FOUNDATION EXTENDS INDUSTRY LEAD WITH NEW GENERATION OF CLIENT/SERVER
DEVELOPMENT TOOLS 

New products heralded by leading industry analysts

SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 1993 -- FOUNDATION, an Andersen Consulting software
organization, today introduced the next generation of FOUNDATION for
Cooperative Processing (FCP), which represents a major advance in
client/server systems development.

The new product, reflecting FOUNDATlON's experience with the more than
2,800 developers using the first-generation of FCP, offers dramatic
enhancements that ease and accelerate the process for building
heterogeneous client/server systems. It also extends FCP's unique
communications framework to support additional computing environments.

FCP is the only product available with an advanced, message-based
communications framework that overcomes the most important barrier to
developing high-end departmental and enterprise-wide client/server
systems: How to connect the full range of software, network and hardware
environments across an organization. It is this multi-platform
communications framework, which incorporates a messaging system and
industry standard communications interfaces, that enables FOUNDATION
customers to build client/server systems that span departments or
enterprises, regardless of computing platform or location.

Major new FCP features include:

* Rapid Application Builder, a revolutionary new approach 
  that speeds and simplifies client/server development
* an integrated LAN-based Repository built on a relational
  database management system
* expansion of the FCP communications framework to support
  delivery of applications on UNIX servers
* delivery of FCP as a client/server application

"The next-generation FCP product builds upon FOUNDATlON's more than two
years' experience in the field supporting 2,800 systems professionals
using our product to develop client/server systems in a range of
industries," said Don Dall, Managing Director of FOUNDATION. "We've added
both power and usability to our design tools -- enabling systems
developers to better leverage FCP's multi-platform communications
framework."

FOUNDATION included its customers in the development of the new product,
and was recognized by the Orlando, Fla.-based Quality Assurance Institute
(QAI) with a quality award for customer involvement in the development of
the Rapid application Builder component of FCP.

Major New Features

FCP's new Rapid Application Builder dramatically improves and accelerates
the way client/server systems are built by eliminating the need for 4GLs
or pseudo-code, required by other client/server development tools. Using
simple point-and-click techniques, developers can work interactively with
end-users to build pilot client/server applications that respond as live
applications and that can be delivered as compiled code and stored in the
FOUNDATION repository for future reuse.

The FCP LAN-based repository is built on a fully relational database
management system and allows networked workgroups of developers to store
and reuse defined data objects for building client/server applications.
The repository is integrated with each component of FCP, so information is
shared throughout the development process.

FCP now supports development of UNIX servers, including HP/UX and ULTRIX,
extending FCP's support for the widest range of platforms in customer
environments. Other platforms supported include: OS/2, VAX/VMS and CICS
servers, and Windows and OS/2 clients.

FCP is also the first client/server development product to be delivered as
a client/server application. Offering the benefits of portability,
scalability and true workgroup computing, FCP enables organizations to
exploit new computing platforms as their business needs change.

Customer Application

Organizations have begun systems development work with next generation FCP,
including Florida Power Corporation, a leading utility located in St.
Petersburg, Florida. Florida Power is using the product to design an
advanced customer service information system that integrates a range of
hardware, software, network and operating environments.

"We are a large organization, with more than 60 developers working on a
large-scale client/server project that involves computing platforms
ranging from laptops to mainframes," said Mitch Hull, Manager, Customer
Service Systems Development, Florida Power. "FCP is the only product on
the market that can enable us to achieve our objectives. We already have
been successful in getting much of our system up and running using the
first generation of FCP. FCP is both easing and accelerating our
development work."

Analyst Reaction

Andrew Mahon, of Westport, Conn.-based New Science Associates, a leading
technology research firm, said, "FOUNDATION is releasing its next
generation of FCP with a decided emphasis on ease of use. In this way,
FOUNDATION can compete on an equal footing with some of its
lesser-function brethren, but meanwhile maintain a strategic direction
towards high-end distributed processing. The new version of FCP is indeed
an attractive product."

According to Judith Hurwitz, president of Hurwitz Consulting, a leading
industry analyst in the open systems development arena, "FCP represents an
important step forward in tools that support development of multi-platform
client/server systems. Only with the combination of an advanced
communications framework and sophisticated tools can organizations deliver
a true client/server capability, which means distributing presentation,
data and processing anywhere across the client/server system."

FCP Overview

The new FCP client/server solution is composed of a client/server
methodology, development tools and support services. The methodology and
tools are built on top of a fully-integrated LAN-based repository that
stores and updates design information, which is reused and shared among
different FCP tools in the development process, including:

FOUNDATION Design, incorporating systems analysis and design functions,
such as Rapid Application Builder and GUI design;

FOUNDATION Construction, which generates code for a wide range of client
and server target environments;

FOUNDATION Production, which incorporates FCP's message-based
communications framework that shields developers from the complexities of
communications among LANs, hardware, software and operating environments
regardless of the physical location of data and applications.

FOUNDATION Methods, a field-tested methodology that offers guidance through
the unique processes involved in client/server development, combined with
project management capabilities from Applied Business Technology's Project
Management Workbench.

Services and Support

In support of FCP, FOUNDATION also announced today several new services
designed to help organizations develop high-end departmental and
enterprise-wide client/server systems. FOUNDATION will offer 13 new
education courses, ranging from object-oriented programming to
client/server methodologies; a new Critical Resources Group of
client/server development experts; and new ServicePacks that combine
appropriate services to enhance implementation of FCP.

FCP is available immediately through the FOUNDATION direct sales
organization, operating from Andersen Consulting's more than 150 offices
worldwide.

FOUNDATION Organization

FOUNDATION introduced its initial client/server development product,
FOUNDATION for Cooperative Processing, in April 1991. The product is being
used in strategic client/server development projects by more than 2,800
developers at 70 companies worldwide, including Mortgage Guaranty
Insurance Corporation, Sprint Corporation, the State of North Carolina and
British Columbia Gas.

Andersen Consulting is an international management and technology
consulting organization with more than 26,000 persons in 151 offices and
47 countries. The organization helps its clients link technology,
strategy, processes and people. Editor's note: Andersen Consulting is not
a subsidiary or division of the accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co.

Andersen Consulting, 69 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
312-580-0069

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