Bentley Unveils ProjectWise StartPoint.

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bentley Systems, Incorporated today unveiled ProjectWise StartPoint, an entry-level collaboration tool, based on Microsoft Office SharePoint technologies, for MicroStation and AutoCAD users.

ProjectWise StartPoint opens the power of ProjectWise, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry's leading system of collaboration servers, to a broad population of new users and teams. Its highlights:

--Provides direct access to SharePoint platform collaboration tools from within MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, and AutoCAD

--Makes SharePoint technologies aware of relationships critical in CAD files, allowing AEC users to use SharePoint for their entire project

--Requires no additional server software beyond SharePoint technologies, so deployment is easy

--Provides a cost-effective starting point for organizations that wish to grow to high-end ProjectWise capabilities

Commenting on the new product, CEO Greg Bentley said, "Information management is perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing infrastructure teams - their work is so necessarily collaborative and distributed. Large organizations have been successful with our ProjectWise system of servers. With the introduction of the ProjectWise StartPoint tool, ProjectWise is now for everyone."

Said Kurt DelBene, corporate vice president, Microsoft Office Server Group, Microsoft Corp., "Bentley has a wealth of expertise spanning the AEC and operations verticals. By combining ProjectWise with SharePoint-based technologies to manage CAD content, project data, and Office documents, there's an amazing amount of capability and enhanced productivity that Bentley and Microsoft can together bring to users in the infrastructure community."

Microsoft SharePoint products and technologies provide all users with:

--File access control using check-in/check-out functions

--Version control

--Fast finding through powerful search features

--Access control with Folder Level security

--Calendars and Threaded discussion Web Parts

--Simple project web site and user-level customization

ProjectWise StartPoint extends SharePoint technologies by:

--Providing direct access to SharePoint platform collaboration tools from within MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, and AutoCAD

--Managing relationships for MicroStation Reference Files and AutoCAD X-Refs

--Supporting MicroStation V8 XM Edition Link Sets between CAD and Office files

--Saving PDF and other plot files from MicroStation directly into SharePoint technologies

--Assigning MicroStation workspace profiles to individual DGN files for standards compliance

ProjectWise StartPoint is included in MicroStation V8 XM Edition, so deployment for these users is a simple matter of installing that new product. AutoCAD users deploy by installing a no-charge downloadable plug-in. Both require the purchase of a ProjectWise Named User License.

Test-drives of ProjectWise StartPoint will be available at the upcoming BE Conference 2006 in Charlotte, N.C., May 21-25. The product is scheduled for release in June 2006. For further information, please visit www.bentley.com/ProjectWiseStartPoint.

About ProjectWise

ProjectWise is a system of collaboration servers that enables distributed enterprises and related organizations to successfully deliver infrastructure projects. Its core capabilities allow users to manage, find, and share CAD and geospatial content.

ProjectWise StartPoint provides an entry-level collaboration tool, while ProjectWise Integration Server provides federated content management. ProjectWise also includes servers for caching data in multiple locations, for managing and automating plotting and publishing, and for connecting with enterprise systems.

For more information, go to www.bentley.com/ProjectWise.

About the BE Conference

The BE Conference, which consistently scores a 99 percent attendee satisfaction rating, is a once-a-year learning opportunity for Bentley users and their managers offering professional training, technology updates, keynotes, and best practice sharing. At these sessions, attendees better themselves, better their organizations, and better the ways they can improve the world's infrastructure.

For more information on BE Conference 2006, taking place May 21-25 in Charlotte, N.C., go to www.be.org.

About Bentley

Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of the world's infrastructure. The company's comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial verticals spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. With 2005 revenues of $336 million and more than 2,000 colleagues around the world, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms and major owner-operators.

To receive Bentley press releases as they are issued, visit www.bentley.com/bentleywire. For more information, visit www.bentley.com. To view a copy of Bentley's June 2005 Annual Report online, go to www.bentley.com/june2005annualreport.

Bentley, the "B" logo, BE, ProjectWise, ProjectWise StartPoint, MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, and ProjectWise Integration Server are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.