PRESS: INFORMIX'S ILLUSTRA DATABASE POWERS ACADEMY AWARDS WEB

INFORMIX'S ILLUSTRA DATABASE POWERS ACADEMY AWARDS WEB SITE WITH INTERACTIVE GUIDE TO OSCAR-WINNING FILMS AND STARS Illustra Technology Enables Customers To Develop Dynamic, Next-generation Web Applications Using Images, Sound, Text and Video Virtualize Taps Into New Business Opportunities on the Web with Informix's Illustra Rich Content-Management Software MENLO PARK, Calif., (March 19, 1996) -- Informix Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:IFMX), the leader in parallel processing database technology, today announced the selection and implementation of Informix's Illustra database software for "The Envelope Please," the official interactive guide to the Academy Awards World Wide Web site. The Web site, developed by Informix customer Virtualize, allows movie buffs around the world to access information from the Academy Awards dating from 1927, using market-leading, rich content management database software developed by Illustra Information Technologies, Inc., a company acquired by Informix in February 1996. Informix's complex data-management database software from Illustra all ows on-line developers, such as Virtualize, to create new-age, World-Wide Web applications, expanding the kind of information and business opportunities available on the Web today. Using Illustra technology, developers now have the ability to dynamically create pages, through which users can query content-rich information. "The Internet is fueling the demand to manage and query new kinds of information, in a new, more interactive, flexible and personal way,=94 said Dick Williams, Illustra's president. "The Envelope Please Web site is an excellent example of how the Illustra technology can be applied to manage new data types, providing people across the world with access to previously untapped information in a compelling, interactive experience." "The Envelope Please," (http://oscars.guide.com) features 1995's Oscar nominees by category, number and picture; the history of the Academy Awards, dating from 1927; an Oscar contest; a calendar of live events and interviews; a behind-the-scenes page; special features; and daily updates. The site was launched concurrently with the 1995 Academy Awards nominee list this February. Since then, it has received over 1.7 million hits. The Web site project began over a year-and-a-half ago, just after the commercial release of the Illustra extensible database software. Today, "The Envelope Please," is powered by an Illustra database, running on three Intergraph Interserve machines with WindowsNT and Microsoft's Internet Information Server. "Early into the project, we realized the need for a database with the ability to handle not just text, but visuals, audio, stills, clips and the ability to access that information quickly," said Dave Mangone, executive producer of The Envelope Please Web site. "Informix's Illustra technology allows us to manage that kind of information easily, while allowing users to ask for specific information in the order and of the type that they want." Building New Opportunities on the Internet The ability to provide new kinds of information via the Internet is sparking new business opportunities. Informix recognized that businesses want to expand their existing, flat-file Web pages into a more dynamic, rich source of information -- one which may generate incremental revenue. Virtualize, for example, is using Web-page sponsorships and advertising to increase its bottom line, and plans to develop a subscription service to allow users to access historical Academy Awards information. About the Academy Awards Each year, a billion people, about a fifth of the world's population, watch the Academy Awards television broadcast. This year's Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements will be presented March 25, televised live by the ABC Television Network starting at 6 p.m. (PST). Information about the 68th Academy Awards presentation is available via the World Wide Web at http://oscars.guide.com. About Virtualize Virtualize is a multimedia publishing company that develops and produces interactive concepts and programming; consumer entertainment and edutainment titles; advertiser-driven programming; on-line content; point-of-purchase and kiosk campaigns; and other interactive presentations. Located in Santa Monica, California, Virtualize offers full-service digital production and post-production. About Informix Informix Software, Inc., is the leading supplier of high performance, parallel processing database technology for open systems. Informix products also include application development tools for creating client/server production applications, decision support systems, and ad-hoc query interfaces, and connectivity software that allows information to be shared transparently from PCs to mainframes within the corporate computing environment. Informix's corporate headquarters is based in Menlo Park, California. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide California. More information about Informix is available via the World Wide Web: http://www.informix.com. ### INFORMIX is a trademark of Informix Software, Inc. All other company or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Academy Award(s) and Oscar(s) are registered trademarks and service marks of A.M.P.A.S. A.M.P.A.S.=94 is a copyrighted and registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.