PersonalGenie Announces Release of Secure Implementation of Jini Lookup Service; Sun Microsystems Hails Service as Important Step in Commercial Success of Jini Technology

Business Wire, June 5, 2000

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2000

PersonalGenie(TM), a leading developer of intelligent personalization technology, announced today at the fourth Jini(TM) Community Meeting that it is developing the first implementation of a secure lookup service for Sun Microsystems' Jini technology. A beta version of the service, code-named "Redfish," will be available for download in early third quarter this year. A release version of the service is expected to be available for licensing at the end of the fourth quarter.

"Security in the delivery of personalized services is an important step in the commercial success of Jini," said Curtis Sasaki, director, Sun's Consumer Technologies. "That's why we are so pleased that PersonalGenie, as a member of the Jini Community, has developed this first implementation of a secure lookup service. They recognized the market need and have provided a solution to help ensure the success and market viability of Jini across the industry."

"Developing a secure lookup service was a natural outgrowth of our business model," said Sylvia Tidwell Scheuring, President and CEO of PersonalGenie. "In our business of personalization, security is one of our principal concerns. We have a sacred trust to protect the customer's private information. When we chose Jini technology as the basis for our architecture, we recognized the importance of security in that environment and decided to build a comprehensive security component for it. We are very proud to be the first to develop this service, which will not only protect our customers, but will help to promote the overall success of Jini technology."

Beginning in the fourth quarter 2000, PersonalGenie's "Redfish" technology can be used by any licensed developer as a security measure for products built using Jini technology. As a member of the Jini Community, PersonalGenie will participate with Sun in the ongoing development of a standard for the general security infrastructure of Jini technology.

"To understand how the secure lookup service works, think of Jini technology as a house, and `Redfish' as the locked front door on that house," said Ayal Spitz, Senior Software Engineer at PersonalGenie and the principal developer of `Redfish.' "Jini technology provides a framework around Jini services, much like your house provides the framework around your possessions. Like a lock on the front door, Redfish helps to keep the Jini services safe and secure inside the Jini `house.' Using industry-recognized X509 certificates and cryptographic software from RSA, `Redfish' requires authentication of all outside requests to access the services within the Jini framework."

"PersonalGenie's secure lookup service is a key first element in the construction of commercial Jini applications," said Aleta Ricciardi, Chief Scientist at Synaptus, Incorporated, and a member of the Technical Oversight Committee of the Jini Community. "A secure lookup service will enable Jini services to participate, securely, in a distributed, impromptu, collaborative fashion. This has been the primary vision of Jini applications, and PersonalGenie's secure lookup service is a major contribution to that vision."

"Because Sun decided to make Jini technology an open standard," said Curtis Sasaki, "we encourage Jini Community members to develop key solutions like this which will foster the widespread use of Jini technology."

About PersonalGenie

PersonalGenie is an application service provider offering intelligent personalization solutions for smart devices, content, portals, and e-commerce. PersonalGenie's personalization solutions are based on revolutionary Digital Portrait(TM) technology, which characterizes consumers individually, based on a cognitive model of personality, interests, and intentions. PersonalGenie uses the portraits to match consumers with products and services that meet their needs, to configure networked devices, and to help consumers plan complex events like vacations, weddings, and births. PersonalGenie's Digital Portrait technology is unique because the portraits are intelligent and adaptive, becoming more accurate over time.

Companies that use PersonalGenie's technology enjoy a competitive advantage in offering their customers more choice, more convenience, and more personalized service. More information about PersonalGenie can be found on the Web at www.personalgenie.com.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, Jini, JavaOne, The Network Is The Computer and all Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

PersonalGenie, Digital Portrait, and the PersonalGenie logo are trademarks of Personal Genie, Inc.