Applied's approach to competitive communications was recognized in a March, 1997 story by Oreview, a Miller-Freeman publication that profiled the ongoing saga of the Universal Server Wars. Despite various ups and downs, the Oreview feature credits Oracle as the ultimate winner based on a "Technical Knockout (TKO)" that came in the form of an Applied-crafted press release issued by Oracle on January 28, 1997. According to Oreview's commentary:

-- "Today, Oracle begins to look like the vigorous opponent it was in its media server heyday. The company delivers a press release that traps its 17-year-old challenger on the ropes and bludgeons it into unconsciousness."

-- "Oracle delivers five straight, stinging left hands to Informix." -- Oreview declares "Oracle TKO."

-- After the news release, "Informix is taken to a local hospital for a precautionary CAT scan, then treated and released."