Helmi Technologies Launches Open Source RIA Platform for AJAX-Based Rich Internet Applications

October 11 2006

Helmi Technologies, Inc. today announced the launch of the first beta release for its Open Source RIA Platform v2.0. Now as an open source release, Helmi's Platform makes it easier than ever for enterprises and developers to rapidly and cost-effectively create browser-independent AJAX RIAs (rich Internet applications).

By providing leading edge source code free of charge (the open source model), Helmi enables enterprises to leverage the knowledge within their development teams, contribute directly to the code base, and quickly bring high quality solutions to market. Helmi's Open Source RIA Platform enables enterprises to create the rich, highly interactive solutions end users demand, while reducing development costs and speeding time to market.

"AJAX is a key component in Web 2.0 architecture," says John Andrews, president of Evans Data Corp, a market research firm. "The Helmi business model is geared toward making a necessary technology easier to adopt for a significant number of developers and speeding time to market development."

In a recent study of software developers using AJAX, Evans Data Corp found that 84 percent are writing simple Web applications and 37 percent are writing RIAs. Over a third of the developers believe the number one barrier to AJAX adoption is lack of skills and almost a quarter say browser compatibility is the key limitation, according to the study.

The Helmi Open Source RIA Platform delivers on the promise of Web 2.0. For the first time, client- and server-side engineers can create high performance applications because they can use the same components and communicate effectively through an object-oriented framework. This capability when combined with Helmi's patented browser independence, enables companies to cut development time by over 50 percent, while creating the fast, compelling and interactive experience that users want.

"Helmi allows enterprises and developers to deliver the best RIAs and web services that build customer loyalty and secure competitive advantages," said Juho Risku, CEO of Helmi Technologies. "Helmi's RIA Platform brings together a successful combination of great design and leading edge engineering that has been many years in the making. We're very excited to be offering this platform to the open source community, where we feel it rightly belongs."

The Helmi Open Source RIA Platform enables developers to rapidly create easy-to-use, high-impact web applications by leveraging existing skills and development environments, such as Eclipse and J2EE.

"Where users see power, depth and elegance in Web 2.0 and AJAX applications, developers see complexity, skill-set gaps and implementation headaches," said Jorden Woods, CEO of Helmi in the U.S. "Until now, these issues restricted the use of RIA technology to either relatively modest functionality or to relatively forgiving, non-mission critical applications. The Helmi Open Source RIA Platform extends the richness of these earlier approaches to the enterprise, while easing the developers' burden."

Helmi Open Source RIA Platform v2.0:

-- Client Framework -- Built by world-class GUI developers, the Client

Framework is a 100% browser-based client platform for RIA development

that does not require client-side installation. It simplifies designing

sophisticated applications, significantly improves RIA usability and

reduces HTML overhead.

-- Virtual Browser -- Enables seamless cross-browser application

operations and offers extensive control over browser features.

Applications can be developed independent of the browser and UI

components can be reused across many platforms and devices.

-- Integrated Development Environment (IDE) -- Allows UI designers and

server developers to work independently yet collaboratively in a

shared, object-oriented environment. Server developers can create and

integrate RIAs within the J2EE server development paradigm, while UI

designers can work in visual mode through layout and revision cycles,

continuously previewing application look and feel without needing to

touch Java code.

-- J2EE-based AJAX Server Connect -- Handles transfer and insertion of

data into Helmi's AJAX client application, simplifying the process of

moving data from server to client.

Benefits:

-- Radically reduces development cost and time -- AJAX your applications

fast!

-- Browser independence -- Write once, run on all major browsers

-- Front-end and back-end engineers share the same object oriented

framework

-- Leverages existing development skills and environments (J2EE and

Eclipse)

-- High impact and high performance RIAs that provide superior user

experience

-- Superior UI components and capabilities

-- Intelligent Model View Controller (IMVC) provides high performance user

experience

About Helmi Technologies

Helmi Technologies is the only product company focused on providing an open source AJAX-based development platform that employs patented technology for building browser-independent RIAs (rich Internet applications). Helmi's Open Source RIA Platform works with existing development tools such as Eclipse and JBoss and allows web developers to create web applications that provide rich and highly interactive user experiences. The platform enables companies to slash development time by 50 percent and significantly reduce costs. The U.S. office of Helmi Technologies is in Mountain View, Calif. and global headquarters is in Oulu, Finland. For more information, visit http://www.helmitechnologies.com .

NOTE: Helmi Technologies is a trademark of Helmi Technologies, Inc. All other registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

Gary Byrd

FortyThree, Inc.

831.621.3773

gbyrd@fortythreepr.com