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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of February 3, 1999
Micro Focus Group Public Limited Company
(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)
The Lawn, Old Bath Road, Newbury, England RG14 1QN
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F X Form 40-F _____
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(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)
Yes X No _____
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(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b): 82-795.)
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LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
Today INTERSOLV, a company in the Micro Focus Group announced a new agreement
with Infoseek to empower their GO Network to deliver on the promise of
e-business - rapid access to diverse information sources. Infoseek is now one of
more than 450 independent software companies using the company's DataDirect
technology. Using DataDirect SequeLink as part of GO Network, Infoseek is able
to securely access disparate data sources across multiple platform types,
providing fast, round-the-clock connectivity to real-time information for its
customers. The release is as follows:
E-Business on Infoseek GO Network Driven by DataDirect Technology
Infoseek Chooses DataDirect SequeLink to Speed Delivery of Customized Content
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Feb. 3, 1999 - INTERSOLV, Inc., a company in the Micro
Focus Group ("Micro Focus") (London Stock Exchange: MICF; NASDAQ: MIFGY), today
announced a new agreement with Infoseek Corp (NASDAQ: SEEK), a leader in the Web
portal race and one of the world's largest directories of Web sites. With more
than 20 million users, Infoseek's GO Network demands a data connectivity
solution that can deliver on the promise of e-business - rapid access to diverse
information sources. Using INTERSOLV DataDirect technology as part of GO
Network, Infoseek is able to securely access disparate data sources across
multiple platform types, providing fast, round-the-clock connectivity to
real-time information for its customers.
Infoseek relies on a vast network of content databases and Web servers to
deliver critical information to its users. The recent addition of more than 700
Microsoft SQL Server databases from Disney's Starwave division makes
connectivity even more vital. Ensuring seamless access from Infoseek's
Unix-hosted Web server to select databases - without a hitch in performance - is
critical. As a result, Infoseek chose DataDirect SequeLink for its key data
connectivity, underlining SequeLink's role as an important integration engine
for e-Business.
"In this business, performance is absolutely critical. A majority of our data is
real-time from news feeds and other content sources. Shortening the amount of
time it takes to go from the original source to the user is imperative," said
Changming Shih, Director of Core Service at Infoseek. "With DataDirect
SequeLink's fast and reliable connectivity between Infoseek's distributed
servers, we can ensure that our performance is premier."
Utilizing DataDirect SequeLink to bridge the gap between Unix and Windows NT,
Infoseek was able to deliver two GO Network applications in record time. "In
looking for an ODBC solution that could access SQL Server databases from a Unix
machine, we found that nothing came close to SequeLink," said Dan Larsson,
Manager of Content Engineering at Infoseek. The first two applications Infoseek
developed using the SequeLink connectivity solution were Horoscope and Weather
systems. From installation to production, the first application was up and
running in less than two months.
Another primary requirement of Infoseek's middleware solution was that it
provides connectivity using the ODBC data access standard. DataDirect SequeLink
provides a single, universal ODBC-based client for direct, point-to-point
connections from client to server and access to data stored in multiple
databases.
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"We're thrilled to be a part of Infoseek's Web portal capabilities. As the Web
becomes an important tool for business and leisure, technology that can speed
information to the end-user can deliver a powerful business edge," said Edward
Peters, INTERSOLV senior vice president and general manager of DataDirect. "With
DataDirect SequeLink, Infoseek customers can retrieve data quickly, reliably and
securely."
DataDirect
DataDirect is the industry standard for data connectivity, offering a unique
blend of reliable, flexible middleware that supports industry standards such as
ODBC, JDBC and OLE DB. With solutions for client, server and Internet based
systems, DataDirect helps customers reduce costs and speed the delivery of
critical business information. More than three million customers and over 500
leading vendors worldwide, including Oracle, PLATINUM technology, IBM, Informix,
JavaSoft, Microsoft and Sybase, have established DataDirect as the standard for
quality, support and technology leadership.
About Infoseek
Infoseek Corporation (Nasdaq: SEEK) is a premier global media network enriching
people's daily lives by combining integrated Internet services with leading
consumer brands. In January 1999 Infoseek, in partnership with the Walt Disney
Company, launched GO Network, a major Internet site designed to connect people
with the things they care about most.
On November 18, 1998, Infoseek completed the acquisition of Starwave
Corporation, which was principally-owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS).
In connection with that transaction, Disney became Infoseek's principal
shareholder, holding 43 percent of Infoseek's outstanding common stock. Infoseek
has commerce and/or content arrangements with entities that include AT&T,
autobytel.com, Borders Group, Inc., CMP Media, Inc, Datek Online, Inc.,
Microsoft Corporation, PeopleLink, Inc., UPS, and Reuters. In addition, Infoseek
licenses its Ultraseek Server search and navigation software to companies for
their own intranet, extranet and Internet sites. Infoseek is headquartered in
Sunnyvale, Calif.
Micro Focus Corporate Profile
Micro Focus (NASDAQ: MIFGY; London Stock Exchange: MICF) is a leading software
solutions vendor that enables corporations to accelerate the development and
delivery of applications designed to run in today's distributed enterprise
computing environments. The company's solutions allow its customers to leverage
their existing IT investments in applications and people; to access information
quickly and easily; to build applications that integrate existing information
assets across the enterprise; and to manage the development and deployment
process to ensure quality applications.
Founded in 1976, Micro Focus is known as a leading provider of enterprise
application development and maintenance solutions for MVS, UNIX, Windows, NT and
Web environments. With its recent acquisition of INTERSOLV, a global market
leader in software change management and open data connectivity products and
services, Micro Focus is now a leader in helping its customers respond quickly
to business and technological change.
Micro Focus products include the PVCS line of software change management
products, the DataDirect line of standards-based dataaccess and connectivity
products, and the Micro Focus line of applications development and
transformation solutions. For additional information on Micro Focus and its
products, visit the Micro Focus Web site at http://www.microfocus.com.
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Micro Focus is a registered trademark of Micro Focus Limited. INTERSOLV,
DataDirect, PVCS and SequeLink are registered trademarks of INTERSOLV, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Micro Focus Group plc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. In the U.S., Micro Focus is located at 701
E. Middlefield Road, Mountain View, Calif. 94043; telephone 650-938-3700. In the
UK, Micro Focus is located at The Lawn, 22-30 Old Bath Road, Newbury, Berkshire,
RG14 1QN; telephone 01635 32646.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Micro Focus Group Public Limited Company
(Registrant)
Date: February 3, 1999 By: /s/ Kenneth A. Sexton
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Kenneth Sexton
Chief Financial Officer
