Inprise Corporation Announces Immediate Support for the Java 2 Platform.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1998--

Inprise Joins Sun, IBM, and the OMG at Special Java/CORBA Event

This Afternoon at Java Business Expo

Inprise Corporation (Nasdaq:INPR) today announced immediate support for the next release of Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java(TM) 2 platform (formerly code-named "JDK(TM) 1.2") in its JBuilder family of Java development tools and its new Inprise Application Server product. This release enhances stability and provides a rich feature set of new class libraries and tools, making it easier than ever for developers to create portable, distributed, enterprise-class applications with Java. Sun's announcement of the availability of the Java 2 platform was made last night at the Java(SM) Business Expo(SM) (JBE event) at the Jacob Javits center in New York City.

Also at the JBE event this afternoon, Inprise will join executives from Sun, IBM, the Object Management Group (OMG), and BEA Systems for a "Birds of a Feather" press and analyst session to discuss the synergies between the Java and CORBA enterprise standards -- and how CORBA will be the foundation for distributed computing on the Java platform for the future. This Sun-hosted event, which is open to registered members of the press, is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in room 1E05 of the Javits convention center.

"The Java 2 platform is a huge step forward for the Java software community as it provides the foundation--together with CORBA--for a platform-independent architecture for development and deployment of enterprise solutions," said Rick LeFaivre, senior vice president of research and development at Inprise Corporation. "We are really excited about the release of the Java 2 platform and its incorporation into JBuilder and the new Inprise Application Server."

"Inprise recognizes the real business value that the Java platform, particularly the release of the Java 2 platform, holds for the enterprise," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president and general manager of the Java platform at Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java Software. "We are delighted to see Inprise underscore its commitment to the Java platform and to the advancement of Java technology with its JBuilder product family and its new Inprise Application Server."

JBuilder support for the Java 2 platform

JBuilder 2 is the latest version of Inprise Corporation's award-winning family of comprehensive visual development tools for creating business and database enterprise applications that are written entirely in the Java language. Through its unique JDK/Switching, JBuilder 2 customers can now compile and run their applications against any Java Development Kit virtual machine (VM)-- from JDK 1.02 through the Java 2 platform. The next version of JBuilder will be fully hosted on the Java 2 platform.

The Inprise Application Server, also announced this week, supports the Java 2 platform through its integration with a special enterprise version of JBuilder, JBuilder for Application Server. More information on the Inprise Application Server's ability to simplify the development, integration, deployment, and management of platform-independent enterprise applications is available at http://www.inprise.com/appserver/

This week at the JBE event, Inprise also hosted a special technical preview to Sun customers, showing them how future versions of Inprise development tools for Sun's Solaris platform will host and support the Java Development Kit.

About Inprise Corporation

Inprise Corporation is a leading provider of software and services that simplify the complexity of enterprise application development, integration, deployment, and management. The company is distinguished for its award-winning family of rapid application development products and for proven scalable middleware. Inprise integrates these offerings with application-management products to provide customers with end-to-end solutions. Inprise customers include leading enterprises and independent software vendors around the world. Founded in 1983, Inprise is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, and has operations around the world. Inprise has more than 900 employees worldwide. For more information on Inprise, visit http://www.inprise.com.

--------

Inprise product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Inprise Corporation. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of the parties using such names.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java and JDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Note: Forward-looking statements in this release, including but not limited to those concerning Inprise's future financial performance, future market developments, positions in such markets, product-availability dates, and the potential performance, features of or benefits to be derived from the Company's products, involve a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual events or results may differ materially. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include, among others, the following: difficulties in integrating the operations and technology of Visigenic Software or other companies or technologies that the Company may acquire, possible disruptive effects of organizational or personnel changes, shifts in customer demand, market acceptance of the Company's new or enhanced products, delays in scheduled product-availability dates, actions, or announcements by competitors, software errors, general business conditions, and market-development and growth rates in the client/server and Internet-software markets, and other factors described in the Company's SEC reports on forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K.