PRESS: Informix in the News

List of Informix related articles. Format: PUBLICATION "Article Name" Summary of Article [Date, Location in Publication, Author] INFORMIX HEADLINE NEWS FLASH 11/11/96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMPUTERWORLD "Informix to meld database to Web" This week, Informix will announce development tools and middleware for building dynamic Web applications that hook into its databases. According to industry sources, the architecture includes lightweight middleware -- code-named WebSmart Connect -- that resides on a Web server and connects users directly to an Informix database. Users such as Choice Hotels said the planned tools sound like a promising way to ease the strain of building heavy-duty Internet or intranet applications that rely on back-end databases to rebuild Web pages on the fly. Informix is expected to announce plans for Java-based tools and services, plus support for developing ActiveX clients. (11/11/96, cover, Craig Stedman) Additional coverage: COMPUTERWORLD ON-LINE "Informix preps Web development tools" (11/8/96, on-line, Craig Stedman) C/NET "Informix spins new Web plan" Informix today announced a strategy to simplify the creating and hosting of Web sites on its database software. Informix rolled out several new products and partnerships with tool vendors under an umbrella initiative named "Informix Universal Web Architecture." The architecture will allow users to store all Web site elements including HTML pages, Java applets and graphics components, with support for Java. Informix introduced a new development tool, called JWorks, for writing Java applications. (11/11/96, on-line, Mike Ricciuti) COMPUTER RESELLER NEWS "Informix, channel at odds over support" Informix is ending its program allowing distributors to provide database service and support to VARs, after several complaints from its resellers. "I think we got too aggressive in thinking they [VARs] would understand our product," noted Phil White, president and CEO of Informix. "We want to come back and give them a better level of training." Informix will work to provide more direct training and sales support to VARs, including "supercenters" that will be set up around the country where VARs can demonstrate and test solutions to show to customers with the help of Informix specialists. (11/11/96, cover, Pedro Pereira and Shawn Willett) COMPUTER RESELLER NEWS "Informix, VARs defend DataBlades" Responding to charges that DataBlade technology is unsafe, Informix said it has a three-point program to ensure that add-ons do not crash or corrupt a database. Informix will certify all DataBlades from third-parties, will make available options to have the DataBlades run on the client or on middleware, and will work with Unix operating system vendors on a technology called "fence threads," which prevents a faulty thread or operation from running into another operation. Analysts and other database experts backed up Informix, saying the accusations, mainly by Oracle officials, are mostly unfounded. Analysts said Oracle was just creating uncertainty about DataBlades because its own Oracle8 Universal Server is not due until mid-1997. (11/11/96, pg. 10, Shawn Willett) PC WEEK ON-LINE "Informix chief cuts through database strategy" Phil White discusses the upcoming Universal Server, DataBlades, object relational data and Oracle. Regarding the Universal Server, White notes that Informix has shipped beta to 20-plus customers and plans to double the number sometime in November. White is confident that Informix has the technological lead and opportunity, and many competitors will have to rearchitect to catch up. (11/8/96, on-line, staff writers) Additional coverage: PC WEEK "Informix chief cuts through database strategy" (11/11/96, cover, staff writers) COMPUTERWORLD ON-LINE "Interview with Phil White" In an on-line audio interview with Informix Chairman Phil White, he discusses next-generation databases, how objects will extend with current applications and network computers. White also notes that Informix is the only pure database company left in the industry, and he plans to keep it that way. To listen to the interview, visit the "Contents" section at COMPUTERWORLD's Web site at http://www.computerworld.com. (11/7/96, on-line, staff writers) PC WEEK ON-LINE "Informix to show off Universal Server at DBExpo" Informix's Universal Server will be demonstrated at DBExpo in New York on December 3. Between 50 and 100 DataBlades will also go into general availability on December 3, and company officials expect developers to write their own DataBlades as well. (11/5/96, on-line, Maria Seminerio) INFOWORLD "Universal Server technology" In this editorial, author Pete Ferreira compares Oracle's and Informix's Universal Server, stating that Informix's is a true ORDBMS, due to the addition of Illustra DataBlades. Ferreira notes the biggest issue for Web developers is the performance of their sites, and he can't see how Oracle can compete with Informix because the Oracle Universal Server is several magnitudes slower than Informix's. He also states, "Informix's DataBlades integrate with SQL in ways that are impossible with Oracle's Universal Server, allowing developers to develop a simpler and more elegant solution with Informix." (11/11/96, pg. 60, Pete Ferreira) INFORMATIONWEEK "Quote of the week" Phil White is quoted in this week's edition of InformationWeek: "An NC is simply a failed video-on-demand set-top box." (11/11/96, pg. 10, John Foley) COMPUTERGRAM INTERNATIONAL "Tandem, Informix, Sly, Arnie, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore go on-line" Tandem computers has set up a new company with Informix Corp. and the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood. The new company, Planet Hollywood On-line Inc., will look at the distribution of Hollywood-style high-value content such as movies and music, over the Internet. Details on the Hollywood-style Web site are still under wraps. The company will also be used to further expand the merchandizing side of the business. (11/1/96, pg. 3, staff writer) C/NET "Informix heralds a New Era" Informix plans to release a new modular development toolkit early next year for building Web and client/server applications. The idea behind the components strategy is to let developers mix and match tools that perform specific functions. The component toolkit will be delivered as a point upgrade to New Era 3.0., which will also work with the company's upcoming Universal Server. "People are not willing to pay much for tools anymore, so if we can componentize our tools, we may see an uptick," said Phil White. Furthermore, the component version will consist of a single development environment with optional components for building Java, fourth-generation language and Web client applications, along with other undisclosed components. (11/6/96, on-line, Mike Ricciuti) DATA MANAGEMENT REVIEW "Informix E