FAST Enables Independent Software Vendors to Develop Enterprise Search Applications Leveraging the Sun Solaris 10 Operating System

Business Wire, Nov 29, 2005

OSLO, Norway -- FAST Extends Enterprise Search Leadership Position with Industry's Most Comprehensive Platform Support

FAST joins Sun Partner Advantage Program

Fast Search & Transfer(TM) (FAST(TM)), the leading developer of enterprise search and real-time alerting technologies, today announced that FAST now supports the Sun Solaris(TM) 10 Operating System (OS). FAST also joined the Sun Partner Advantage Program for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Sun's Ten Moves Ahead partner initiative to speed market adoption of the Solaris 10 OS. The Sun Partner Advantage Program for ISVs will enable FAST to build, market, and sell enterprise search-based applications designed to leverage the strengths of the Solaris 10 OS.

A critical component of FAST's OEM enterprise search strategy involves FAST InStream, an OEM-specific enterprise search solution developed specifically to meet the complex application-based search requirements of ISVs. FAST InStream is extremely flexible and capable of running on a wide variety of operating systems, including the Solaris 10 OS powered by UltraSPARC(R) processors, HP-UX, Windows, Linux, and AIX software platforms. Ninety-one of the Fortune 100 are already using the Solaris 10 OS, and customer demand continues to grow at unprecedented levels.

FAST InStream is designed to increase the value of enterprise applications and boost ROI for the partner's customers by leveraging the power of FAST Enterprise Search Platform (FAST ESP(TM)) technology. Supporting both structured and unstructured data, FAST InStream provides unique value across all types of software applications, including enterprise portals and intranet sites, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions, Business Intelligence (BI) suites and applications, as well as storage and archiving solutions.

"Enterprise search is increasingly becoming the backbone for mission-critical applications, such as ECM, storage, CRM, business intelligence and ERP systems, enabling users to access and analyze data in ways considered impossible or impractical just a few years ago," said Stephen Borcich, Vice President of Partner Marketing, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Working with technologies from FAST will enable our customers and partners to leverage search for increased ROI from their existing applications, as well as build new, innovative search-related applications leveraging the Solaris 10 OS."

"We have always enjoyed a close relationship with Sun, and continually work to help organizations leverage the benefits of Sun's advanced offerings," explained Bjorn Olstad, chief technology officer of FAST. "It is extremely important that FAST products support the most advanced versions of the major operating systems, and our relationship with Sun further demonstrates that we enable companies to benefit from enterprise search regardless of their existing infrastructure. The flexibility, scalability, and superior enterprise search technology of FAST InStream allows OEMs to develop creative solutions for real business problems across all platforms."

FAST has transformed enterprise search from a powerful, yet narrowly perceived function, into an enterprise-wide strategic and tactical capability of pivotal importance. FAST ESP, FAST InStream, FAST PSP, and FAST's portfolio of solutions and Search Derivative Applications (SDAs) supply a complete information retrieval solution ideal for a growing number of key vertical markets and applications including e-Commerce and Internet Portals, Financial Services, Government, Life Sciences, Media and Publishing, and Telecom. For FAST, the search never stops.

About FAST

FAST creates the real-time search and filter technology solutions that are behind the scenes at the world's best known companies with the most demanding search problems. FAST's flexible and scalable integrated technology platform elevates the search capabilities of enterprise customers and connects people to the relevant information they seek regardless of medium. This drives revenues and reduces total cost of ownership by effectively leveraging IT infrastructure. FAST's powerful enterprise search technology solutions are used by more than 2,000 global customers and partners, including America Online (AOL), AT&T, Cardinal Health, CareerBuilder.com, Chordiant, CIGNA, CNET, Dell, Factiva, Fidelity Investments, Findexa, IBM, Knight Ridder, LexisNexis, Overture, Rakuten, Reed Elsevier, Reuters, Sensis, Stellent, Tenet Healthcare, Thomas Industrial Networks, T-Online, US Army, Virgilio (Telecom Italia), Vodafone, and Wanadoo.

FAST is headquartered in Norway and is publicly traded under the ticker symbol 'FAST' on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The FAST Group operates globally with presence in Europe, the United States, Asia Pacific, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. For further information about FAST, please visit www.fastsearch.com.

(C) 2005 Fast Search & Transfer ASA - Fast Search & Transfer, FAST, FAST ESP, FAST Data Search, FAST Marketrac, FAST AdVisor, FAST InStream, FAST ImPulse, FAST mSearch, FAST ProPublish, FAST PSP and the FAST four-colored logo are trademarks of Fast Search & Transfer ASA. All rights reserved. FAST disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.