IBM WORKGROUP UNVEILED AT COMDEX; Integrated Software Simplifies the Way Teams Get Work Done.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 15--IBM, the world's largest software company, announced today IBM WorkGroup, a family of integrated, customizable software that simplifies and streamlines the way teams get work done -- whether the work is highly structured, such as insurance claim processing, or ad hoc. The rich functionality of IBM WorkGroup goes far beyond current groupware offerings to encompass communications, work management and information management. These capabilities can improve both individual and team productivity by ensuring that the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

IBM WorkGroup includes a new client/server messaging function, based on IBM Ultimail(a) technology, and IBM Message Queuing Series (MQSeries(a)), a robust messaging backbone. Other advanced functions included in the new IBM WorkGroup software portfolio are IBM's FlowMark(a), for workflow management; Visualizer(a), for data query, analysis and reporting; Visual Document Library(a), for document management; FormTalk(a), for forms routing, tracking and approval; SearchManager(a), for contextual searches; Person to Person(a), for chalkboard and personal video conferencing; and VisualInfo(a), for image processing.

The integrated IBM WorkGroup functions, now in beta, include mail, scheduling and calendaring, based on IBM Time and Place(a), and directory and fax capabilities. Teams can send and receive graphic and audio messages, and schedule meetings or events across multiple time zones from their desktops, and easily locate people and resources.

IBM WorkGroup facilitates communications, information management, and the automation of work at the department level, or in large complex networks where mission-critical information is transmitted across and among enterprises. It also tracks results to measure productivity improvement.

Customers need a workgroup solution that fits with the software and hardware they already have in place," said Steven Mills, general manager, IBM Software Solutions Division. "IBM is uniquely positioned to help customers in this area because of our broad range of functionality and our ability to support many operating systems, industry standards and data types."

IBM WorkGroup enables users to access critical business data and leverage existing technology investments across multiple platforms. IBM WorkGroup clients are available for OS/2(a), OS/2 Warp and Microsoft Windows 3.1(b). Servers will scale among OS/2, OS/2 Warp, OS/400(a) and AIX(a) systems. Macintosh(b), Windows 95(b) and Unix(b) clients will be supported in the future, along with other server platforms, including Unix and System/390(a).

"We're driving toward simplicity for the user by delivering fewer, but richer, functions without limiting their choices," said Richard Sullivan, director, IBM WorkGroup marketing. "Users should view their IBM WorkGroup client as a window to critical business information, no matter where it resides or what data type it takes."

For ease of use and administration, the functions in IBM WorkGroup have a consistent look-and-feel, as well as common administration, installation, directory services and a single logon.

Open Standards; Interoperability

IBM WorkGroup will support the following open, industry standards: the Shamrock Document Coalition for document management; the Workflow Coalition for workflow automation; Component Integration Labs for the OpenDoc object container architecture; Vendor Independent Messaging (VIM); Mail API (MAPI); Common Mail Call (CMC); and Calendaring and Scheduling (CSA). It will also support the prevalent transmission protocols and mail standards, including Simple Mail Transfer Protocol/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (SMTP/MIME), X.400 and Systems Network Architecture

Distribution Services (SNADS)

Customers with IBM OfficeVision(a) will be able to take advantage of IBM WorkGroup through mail directory and calendar gateways, and will be provided on-going support and product enhancements. IBM WorkGroup is also designed to interoperate with Lotus Notes(b) and cc:Mail(b). FlowMark, for example, works with Lotus Notes to provide workflow capability in the Lotus Notes environment. IBM OfficeVision and Lotus' cc:Mail, Notes and SmartSuite(b) will continue to play a role in IBM WorkGroup. In addition, IBM WorkGroup will leverage IBM OS/2 Warp's BonusPak utilities for intuitive access to the Internet and other online services.

Work Management

IBM WorkGroup provides a seamless work automation system by linking its communications and information management capabilities with a powerful workflow function. By mapping how work flows through an organization, businesses can easily identify bottlenecks and redesign the workflow for greater efficiency.

One of the early users of IBM WorkGroup's work management functions is Rancocas Orthopedic Associates, with offices in Willingboro and Marlton, N.J.

"Information is everything and time is everything," said Dr. Ronald Krasnick, orthopedic surgeon at Rancocas. "IBM WorkGroup looks like the most efficient way available to process the patient, from A to Z. I think it will allow us to get back to what we wanted to do to begin with, which is to treat people."

FlowMark, the workflow function of IBM WorkGroup, will streamline the process of getting work done by ensuring that normal work routines flow automatically. It searches for needed information and routes work from person to person.

Information Management

IBM WorkGroup offers information management functions that can speed the decision-making process by making it easier for groups to access, share or analyze information, whether it is stored as text, images, spreadsheets, graphic files or multimedia. The library facility can interoperate with popular desktop productivity applications and allow documents of any type to be stored and catalogued.

Robust Infrastructure

IBM WorkGroup is built on time-tested IBM technology that has been used in a wide range of customer production sites. For example, the powerful MQSeries provides dependable information delivery and the levels of security and reliability on the LAN that users have come to expect from their host-based environments.

"We've designed IBM WorkGroup to maintain its reliability, security and dependability in work groups of 10, 100, or 100,000," said Richard Sullivan. "IBM WorkGroup delivers a safe and secure delivery mechanism for all work, ranging from e-mail, messaging and financial transactions, to insurance claims and video clips."

Pricing and Availability

The work management and information management capabilities of IBM WorkGroup are available today. The functions now in beta will be generally available in the first half of 1995, at which time pricing will be announced.

IBM WorkGroup software will be distributed through channels that include IBM Direct, value added resellers, systems integrators and independent software vendors (ISVs). The core functions of IBM WorkGroup provide open interfaces and links to other vendors' popular products and will be open for customization and extension by ISVs, value added resellers, service organizations and I/S professionals.

IBM WorkGroup is consistent with IBM's strategy for open distributed computing as described in the Open Blueprint. The Open Blueprint is a structure for a distributed systems environment and incorporates a wide range of standards. It provides the base upon which to build, run and manage distributed applications in a diverse multivendor world.

For additional information on IBM WorkGroup, users in the U.S. can call 1-800-426-3333 (a)727.

Based in Somers, N.Y., IBM's Software Solutions Division provides data management, application development and workgroup solutions for mission-critical applications on PCs, workstations, LANs and host systems. -0-

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