Mijenix Makes Updating Software and Drivers Easy With Release of Internet EasyUpdate

Business Wire, June 7, 1999

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1999--

New Internet tool for developers and IT professionals makes the process of updating end-user

software simpler, easier

Today Mijenix Corporation announced the release of EasyUpdate, a Software Development Kit (SDK) that developers and IT managers can use to create a customized update engine for their applications. Unique to EasyUpdate is that it is a "pull" technology, as opposed to a "push" technology, such as Marimba (NASDAQ: MRBA) Castanets.

"Finally, developers can have customers update their software without hassles, directly over the Internet," said Jennifer Kronenberg, president and CEO of Mijenix. "Best of all, this field-proven technology has already delivered over half a million updates."

"Until EasyUpdate, a developer had only two choices to support applications over the internet: Create your own or use one of the few products that invariably seemed to have serious limitations," said EasyUpdate user Rich Duff, Project Manager for INSIGHT, Inc. a maker of logistical software. "This tool is powerful and elegant, and fills this much needed niche in the developer's arsenal. Internet deployment and support is now a basic requirement for a competitive product and EasyUpdate gives the developer full control over this process. Easy to use, but capable of advanced capabilities such as secure server support, this product has saved me considerable time and effort and is much better than anything else in its class. Highly recommended."

The process of updating software and drivers made easy

The EasyUpdate SDK provides a rapid way for developers and IT professionals to create a customized client-side update mechanism. Once installed on a client system, a user can have the customized EasyUpdate program compare their version of the software with the latest available from the vendor or internal server.

EasyUpdate's industry-standard architecture and use of the Internet mean it can be deployed into current web-based support programs with a minimum of effort. This technology can be used to update everything from multimedia drivers to help files to entire office applications.

Developers and IT managers save time and money wasted due to

service hassles

EasyUpdate reduces installed-base problems caused by out-of-date software. Because customers are more likely to have the latest software releases, they are not as likely to call customer service with known and fixed bugs to report.

No special software required

EasyUpdate uses the customer's connection to the Internet, established using Microsoft's Internet protocol engine. All of the components necessary to implement EasyUpdate are shipped with the EasyUpdate SDK, including the Internet protocol engine, which can be copied onto client systems through an installation program (Win 95/A systems running through a proxy server will require Internet Explorer on the PC. See the specifications section at the end of this document for further information).

Importantly, no special software is required on the server side.

Works through firewalls and proxy servers

EasyUpdate works with most standard HTTP and FTP servers and will also work though most types of firewalls and proxy servers.

Works as an advertising/communications medium

EasyUpdate can also display custom information or advertising during the download process. This could be used to inform users about other products or to convey important information.

Security and Speed Options

To speed downloads, all files downloaded by EasyUpdate can be zipped and EasyUpdate can unzip them before installing them. The zip files can also be encrypted with standard zip encryption for data security.

Flexible update models

EasyUpdate can simply replace old components with new, downloaded components; or it can run one of the downloaded files in order to complete the installation. The downloaded installation program (written by the vendor/IT professional) might do a number of things, such as verify that a purchased version of the product already exists on the client computer, query the customer for installation information or extract files from an encrypted zip archive.

Pricing

EasyUpdate is available for immediate delivery from Mijenix's web site or by calling the company directly. The developer price is $299, sold on a per product, per language basis. IT managers interested in deploying the application in their organization should contact Mijenix for special pricing.

Special offer for shareware authors

Members of the Association of Shareware Professionals can receive the product for a special price of $149.95 by contacting Mijenix.

Specifications, foreign language support

The EasyUpdate SDK supports Windows 95, 98 and NT systems. All files necessary for distribution are included in the SDK, including Microsoft's Internet Protocol engine. (Note: On Win 95/A systems running through a proxy server, Internet Explorer needs to be present on the system and configured to work with the proxy server.)

The product will initially be available in English, with versions for Spanish, French and German forthcoming. A downloadable evaluation version is available on the company's website at http://www.mijenix.com. For more information, contact Mijenix Corporation at 303/245-8000 or 800/MIJENIX or visit www.mijenix.com.