Intergraph and Oracle Agree to Define Next-Generation Component GIS
Software

HUNTSVILLE, ALA., FEB. 13, 1996 -- Intergraph Corporation and Oracle
Corporation, principal members of the Open GIS Consortium, Inc. (OGC),
announced today that they will work together to help define the boundary
between the "geographic" and the "information systems" technologies that
make up a GIS solution. Their collaborative efforts will include the
development of an Application Programming Interface (API) for retrieving
GIS data from a server, embedding GIS data in Windows 95 and Windows NT
applications, and allowing applications to interact with each other as
well as exchange data.

This representation of GIS as component software permits indiscriminate
vendor participation in a GIS solution. GIS vendors like Intergraph can
focus on what they do best - the capture, display, analysis, and
presentation of geographically-based data - while database vendors like
Oracle can focus on what they do best - store, retrieve and deliver data
from any server to any client. Oracle and Intergraph will cooperate to
define an "OLE for GIS Data Server" to Oracle 7 supporting Oracle's
Spatial Data Option for use with Intergraph's GIS software.

OGC is a consensus-based member organization developing a common
specification for interoperable geoprocessing. "We welcome this
announcement from Intergraph," said David Schell, president of the Open
GIS Consortium. "Intergraph and Oracle have contributed to the overall
OGIS specification process, and now they are bringing OGIS to the OLE/COM
distributed computing environment. This is a key initiative because the
Windows installed base is so large. A huge number of developers and users
will now gain access to open distributed geoprocessing." The "OLE for GIS"
development effort will take place in the context of OGC's OGIS Project
Testbed.

Intergraph, the world's largest developer of OLE-compliant technical
applications, brings a history of OLE development expertise to the
venture. The Intergraph-developed "OLE for Design and Modeling," part of
Microsoft's Industry Solution program, is a set of specifications designed
to deal with integration between 2D and 3D precision geometry.
"Intergraph's Jupiter technology, which is OLE/COM and Windows native,
will converge with GIS and other disciplines to produce fully compliant
OLE applications," said Tommy Steele, president of Intergraph Software
Solutions. "This OLE for GIS data server, developed for Oracle Spatial
Data Option, is just one of many client offerings you will be seeing from
Intergraph," he added.

Oracle's Spatial Data Option will provide the high-performance retrieval
capability required to support interaction with large GIS datasets.
Intergraph will develop an "OLE for GIS Data Server" based on Spatial Data
Option. "Intergraph has continued to be one of Oracle's largest resellers
for RDBMS. The key differentiator is the integration of spatial data via
Spatial Data Option and Intergraph's Jupiter technology, which utilizes
industry standards such as Windows and OLE/COM," said Frank Bishop, vice
president of Oracle Corporation.

"Intergraph has long been involved in defining and delivering open
geoprocessing standards and products, not only with MGE, but through our
work with the Open GIS Consortium. The creation of an OLE data server for
GIS is the next logical step to continue that philosophy," said Larry
Ayers, executive vice president of Intergraph Software Solutions.

INTERGRAPH BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A member of the Fortune 1000, Intergraph Corporation is the world's largest
company dedicated to supplying interactive computer graphics systems.
Products range from point solutions, meeting individual and departmental
needs, to integrated, enterprisewide systems. Intergraph Software Systems
(ISS) develops and markets integrated software for the Technical Desktop
the combination of compatible technical applications for the earth
sciences/GIS and personal productivity tools in a single desktop computer.
ISS also provides core system software, high-end applications, training,
consulting and implementation services.

ORACLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Oracle Corp., with revenues of approximately $3.5 billion, is the world's
largest supplier of software for information management, and the world's
second largest software company. The company offers its database, tools
and application products along with related consulting, education and
support services, in more than 90 countries around the world.
 
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