PRESS: Informix in the News

List of Informix related articles. Format: PUBLICATION "Article Name" Summary of Article [Date, Location in Publication, Author] Informix in the News --------------------------------- (09/23/97) INTERNETWEEK "HP debuts Web servers for NT, Unix" Monday, Informix and Hewlett-Packard announced shipment of HP Domain, a new Web-server package for the NT and Unix operating environments. The package features a quartet of integrated server options, in addition to software including INFORMIX-Universal Server featuring the Web DataBlade. HP Domain serves as a single source to companies that are investigating Web services. "HP Domain is a very focused package for Web publishing," said Mark Hudson, Internet marketing manager at HP's enterprise systems division. "It has been integrated, pretuned and offers low risk and reliable implementation." The product has four packages managed via HP's OpenView browser-based interface. Domain XE intelligent Web Server featuring Informix software, is priced at $140,000 for an unlimited user configuration. (9/22/97, pg. 8, Chuck Moozakis) Additional coverage: DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE "Hewlett-Packard/Excalibur-2: Server integrates Informix Pdts" (9/22/97, www.dowjones.com, staff writer) INFORMATIONWEEK "Now it's war" This articles discusses how the recent influx of competition in the database market will affect the end user -- ultimately there will be more choices and lower prices. The author predicts that more database vendors will also look for ways to differentiate their products. Informix is competing with new packaging deals including a deal to run one of Virage Inc.'s media management system on INFORMIX-Universal Server. In addition, Informix and Hewlett-Packard are expected to announce the bundling of INFORMIX-Universal Server with HP's Domain XE Web server later this week. IBM's and Sybase's latest weaponry includes their respective universal databases released last week, while Microsoft is touting its Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise edition that includes SQL Server 6.5. Each of these database companies hopes its new offerings will help it outflank the competition, said Betsy Burton an analyst at the Gartner Group; however, "It's going to be a hot and serious war." (9/22/97, pg. 14, John Foley) COMPUTER BUSINESS REVIEW "Informix's marathon struggle for survival" This article outlines Informix's current position in the database market and the challenges the company must overcome in order to regain its momentum. Informix CEO and President Robert Finocchio is postured to redirect the company from continuing on a downward path. Finocchio has since restructured his management team, identified where difficulties first began and started executing on a strategic plan to return the company to previous levels of financial performance. (9/97, pg. 39, staff writer) ENT "Informix outlines NT strategy" Informix continues to gain coverage on its Windows NT strategy, which has been frequently identified as an opportunity for the company to gain a significant market share in larger mission-critical NT implementations. Informix expects to become a leader by implementing NT in four solution categories: data warehousing, OLTP, branch automation and Web-based content management. Agreements with software vendors and channel partners will be integral in giving Informix an advantage over its competitors. (9/10/97, pg. 40, Michelle Rosen) Additional coverage: WINDOWS WATCHER "Battered by losses, Informix crafts NT strategy" (9/12/97, pg. 19, Dwight Davis) INTERNETWEEK "Keeping up with backup" Informix partner, Legato Systems, Inc., is now shipping NetWorker Business Suite Module for Informix databases running on Windows NT. The module interfaces with Informix's OnLine Backup and Restore facility to provide high-speed backup and restore functions. The product is priced at $1,000 per server. (9/22/97, pg. 31, staff writer) VARBUSINESS "Facing the millennium" In this special issue, VARBUSINESS selected the top 500 companies that use IT to improve business decisions. Several retail companies were profiled in this article including Informix customer, Sears, Roebuck and Co. The article identifies trends that have evolved in the industry: Year 2000 planning, heavy investment in Unix-based systems for data warehousing, Web-based inventory databases for replenishment cycles, and use of the Internet and portable data terminals for employee productivity. In addition to addressing the Year 2000 issue, Sears is using data warehousing to make a significant impact on the company's market performance. Informix customers K-Mart Corp., Penn Traffic Co., and Wal-Mart also made the top 500 list. (9/15/97, pg. 258, Mary Hayes) HEALTH DATA MANAGEMENT "Data management briefs" Informix and Lawson Software have partnered to include INFORMIX-OnLine Dynamic Server in Lawson's Insight family of products, which support financial, human resources, procurement and supply chain management business processes. (9/19/97, www.dowjones.com, staff writer) DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE "Informix restatement" Monday, Informix announced that it will likely double the amount of its restated 1996 financial results and expand its audit to 1995 due to errors and irregularities discovered in previous years' financial reports. Informix stock dropped 30 percent from 9-7/16 to 6-1/2 Monday afternoon. Informix first discovered accounting problems when figuring 1997 second-quarter restructuring charges -- the company booked approximately 40 shipments to resellers as sales. "Informix has a good product, but right now the market is a bit soft in general, and the [restatement] situation is making it tough on the sales force," said James Pickrel, an analyst at Hambrecht & Quist, Inc. In a statement issued Monday, Informix CEO and President Robert Finocchio said the company wants to keep the shareholder, customer and employee constituencies informed. "I, more than anyone, want to complete the restatement process as quickly as possible, but it's important that we do it right," Finocchio said. Informix is also requesting a hearing from NASDAQ, which has initiated stock de-listing procedures as a result of the company's delay in filing its second-quarter report. (9/22/97, www.dowjones.com, staff writer) Additional coverage: DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE "Informix restatement" (9/22/97, www.dowjones.com, staff writer) C/NET "Informix audit spurs stock plunge" (9/22/97, www.news.com, Suzanne Galante) PC WEEK ONLINE "Informix losses will widen" (9/22/97, www.pcweek.com, Tom Schmidt) TECHWIRE "Expanded audit deepens Informix losses" (9/22/97, www.techwire.com, Kora McNaughton)