Microsoft and Elemental Software Join Efforts to Enable Rapid Development of Applications Written to Windows DNA

REDMOND, Wash., and CARLSBAD, Calif., May 17, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and Elemental Software Inc., creator of the award-winning Web-development product Drumbeat
™2000, today announced an agreement designed to promote the speed and ease of building Web applications on the Microsoft® Windows® Distributed interNet Applications (Windows DNA) architecture using Drumbeat 2000. While Drumbeat has always included deep support for the Windows platform, this agreement signals Elemental Software’s commitment to supporting new Windows 2000 technologies such as Extensible Markup Language (XML), COM+, the Active Directory
™
directory service, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 browser software and others.

Drumbeat 2000 currently integrates key technologies of the Windows DNA architecture that enable Web developers to utilize and extend the Windows platform to build rich, multitier, distributed applications without hand coding. Using Point-and-Click Interactions, Drumbeat supports key server-side technologies of Windows DNA, including Active Server Pages (ASPs), Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) technology, Component Object Model objects and Microsoft SQL Server
™, as well as client-side functionality including Dynamic HTML (DHTML), Scripting Components, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), ActiveX® technologies and data-binding. Developers using Drumbeat 2000 can quickly build Web applications with database manipulation, password protection, profile-based access, data validation and state management.

“We’ve been working closely with Microsoft since late 1997,”
said Peter Hirshberg, president and CEO of Elemental Software.
“We shared the same vision then and continue to share the goal today of providing developers with the best possible tools to rapidly deploy powerful Web applications. The combined strengths of Drumbeat 2000 and Windows DNA achieve this goal.”

“By using key Windows DNA technologies, Drumbeat 2000 enables developers, many of whom are new to Web applications, to build the sophisticated applications that are transforming business,”
said Jigish Avalani, group manager of Windows DNA Marketing at Microsoft.
“This saves developers time, reduces costs, and gets their applications to market more quickly, which is a requirement in today’s competitive business environment.”

Today’s announcement extends the joint marketing and technical efforts initiated a year and half ago between Microsoft and Elemental Software to speed the adoption of Windows technologies and give a broader base of developers the ability to deploy Web applications.

About Windows DNA

Windows DNA is the application development model for the Windows platform. It specifies how to develop robust, scalable, distributed applications using the Windows platform, extend existing data and external applications to support the Internet, and support a wide range of client devices maximizing the reach of an application. The Windows DNA architecture enables ISVs and organizations to solve industry-specific challenges, while lowering costs associated with deploying and managing information technology systems.

More information about Windows DNA can be found on Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/dna/ .

About Drumbeat 2000

Drumbeat 2000 employs a visual drag-and-drop interface and offers sophisticated application wizards to reduce the time and skill required in building dynamic Web sites and applications. With Drumbeat 2000, visually engaging Web applications that work across all major browsers can be built without hand coding. Drumbeat 2000 includes a DataForm Wizard, Point-and-Click Interactions support for server-side COM and ASP objects, and support for the Visual Basic® development system Scripting Edition and additional pre-built dynamic application templates. Drumbeat 2000, which lists for $399, is available from the Elemental Software Web site at http://drumbeat.com/ and from major resellers.

About Elemental Software

Elemental Software develops and markets software that enables developers to build Web applications in less time with fewer technical resources. The company’s flagship product, Drumbeat 2000, offers IT departments and Web developers the fastest way to create powerful Web interfaces to databases and applications without having to write code. With headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., Elemental Software is principally funded by Microsoft, AT & T Corp. and venture investors Accel Partners, CSK Corporation of Japan, JK & B Capital, Crystal Internet Venture Fund LP and Sorrento Ventures. For product information, please call 877-DRUMBEAT, (877) 378-6232, e-mail [email protected], or visit http://drumbeat.com/ . Media should contact Marie Clark, Antenna Group, (415) 977-1916, [email protected].

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Active Directory, ActiveX and Visual Basic are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Drumbeat and Elemental Software are trademarks of ESI Software Inc., dba Elemental Software.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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