Informix Corporation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInformix Corporation was a United States software company best known for relational database systems and database development tools.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Informix Corporation was a California-based software company that developed and marketed relational database management systems, development tools, desktop applications, data-warehousing products, and information-integration software. Its roots lay in Relational Database Systems, founded in 1980 by Roger Sippl and Laura King after the pair had worked at Cromemco. Their early work used indexed sequential-access techniques and evolved into a Unix-oriented relational database product called Informix, a name derived from “information on Unix.” The company initially built products around the emerging Unix workstation and minicomputer markets. Its early software combined a database engine with the ACE report writer and PERFORM forms tool, allowing users to query, edit, and present stored information. During the mid-1980s, Informix moved toward SQL and client-server architecture. INFORMIX-SQL separated database access from client tools through an engine process, establishing a technical foundation for systems in which applications and database servers operated on different machines. The company also introduced INFORMIX-4GL, a programming and application-development environment. In 1986, the company changed its name to Informix Corporation and completed an initial public offering that raised approximately $9 million. Unix adoption, the growing popularity of SQL, and relationships with hardware companies helped the business expand. Informix later developed INFORMIX-OnLine and Informix Dynamic Server, products designed for multi-user transaction processing, online backup, distributed transactions, stored procedures, triggers, and increasingly sophisticated parallel workloads. Informix expanded through acquisitions as well as internal engineering. Its 1988 acquisition of Innovative Software brought WingZ, a Macintosh and Unix spreadsheet, and SmartWare into the portfolio. Although WingZ briefly gained attention in financial-modeling markets, Informix eventually sold it in 1995 as the company refocused on database infrastructure. The 1995 acquisition of Illustra Information Technologies added object-relational technology and DataBlade extensions for specialized data types, including time-series, spatial, and multimedia information. Informix integrated this technology into Informix Universal Server. The acquisition of Red Brick Systems in 1998 strengthened the company’s data-warehouse offering, while the 2000 acquisition of Ardent added data-management and information-integration capabilities. The company’s technical progress was accompanied by serious operational and governance problems. Product delays, internal disagreements, an unsuccessful effort to compete in office automation, difficulties integrating Illustra, and management’s shifting strategic priorities weakened execution. In 1997, Informix disclosed a major revenue shortfall and subsequently restated earlier financial results. Investigations concluded that revenue had been overstated by more than $200 million through licensing arrangements and other accounting irregularities. Chief executive Phillip E. White left the company in 1997. The episode damaged Informix’s credibility even though its database products remained technically competitive. In 2001, Informix sold its database subsidiary, Informix Software, to IBM. The remaining company changed its name to Ascential Software and concentrated on information integration and extract-transform-load products. IBM acquired Ascential Software in 2005. The Informix database brand and product family continued under IBM ownership as IBM Informix, while the independent Informix Corporation ceased operating as a standalone company.
History
Informix began in 1980 as Relational Database Systems, founded by Roger Sippl and Laura King. The founders had previously worked at Cromemco, where they developed database and report-writing technology based on indexed sequential access methods. Their first commercial work included Marathon, followed by a Unix-oriented database product named Informix. The software combined a database engine with ACE for report generation and PERFORM for interactive forms and data entry. As Unix systems and SQL became more widely adopted, the company moved from its original integrated tools toward a client-server design. INFORMIX-SQL, introduced in the mid-1980s, separated the database engine from the user-facing tools. The company also released INFORMIX-4GL, giving developers a higher-level environment for building database applications. In 1986, the business adopted the Informix corporate name and went public, raising about $9 million. Informix expanded its database server technology during the late 1980s and early 1990s. INFORMIX-OnLine introduced stronger support for continuous operation and online backup, while later releases added distributed transactions, two-phase commit, stored procedures, and triggers. A new architecture known as Dynamic Scalable Architecture supported both vertical and horizontal parallelism and was designed for symmetric multiprocessing and data-warehouse workloads. Informix Dynamic Server became the principal expression of this technology, while Extended Parallel Server addressed larger parallel and shared-nothing environments. The company also pursued diversification. In 1988, it bought Innovative Software, whose products included the WingZ spreadsheet and SmartWare office system. WingZ achieved some early success, particularly among users of Unix workstations and financial models, but insufficient product development and marketing resources weakened its position. Informix sold the product in 1995 and returned its strategic attention to database servers. Informix’s 1995 purchase of Illustra Information Technologies brought object-relational technology associated with Michael Stonebraker and the former Postgres community. Illustra’s DataBlade system enabled specialized data types and database extensions for areas such as time series, spatial information, and multimedia. Informix incorporated those capabilities into Informix Universal Server, making it an early major database vendor to offer integrated object-relational functionality. The company subsequently acquired Red Brick Systems, a data-warehouse specialist, in 1998 and Ardent, a data-management company, in 2000. Despite strong technical products, Informix suffered from management and execution problems. Product schedules slipped, the company struggled with the integration of acquired technologies, and its NewEra development initiative was overtaken by Java. Internal tensions intensified after a senior architect and members of his team joined Oracle in 1997; Informix filed a trade-secrets lawsuit that was later withdrawn as part of a settlement. Also in 1997, Informix disclosed a substantial revenue shortfall. The company later restated results for several prior years after investigations identified irregular revenue recognition and other accounting problems. The restatements showed that revenue had been overstated by more than $200 million. Phillip White, who had led the company since 1989, left in 1997. He was indicted in 2002, pleaded guilty in 2003 to filing a false registration statement, and was sentenced in 2004. European executive Walter Königseder was also indicted, but the United States did not obtain his extradition from Germany. In 2001, Informix sold its database subsidiary to IBM and renamed the remaining company Ascential Software. IBM continued developing the database products under the IBM Informix name. Ascential, focused on information integration and ETL software, was itself acquired by IBM in 2005. Informix therefore survives primarily as a product family within IBM rather than as an independent corporation.
- 2005
Ascential Software acquired by IBM
[1]IBM acquires the successor company’s information-integration business.
- 2001
Database subsidiary sold to IBM
[1]IBM acquires Informix Software, while the remaining company becomes Ascential Software.
- 2000
Ardent acquired
[1]The acquisition expands Informix’s data-management and information-integration capabilities.
- 1998
Red Brick Systems acquired
[1]Informix acquires the data-warehouse database specialist founded by Ralph Kimball.
- 1997
Accounting crisis emerges
[1]A revenue shortfall, losses, layoffs, and subsequent restatements expose serious accounting and governance problems.
- 1995
Illustra acquired
[1]The acquisition brings object-relational technology and DataBlade extensions into Informix’s product strategy.
- 1994
Dynamic Scalable Architecture released
[1]Informix introduces a parallel, multithreaded database architecture aimed at scalable transaction processing and warehousing.
- 1989
Phillip E. White becomes chief executive
[1]White takes over leadership during Informix’s expansion in database software.
- 1988
Innovative Software acquired
[1]The acquisition adds WingZ spreadsheet and SmartWare office products.
- 1986
Corporate renaming and public offering
[1]Relational Database Systems changes its name to Informix Corporation and raises approximately $9 million in its public offering.
Products and positioning
Enterprise database and data-management software provider focused on Unix, client-server computing, scalable transaction processing, object-relational capabilities, parallel databases, and data warehousing.
Relational database · 1981
Informix
The original Unix-oriented relational database family developed by the company. Early versions included the ACE report writer and PERFORM forms tool, while later releases adopted SQL, client-server operation, stronger transaction support, and enterprise database-server capabilities.
Database and application-development software · 1985
INFORMIX-SQL
An SQL-based product combining database access with reporting, forms, and application tools. Its separation of the database engine from client software supported the development of client-server database systems.
Fourth-generation programming language · 1986
INFORMIX-4GL
A higher-level development environment intended to help programmers build database applications more quickly than with lower-level general-purpose languages.
Enterprise database server · 1994
Informix Dynamic Server
Informix’s principal enterprise database-server line, developed from INFORMIX-OnLine and Dynamic Scalable Architecture. It emphasized high multi-user performance, online operation, distributed transactions, parallelism, and support for transactional and analytical workloads.
Object-relational database · 1996
Informix Universal Server
A database server incorporating Illustra object-relational technology and DataBlade extensions. It was designed to support specialized data types and applications involving time series, spatial data, multimedia, and other nontraditional relational information.
Data warehouse database · 1998
Red Brick
A data-warehouse-oriented database product obtained through Informix’s acquisition of Red Brick Systems. It complemented Informix’s transaction-processing products with technology aimed at analytical workloads.
Spreadsheet software · 1988
WingZ
A graphical spreadsheet originally developed by Innovative Software and acquired by Informix in 1988. It gained early recognition on the Macintosh and in Unix-based financial modeling, but Informix sold the product in 1995 after development and marketing difficulties.
Controversies
2004
Phillip White sentenced
White received two months in federal prison, a $10,000 fine, supervised release, and community service. Walter Königseder was also indicted but was not extradited from Germany.
2003
Phillip White pleads guilty
White entered a plea agreement and admitted guilt to one count involving the filing of a false registration statement.
2002
Phillip White indicted
Former chief executive Phillip White was indicted on federal securities, wire, and mail fraud charges connected with Informix’s financial reporting.
1997
Revenue overstatement and accounting restatements
Informix disclosed a major revenue shortfall and later restated results for earlier years. Investigations identified improper recognition of software-license revenue and other irregularities, with revenue overstated by more than $200 million.
Marketing campaigns
- 1997Dinosaur Crossing billboard campaign
United States
Informix placed billboards near Oracle’s headquarters in Redwood Shores, California, using messages such as “Dinosaur Crossing” to portray Oracle as slow to adapt to emerging database technologies.
Outcome. The campaign illustrated the aggressive competitive positioning of the mid-1990s database market, although the company’s later accounting crisis overshadowed its product marketing.
Brand decisions
2001
Sale of Informix Software to IBMM&ABackground
After accounting problems and strategic difficulties, Informix separated its database assets from its information-integration activities.
Action taken
IBM acquired the database subsidiary, while the remaining corporation adopted the Ascential Software name.
Aftermath
The Informix database line continued within IBM, and Ascential later became an IBM business as well.
1995
Acquisition of Illustra Information TechnologiesM&ABackground
Informix sought to extend relational databases with object-oriented data handling and specialized data types.
Action taken
The company acquired Illustra and began integrating its object-relational engine and DataBlade technology.
Aftermath
The resulting technology contributed to Informix Universal Server and strengthened Informix’s object-relational positioning.
- Oracle — Oracle later introduced its own time-series support after Informix’s object-relational and DataBlade initiatives gained attention.
- Sybase — Sybase pursued third-party technology for comparable time-series functionality.
1985
Shift toward SQL and client-server databasesStrategyBackground
The company’s original Unix database products were evolving as SQL and distributed computing gained importance.
Action taken
Informix introduced an SQL-based product whose database engine operated separately from client tools.
Aftermath
The architecture helped establish the company’s long-term enterprise database direction.
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