Informix Announces DataBlade Developers Program; Illustra DataBlade Extensions to add "Infinite Extensibility" to INFORMIX-Universal Server.

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1996--Informix Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:IFMX), the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced its DataBlade(r) Developers Program, designed to target best-of-breed technology companies, and help them build, test, and bring to market powerful, next-generation software extensions, called DataBlade modules.

DataBlade modules extend the core database to manage any information type in its native format, including text, image, audio, video, HTML, and other user-defined data types. The program offers the tools, training, and joint marketing opportunities developers need to build and market DataBlade modules for the Illustra(tm) Server, and migrate them to INFORMIX-Universal Server. Now scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter of 1996, Informix's Universal Server will be the first enterprise-capable, extensible, relational database management system.

A New Development Paradigm

Unlike traditional relational database management systems, Universal Server DataBlade modules allow customers and third parties to define new data types and integrate them directly into the database. Providing more than simple storage functionality, DataBlade modules supply intelligence to the database, which allows users to search the content of non-traditional and user-defined datatypes and run complex operations on those datatypes.

According to Neil Weintraut of Hambrecht & Quist, "Informix's Universal Server and DataBlade modules have ushered in an entirely new development paradigm. Database vendors have attempted to respond to the market's need for a database that users could extend, but until now, none had the requisite technology. DataBlade modules are critical to this new shift in the database industry. There is no comparable technology on the competitive front, and DataBlade modules are what truly differentiate Informix from all the other database companies."

Developer Benefits

"Because the Illustra Server is the only extensible database available today, it allows developers to innovate much more rapidly than is possible with other database vendors," said Bruce Golden, Illustra vice president of marketing. "The DataBlade Developers Program enables them to create new information types independently and rapidly, and capture time-sensitive market opportunities to a degree never before possible."

Illustra has already worked with a number of third parties to develop and market DataBlade modules, including Virage Technologies, Inc., S-Plus, Personal Library Software (PLS), and Verity Software. Third-party DataBlade modules are complementary to those developed by Illustra, including the Time Series DataBlade module, Image DataBlade module, Text DataBlade module, 2D and 3D Spatial DataBlade modules, and others.

"Taking advantage of the unique Illustra DataBlade architecture has allowed Virage to deliver our Visual Information Retrieval technology to customers on an extensible platform that lets them manage any type of data," said Paul Lego, president and CEO of Virage, Inc.

"Not only were we able to offer our customers the image search engine they were asking for, but also the ability to manage all of their other information types in one fully-integrated database with unprecedented functionality. With the migration path to Informix's Universal Server, our customers will have access to Informix's high-performance scalability, and we will be able to leverage Informix's broad distribution channels worldwide," Lego continued.

Customer Benefits

With DataBlade modules, customers can invent new datatypes on their own or select them from a number of third-party developers. In addition, Informix will offer a certification program for third-party DataBlade developers to help ensure product quality and compatibility.

"We are really looking forward to Informix's Universal Server to take advantage of DataBlade modules for complex data types. This should provide a significant improvement in the speed at which we can implement new business processes in the future," said James Ferguson, director of Technology Management for Bank of America's Finance Group.

"There are three major success factors for companies moving into the twenty-first century," said Phil White, chairman and CEO, Informix. "The ability to gain competitive advantage by intelligently making use of any type of information; the ability to innovate more rapidly than the competition; and the ability to accelerate time-to-market through strategic partnerships.

"The integration of Illustra technology with our core database architecture will create the only database solution that arms businesses with the tools necessary to succeed on each of these fronts. Customers no longer need to choose between high performance transaction processing and support for rich, new data types. They can now enjoy the performance and scalability they expect from Informix, in addition to the infinite extensibility provided by DataBlade modules."

Program Components

The DataBlade Developers Program includes the following components:

-- DataBlade Developers Kit - Consists of documentation, annotated sample code and support software, to assist developers in building DataBlade modules.

-- Training - This requisite course will provide a fundamental understanding of how to develop DataBlade modules for the Illustra Server and Universal Server.

-- Support - Developers receive one-on-one consulting services from a team of experts that provide assistance with the design and planning of DataBlade modules.

-- Joint-Marketing and Joint-Selling Opportunities - Developers will have access to partner marketing activities offered under the Informix Solutions Alliance, which may include joint press release announcements, customer success stories, seminars, collateral, and a listing in the Informix "Solutions Guide."

Developers may e-mail [e-mail], call 1-800/540-2266, or fax [phone], option No. 3, to receive more information on the program.

DataBlade Technology

DataBlade modules are collections of user-defined data structures and the functions that manipulate them; and optionally new access methods. In object-oriented terms, DataBlade modules are class libraries for the server (distinct from, but complementary to INFORMIX-NewEra(tm) class libraries, which reside on the client). Universal Server will be able to integrate any number of DataBlade modules simultaneously.

INFORMIX-Universal Server

Now due to ship at the end of this year, Informix's Universal Server will combine the Illustra extensible content management system with Informix's core parallel database technology, Dynamic Scalable Architecture(tm) (DSA). The blend of high-performance relational database technology and Illustra's snap-in DataBlade modules will create an integrated information management solution unparalleled in the database industry.

About Informix

Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage and grow their business. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from workgroups to very large OLTP and data warehouse applications. Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many leading-edge information technology solution areas.

With the acquisition of Illustra Information Technology's completely extensible database technology, Informix is now positioned as the first information management company capable of meeting the market's exploding need for a sophisticated database engine that combines enterprise scalability, robustness and parallel processing with the ability to store, retrieve, manage and manipulate virtually any kind of rich content data. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com and http://www.illustra.com. -0-

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CONTACT: Informix Software, Inc.

Cecilia Denny (cdenny), 415/926-6420