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 --------------------------------- (1/15/97) PC WEEK ONLINE "Users say Informix's DataBlades make the cut" Several INFORMIX-Universal Server beta customers are pleased with the product, including GDE Systems, Inc., GE Information Services and SABRE Decision Technologies. "So far so good," said Bruce Chovnick of GE Information Services. "We were surprised about how well it installed, without a flaw and very quickly ... we're quite pleased with what we've seen." INFORMIX-Universal Server has also made a good impression with Nancy Mlynek of GDE Systems. "We've been very happy with how stable the Universal Server has been and with everything we've seen so far." Steve Clampett of SABRE Decision Technologies noted, "We've been very impressed with the Universal Server and the DataBlade concept." (1/10/97, online, Juan Perez) COMPUTERWORLD "Baan embeds Informix database" The Baan Co. plans to embed Informix's OnLine Workgroup Server (WGS) and OnLine Dynamic Server (ODS) in its Baan IV enterprise applications package, becoming the default database for Baan IV customers in a Unix environment. "This is equivalent to buying a self-contained IBM AS/400," notes Bruce Richardson, an analyst with Advanced Manufacturing Research, Inc. "The idea is the database and applications are all going to look like one." Although WGS will be free, Baan is charging an upgrade fee for customers that need ODS. (1/13/97, pg. 12, Randy Weston) INFOWORLD "Informix drives for database dominance" Many analysts are saying Informix has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments last year that position the company well for the future. With annual revenues of $714 million in 1995 and a 50 percent growth in database revenues for the third quarter of 1996, Informix believes its fast growth toward beating out number one Oracle will continue. Even rival Sybase acknowledges Informix has momentum with its database products. "We stumbled and allowed Informix to become the performance leader," said Mitchell Kertzman, president and CEO at Sybase. (1/6/97, pg. 29, Paul Krill) COMPUTING CANADA "Informix jumps to the front with Universal Server" Informix has sent its competition scrambling by delivering on a promise to ship its INFORMIX-Universal Server by the end of 1996. Herb Edelstein, president of Two Crows Corp., said the fact that Informix shipped last month gives the company an "opportunity to define what a universal server should be and what people should expect from an object-relational database." Analysts note that Oracle and Sybase must now play catch up. (12/19/96, pg. 8, Paul Barker) COMPUTER BUSINESS REVIEW "Universal combat" Oracle has aimed its guns at rival Informix and plans to get ugly in the universal server war. "This is the year for Informix -- the year to cut off their oxygen," said Jeff Henley, Oracle's CFO. "Their time has come to show the world what they got --I don't think their guys have a chance ... Informix's best days are over." Malcolm Colton of Informix states, "They [Oracle] have never done a major rewrite in 15 years. I don't think they can incorporate objects -- Oracle8 is very unstable, that is what we hear from people close to them." Analysts remind Informix and Oracle that while they are at each others' throats, they have to remember to deal with Microsoft. (12/96, pg. 12, Joanna Mancey) PC WEEK "Object/relational database vendors map their strategies" This article outlines object-relational strategies from leading database vendors, including Informix's Universal Server, which was released last month. According to Michael Stonebraker of Informix, allowing DataBlade modules direct access to the databases kernel enables INFORMIX-Universal Server to run an order of magnitude faster when manipulating objects than Oracle's Universal Server. The article notes that despite Informix's assertions about its time-to-market advantages, IBM was the first to ship an object-relational solution in July of 1995. (1/6/97, pg. 66, Timothy Dyck) WEB WEEK "Technologies diverge, complicating users' choices" Informix, IBM and Oracle have each decided to introduce object-relational database servers that can handle complex data types. Informix and IBM have similar approaches to extending their products, based on DataBlade modules and Extenders. Oracle is choosing a more distributed model based on CORBA, in which objects execute outside the database in cartridges. Most analysts agree that Informix has the edge in the emerging market because of its broad third-party development program and the recent release of INFORMIX-Universal Server. (1/6/97, pg. 29, David Carr) DBMS "Changing times: dueling universes" Informix and Oracle are battling it out in the universal server arena, each disclaiming the others' technology. Oracle claims that by adding third-party code into the heart of the database, DataBlade modules can crash the database kernel. Many of the companies that developed DataBlade modules for Informix, such as Virage, are now working with Oracle to build data cartridges. In addition to announcing INFORMIX-Universal Server, Informix announced its Universal Web Architecture, an open Web development and deployment environment to create intelligent Web sites. Instead of storing Web sites as files, the entire Web site is stored in the database. (1/97, pg. 88, Clara Parkes) DATABASE PROGRAMMING & DESIGN "Hello universe!" This article highlights INFORMIX-Universal Server, and describes DataBlade modules as "software extensions that plug directly into the database to add the necessary domain-specific functionality for the data type in question." DataBlade modules currently available include financial, digital media, mapping and spatial, text and document management and Web commerce. (2/97, pg. 68, staff writer) DBMS "Server administration" This article examines how leading DBMS vendors, such as Computer Associates, IBM, Informix and Oracle, are helping database administrators manage servers, databases and database objects. Informix offers INFORMIX-OnLine Workgroup Server, which includes a Command Center -- a set of graphical tools used to administer the database servers. The Command Center is the core of the administration tools, allowing users to access other administration tools from a single window. (1/97, pg. 83, Martin Rennhackkamp) SOFTWARE MAGAZINE "Informix debuts Universal Server" Along with the release of INFORMIX-Universal Server, Informix announced the availability of 29 DataBlade modules. Informix also introduced its Informix DataBlade Modules OnLine distribution program, which allows customers to access DataBlade modules via the Web. (1/97, pg. 14, staff writer) COMMUNICATIONS WEEK "Retailer targets 'pre-shopping'" Service Merchandise is using a Web pilot program, using Informix