Softlocx have today launched a new software based solution for protecting software from piracy, and integrating e-commerce into any application completely code free for use with any e-commerce provider.

Dongles (add on hardware devices) have traditionally been the means of securely protecting software, but since the discovery that there are now companies advertising on the Internet who can legally remove this type of protection from software, developers have become increasingly worried about the implications of using this type of protection.

An alternative to this type of security device is Softlocx. Softlocx uses the same information as a dongle to lock itself to the PC, but without any additional hardware.

Probably the most unique feature to Softlocx though, is that it opens up the market for any software developer wanting to sell software over the Internet with no ongoing costs or royalty fees.

John Safa, Technical Director of Softlocx commented, "This software is aimed at those who want an alternative to dongles with the added benefits of e-commerce enabled applications, network protection, and secure desktop protection without any additional hardware or ongoing costs. There are companies on the Internet who specialize in LEGALLY removing dongles from software rendering it open to piracy. By using a software based security application such as Softlocx you can ensure that you have the most secure and portable security option currently available on the market. "

Softlocx can bind software protection to any Windows 32-bit application and requires no code or programming knowledge to do so.

Softlocx requires no dongles or keydisks and is a total software based protection technology.

Softlocx stores key hardware information from the host PC into a secure 64-bit encrypted data license.

Softlocx allows you to integrate e-commerce, trialware functionality, network protection combined with the ability to transfer licenses and generate your own unlock codes.

Softlocx costs $299 with no ongoing costs - completely royalty free. VB Online Price $259.00

A detailed comparison of Softlocx Vs Dongles can be found at the following URL: http://www.softlocx.com/pages/dongles.html

Advantage Database Server 5.5 Introduces StreamlineSQL

BOISE, Idaho--June 28, 1999--A new concept will be introduced to developers this August when Extended Systems releases Advantage Database Server 5.5 with StreamlineSQL(tm).

The embedded database server integrated SQL solution is fast, efficient and effective. It costs less than competing products and does not require a database administrator to maintain, even though SQL support has been added. This has been achieved, according to Advantage Business Unit Manager Pat Sheridan, by focusing product design and functionality implementation on performance and stability. "Performance is king," said Sheridan. "We don't build anything into Advantage that is going to bog down the server. Our goal is to save developers time and money by giving them a product that runs lean and fast."

Integrated SQL capabilities were added to the Advantage core navigational client/server engine through Extended Systems' new StreamlineSQL technology. The SQL engine handles a subset of ANSI-92 SQL grammar and comes with interfaces designed for specific development environments including Delphi, C++Builder, CA-Clipper, CA-Visual Objects, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual C/C++, Microsoft Visual FoxPro and FoxPro 2.6.