WeatherLabs Announces Support For Sun Microsystems' Latest Release Of Java Development Kit

Business Wire, Dec 8, 1998

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 1998--

JDK(TM) Software Provides Foundation For Online Weather Applications

WeatherLabs Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Courier Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:DCTI), today announced full support for the next release of Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java(TM) Development Kit (JDK(TM) version 1.2). This newest release of the JDK provides a rich feature set of new class libraries and tools, making it easier than ever for developers to create portable, distributed, enterprise-class applications. WeatherLabs has been an early adopter of the JDK 1.2 software in its early stages, and WeatherLabs' technology was showcased by Sun Fellow, James Gosling, during his keynote speech at the JavaOne trade show earlier this year. With the final release of these new Java foundation tools, WeatherLabs will be able to further enhance its intelligent weather forecasting applications and server-side Web site weather publishing engines. Sun's announcement of the availability of the next version of the JDK was made today during the Java(SM) Business Expo(SM) in New York City today.

"The final release of JDK 1.2 is a major milestone for Sun Microsystems and for businesses seeking to produce robust server-side enterprise Java applications," stated Brendan Lane Larson, Senior Vice President of Digital Courier and President of WeatherLabs. "At WeatherLabs, we've been using early releases of JDK 1.2 for several months. These real-time applications composite and overlay high resolution weather imagery such as Doppler radar onto visually appealing topographic maps. These composited maps are, in turn, served to the millions of consumers who frequent Web portals such as Excite (Nasdaq:XCIT) and Netscape's (Nasdaq:NSCP) Netcenter. The JDK 1.2 has been instrumental in the success of WeatherLabs in this key aspect of our business," added Larson.

"WeatherLabs continues to enhance its intelligent weather forecasting applications and server-side Web site weather publishing engines with Java technologies," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president and general manager of the Java platform at Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java Software. "We are delighted to see WeatherLabs underscore its commitment to the Java platform and to the advancement of Java technology."

"At WeatherLabs, we use the advanced image compositing features that come with the JDK 1.2 and JFC in the form of the Java 2D API," stated Jason Swartz, Senior Software Architect at WeatherLabs. "We like the strong image manipulation features and tools that let us create our multi-layer weather maps, as well JDK's built-in support of the industry standard JPEG format," added Swartz.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java and JDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. in the United States and other countries.

About Digital Courier Technologies, Inc.

Digital Courier Technologies, Inc. supplies online businesses and major web portals with sophisticated e-commerce and content delivery software. The software is based on a powerful matrix of server-side Java software components. Among the Company's customers are Excite, Netscape, @Home, and Preview Travel, and international customers such as Scandinavia Online and StarMedia. The company hosts the following prominent web site and online services: netClearing, an electronic commerce service for Internet payment processing; WeatherLabs, a premiere online weather information service (www.weatherlabs.com); Books Now (www.booksnow.com) and Videos Now (www.videosnow.com), retail e-commerce sites.