Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL) and OpenConnect Systems Inc. today announced an agreement that will allow instantaneous access to legacy systems worldwide via the Internet. More than 70% of the world's data resides on legacy systems, and until today extending legacy applications to the Web has been difficult, complex and costly. Now, any standard browser will be able to access any legacy application and extend it to the Web -- with no modifications to the legacy system, no programming, and no risk.

Today's announcement is comprised of three components:

* Oracle has licensed OpenConnect OC://WebConnect Pro, available immediately, as a new standard component of Oracle Web Application Server. This allows anyone purchasing Oracle Web Application Server to obtain legacy integration in a matter of minutes, at no additional cost.

* NCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corp., has also licensed OC://WebConnect Pro for use with its NC Desktop software, providing seamless access to 3270, 5250, VT220 and other host-based applications for network computers. With this technology, customers can now expand concurrent access to legacy applications with NCs.

* OpenConnect has also licensed Oracle Web Application Server from Oracle and will resell it with OC://WebConnect Pro, allowing OpenConnect to offer its customers the same broad platform as available through Oracle. The companies have agreed to jointly promote, market and support their combined solutions for the Web-enabled enterprise.

"Legacy integration is an extremely important issue for companies looking to extend their business systems to the Web," said Jim Daniell, chief operating officer at AT&T Networked Commerce Services. "With today's announcement, Oracle and OpenConnect are delivering a powerful combination of technologies that will help fill an important gap in the electronic commerce market place."

OpenConnect OC://WebConnect Pro is server software that provides a simple, cost-effective, and maintenance-free way to bring legacy applications to the Internet. The product enables secure connections to legacy applications through Java applets that are accessed via standard browsers and network computers. The Oracle/OpenConnect solution is based on Network Computing Architecture(TM), which is a comprehensive, open, standards-based software platform for building and deploying network computing applications. OC://WebConnect Pro is implemented as a cartridge that plugs into Oracle Web Application Server. OC://WebConnect will be also be incorporated as a component of NCI's NC Desktop(TM).

"Oracle has the only Web application server in the industry that works seamlessly with any client, any server, any mainframe and any data type," said Steve Clark, president and CEO, OpenConnect. "Now, for the first time, our customers can take advantage of a solution that combines the best of client/server, the Internet and legacy systems."

"The Oracle/OpenConnect solution will enable companies to immediately realize the benefits of network computing for no added cost with no changes to their existing legacy systems," said Beatriz Infante, Oracle's senior vice president of Internet and Media Products.

OC://WebConnect Pro, which ships with Oracle Web Application Server 3.0, also comes with OpenVista, a cross-platform development environment that can be used by application developers to create simplified user screens that replace "green on black" screens with graphical, browser-based front-ends. In addition, OpenVista can be used to automate the task-intensive processes of logging on, finding, accessing, manipulating, and viewing information within traditional legacy applications.

Product Pricing and Availability

The OpenConnect OC://WebConnect Pro cartridge for Oracle Web Application Server will be available shortly. The cartridge is bundled as a standard component of Oracle Web Application Server Advanced Edition and includes a license to deploy the technology for a set number of users. Additional licenses of the OpenConnect technology may be obtained from either Oracle or OpenConnect. Oracle Web Application Server is priced at $3,995 per server in the U.S.

About the Companies

OpenConnect Systems is a leading provider of Web-enabled enterprise solutions which securely integrate SNA with corporate intranets, business extranets and the Internet. OpenConnect offers a family of scaleable software solutions that provide secure high-performance, browser-based access to enterprise applications and data. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's products are distributed in over 60 countries worldwide.

Oracle Corporation is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second largest software company. With annual revenues exceeding $5.2 billion, the company offers its database, tools and application products, along with related consulting, education and support services, in more than 145 countries around the world.