The "Hot Product" awards are in at Data Communications magazine, and OpenConnect Systems Incorporated's OC://WebConnect is among the top products cited in the Internet/intranet category.

The "Hot Product" awards, issued annually for the last six years by the publication, spotlight the 39 best and brightest networking technologies and products that will have the biggest impact on corporate networking.

OC://WebConnect from OpenConnect Systems, a leading provider of software products that securely integrate SNA with the Inter/intranet, was selected by editors from among numerous other products reviewed throughout the year for its significant and unique Java implementation and robust, multi-tiered security features.

"Java is what sets this product apart from the pack," Lee Bruno stated in the January 1997 Data Communications article. "It's also the only product to combine session-level security with encryption ... and it's unique in maintaining all mainframe key functions, as well as the familiar host interface."

OpenConnect's enterprise-to-Web product offerings deliver unparalleled levels of performance, security, ease-of-use, and cost-effectiveness to organizations seeking to harness the power of their enterprise SNA applications on common desktop computing platforms. OC://WebConnect provides reliable, persistent and dynamic connections between desktop, Web-enabled PC or "thin" clients and SNA mainframe applications using standard RSA encryption technology.

OpenVista, the companion to OC://WebConnect, delivers an intuitive, "on-the-fly" interactive development environment (IDE) for rejuvenating primitive mainframe application user screens with easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) front-end Java applets.

"Being selected by Data Communications as a leader in the Internet/intranet space reaffirms the value of OC://WebConnect for organizations seeking to securely and cost-effectively deliver enterprise applications to employees, customers and business partners," said David Johnson, OpenConnect's senior product marketing manager for Inter/intranet products. "Additionally, being recognized for our Java implementation is a testament not only to the strength of Java, but to the types of highly scaleable, secure and efficient applications it enables."

OpenConnect Systems Inc. is a leading provider of internetworking software, systems and development tools that securely transport and extend SNA enterprise applications beyond traditional boundaries, using corporate intranets and the Internet. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's products are distributed in more than 60 countries worldwide.