Informix Announces Universal Java Strategy.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1998--Informix Corporation (NASDAQ:IFMX), the leading provider of innovative database technology, today announced a comprehensive strategy for universal integration and deployment of Java and Enterprise JavaBeans with Informix(R) Dynamic Server(tm).

The Informix strategy for Java is comprised of four major enhancements to the company's industry leading extensible database, that will leverage the interoperability and component-based capabilities of Java. These four areas of enhancements include:

-- Java Enterprise Components - Informix will extend the Informix database to allow developers to invoke JavaBeans from within the Informix database, and enable Informix Dynamic Server to act as a container for the deployment of Enterprise JavaBeans.

-- Java Extensibility - Informix will provide support for the Java Virtual Machine in the Informix database so that Java components can be deployed in the database, and Java developers can implement DataBlade(R) modules written in Java.

-- Java Interoperability - Informix will provide support for a Java Virtual Table Interface in the Informix database so that customers can integrate and access external Java objects or components within the database.

-- Java Standards - Informix will provide support for Java industry standards, JDBC 2.0 and SQLJ.

"Informix's support for Java gives Informix customers and Java developers a consistent enterprise development and deployment environment that allows for increased performance and integrity for their Java applications," said Mike Saranga, senior vice president, Product Development and Management, Informix. "As Java continues to move into the enterprise, Informix will be there to lead the industry with solutions that natively integrate Java within Informix Dynamic Server, creating a unique synergy of these powerful technologies."

Java In Informix Dynamic Server

By extending the capabilities of Informix Dynamic Server to enable a Java Virtual Machine to run as a virtual process within the Informix database, Java developers will be able to execute Java business logic, Java applets, JavaBeans, Java DataBlade(R) modules and Java stored procedures directly in the database. Java developers can achieve increased performance of their applications by executing Java components closer to the data when needed and take advantage of security and integrity features inherent in the Informix database.

Informix will also be extending the Informix DataBlade Developer Kit (DBDK) to support Java. Using the Java DBDK, Java developers will be able to write DataBlade modules in Java and allow those DataBlade modules to interoperate with other DataBlade technologies or datatypes as well as interoperate with other Java components within the database.

Interoperability Support Through The Java Virtual Table Interface

The Virtual Table Interface, currently available today with Universal Data Option, enables customers to extend Universal Data Option to virtually access any external data or objects and integrate them into the database and have them appear as though they originated in the Informix database.

For example, a customer who relies on Excel spreadsheets for data analysis would like to be able to "relate" the data that resides in these spreadsheets with other information that is stored in database tables. The Virtual Table Interface (VTI) enables customers to integrate their Excel spreadsheet data with database data and make it "appear" to the user or an application as though the data were in a datlogies to serve large corporations such as Federal Express, Kellogg's and Radisson.

"Informix's support of Java components in the database extends our service capability to our customers by allowing us to use, reuse and port our existing Java applications, components and objects, and port them to any platform our customers need," said Basel Dalloul, chairman and CEO at Magnet Interactive. "Java in Informix will give us the added scalability, portability and it it can act as an Enterprise JavaBean container, providing control functionality for a JavaBean. This willerprise applications," said Wayne Kernochan, vice president, Commercial Systems Research, Aberdeen Group. "I Java programs to leverage the functionality oements Emerging Java Standards

Informix plans to support both the JDBC 2.0 and SQLJ standards. JDBC 2.0 addresses Java applications, objects or components and their connectivity to access relational and object/relational databases. SQLJ is an emerging specification for embedding SQL in Java - simplifying the development process for database developers that want to integrate Java processing that occurs in the database.

Availability

The Universal Data Option with Java Virtual Machine capability is scheduled for beta test in the second quarter of 1998 with general availability planned for end of year 1998. Informix rprise JavaBean support, in addition to JDBC 2se products that assist the world's major corporocessing applications. Informix's database sdata warehousing, OLTP, and Web/content management. For more information visit our Web site at http://www.informix.com. -0-

Note to Editors: The following are trademarks of Informix Corporation or its affiliates: Informix(R), Informix Dynamic Server(tm), DataBlade(R).

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CONTACT: Informix Corporation

Jaye Prosser, 650/926-6316

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