April 10, 2002

Tokyo, Japan: Toshiba TEC, an international leader in Retail Information Systems, has released the beta version of "CrossMission"(codenamed WX.NET). A new set of application software components and software development tools for configuring business applications. "CrossMission" was created based on Microsoft .NET technologies.

CrossMission offers the development environment and the application execution environment for system engineers to build XML Web services. "CrossMission" combines extensive class libraries, standardized background services, and standardized graphical user interface components. Also included are application generation Wizards, templates, and application monitoring tools to provide a highly productive development environment with an extremely stable runtime.

All "CrossMission" development tools are compatible with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. While the middleware components coincide with the Microsoft .NET Framework and the Common Language Runtime (CLR). Toshiba TEC has been developing its own framework for Microsoft Windows to operate properly on both mass-merchandising store systems and always-open convenience store systems.

"Toshiba TEC has been working with Microsoft .NET technologies since February 2001. Today I am truly honored to release the beta version of 'CrossMission' as the fruits of our work together," said Mr. Ata, president of Microsoft Japan. "This will be a robust offering, that realizes our customers' needs and will accelerate the fusion between Internet technical standards and business applications, while strengthening business power."

"Frameworx chose 'CrossMission' for the purpose of fusing Logistics and IT. It helps deal with business changes, and allows for robust system operations," said a representative from Frameworx, a CrossMission beta tester. "By using 'CrossMission,' we can rapidly configure the execution environment with high reliability and stability. Further, we can focus on the development of logistics application programs."

The official release version of "CrossMission" is scheduled for the end of April 2002.

Toshiba TEC will expand the features and performance of "CrossMission", as well as expand retail information systems and ASP service utilizing "CrossMission". The latest related information is available on the following homepage.
http://www.wxfw.net

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