SilverPlatter Announces Internet Subscriptions

October 18, 1994 -- Recognizing the potential for information delivery that
the Internet offers, SilverPlatter Information began a project in the fall
of 1993 which tested access to SilverPlatter databases via a direct
Internet connection.

Using its ERL technology, which is based on client/server architecture,
SilverPlatter offered participants in the test their choice of client
software: PC SPIRS, WinSPIRS and MacSPIRS. Participants downloaded the
client from SilverPlatter's ftp site located in Norwood, Massachusetts and
were then able to search over 40 databases housed on the SilverPlatter
server in Norwood. Over 60 sites from around the world were involved in
this test.

Because SilverPlatter's ERL clients offer the same functionality as their
standalone versions, searchers do not have to learn a new interface.
Access to all of SPIRS' search features is available from the platform of
choice: Macintosh, Windows, and DOS.

SilverPlatter's Internet access is seamless for the end-user. Bob Sessions,
a test participant from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, remarked
"The location of information doesn't matter to our users. They can't tell
whether they are using the Internet to search databases which are stored
across country or whether they are accessing CD-ROM databases housed here
in the library."

Sean Hegarty, SilverPlatter's Business Development Manager, commented "We
are extremely pleased with the outcome of this project. Internet access is
proving to be yet another way to deliver the information our subscribers
need."

Beginning in November, SilverPlatter will introduce 'Internet
subscriptions'. These subscriptions will be identical to CD-ROM
subscriptions. Users will subscribe to a specific database and will be
granted access for the proper number of simultaneous users. Internet
subscriptions will be priced the same as their corresponding title on
CD-ROM in accordance with the appropriate network usage level.

Initially, SilverPlatter is offering Internet subscriptions to all of its
public domain databases. And expects additional titles to be available for
Internet access as appropriate rights are acquired. Trials are available
for Internet subscriptions.

To find out more about Internet subscriptions or to try the service, send
an e-mail to: info@silverplatter.com.

SilverPlatter Information, Inc.
100 River Ridge Drive
Norwood, MA 02062-5043
Tel: 1-800-343-0064 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-617-769-2599
Fax: 1-617-769-8763
Internet: info@silverplatter.com
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Electronic Reference Library (ERL)

Collecting, Organizing and Distributing Electronic Information

ERL is SilverPlatter's software solution for providing Wide Area Network
access to all major databases. Utilizing open systems design, ERL offers
librarians the ability to create an electronic library by collecting,
organizing and distributing increasing amounts of electronic information
across institutional or cross-consortium networks via TCP/IP.

Based on client/server architecture, ERL has two software components: the
ERL clients (retrieval interface) and the ERL servers (search engine).
SilverPlatter's Data eXchange Protocol (DXP) standardizes the
communication between clients and servers. ERL-compliant databases are
mounted on one or more servers. Because ERL is equipped to interact with
many different clients, users on a network can choose retrieval software
in their native computing environment. A variety of high functionality
retrieval clients are currently available - PC-SPIRS, WinSPIRS and
MacSPIRS. And each SPIRS ERL client has all the functionality of its
stand-alone counterpart, ensuring that it is the right retrieval tool for
both novice and professional users.

By using DXP, independent software developers can create database
interfaces which are ERL-compliant. This interoperability offers
opportunities for an even greater selection of ERL interfaces.

Designed as a database networking solution for libraries, ERL can be
managed from a librarian's workstation, without requiring systems
expertise. The organizational tools within ERL enable an ERL administrator
to understand and customize their electronic library collection around the
needs of their user community. Furthermore, these tools enhance the
presentation of the electronic library resources, transforming it from an
unmanageable list of electronic databases to a single list of available
databases that can reside on single or multiple servers throughout an
institution or consortium or across the Internet. Because ERL is media
independent, CD-ROM, hard disk, and Internet access are all supported.

SilverPlatter currently offers retrieval clients for DOS, Windows and
Macintosh platforms. A UNIX character client which will support terminal
access is in development. The first release of ERL supports a SCO UNIX
server on an Intel platform. ERL server software for the Sun Solaris
platform is currently in development. Eventually, other UNIX platforms,
such as IBM AIX, DEC OSF-1 and Hewlett Packard HP-UX will be available.

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