COGNOS SHIPS POWERPLAY FOR MACINTOSH.

BURLINGTON, Mass--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1995 -- Cognos (NASDAQ:COGNF;TSE:CSN) today announced the immediate availability of a Macintosh version of PowerPlay, the companys multidimensional data analysis tool for enterprise-wide deployment. Macintosh users can now join the thousands of corporate managers using PowerPlay for Windows to analyze their business data.

In addition to the multidimensional data exploration functions available in Cognos Windows version of PowerPlay, Macintosh users benefit from additional features, including a pull-down menu that displays all the levels in a dimension; a Home Button that takes users directly to the top level of a dimension; balloon help; and a Size Visual button that lets users drag-size the visual elements of PowerPlays explorable graphic displays. Each enterprise site requires one networked PC running PowerPlay for Windows. The Windows version is used to create PowerPlays multidimensional data file. Once the file is created, both Macintosh and Windows versions of PowerPlay can access it, and users can freely exchange reports created on either platform.

"PowerPlay is rapidly becoming a enterprise-wide standard in a number of Fortune 1000 sites," said Alan Rottenberg, Cognos senior vice-president, business intelligence business division. "Our goal is to strengthen PowerPlays appeal to corporations seeking a single-administration, single-supplier solution for their Macintosh and Windows communities."

"Cognos has the only out-of-the-box solution for companies seeking a cross platform data analysis tool," said Jordan Schell-Lambert, director of systems for the Vinyl Building Products Group, CertainTeed Corporation (Valley Forge, PA) CertainTeed is a Cognos beta site which has deployed 75 copies of PowerPlay for the Macintosh to its field sales team. "Well be introducing PowerPlay for Windows in both our accounting and finance areas shortly. Having the ability to share files will be a big plus."

Requirements and Pricing

PowerPlay for Macintosh requires System 7 or later and a minimum of 4 MB of RAM. PowerPlay for Macintosh has a list price of $695.

Product Background

PowerPlay, introduced in 1990, is used to provide corporate data to managers and executives. It is a multidimensional reporting tool that presents data in the organizational context critical to understanding what is happening in a managers area of responsibility. Managers can probe and explore data in both graphical and numerical formats and produce key reports that help them understand whats driving their business. Many companies have adopted both PowerPlay and Impromptu, Cognos data access and reporting tool, as their enterprise-wide standards for reporting and analysis. The company also plans to ship a version of Impromptu for the Macintosh.

Corporate Background

Cognos develops, markets and supports -- both directly and through resellers worldwide -- advanced client/server development and reporting tools on a wide range of open and proprietary platforms, including UNIX, Windows and Macintosh. Cognos is a publicly held company with dual headquarters in Ottawa, Canada and Burlington, Mass..

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COGNOS, IMPROMPTU and POWERPLAY are registered trademarks of Cognos Incorporated. Other products mentioned in this document are registered, trademarked or service marked by their respective companies.

CONTACT: Cognos

Roberta J. Carlton or Robert B. Greene, [phone]