Radiant Logic Introduces RadiantOne: LDAP & XML Based Virtual Directory Server Unlocks Back End Data for E-business.

PALM DESERT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1999--

Radiant Logic Inc., of Novato, California today introduced RadiantOne, a Virtual Directory Server (VDS) based on LDAP, XML and SQL technology.

A new addition to the directory world, a Virtual Directory provides an up to date "directory view" to multiple database sources, without requiring complex synchronization. The concept is simple: a virtual directory looks like a regular LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server, but it doesn't store data, it stores addresses of data records. When it receives a request, it reformats and reroutes the query to the relevant database, returning the data to the person or application that requested it. This simple, but powerful concept is based on directory-driven universal addresses for data records that can be accessed by people and applications across the Web. The RadiantOne VDS has been designed to serve companies that are deploying enterprise directories as well as companies that want to use directories for e-commerce application development.

"On the Web you cannot afford the luxury of having a fragmented view of your customer or partner information. You cannot have the excuse of application boundaries, differences in databases or in operating system platforms," said Michel Prompt, CEO of Radiant Logic. "You need a simple, uniform and efficient way to access interactively and programmatically source data, without changing your existing proven processes. And you need to share that access with many constituencies such as customers, partners, and employees who demand a solution based on standards. We believe the RadiantOne matches these key features. It is an essential piece in any enterprise-level directory, acting as a standards-based LDAP/XML hub to a variety of data sources. RadiantOne is also a strategic building block in any market based 'exchange' which is the heart of Business-to-Business e-commerce."

For e-commerce, instead of building each Web application by navigating the unique internal organization of each database structure, and then re-doing that process every time an application is developed or changed, the RadiantOne product enables data from one or more heterogeneous databases to be easily added to Web applications. The RadiantOne product, with its universal data addressing technology, serves as a hub for data views that all applications can use. The data addresses are presented in a standard LDAP directory format, which eliminates the need to understand the organization of the databases being read. In addition, the flexibility of RadiantOne's point and click ViewDesigner allows new or different data views to be added to the hub without expensive programming resources. The actual data from the directory can be returned to users or applications in XML, LDAP or SQL format.

"As an innovative provider of intelligent messaging, our Telco customers need to aggregate and synchronize many complex message stores, address books, etc. We are using LDAP as a unifying protocol for different e-mail directories. So, we are very excited to use the same protocol through the RadiantOne VDS, which will give our customers access to their most critical databases. This simplifies an otherwise overwhelmingly complex integration effort," said Kayvan Alikhani, Chief Technology Officer of MagnetPoint, a Radiant Logic beta customer.

Using RadiantOne for enterprise directories will help companies solve the problems of limited, inflexible, content-poor enterprise LDAP directories. One of the biggest more challenges for enterprise directory architects is the inflexible and static nature of LDAP namespace and schema design. RadiantOne solves this problem with its ability to quickly change the structure and the contents of the directory through its easy to use point and click ViewDesigner application. In addition, in today's e-business environment, enterprises need a central, authoritative source for critical information about employees, customers, products, etc. RadiantOne allows directory managers to include nearly any type of structured data into their corporate directory, and to access it from nearly any type of interface -- Web browser, Microsoft Windows, PDA, mobile phone, etc. The database views, or IRLs, are actually LDAP objects (distinguished names) that can be added to the enterprise directory. The flexibility of the RadiantOne product with its point and click ViewDesigner allows administrators to add, change or modify their directory content or structure in minutes rather than weeks.

Standards, Security, Scalability, Performance

As in any enterprise-class Web solution, standards, security, scalability and performance are critical. Radiant Logic's adherence to industry standards and industrial strength building blocks has created a solution that meets the rigors of an E-business economy.

The RadiantOne architecture represents a breakthrough based upon a combination of industry standards, including LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and SQL (Structured Query Language). The product is fully compliant with LDAP Version 3.0 and has been built upon the Netscape Directory Server 4.0. The RadiantOne engine is fully integrated with Microsoft Site Server and Active Directory, offering roles-based security and open links to higher level security offerings. Future releases of the product will be offered on Unix and other leading platforms.

RadiantOne Virtual Directory Server's performance characteristics are on par with enterprise database systems. Adherence to the LDAP protocol also provides for a high-performance distributed topology. As the needs of the enterprise grow, multiple RadiantOne servers can be added to improve performance and scalability.

Pricing and Availability

RadiantOne will be available from the company and through leading System Integrators and OEMs beginning in January 2000. Pricing for the first VDS server, which includes a RadiantOne ViewDesigner development workstation, is $50,000.

About Radiant Logic

Radiant Logic, Inc., is the leading developer of software platforms that remove the technical barriers between employees, partners or customers and key operational information. RLI is the first company to introduce a universal Internet addressing method for database information. Based on industry standards, the RLI Virtual Directory Server architecture enables database views and records spanning multiple files and applications to be uniformly searched, browsed and reused across sites on the Internet. Radiant Logic is a venture capital-backed start-up based in Novato, California.