CBT Systems Launches Java Development Initiative; Recently Developed Java Kernel Awarded 100% Pure Java Certification by Sun Microsystems

Business Wire, August 26, 1997

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1997--CBT Systems Ltd., a leading provider of interactive education software to Fortune 3000 companies, today announced it has created a Java(TM) kernel to serve as an additional player for its interactive education software. The company also announced that its Java kernel has received 100% Pure Java(TM) certification from Sun Microsystems, Inc. The announcements were made at the Java Internet Business Expo(SM), where CBT Systems is participating as an exhibitor.

CBT Systems is the first provider of interactive training software to receive the 100% Pure Java certification. The company's Java kernel, which was developed using Sun Microsystems' JDK 1.1, is a fully functional commercial application, and currently is being used with CBT Systems' multicourse Java curriculum. CBT Systems' library of interactive education software titles currently use a C kernel for use on the Windows, Intel-based platform. By creating a Java kernel, CBT's parallel Java development effort will extend the reach of its courseware to run on additional platforms.

"Incorporating a Java kernel into our course development platform fits well with our overall strategy to provide customers with the most powerful learning experience available," said Bill Beamish, CBT Systems vice president of Product Strategy and Development. "A consistent and effective learning experience is important to our customers, many of whom are deploying training content throughout large enterprises. The Java-based environment will enable us to retain the integrity of our courseware -- with its consistent look and feel, rich graphics, technical depth, and sophisticated simulations -- across multiple platforms."

CBT Systems' Java kernel was certified by Sun Microsystems after undergoing a series of rigorous purity tests under the supervision of KeyLabs, Inc., an independent testing facility. The 100% Pure Java designation assures CBT customers that software titles developed using the Java kernel will run on a wide range of Java-compatible platforms.

"The ability to deploy training software throughout an enterprise is becoming more and more important to our customers as they realize the benefits that Java brings to their training efforts," Beamish said. "We developed our Java kernel to take advantage of the 'write once, run anywhere(TM)' capability offered by Java, and to provide our customers with the flexibility to run our courseware throughout an enterprise regardless of the hardware platforms used in their organizations.

"Our early and aggressive development efforts to produce the Java kernel mean that we will have Java-based training solutions in place for our customers as Java reaches critical mass in the corporate workplace," Beamish added. "Furthermore, in creating the Java kernel, we've developed considerable in-house expertise in Java, which will continue to be reflected in the technical depth of our Java curriculum. We're very gratified to be the first training company to receive Sun's stamp of approval on our Java development effort."

"We're delighted that CBT Systems has been awarded 100% Pure Java certification for its Java kernel," said George Paolini, director of corporate marketing at Sun Microsystems' JavaSoft division. "By adding a Java kernel to its courseware development platform, CBT Systems provides even greater reach for customers with enterprisewide training requirements."

CBT Systems Ltd., a subsidiary of CBT Group PLC (NASDAQ:CBTSY), is a leading provider of interactive education software designed to meet the information technology training needs of businesses and organizations worldwide. The company develops, publishes and markets a comprehensive library of 433 software titles, covering a range of client-server, Internet, and corporate intranet technologies. CBT Systems' products are used by more than 1,350 of the world's leading corporations to train employees to develop and apply mission-critical technologies in the workplace.

The company works with leading software companies, including Cisco, Informix, Lotus, Marimba, Microsoft, Netscape, Novell, Oracle, Powersoft, and the IBM-Netscape-Sun Microsystems Java consortium to develop and market vendor-specific training.

For information on CBT Systems products, call 800/387-0932, fax 415/614-5901, or send an email to salesinfo@cbtsys.com. CBT Systems is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.cbtsys.com . -0-

Note to Editors: All company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

CONTACT: CBT Systems Ltd.

Cindy McCaffrey, 415/614-5962

www.cbtsys.com">cindy_mccaffrey@www.cbtsys.com