By William Fellows
Paris-based network applications acceleration company BoostWorks, formerly knows as Synchronix SA, has introduced a full-function enterprise version of its web-based BoostWeb software claimed to improve application response time by 50% and usually by much more. It guarantees a minimum 30% increase in response time. BoostWeb reduces the volume of traffic between the browser and HTTP server to decrease the number of round-trips needed to complete an application query. It comprises a 130Kb client which runs in the browser and C++ server component written in C++ installed on the web server.
The software is a proxy and runs in the background and the client needs no configuration, the company claims. It’s analogous to the service Citrix Systems Inc provides in the client/server world although BoostWeb does not require any dedicated hardware. BoostWorks says it is particularly suited to the laptop, GSM, wireless, cellphone and other disconnected users. The company says its software analyzes data flows, optimizes and compresses it, and caches the most frequently accessed data. It also offers BoostSQL which improves client/server application performance and BoostVT a telnet solution.
BoostWorks has landed an additional $4m venture funding to bring its technology to the US and mount a serious assault on the network application acceleration space. That’s why it changed its name to BoostWorks and its product line from EcoPad to BoostWeb; EcoWeb just didn’t convey the message.
Sales are mostly direct now but it hopes to do 70% of its future business through the channel and integrators. It has six distributors including NCR, which distributes BoostWorks software worldwide. It will target the Fortune 2000 companies directly. It did around $3.25m revenue last year mostly on BoostSQL and expects to be doing the equivalent of $16.25m in 2001. It has 50 employees now going to 70 by year-end. Development is based in Paris. It has US offices in Larkspur, California and Morris Plains, New Jersey. Former Verifone VP Tom Ream is CEO. The software costs $130 per seat for 500-up on Microsoft or Unix.
