MENLO PARK, Calif., -- March 18, 1996 -- Versant Object Technology Corporation, the premiere supplier of object database management systems for large-scale applications, today announced its product extensions designed to offer high bandwidth transactional activity across the Internet.

Specifically, Versant will release a Java interface to the Versant ODBMS, allowing organizations to manage and store Java applets, as well as use Java to supplement existing object-oriented development in C++ and Smalltalk. Versant also plans to release the Versant Internet Adapter (VIA), a set of extensions to the core object database. VIA, in conjunction with any Web server, will create the industry's fastest, most complete solution for managing, vending and distributing Web pages, business objects and applets. VIA will ship early in the third quarter of 1996.

"Versant is the clear leader within the object database community with deployed solutions that have generated real business advantages for its customers," said Hugh Bishop, director of emerging technology research at the Aberdeen Group, a Boston-based research and consulting firm. "The Web is all about objects, with its emphasis on advanced multimedia, complex content and data relationships as well as its telecommunications roots. Versant is the company that understands and will deliver the object infrastructure demanded by the transactional Web."

"When you have billions of objects, distributed worldwide that must be made available almost instantaneously, how will organizations manage this information?" asked Felix Lin, director of Internet solutions at Versant. "Developing and delivering services quickly is the only real objective for companies on the Internet, and that means objects end-to-end. The Versant solution will allow companies to deliver complex transactional Web sites, taking advantage of multimedia, applets and business objects for competitive advantage."

Support for Java

In April, Versant will ship a Java binding to its object database. Developers will be able to write Java applications or applets using a variety of tools being released by third parties, like Borland and RogueWave. As part of its Java solution, Versant will support JDBC, extending the ways in which organizations can take advantage of Versant information. For example, customers will be able to write Java applets that provide simple query access to objects stored in Versant without having to give users full access to the core database. Java language support will be provided free of charge to existing Versant customers.

Versant Internet Adapter (VIA)

The Versant Internet Adapter includes a URL translator and Web page loader that provides Internet access to the Versant ODBMS. There are several key benefits. First, VIA can turbocharge any existing Web servers transparently. By using the standard Web server API's, VIA enables any Web site to support more users with faster response times.

Second, and more importantly, VIA allows customers to store and manage the complex data types that are proliferating on the Web. VIA supplements the standard ODBMS by allowing customers and partners to store complex Web pages, business objects and applets directly in the Versant ODBMS. In combination with object request brokers (ORBs), the Versant Web-enabled ODBMS will be a core part of the distributed object infrastructure that will allow electronic commerce to flourish.

The Versant Internet Adapter is available free of charge to existing Versant customers. Contact Versant directly for Internet and Intranet pricing information for the Versant ODBMS.

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