Object/FX Corporation Offers Internet Access to All Major Sources of Map Data Through Partnership With Global Geomatics Inc.

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 1999--

Java Technology Allows Fully Interactive Access To All Common Sources Of Geographic Information

Object/FX Corp., the leading provider of Java spatial visualization products, today announced a strategic partnership with Global Geomatics, a leader in the development of technology solutions for geographic data access and distribution. Object/FX is integrating Global Geomatics' Open Geospatial Datastore Interface (OGDI) into its suite of Java-based visualization products. OGDI offers unequaled access to dozens of the most common geospatial data formats through a Java interface. The incorporation of OGDI into Object/FX's industry-leading SpatialFX Java Application Server means that common Web browsers can be used to dynamically access unlimited layers of vector and raster map data.

Object/FX's N-Tier SpatialFX Server architecture is used to bring the power of map-based information visualization to industries such as Transportation, Telecommunications, Customer Service, and the Federal Government. These industries use spatial visualization for critical tasks such as monitoring the status of networks, tracking the current locations of vehicles or field crews, analyzing and capturing emerging markets, coordinating defense related activities, and more. Including OGDI as an integrated part of SpatialFX Server means that Object/FX customers can leverage existing sources of map data created by in-house Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or purchased from commercial data vendors.

The SpatialFX Server will use the OGDI Internet transfer protocol to allow instantaneous access to spatial data regardless of the format, projection or platform. Some of the vector formats supported will be ESRI Shapefile, DXF, DWG, VPF, VMAP, and MapInfo MID/MIF. Some of the raster or image formats supported will be ADRG, CADRG, CIB, Landsat, SPOT, CIB, and DOQ. Terrain data in DTED format will also be supported. SpatialFX Server will be able to combine data from these types of geospatial files with spatial data accessed from any of the common relational databases. These multi-source map interfaces will be accessible from a variety of client types including HTML/GIF, thin Java applets with image maps, medium Java applets with layered vector maps, and full-blown Java applications.

Gilles Clement, CEO of Global Geomatics said, "The SpatialFX Server allows a wide variety of map-enhanced applications and/or applets to share common views of geographic data stored in back-end relational databases such as Oracle, Sybase, or SQL Server. The OGDI interface will add direct access to 80% of existing legacy geospatial datasets to the Object/FX visualization suite and to the SpatialFX Server." "Object/FX's products are designed to leverage our customers' existing databases and applications in order to enhance the return on those investments. By integrating OGDI, we will also be able to leverage their investments in data and mapping technology, and even extend them to the Web," said Mark Tudor, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Object/FX. "This compliments the focus we have always had on bringing substantial value to customers through web-enabled applications," he added.

"The OGDI for Java(tm) Client API couples nicely with the SpatialFX Server architecture," said Jim Scott, Vice President of Product Development at Object/FX. "It is a natural extension to our existing Java interfaces for accessing and displaying spatial data. Developers will find increased power and flexibility in our JavaBean components and Java Application Server through the ability to combine and display data from transient sources such as GPS, with file-based data through OGDI, with stored data from relational databases," he added.

About Global Geomatics, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Global Geomatics Inc., (formerly L.A.S., Inc.) develops Web technologies to move the valuable islands of geographic data digitized in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into executive information systems that address the geographic data requirements of business and government. Global Geomatics Inc. is dedicated to providing key software solutions to improve geographic data interoperability. Visit http://www.globalgeo.com for more information.

About Object/FX Corporation

Object/FX was founded in 1993, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Company was created to bring the power of visualization to the daily management of public and private enterprises. The Company markets a family of Java-based, visual application solutions and underlying geographic and spatial visualization component products. Object/FX's primary markets include Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics, Customer Service, Supply Chain Management, HealthCare, and the Federal Government. Sample customers include US West Communications, BellSouth, the United States Department of Defense, Boeing, Federal Express, Lockheed/Sanders, NOAA, Shell Services, TRW, and the United States Postal Service.

Object/FX is a MapInfo Business Partner, an Oracle Business Alliance Partner, a Sybase Code Partner, and is also a member of Microsoft's J/Advantage Program, IBM's Object Connection Program, Netscape's Netscape ONE Component Program, JavaSoft's JavaSelect Program, Borland's Partner Alliance Program, and Symantec's Visual Cafe Coalition. Object/FX is also a member of JavaSoft's Advisory Councils for Java Foundation Classes (JFC) and JavaBeans. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Object/FX is privately held, and its primary investors include Software Consolidations, Inc., St. Paul Venture Capital, T. Rowe Price, and MapInfo Corporation. More information about Object/FX can be found on its web page at http://www.objectfx.com.

Trademarks:

Object/FX, SpatialX, SpatialFX, and SpatialFX Server are trademarks of Object/FX Corporation.