Press Release

February 13, 2001

OTTAWA, Canada - 13 February 2001: Espial, creators of software that powers the world of smart Internet devices, today announced the 2nd devicetop.com Smart Device Application Contest. The competition promotes and recognizes excellence in the development of software for smart Internet devices, such as webphones, interactive TVs, wireless devices, and automotive in-vehicle systems. It begins immediately and ends May 15, 2001. Winners will be announced in June at JavaOne in San Francisco.

All qualified entries will be posted on devicetop.com, the premier web portal for developers of services for smart Internet devices. Devicetop.com, with over 3000 members since its launch last June, is an initiative of Espial and is supported by such industry leaders as Sun, Intel, Motorola, Amiga, Tao Group, IAN, Pointbase, Dr. Dobb's Journal, Java Report, and JavaWorld™.com. It offers news and industry information, discussion forums, technical tutorials, and software development tools such as Espial Espresso ™, for developers to learn, communicate, and create application services. The site provides developers with a global marketing venue to showcase their application services to leading consumer electronics manufacturers, service providers and network operators.

“We’re very excited about this second contest,” commented Jill Meloche, Web Marketing Manager for devicetop.com. “We believe we offer enticing incentives for developers to create Java applications for Internet-enabled devices. Not only could they win a journey to the edge of space; but they could come home and sell their winning application to a device manufacturer and earn royalties.”

Business, academic, and individual developers may submit for consideration their Java applets and applications designed for Internet-enabled TV set-top box or an automotive in-vehicle system. Criteria for the judging of entries will be based on originality, source code created, innovation, industry applicability, reliability, look & feel, extensibility, and re-usability. Entries will be judged by a panel of Java experts. For more information about the contest and the official rules, visit www.devicetop.com.

The contest is open worldwide. A total prize pool valued at over $40,000 US will be awarded to the winners. The first place winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to Moscow, Russia, 5 nights stay at a downtown luxury hotel, a flight aboard the legendary MiG-25 “Foxbat” to the edge of space, and 100,000 Rubles in spending money. The second prize is a trip to Russia and float in true weightlessness in a zero-G flight. The third place winner will receive a grand tour of the Russian Space Center. Cash equivalent prizes may be taken instead of any of these packages.