abaXX Introduces New Low-Cost Portal Software; abaXX elements for JBoss Open Source Application Server Cuts Costs By 90 Percent.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2003

abaXX Technology, Inc., a leading provider of J2EE-based portal software, today announced availability of abaXX elements, a new, low-cost software application for the development of web portals that tightly integrates with the Java-based, open source JBoss application server. The combined solution offers small- and medium-sized businesses an extremely high-performing, cost-effective portal solution. abaXX makes the software freely available for download to developers at http://www.abaXXelements.com/.

This portal development environment enables software and system houses as well as medium-sized companies and individual departments in large companies to develop application portals with low cost and labor involvement. Universities, colleges, and other educational facilities can obtain a non-commercial license for free. Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Schafer said abaXX elements offers all of the functions that are needed for the development of a small portal.

The latest offering is significant throughout the industry because abaXX elements seamlessly integrates with JBoss, which achieved more than 2 million downloads in 2002 alone, making it the world's leading Java-based, open source application server. The JBoss Group and abaXX have entered into an extensive strategic partnership for this purpose. With the integration of abaXX elements and the JBoss application server, the market now has access to an extremely cost-effective alternative to IBM (Websphere), Sun (Sun Application Server), and BEA (BEA Application Server).

"The open source wave has taken J2EE application servers by storm. Combining JBoss with with abaXX elements means that for the first time a complete solution is available that covers all levels and is up to 90 percent less expensive compared with products from IBM, Sun, and BEA that currently dominate the market. IBM, Sun, and BEA's worst nightmare is coming true," said Schafer.

Individually, abaXX elements consists of four elements: the Portal Builder toolkit, the Vanilla frame application, the Parts Gallery, and the Paragon web application framework. The Portal Builder is a toolkit for the interactive development and administration of portals. The portal is presented in an Explorer view. New desks and portlets can be created and existing portlets can be simply added from the supplied gallery.

The Vanilla frame application is a basic portal that serves as a starting point for developing an individual portal. The developer gets a prefabricated portal including directory and page layout, style sheets, Web applications, and an application structure. This allows the developer to immediately concentrate on the necessary portlets without first having to spend a lot of time configuring a system environment.

Predesigned portlets for abaXX elements such as menus, login, and content selectors and an easy-to-modify application skeleton ensure that user interfaces can be developed quickly. Layout and design can be easily adapted. The graphic presentation is accomplished using JSPs. High-level JSP tags represent ready-to-use front-end widgets such as sortable lists, tree views, and formattable forms.

About abaXX Technology, Inc.

abaXX Technology, Inc., based in Washington, D.C., is a division of abaXX Technology AG. abaXX develops and markets an innovative family of products that enable companies to electronically personalize individual customer and partner processes. The company's J2EE-based products combine extensive, ready-to-use portal, consulting and relationship management functionality with support for company-specific processes. abaXX customers include Credit Suisse, DGZ DekaBank, Dresdener Bank, HypoVereinsbank, LBBW, the Bank of Ireland, BertelsmannSpringer, PlanetHome, Payback, TLC (GermanRailway) and Finland Post. Additional information is available at www.abaxx.com/elements. In consulting and in the realization of solutions, abaXX works closely with notable partners like Accenture, CSC Ploenzke, IBM, Oracle, Siemens, and Sun.

About JBoss Group

JBoss is an open source, standards-compliant, Java-based application server implemented in Java. With an average of 250,000 downloads per month, JBoss is the most downloaded Java-based application server in the industry. JBoss can be embedded in commercial products and is being used in production around the world. JBoss Group LLC is an Atlanta-based professional services company, created by Marc Fleury, founder and lead developer of the JBoss application server. JBoss Group brings together core JBoss developers to provide services such as training, support, consulting and documentation, as well as management of the JBoss software affiliates program. These commercial activities subsidize the development of the free JBoss server. For more information please see www.jboss.org.

JBoss is a registered trademark of Marc Fleury. Java and J2EE are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the United States and other countries. abaXX is a registered trademark of abaXX Technology in the United States and other countries.