SurfControl's MultiView Group Forms Catalyst Consortium for Legacy Application Vendors; Open API Makes it Easy to Connect Legacy Applications to the Web.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000

SurfControl, Inc. (formerly named JSB Corp.) a leader in Internet productivity and management solutions, today announced the formation of the Catalyst Consortium by the company's MultiView Group. Using the Web browser as the common denominator, the focus of the consortium is to provide an open standard for software vendors and system integrators who are wanting to connect legacy, character-based business systems to the Web. A key technology for members with traditional emulation applications is the availability of an open application programming interface (API), which was developed by the MultiView Group. This API eliminates much of the programming previously required to connect legacy applications to the Web, enabling developers to expand their market reach and extend the usage of their current solutions.

The MultiView API is available for free to all members of the Catalyst Consortium and provides a standardized, easy-to-use and zero-administration interface that makes it easy to offer Web-based access for UNIX applications. Also, with minimal development, the API can connect existing legacy applications to MultiView Catalyst software (see www.multiviewgroup.com for product information) for a complete Web-to-host solution that includes capabilities such as application face-lifting, centralized management and security, simple session management and concurrent licensing.

"We were seeing many of the legacy application vendors throw in the towel after not being able to afford to reinvent the wheel and jump aboard the Web-to-host bandwagon," said Kevin Jones, chief developer for MultiView Group. "This gave us the idea to open up the MultiView Catalyst code and create an API that developers could use for free to easily connect their existing legacy applications to the Web."

Several vendors have joined the Catalyst Consortium and plan to use the Catalyst API standard for ongoing or future Web-to-host connectivity projects. Some of the initial members include BJ Murray, Continental General, Integrated Modular Systems, Jenark and Shaker Computer.

As a member of the consortium, Glenn Murray, CEO of BJ Murray Property Management Computer Systems (www.bjmurray.com), is currently working with the Catalyst API and SurfControl's MultiView Catalyst software in order to make his software applications easily available to property management offices all over the country.

"The Catalyst API and the MultiView Catalyst software will let me publish my UNIX-based property management application without the traditional roadblocks you get with pure Java code," explained Mr. Murray. "The only assumption here is that my customers have a browser. The rest of the process is automatic for system administrators and it is transparent to the user. This kind of technology is key to any company wanting to become an ASP."

Another member of the consortium, John Mazur of Integrated Modular Systems, recently turned to MultiView Catalyst for a Web application used by physicians of the University of Pennsylvania for accessing medical data. Mazur reported, "In just a few weeks we were able to take a UNIX-based application and give it a Web-friendly user interface and make it accessible to 2,000 Web users."

Through the consortium, the MultiView Group plans to further enhance the capabilities of the Catalyst API in order to continue to provide members with the fastest and easiest way to leverage legacy applications for the Web. Members of the Catalyst Consortium are encouraged to provide input on future development and direction of the API. Publishers of character-based applications and connectivity solution providers are invited to apply for membership. For information on how to join the Catalyst Consortium, please contact Andreas Mueller with MultiView Group, SurfControl, Inc. at 831/431-1374 or via email: [e-mail].

About SurfControl

Founded in 1981, SurfControl (formerly named JSB) is a recognized leader in Internet productivity and management solutions. The company has offices in the U.S. and Europe and distributors throughout the world, supporting a customer base of over half a million users. Products for SurfControl are sold worldwide through a network of distributors, VARs and OEMs. Its North American operations are based in Scotts Valley, and its European headquarters are located in Congleton, near Manchester in the UK. SurfControl plc (London:SRF / EASDAQ:SRFS) is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and the European EASDAQ Market. For more information on MultiView Group and SurfControl, please visit the Web sites at www.multiviewgroup.com and www.surfcontrol.com or call 831/431-1600.

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