IBM Delivers Advanced New Version of Its Award-Winning VisualAge for
Smalltalk

Power programming in a distributed environment

SOMERS, N.Y., October 24, 1995 . . . Through the power of object-oriented
technology, the ease of visual programming and new distributed Smalltalk
technology, programmers will be able to dramatically increase productivity
with a new version of an advanced application tool from IBM -- VisualAge
for Smalltalk Version 3. With enhanced functions, IBM's award-winning
VisualAge for Smalltalk has been extended with a host of new features that
include: new platform and distribution support, object-oriented report
writing, expanded database support, and rich new multimedia functions that
accelerate time to market, lower development costs and improve application
performance.

By giving developers the flexibility they need to build competitive
applications in today's heterogeneous, scalable computing environment,
VisualAge for Smalltalk has proven to be a powerful client/server
programming tool. With this product, users can connect pre-fabricated,
reusable software components from IBM and other vendors, thereby easing
the transition to efficient object-oriented development.

VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 now supports application portability
across IBM's AIX and OS/2 as well as Windows 3.11. IBM is currently
completing compatibility testing on Windows NT and Windows '95, and will
enter beta testing on these platforms in the first quarter of 1996.

Advanced Business Technologies (ABT), Inc., an independent software vendor
that provides products and services for Fortune 1000 companies, has used
the new version of VisualAge for Smalltalk to build sellingEdge, a sales
force automation product specifically designed for the apparel and sewn
product industries. "IBM's object technology approach and tools like
VisualAge for Smalltalk help us develop the flexible and powerful
solutions our customers require to be more productive and keep pace with
change and competition," said Joseph Acero, vice president, products &
technology for ABT. "With Version 3, we now have the ability to create
three-tier client/server applications that are fully object-oriented. We
can also deploy our existing application code across more platforms which
enables us to respond to customer demands for open systems solutions."

VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 incorporates new, more powerful
capabilities that include:

 *   Distributed Support -- a set of classes and tools for
     developing distributed applications.  It offers developers
     the flexibility to partition application logic among clients
     and servers, thereby optimizing their computer networks and
     improving the performance of applications.

 *   Expansion in the UNIX market -- a complete AIX development
     and runtime environment, as well as application portability
     across OS/2, Windows or AIX environments, enabling
     programmers to run applications on their platform of choice
     in a heterogeneous environment.  VisualAge for Smalltalk for
     HP/UNIX will enter beta testing in the first half of 1996.

 *   Object-oriented reports -- a library of pre-defined,
     reusable parts for constructing reports that can be
     connected with other VisualAge for Smalltalk components,
     reducing development costs and time to market.

 *   New and enhanced database support -- faster development and
     faster database access with new parts, multiple concurrent
     database connections, native Oracle support, complete Open
     Database Connectivity (ODBC) and expanded IBM Database 2
     (DB2) support.

 *   Significant usability enhancements -- customer-driven
     enhancements such as hover help, user-controlled preferences
     and easier menu construction reduce the learning curve and
     improve the time to market.

 *   Multimedia enhancements -- kiosk authoring tools for OS/2
     and Windows, which include support for hotspots,
     scene-to-scene navigation, touch screen, direct graphics
     file support and media control interface (MCI), allow
     developers to build robust, large-scale kiosk-style consumer
     applications.

"A robust, well supported, revolutionary product like VisualAge for
Smalltalk is a once-in-a-career phenomenon for IT professionals. It is not
just a product, it is an opportunity," said Dr. Rod Riley, associate
director of Computer Center, University of Alabama. "Database support is
one of the reasons my team decided to use VisualAge for all client/server
projects. With Version 3, additional database parts provide greater
flexibility and more robust access control. With the addition of more
robust multimedia support my team will now be able to include multimedia
in many more of our client/server projects."

IBM Object Technology Certification Program

With today's announcement, IBM is also introducing a new performance-based
professional certification program for VisualAge for Smalltalk service
providers. This program, available immediately, is designed for
professionals in the business of providing object-oriented application
development implementation services using VisualAge for Smalltalk. It
offers these professionals the opportunity to raise their technical and
professional competency in object-oriented application development,
VisualAge and IBM Smalltalk programming, rapid prototyping methodology and
visual modeling techniques. The program will be expanded to other IBM
object technology product areas in 1996.

To obtain additional information on the object technology certification
program, dial IBM's fax information service at 1-800-IBM-4FAX and select
the "Education Information" category.

Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Programs

VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 is part of IBM's Object Connection, an
innovative vendor incentive program that provides several services free of
charge to parts builders worldwide who are interested in building a rich
library of reusable VisualAge components for distribution in the
marketplace. It provides commercial developers with an object-oriented
component marketplace in which to market their wares, as well as see what
other experts have created. Object Connection currently has 146 members
who have collectively delivered over 58 component products with more than
200 additional products planned.

VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 is also supported by the IBM VisualAge
Services Team (VASTeam) program. This program enables the development and
deployment of VisualAge services by encouraging experienced industry
resources to provide training, mentoring and consulting services to
VisualAge customers. These services are designed to help customers
minimize risk and more quickly achieve success with object-oriented
development projects. For information on either the Object Connection or
VASTeam program, please call IBM at 1-800-IBM-3333.

Pricing and Availability

VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 is priced at $1499 for Standard and $3799
for Professional. It will be generally available on November 30. For more
information on VisualAge for Smalltalk, please call 1-800-IBM-3333. For
Internet users, IBM offers complete information about the company, its
products, services and technology on the World Wide Web. The IBM home page
is at http://www.ibm.com. The fastest, easiest way to get information
about IBM VisualAge for Smalltalk Version 3 is to go to the IBM home page
and do a search on the keyword "goVisualAge."

IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates, develops and
manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies,
including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices
and microelectronics. IBM's Software Solutions Division provides data
management, application development and workgroup solutions for
mission-critical applications on PCs, workstations, LANs and host
systems.
 
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