Press Releases - 2000

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 5, 2000 - PointBase the leader in mobile wireless data management and synchronization products, today announced the signing of its first European distributors. HWF Software Vertriebs-GmbH, Cologne, Germany is the new PointBase master distributor in Germany, and PlanetWide.Data Ltd, London, U.K., is the master distributor of PointBase products in the United Kingdom. Both firms are leading developers and systems integrators of object and Internet technologies who will develop their own networks of PointBase resellers, and also offer direct sales and support of PointBase products.

The deals are the latest in a planned series of international distribution arrangements that extend the reach of PointBase's sales and support efforts. In recent months, PointBase has announced its first international distributor, OGIS-RI in Japan, and $21 million in financing, led by Goldman Sachs and JK&B Capital, to fund the expansion effort.

"Clearly, signing our first European distributors represents another important step in fulfilling the expansion plans we announced in May with the signing of OGIS-RI Japan and reinforces our aggressive global expansion commitment as referenced in our recent funding announcement," said Bruce Scott, president and CEO of PointBase "HWF and PlanetWide.Data will help us to deliver on our vision for wireless data management and synchronization in Europe, where mobile technologies are far more widespread than in North America." "We recognize that 100% Pure Java databases and mobile devices will play an expanding role in data management as enterprises strive to improve their operations with anytime, anywhere data access," said Horst Franke, CEO of HWF. "We selected PointBase because we share a similar vision for the role of database, Java, synchronization and object-oriented technologies in embedded and enterprise systems that address increasing demand for mobile corporate data."

"At PlanetWide.Data our business is business and IT integration that delivers a competitive advantage by permitting free and flexible sharing of information across internal and external business processes and relationship boundaries," said Adrian Lowther, joint managing director, PlanetWide.Data. "To that end, the integration of distributed and embedded client environments is increasingly critical. We selected PointBase as the foundation for these efforts because it is a 100% Pure Java database that delivers the platform independence, high functionality, flexibility and synchronization capabilities our clients need."

PlanetWide.Data and HWF will benefit from many of the same services provided by PointBase to its U.S. systems integrators, including unlimited freeware, finder's fees and access to a variety of PointBase marketing activities, including public relations, joint speaking opportunities and white paper creation. Central to the relationship is the use of PointBase's Mobile Edition, Embedded Server and Network Server database products, which incorporate PointBase's universal synchronization option - UniSync. UniSync version 3.3 provides transparent, bi-directional, multi-tiered, heterogeneous data synchronization between databases, including PointBase and enterprise databases. The PointBase collection of products enables PlanetWide.Data and HWF to develop pure Java, distributed, database-driven applications that support e-commerce, mobile work forces and the distribution of enterprise data onto Internet appliances and devices.

PointBase products also are available worldwide via the company's Web site.

About HWF GmbH
HWF Software Vertriebs-GmbH was founded in 1989 as one of the first consultants specializing in client-server technologies, and as a distributor of products from Centura Corporation (formerly Gupta). HWF retains that business focus today, and since 1998, also has engaged in consulting on E-business technologies for embedded and enterprise solutions. Cooperating with leading software vendors like Centura, Computer Associates, IBM, Oracle, ProSyst AG, Software AG and others—as well as with system integrators—HWF provides information systems solutions to German and European companies. Available services include training, consulting and systems integration; HWF also markets a full range of object technology products. For more information, visit http://www.hwf.de.

About PlanetWide.Data
PlanetWide.Data delivers market-leading products and consulting to assist in the processes of cost-elimination, profit generation, and delivering competitive edge, primarily to large and medium-sized organizations. Areas of expertise include Supply Chain Integration, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Straight Through Processing (STP), E- and M-commerce, Business Intelligence, and Customer Relationship Management. Formed only recently from practitioners with many years of integration experience, PlanetWide.Data brings considerable experience in design and delivery of solutions, providing robust business benefits to organizations requiring practical execution. For more information, visit http://www.planetwidedata.Com.

About PointBase
PointBase, the leader in mobile wireless data management, creates the technology for extending and synchronizing enterprise data among wireless devices, Internet appliances, mobile applications, PDA's, and networked servers. The company's 100% Pure Java products solve the problem of managing data for applications deployed globally across a diversity of platforms. PointBase was established in 1998 by Bruce Scott, co-founder of Oracle Corporation and Gupta/Centura Software. For additional information on PointBase and its products, call 1-877/238-8798 (U.S. and Canada) or 650/230-7200 (International) or visit the company's website at http://www.pointbase.com.
 

Note to Editors—Java, and 100% Pure Java, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.