STARNET ANNOUNCES DESKTOP-X FOR 'MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVICES FOR UNIX 3.0'.

Powerful X11 Server Complements New Interoperability Suite

StarNet Communications Corp., a leading publisher of PC X server software announced Desktop-X, a powerful X11 PC X server that compliments Microsoft Corporation's recently released Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.0 (SFU 3.0)

Windows Services for UNIX is Microsoft's latest suite of platform interoperability solutions, including Telnet, NFS, and NIS Administration. SFU 3.0 also includes, for the first time, the UNIX-based UNIX-like Interix subsystem for Windows NT, 2000 and XP Professional. Version 3 of Interix allows publishers of UNIX and Linux applications to easily port their applications to the Interix subsystem so they can run on the local Windows computer.

X Windows-based applications require an X11 server to interface with the Windows graphical desktop user interface. StarNet's Desktop-X offers a low-cost X server for publishers looking to market X applications in the Windows market. Desktop-X is based on StarNet's X-Win32, one of the industry's top-rated PC X servers.

"Taking advantage of the processing capabilities of today's high-performance PCs, running an X application on the Windows machine vastly boosts performance when compared to accessing the application on a remote host over a network," said Steven Schoch, StarNet's Chief Executive Officer. "Microsoft's Windows Services for UNIX represents a tremendous opportunity for publishers to market their products to the vast market of Windows computer users. In turn, Services for UNIX represents a milestone for the X server market. The affordability of both SFU 3.0 and our X server, removes a key obstacle to opening broad market opportunities for UNIX applications including many of the most advanced UNIX-based CAD and CAE applications."

Desktop-X will be available for OEM and other customers starting July 1 from StarNet. Desktop-X lists at $99.00 for the standard edition and $129.00 for an edition that includes support for OpenGL-based X applications. Volume discounts are available on request.

Desktop-X is a fully functional X11 server based on the latest version of StarNet's X-Win32 PC X server. Besides providing the Windows display interface for X applications running under the Interix subsystem, users can also configure the X server to access software running on remote UNIX and Linux hosts. Users can also connect to multiple UNIX and Linux desktops at the same time with a Multiple XDMCP Sessions feature. Another key productivity feature allows users to create desktop icon shortcuts to various sessions with a single click.

Located in Silicon Valley, StarNet develops and markets PC X server software for networked PCs in multi-platform corporate, educational and government organizations. StarNet's line of X-Win32 PC X server products offer cost-effective X terminal emulation on networked Windows-based PCs and workstations. StarNet was founded in 1989 and became one of the first companies to build its marketing and sales operations around the Internet.