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 --------------------------------- (10/9/97) THE WALL STREET JOURNAL "Informix Software Inc." Informix named Jean-Yves Dexmier, former chief financial officer of Octel Communications Corp., executive vice president and CFO for Informix. Before moving to Octel, Dexmier was also CFO at Thomson Consumer Electronics where he completed a successful turnaround for the consumer electronic company, according to Informix CEO and President Robert Finocchio. Analysts, including James Pickrel of Hambrecht and Quist, said the appointment is a key move for Informix, and that Dexmier is highly qualified. "I really believe we can do something with the company," Dexmier said. "It has two fundamental assets -- the best database software technology around and an installed base" of customers. (10/3/97, pg. B3, staff writer) Additional coverage: COMPUTERWORLD ONLINE "Informix finally names a new CFO" (10/3/97, www.computerworld.com, Clare Haney) DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE "Informix/Dexmier: Was consultant to computer industry" (10/2/97, www.dowjones.com, staff writer) INVESTORS' BUSINESS DAILY "Informix Software appointed" (10/3/97, pg. A1, staff writer) SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Informix hires ex-Octel exec as new CFO" (10/3/97, pg. D1, Kenneth Howe) SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Despite its troubles, Informix still has plenty of believers" Last week, business commentator Herb Greenberg changed his tone about Informix by putting the company in a more positive light. Greenberg highlighted Informix supporters' messages while retracting much of what he had written in previous columns regarding Informix's financial situation. One Informix supporter, Michael Murphy, of the California Technology Stock Letter, said the company is not in financial danger. "You have to distinguish between accounting problems and cash," Murphy said referring to Informix current holdings totaling $140 million. "Companies don't close their doors until they run out of cash." Also touted by Murphy was Informix's Universal Server -- the software is a really "great product," he said. "People who use it love it." (9/30/97, pg. C1, Herb Greenberg) COMPUTERWORLD "IS will risk shaky vendors for right fit" This article looks at information systems shops that are committed to the technology of companies facing temporary financial difficulties. New Informix customer Clark Material Handling Co., which signed its contract in June, is betting on the Informix/Baan combination for its mainframe-based financial and manufacturing systems. Informix was the database vendor of choice because of its strong ties with Baan, according to Jerry Bull, chief information officer at Clark. "We think we'll be taken care of whatever happens," Bull said. (10/6/97, cover, Craig Stedman) INFOWORLD ONLINE "Informix uses object brokers for database management" Informix received coverage for a deal made with partner Visigenic to license its VisiBroker object request broker (ORB). Informix will use Visigenic's ORB technology to provide Web-enabled support for its Windows- or browser-based Enterprise Command Center (IECC) systems management tool. (9/30/97, www.infoworld.com, Paul Krill) Additional coverage: COMPUTERGRAM INTERNATIONAL "Informix sign up for Visigenic's Visibroker ORB" (10/2/97, www.computerwire.com, staff writer) COMPUTERWORLD "Shots" (10/6/97, pg. 8, staff writer) DATABASE PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN "Informix Edge: Emerging standards in data replication" This column explains the primary benefits of using a data replication solution in addition to reviewing the comparative advantages of recent technologies to emerge in this field. Informix's strategy to meet data management needs through the use of log-based data replication is touted as the best and most efficient solution. (10/97, pg. 32, J.D. Hicks) DATABASE PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN "Java-charging the data warehouse" In this article, the issue of using Java with data warehouses is discussed, including using Java applets for reporting and security, Java development for warehouses and the availability of Java APIs. Informix's DataBlade technology is suggested as one alternative to accessing warehouse data using Java applets. DataBlade modules -- which can be developed in a number of languages, including Java -- offer the benefits of a flexible development environment and brings processing closer to the data. (10/97, pg. 58 , Art Taylor) DATABASE PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN "Dialing for Hubris" In this letter from editor David Stodder, the database industry and its vendors are compared in a yearly review after Stodder's visit to the Object/Relational Summit. At the summit, Informix's Michael Stonebraker presented an overview of content management, calling it "a wide-open field ready to explode with hugely profitable applications." Informix is in its early-adoption stage of object-relational technology, said Stonebraker in defense of the new technology. "DataBlades are new software; and as with any new software, DBAs will have to test the heck out of it." Informix's major announcements of the year were also detailed in this article. (10/97, pg. 5, David Stodder) COMPUTERWORLD "The beat goes on" Product development continues at Informix, according to partners building applications on INFORMIX-Universal Server, and Informix is making strides for the software's production uses. Sources are also commenting on upgrades to INFORMIX-OnLine Dynamic Server -- with features that will allow users easy migration to Informix's software from Oracle shops. (10/3/97, pg. 6, staff writer) COMPUTING CANADA "Layoffs at Informix Canada: GM among those let go" In an effort to improve financial performance and recover from accounting errors, Informix offered severance packages to 48 percent of its Canadian business workforce -- mostly sales and marketing departments -- in addition to its President and General Manager David Outhwaite. The move is in line with Informix CEO and President Robert Finocchio's worldwide streamlining initiatives, said Don Jackson, Canada's new country manager. "We're doing a lot of creative and flexible things to make sure we can control costs yet continue the growth path we're on." Analysts in Canada agree that this was the correct move for Informix. (9/29/97, www.dowjones.com, Kathleen Sibley) SAN JOSE AND SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL "Financially strained Informix looking to dump some land" Informix is said to be looking at prospective buyers, including Intel Corp., to purchase the company's 24-acre tract in Santa Clara, Calif. purchased in January. A 13-acre portion of the land is reportedly in escrow to Intel, whose headquarters are nearby. The asking price is $65 per square foot of buildable space