Informix Software Announces Informix Certification Program for Application Servers.

Business/High Tech Editors

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2001

-- Multi-Tiered Program Provides Partners With Joint Development, Marketing and
Sales Opportunities

-- Offers Customers Greater Choice, More Efficient Deployment and Optimized
Performance of E-Business Platforms

Informix Software(R), the database company(TM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Informix Corporation (Nasdaq:IFMX), today announced the introduction of the Informix Certification Program for Application Servers, which establishes shared standards for ensuring interoperability, usability and reliability between Informix Software enterprise databases and leading application server products.

The introduction of the certification program advances Informix Software's strategy to collaborate with partners to provide customers with an array of optimized solutions for deploying Web-based and e-business applications.

In addition to granting a seal of certification to application servers that meet key performance criteria, the multi-tiered program offers application server vendors progressively more integrated co-marketing and co-selling opportunities with Informix Software. The certification levels include:

-- Informix Ready(TM): Informix Ready partners certify that they

meet basic interoperability requirements with Informix

Software servers. This base designation provides partners

access to core co-marketing, sales and technical support

programs, and enables them to use the Informix Ready

Applications Server(TM) partner logo to promote their

products.

-- Informix Certified: Informix Certified partners meet core

technical requirements measured by test suites developed by

Informix Software. Partners at this level receive expanded

co-marketing, sales and technical support, and can participate

in joint marketing activities.

-- Informix Technology Partners: Informix Technology Partners

have the opportunity to work closely with Informix Software on

joint product development, optimization and performance

initiatives. Partners at this level receive customized

co-marketing and co-sales assistance to compliment the

integrated engineering component of the program.

"The rollout of this program strengthens Informix Software's focus on databases while ensuring that our customers have a wide range of choice in selecting the most effective and appropriate platform for deploying e-business applications," said Brian Staff, vice president of marketing, Informix Software. "We look forward to enhancing our business relationships with many of the industry's leading application server vendors like iPlanet, BEA, Hewlett Packard/Bluestone, IBM/WebSphere, and Lutris, and working to complement their products' strengths with the proven performance, scalability and reliability of Informix Software's databases."

The Informix Certification Program for Application Servers is designed to reduce the risk in selecting and implementing scalable e-business infrastructure solutions while offering customers easier and more integrated deployments of application server products and Informix Software databases.

"Customers will benefit from the Informix Application Server Certification Program through the assurance of database and application server interoperability and optimized functionality, which provides greater choice between e-business platforms and should ultimately yield a lower total cost of ownership," said Mark Driver, research director, applications development, Gartner Group.

To accommodate the greatest number of vendors and customers, Informix Certification Program for Application Servers includes a commitment to open standards, such as Java(TM), XML and J2EE(TM). It is also supported by a full suite of powerful development and deployment tools from Informix Software, including Informix Object Translator(TM) 2.0, and Informix JDBC 2.2.

"iPlanet looks forward to participating in the Informix Certification Program for Application Servers," said Tony Hampel, iPlanet senior director of market development. "The Program will offer us an opportunity to help ensure our products take advantage of the strengths of Informix Software's databases while providing our joint customers with a successful Web-based application solution in meeting their business needs."

About Informix Software

Informix Software, the database company, is a leading provider of database-management systems for data warehousing, transaction processing and e-business applications. With more than 100,000 customers worldwide, Informix Software delivers high-performance database systems in markets including retail, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, media and publishing, and telecommunications. For more information, visit the Informix website at www.informix.com.

Informix Corporation and IBM recently announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for IBM to acquire the assets of Informix Software in a cash transaction valued at $1 billion. The acquisition is subject to Informix shareholder and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2001.

(c)2001 Informix Corporation. All rights reserved. The following are trademarks of Informix Corporation or its affiliates, one or more of which may be registered in the U.S. or other jurisdictions: Informix(R)Software, the database company(TM), Informix Ready(TM), and Informix Object Translator(TM)2.0.