Btrieve Technologies and Magic Software Enterprises announce strategic alliance to deliver bundled solution; new solution merges rapid client/server application development with high-performance, scaleable database engines

Business Wire, Jan 15, 1996

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 1996--Btrieve Technologies Inc. (BTI) and Magic Software Enterprises (NASDAQ:MGICF), Monday announced a strategic alliance to develop and market a bundled toolkit comprised of BTI's Scaleable SQL and Btrieve database engines and Magic's development tools.

This new toolkit will provide developers with an integrated solution for the rapid development of high-performance applications that scale from palmtop to client/server environments. The partnership will include joint technical development and product integration. In addition, the companies will increase their global reach and market penetration through international co-marketing and channel development programs.

"This partnership emphasizes BTI's commitment to offer world-class database engines bundled with leading application development tools," said Ron Harris, president and CEO of BTI.

"In addition to high performance and seamless scalability, developers need a solution that will allow them to build multi-platform, maintenance-free applications. And, for the commercial developer, that solution must be licensed for mass deployment. This new bundled toolkit delivers it all."

"Since Magic's inception there has been a natural synergy between both companies and their products," said David Assia, chairman and president of Magic Software. "Together, we are delivering a toolkit that provides unsurpassed performance and scalability for the rapid development of client/server applications."

Due to BTI's advanced MicroKernel Database Architecture, the toolkit will also allow developers to write and deploy relational and navigational applications that concurrently share access to all data.

BTI's Scaleable SQL and Btrieve database engines are designed to meet the requirements of commercial developers by providing a unique combination of high-performance, scalability, maintenance-free operations and mass deployment licensing.

Scaleable SQL -- BTI's relational product line -- provides application scalability from palmtop systems to client/server configurations, as well as "maintenance-free" operations and maximum resource efficiency. Btrieve is the industry-standard navigational client/server database used by professional developers to build mission-critical applications. Btrieve provides a maximum degree of programming control and performance.

Both products are built on BTI's MicroKernel Data Engine, which stores data in a common model-independent format.

Magic Software's Magic is a highly productive, table-driven rapid application development tool for building client/server applications. Magic features a visual programming methodology that is highly portable across all standard computing environments, from legacy systems to LAN workgroups.

Many of the largest Btrieve applications in the world are developed in Magic at organizations such as Whirlpool Inc., Keyport Life Insurance and VisionTek.

BTI is a leading provider of information management systems for commercial software developers. BTI's mission is to offer world-class database engines specifically built to be bundled with high-volume client/server applications.

With headquarters in Austin, Texas, BTI is an international organization with operations in Europe and Japan. BTI's Japanese subsidiary -- Btrieve Technologies Japan LTD. -- is a joint venture with several companies including Novell Japan LTD. BTI is the recipient of many industry awards including the DB/Expo RealWare award and several BYTE Magazine Reader's Choice awards.

Magic Software Enterprises develops, publishes, markets and supports MAGIC, a highly productive, table-driven cross platform Rapid Application Development system for developing client and server solutions.

Magic is used by corporate MIS departments and a wide range of solutions partners including value-added resellers, systems integrators, consultants, independent developers and packaged software publishers. Magic has won numerous development awards including the Client/Server Application Challenge (USA), the EXE Software Developers Challenge (UK), and four consecutive victories at the annual International Droege Developers Competition (USA).

Note to Editors: Btrieve, Scaleable SQL and MicroKernel Database engine are trademarks of Btrieve Technologies Inc. Magic is a trademark of Magic Software Enterprises Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks for registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Magic Software Enterprises

Lisa Blaisdell, 714/250-1718, ext. 219

or

Btrieve Technologies Inc.

Bo Holland/Cathy Martin, 512/794-1729

or

Price Public Relations

Julia Price/Laurie Gibson, 415/462-6970