WebMaster Announces First IRC Server Software for Windows NT-based Intranets; ConferenceRoom for Windows NT Available at $249 Per Server; Fully Supports Web and Intranet Applications Through International Standards, Plus Multimedia Functionality, OLE, Java, and Web Browser Support.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1996--WebMaster, Inc. today announced availability of ConferenceRoom, the first low-cost, high-performance Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server software for Microsoft Windows NT.

ConferenceRoom is the first IRC solution built from the ground up to exploit the easy administration and superior price/performance of NT.

Designed for both intranet and World Wide Web applications, ConferenceRoom is priced to allow the widespread use of IRC -- the software is available at $249 per server, with full technical support and manuals.

For multiple-platform intranets, ConferenceRoom seamlessly communicates with UNIX and VMS IRC Servers -- the only Windows NT IRC software with this capability. It also works with the major public IRC networks--DALnet, EFnet, and Undernet.

ConferenceRoom is fully integrated with the World Wide Web, adding IRC server function to products such as Microsoft's Internet Information Server and Netscape's line of NT-based servers. Another feature allows browsers from Netscape, Microsoft, and others to become Chat clients. The software also provides a unique configuration utility which allows administration of the IRC server from any secure web browser.

Collaborative Computing and Multimedia Support:

ConferenceRoom allows for enterprise-wide collaborative computing through IRC, using an established, platform-independent networking standard (RFC 1459). ConferenceRoom can launch any MIME-compliant document to all members of an IRC channel. Supported document types include:

-- HTML (Web) pages

-- Adobe Acrobat PDF

-- Microsoft Word

-- Microsoft Excel

-- Microsoft PowerPoint

ConferenceRoom's ease of use -- combined with multiple platform support and low cost -- enable new business applications for IRC, including: -0-

    -- Customer management and support
    -- Inexpensive global teleconferencing
    -- Virtual staff meetings, with handouts of electronic
       documents
    -- Collaborative Research
    -- On-line Training-0- Quotes:

"WebMasters ConferenceRoom for Windows NT is an ideal solution for introducing and implementing IRC applications and solutions for both commercial internet and intranet environments," said Joel Diamond, Internet Services Director for the WUGNET (Windows Users Group Network). WUGNET is the largest independent online provider of information, news and resources supporting the Microsoft Windows platform. "WUGNET will be shortly standardizing our organization's real time communications between its staff, content partners and worldwide membership shortly with ConferenceRoom. We believe that WebMaster have created a winning product for NT-based enterprises."

"WebMaster wrote the first IRC server for Windows NT because we believe NT is the preferred environment for deploying corporate Intranets," said Kevin Conklin, vice president of Sales for WebMaster, Inc. "The Windows interface is universally familiar to the line-of-business professionals we are targeting, and allows them to manage their network servers as easily as their desktop PCs."

Technical Information:

IRC Compatibility:

Any IRC Client complying with RFC 1459, regardless of hard ware platform or operating system. These include:

-- mIRC and wsIRC for Windows and DOS.

-- Homer and IRC1e for Apple Macintosh

-- RXIRX for VM

-- IRCII 2.7.x, 2.8.x for UNIX

Supports multimedia clients, including:

-- Voice over IRC

-- Video over IRC

Web Browser Compatibility:

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0 and above (when available). Ships with OCX/OLE Plug-In, allowing Explorer to be an IRC Client.

Netscape's Navigator 2.0 and above. Ships with Java client, allowing Navigator to function as an IRC Client with smooth scrolling functionality.

Availability:

ConferenceRoom for Intel and MIPS CPUs will be available in April. Alpha AXP and PowerPC versions are expected by mid-year. ConferenceRoom will also soon be available as an ISAPI Plug-In for Microsoft's Internet Information Server.

A reduced-function version will be available for trial download from WebMaster's home page (http://www.webmaster.com), and will be priced at $99.

Company Information:

WebMaster Inc. is a technical marketing and publishing company headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with a large Internet-related presence. WebMaster Inc. is the online publisher for Intervista Software Inc.'s WorldView 3D Web Browser and also has strategic marketing relationships with NEC and Scientific-Atlanta for internet server and settop terminal software.

WebMaster also has strategic relationships with other 3D and internet-oriented vendors to ensure seamless compatibility between these complimentary products and WebMaster-supported software. -0-

Note to Editors: All trademarks and registered trademarks previously cited are the property of their respective owners and are hereby recognized.

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Jonathan Hirshon, 408/982-2555 or 408/832-6676 (mobile)

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