Software Toolbox Inc. Partners with Siemens
to Enhance Visual Basic to OPC Connectivity

Charlotte, NC January 18, 2001 –Software Toolbox^®, Inc. (www.softwaretoolbox.com) announced today a partnership in which Software Toolbox Inc. will be licensing software technology from Siemens for linking Visual Basic to OPC servers.  The first product from this new relationship is the OPC Data ActiveX control, available for delivery now from Software Toolbox Inc. at www.OPCActiveX.com, the portal website Software Toolbox Inc.'s e-Business division has created for the product.

The OPC Data ActiveX control provides developers wanting to add OLE for Process Control (OPC) client functionality to Visual Basic applications a robust and easy-to-configure means of connecting to live process data in OPC servers.  The developer adds the OPC Data ActiveX control to their project and uses it's browsing functionality to connect to OPC servers, choose data, and bind that data to user interface objects in their application. The OPC Data Control handles all of the details of OPC group management, connection management, error reporting, and callbacks for the developer.  Before the availability of this product, users often had to write a large amount of code in Visual Basic to connect it to OPC servers.

Bob Nelson, Marketing Manager of Siemens' Industrial Software Business Unit, points out "The relationship with Software Toolbox provides Siemens with a partner who can help us leverage our investments in component software technologies across a wider range of the global market."

John Weber, President of Software Toolbox, adds, "A key part of our value proposition to companies like Siemens is that our user base crosses vendor lines and reaches into customers that Siemens might not normally reach through traditional channels. Also, because our focus is on the use of component software in the automation industry, we bring a point of view to the market positioning of a product that might be overlooked otherwise. We are particularly excited about our partnership with Siemens because it brings us access to their leadership and expertise in the field of OPC and a faster time to market for products our clients were demanding, including the OPC Data ActiveX control. By partnering with Siemens, we know we are getting the best technology we can get for our users backed by solid engineering, design, and testing practices that compliment our own focus on engineering and quality."

About Siemens

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation (www.sea.siemens.com) manufactures and markets the world's broadest range of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems.

About Software Toolbox

Founded in 1996 to address the growing need for a single source for industrial automation users to find, evaluate, purchase, and get support for component software, Software Toolbox has over 500 products available for purchase via secure online transactions at www.softwaretoolbox.com or by phone at 1-888-665-3678 or 704-849-2773.  Through partnerships with companies such as Siemens, clients of Software Toolbox Inc. are able to license the best technology possible and get their support from a single source.

Adding value to this single convenient source for e-Commerce transactions for automation software is a deeper e-Business strategy that provides knowledge dissemination through the breadth and depth of technical knowledge and information available to users 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This includes technical articles, white papers, online training materials, technical datasheets, product trials, documentation, application notes, technical support notes, and more. Software Toolbox has partnerships with over 60 developers worldwide in which they provide marketing, promotion, e-Business, and support services to aid the developer in reaching the global market.

###

Software Toolbox is a registered trademark of Software Toolbox Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.