Sterling Software's Frontware Division unveils new release of broad client/server integration tool; STAR:Flashpoint users benefit through enhanced productivity, performance.

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 1996--Sterling Software, Inc.'s (NYSE:SSW) Frontware Division today announced a new release, Release 3.3, of its STAR:Flashpoint client/server integration tool, formerly known as VISION:Flashpoint.

The new release was developed to give users significant time-saving and ease of use features, therefore, enhancing their productivity and performance. This is the first release from the recently-formed Frontware Division, which was created to provide improved service for STAR:Flashpoint customers, offering them a single location for all product support.

"STAR:Flashpoint is designed to help customers take advantage of their current client/server or host applications and integrate them onto the desktop," said Michael Ciocia, president of the Frontware Division.

Sterling's Frontware Division has added several key features to STAR:Flashpoint with the new release. These features include improved TN3270 support, global panel changes, new panel controls, enhanced table performance and expanded documentation.

One new feature includes improved support for TN3270, a TCP/IP protocol for delivering host screens to the desktop. Session continuity and automated IP address entry are included within the feature.

Another new feature of the release is a global change facility which allows STAR:Flashpoint developers to dramatically reduce application maintenance efforts as they apply mass changes to panel objects and properties throughout an entire application.

"By eliminating much of the effort required to update panels, customers are better able to keep up with changing standards within their organizations as well as standards external to their organizations," said Lisa Campbell, vice president of marketing.

STAR:Flashpoint's support for Windows controls continues to expand. Sterling has added support for two new controls, a multi-line edit box control and an enhanced drop-down combo box control. These new controls further enhance STAR:Flashpoint's ability to better represent host data and produce graphical applications which are easier to use.

The release includes optimized table performance, specifically for panels using list boxes and combo boxes linked to tables. It provides significant speed improvements to STAR:Flashpoint applications, especially where four or more of these controls are used on the same panel.

Beginning with this release, STAR:Flashpoint documentation has been expanded to include three manuals: a self-guiding tutorial, an Advanced Techniques guide, and a Building Graphical User Interface handbook.

Pricing for the developer edition, STAR:Develop, is $9,500. STAR:Play, the deployment component, is priced at $395 per client. The product is currently available.

Sterling Software's Frontware Division provides service and support exclusively for the STAR:Flashpoint product. With its headquarters now in Redwood Shores, Calif., all of the division's marketing, development, customer support and consulting work together as a unified organization dedicated to STAR:Flashpoint customers. STAR:Flashpoint serves as a client/server integration tool, which further solidifies Sterling's marketing leadership position.

Sterling Software, headquartered in Dallas, is a worldwide provider of software products and services for electronic commerce, applications management and systems management, as well as highly technical professional services for the federal government. Sterling Software is one of the 10 largest software companies in the world with 3,600 employees, 75 offices worldwide and an estimated installed base of almost 40,000 customer sites in over 60 countries. -0- NOTE TO EDITORS:

STAR:Flashpoint 3.3 screen shots are available on 35mm slides or on diskette in .bmp or .pcx format.

This press release refers to numerous products by their trade names. In most cases, these designations are claimed as trademarks or registered by their respective companies.

CONTACT: Sterling Software, Inc. 

Lisa Campbell, 415/802-7100

[e-mail]

or

Baron, McDonald & Wells

Donna Faulkner, 770/492-0373

[e-mail]