Netscape Communications Corp is now shipping its Application Server 2.0 software for deploying business applications on the Internet and intranets, the first fruits of its acquisition last year of Kiva Software Corp (CI No 3,297). Originally due in December, Application Server 2.0 is the next generation of Kiva’s Enterprise Server, which includes legacy systems integration and management capabilities to enable businesses to put mission critical business applications up not only on their internal intranets but also to extend them out to customers and suppliers via a secure ‘extranet.’ In addition to the server, Netscape is also shipping a development environment for building applications in Java and C++, Netscape Application Builder 2.0, and the Netscape Extension Builder toolkit to enable developers to build server extensions to access legacy systems, client-server applications and third party internet services such as credit card payment systems. In addition to building their own extensions, companies can also buy Netscape’s own pre-built extensions which enable access to BEA Systems Inc’s Tuxedo and IBM Corp’s MQSeries middleware, which enable web-based applications to be integrated with CICS mainframe transaction systems and IMS systems. Netscape Extension Builder will be available by the end of this quarter. The Application Server and Application Builder as well as the pre-built extensions are available now. Application Server 2.0 is $25,000 per CPU on NT and $35,000 per CPU on Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Silicon Graphics Inc’s Irix operating system.
