Odyssey Software and Factory Client Computers Provide Developer's Toolkit for Microsoft Windows CE Automation Devices

Business Wire, March 15, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

National Manufacturing Week

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

JumpStart for FactoryClient 2000 Bundles Leading

Windows(R)CE Solutions for Rapid Development of

Real-Time Enterprise Data Access Applications

Odyssey Software, Inc., and Factory Client Computers, a GE Fanuc company, announced a co-marketing agreement today at the National Manufacturing Week Conference and Exhibition that will provide a single-source developer's toolkit offering businesses inexpensive direct access to enterprise data systems - via Factory Client Computers' FactoryClient(tm) 2000 Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE-based industrial automation device and CEfusion(tm) Enterprise data access tools and infrastructure.

Using the toolkit, software developers and solution providers can quickly and easily build industrial automation applications with best-of-breed components from Factory Client Computers and Odyssey Software, Inc., including the FactoryClient 2000, the innovative Windows CE-based automation device used today for such applications as process control and data collection. Familiar industry standard development tools allow developers to immediately benefit from using Odyssey Software's CEfusion - a rich set of enterprise connectivity tools and infrastructure that enable interactive data access in real-time for devices powered by Windows CE.

The developer's toolkit, called JumpStart for FactoryClient 2000, includes industry-leading components that dramatically reduce development time, and saves 40 percent of the cost of purchasing the pieces individually. "Cost effective, online enterprise data access which permits interactive access from the factory floor direct to MES, MRP, and ERP systems is part of the next wave of productivity enabled by devices powered by Windows CE," said Frank Wood, Executive VP Operator Interface Division, Factory Client Computers. "Using this toolkit developers can leverage their existing skill sets and provide solutions that tightly integrate into enterprise information architectures."

"CEfusion enables direct online interactive connectivity to ERP and MRP systems," said Mark Gentile, President & CEO of Odyssey Software, "and developers can hardly believe how quickly they can deploy effective solutions using industry standard tools such as Visual Basic(R) or Visual C (R) and CEfusion from Odyssey Software. In under two days, we developed an interactive inventory management demonstration with direct access to SAP/R3(R) systems."

JUMPSTART FOR FACTORYCLIENT 2000 CONTENTS

This turnkey solution consists of hardware, software and detailed tutorial documentation that takes developers through each phase in the creation of an industrial automation application with real-time, on line interactive access to enterprise data. Toolkit contents include:

- Factory Client Computers FactoryClient 2000 industrial automation device
powered by Microsoft Windows CE - designed for process control and data
collection applications. In a compact package, the Factory Client device
supplies a touch screen, two industrial serial ports, Ethernet and printer
ports and interfaces to Profibus, DeviceNet and a dozen other industrial
networks. The FactoryClient 2000 can be supplied with third party software
packages for HMI, control and web access.

- Odyssey Software CEfusion Enterprise and sample application - a high
performance suite of real-time, online interactive data access connectivity
tools and infrastructure, as well as a sample application and tutorial that can
be used to learn about and build multi-tier applications for wireless and wired
computing devices.

- Windows CE Toolkit for Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 - the rapid development
process in Visual Basic provides the ideal choice for most development
platforms.

- Mobile Enterprise Tutorial - a step-by-step guide to ease developers' entry
into the world of mobile enterprise computing.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The JumpStart for FactoryClient 2000 Developer Kit is a limited time offer, available now to qualified developers through Factory Client Computers (www.FactoryClient2000.com or 708-345-5500) for $2,246; a 40 percent savings over the retail value of $3,785. More information is available at www.CEJumpStart.com.

JUMPSTART FOR FACTORYCLIENT 2000 PARTNERS

The JumpStart for FactoryClient 2000 Developer Kit is made possible through a co-marketing agreement between the following enterprise computing vendors:

Odyssey Software, Inc. - Odyssey Software, Inc. is the leading provider of mobile enterprise data access tools and infrastructure, optimized for wireless. Odyssey Software's tools and infrastructure allow real-time, online, interactive access to your centralized data using devices powered by Windows CE, Windows 95/98/NT, MS-DOS, and Palm OS. For more information, call (716) 214-2409 x202, send email to info@odysseysoftware.com, or visit the web site at www.odysseysoftware.com.

Factory Client Computers - The Factory Client Division of CDI, a GE Fanuc Company, designs, develops, and markets products and technologies for the control segment of the automation market based on the Windows CE Operating system from Microsoft. The Factory Client computer products are sold primarily over the net, directly from the factory, and in conjunction with various CE Software Partners. For further information on the FC2000 or the CE Partners Program, contact Lawrence Ricci at GE Fanuc, 2001 North Janice Ave., Melrose Park, IL 60160, 708-345-5500, www.tcp-industrialplatfrom.com.