DataChannel Announces Next-Generation of its Solution Software for Enterprise Information Portals.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 1999--

XPages(tm) heterogeneous data interchange coupled with "n-tier"

navigation enhancements yields richest set of EIP functionality

available today

Today DataChannel announced the next-generation of its Solution Software to unleash the power of Enterprise Information Portals (EIP).

DataChannel has developed its enhanced EIP application server based entirely on XML. The server includes XPages, the industry's first implementation of a transformation engine that converts data from heterogeneous sources into XML-ready schema. This robust transformation engine directly addresses the challenges of data interoperability across and beyond the Enterprise. This data may span unstructured data sources like documents, spreadsheets, and web content, as well as structured data sources like databases, legacy systems, and customized mission critical applications. The addition of XPages offers a dynamic application environment that allows users to combine information from disparate sources into a single presentation on the desktop and interact with the data by updating the back-end systems. Once the data is transformed using XPages, it is ready for web delivery to any audience anywhere.

By combining this innovative new server technology with the XMLFramework(tm), DataChannel is delivering a comprehensive solution for structuring, organizing, and accessing Enterprise information faster and making it available to customers, suppliers, partners as well as internal users.

In October 1998, Rita Knox, vice president and research director for GartnerGroup noted, "Understand the concept of how XML can enable a content-based infrastructure for your business. Which content is reusable by different applications, and how can it be represented so that all relevant applications can share in its use? Identify the `shared content' opportunities in your business, both within the enterprise and in exchanges with extra-enterprise organizations. Where is data re-entered or translated to be used by multiple applications? Where can common information structures in a common notation eliminate nonvalue-added work and increase process automation?" (Note 1)

As Enterprises generate, distribute, and consume more information than ever before, employees, partners, and customers begin to experience the daunting challenge of information overload. To more effectively manage this onslaught of information and data management issues, the enterprise can employ an EIP or "launch pad" to personalized information that not only enhances employee ability to collaborate and make better decisions but can also tighten customer and partner relationships through easier transfer of mission-critical information.

"We are committed to building the most robust, scalable, and extensive two-way EIP in the marketplace to solve these issues. To do that, you need advanced technology and expert services. This announcement underscores our commitment to provide world-class solution software, that when coupled with world-class professional services, will create an incomparable competitive advantage for our customers," said Lucie Fjeldstad, President of DataChannel

KEY FEATURES

The next version, code-named Excalibur 4.0, maintains the current functionality in RIO 3.2 while delivering added functionality that includes:

-- Enterprise scalability and performance,

-- a re-designed architecture based entirely on XML to facilitate enhanced data access,

-- a customizable interface with embedded XSL processing capability allowing for personalized "myExcalibur" presentation of Enterprise information,

-- advanced administration capability providing N-tier support for access, configuration, and entitlements,

-- the introduction of XConn(tm), an XML connector to read from and write to JDBC and ODBC compliant databases

-- hierarchical meta-data management for faster indexing and search capacity,

-- the introduction of XPages(tm) which transforms data from any legacy source and publishes it through the two-way Enterprise Information Portal, and

-- support for the emerging XML document, authoring, and versioning standard (WebDAV) to allow file and record locking on the web.

DataChannel has selected 10 beta participants, many from the Fortune 100, in various strategic vertical industry segments including manufacturing, telecommunications, oil and gas, financial services, and education. The beta test period will begin in June and continue to the end of summer when general availability of the solution is expected. Companies interested in learning more about this new offering can visit http://www.datachannel.com.

DataChannel's XMLFramework(tm)

DataChannel's XMLFramework(tm) is an extensive portfolio of enterprise solutions designed to capitalize on the Information Economy through the use of the eXtensible Markup Language (XML). This XMLFramework(tm) creates universal access to mission-critical structured information as well as the ever-increasing amount of unstructured data. Information sources may originate from Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT), IBM (NYSE:IBM), Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) and SAP (Nasdaq:SAP). Data may also originate from other sources including: external newsfeeds such as NewsEdge (Nasdaq:NEWZ); search engines such as Excite (Nasdaq:XCIT), InfoSeek (Nasdaq:SEEK), and Lycos (Nasdaq:LCOS); relational databases, from companies such as Informix Software (Nasdaq:IFMX), Sybase (Nasdaq:SYBS), and Oracle (Nasdaq:ORCL); Enterprise ERP applications, such as, PeopleSoft (Nasdaq:PSFT), and Baan (Nasdaq:BAANF); and enterprise corporate data from companies such as Wall Data (Nasdaq:WALL). DataChannel's XMLFramework offering consists of: XML Professional Services, Solutions Software, XML Tools and Technologies, XML Training, and Support Services.

About DataChannel

DataChannel Inc., founded in 1996, is a privately held company. DataChannel is a value-added integrator of XML-based, market leading Information Management solutions and services that facilitate the way companies share information with employees, vendors, customers and consumers across Intranets, Extranets and the Internet. These solutions are offered through DataChannel's XML Framework(tm) that is an extensive portfolio of enterprise solutions designed to capitalize on the Information Economy through the use of the Extensible Markup Language (XML). It includes DataChannel RIO, an Enterprise Information Portal solution connecting users of the portal to relevant information sources.

DataChannel simplifies the process of delivering critical information to the right people at the right time.

All trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective holders in the United States and/or other countries.

(Note 1) The XML Revolution - US Symposium/ITxpo98