planning and scheduling, and manufacturing process control.

Expersoft technology plays a key role in the major applications of several important classes of users. These include financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and the National Bank of Australia; systems integrators like Technology Resource Connection, Fusion Systems Group, KPMG, Genesis Development Corporation and Alta Software; telecommunications companies like Sprint, US West, British Telecom, and TV/COM; manufacturers like Lockheed-Martin, Royal Dutch Shell, Raytheon, and Universal Oil Products; and government agencies like the ARPA Technology Re-investment Program and the NIST Advanced Technology Program, as well as other customers including Andersen Consulting and Intuit Services Corporation.

Price and availability

PowerBroker Extended C++ for Windows Programmers is in beta now and will be generally available in Q2 `96. Developer licenses may be purchased starting at $3,500. For more information, contact Expersoft Corporation at 1-800-366-3054 or send e-mail to [e-mail]. Or, download information from our Web site at www.expersoft.com.

Established in 1989, Expersoft develops and markets PowerBroker, a distributed object management environment comprising the standards-based PowerBroker ORB, object services and a suite of object management tools. PowerBroker is available directly from Expersoft, as well as through systems integrators, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers around the world. The company is headquartered in San Diego and has offices throughout North America and Europe.

CONTACT: Expersoft Corp.

Lois Leslie, 619/546-4100

or

Upstart Communications

Cindy Fay, 510/420-7987