Informix Delivers New Connectivity Products for Java Technology-Based Solutions; JDBC 2.0 Driver and Embedded SQLJ Enable New Class of Applications.

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 1999--

Informix(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:IFMX), the technology leader in enterprise database-powered solutions, announced today that it has shipped two new products for connecting Java technology-based applications to Informix databases: the JDBC(TM) 2.0 technology-enabled driver and Embedded SQLJ.

These products are part of Informix's overall strategy of enabling customers to use the Java programming language to flexibly build and deploy standards-based component applications across the enterprise, on any tier with full component compatibility.

The Informix JDBC 2.0 Driver is a Java (type 4) technology-based implementation of the JDBC 2.0 specification from Sun Microsystems, and it enables applications written in the Java programming language to access the full functionality of the Informix Dynamic Server(TM) with Universal Data Option(TM). Informix Embedded SQLJ allows application developers to embed SQL statements directly in Java technology-based programs.

These releases underscore Informix's continued leadership in enabling developers to use industry standard Java for high performance data driven applications. Delivering full compliance with standards such as JDBC 2.0 and SQLJ, Informix provides a truly open Java connectivity solution, easily interoperable with products and services from best-in-class partners.

"We are delighted to see Informix underscore its commitment to the Java platform and the advancement of Java technologies including JDBC 2.0," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president and general manager of the Java platform at Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java Software.

"The Java 2 platform is the definitive environment for enterprises building fast, secure, scalable and interoperable software applications. Informix is leveraging the capabilities of the Java platform and JDBC to deliver significant benefits to Java technology developers who are developing on both the client and application tiers for cross-platform deployment."

The Informix JDBC 2.0 Driver further expands Informix's leadership in rich data management by enabling a whole new class of Java software applications which can take full advantage of the Informix Dynamic Server with Universal Data Option. In addition to the data types defined in the JDBC 2.0 specification, Informix has added complete support for its innovative Opaque types, which enable customers to define their own custom data types according to their individual business needs.

In addition to delivering JDBC 2.0 and Embedded SQLJ for client side and mid-tier application development, Informix is allowing customers to deploy business logic written in the Java programming language directly in the forthcoming Internet data engine code named Centaur(TM). By embedding standard Java Virtual Machines directly in the database, application developers will be able to partition Java business logic across all tiers, with Java stored procedures providing maximum performance in the database for data intensive operations.

"Our shipment of the JDBC 2.0 Driver and Embedded SQLJ bundle really gives customers an advantage in the marketplace by using Informix data engines," said David Appelbaum, vice president of product management and marketing for Informix. "With the Centaur Internet data engine and Informix's leading extensibility support, we are delivering the capability for customers to develop innovative, database driven Java technology-based applications which span all tiers in a solution architecture with full component compatibility."

Informix beta customers have already discovered improvements with this JDBC 2.0 driver, particularly in the areas of performance and new data type support.

"We have been extremely pleased with the performance and stability of the Informix JDBC 2.0 Driver," said John Vann, web developer at InteliHealth, a media company formed as a joint venture between Aetna U.S. Healthcare and the Johns Hopkins University Hospital and Health System.

"The JDBC 2.0 Driver allows us to be platform independent by providing through Informix's software download partner Intraware (http://www.intraware.com/informix). The driver supports all currently shipping Informix databases on all platforms that support the Java 2 platform.

About Informix

Iat the forefront of major information technology solution areas including data warehousing, high performance OLTP, and Web/e-commerce. For more information, contact the sales office nearest you or visit our Web site at www.informixva, Java 2 and JDBC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.