PACIFIC EDGE SOFTWARE SHIPS PROJECT OFFICE CONNECTOR FOR MICROSOFT PROJECT 2002.

Pacific Edge Software has announced the immediate availability of its Project Office Connector for Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) Project, enabling users to easily publish information between Project Office and Microsoft Project plans for a total closed-loop Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solution. The Project Office Connector supports Microsoft Project versions 98, 2000, and 2002 and features standard Project Management Extensible Markup Language (PMXML) based connectivity.

"Easy bi-directional exchange of data between Project Office and Microsoft Project is a great benefit to our PPM customers who use Microsoft Project," said Mike Metcalf, vice president of marketing for Pacific Edge Software. "Leveraging the open PMXML standard we spearheaded, our Project Office Connector enables customers to implement a closed-loop solution that provides easy data updates between products. With this solution, customers are assured that their portfolio data is always current and relevant."

"Products like the Pacific Edge Project Office Connector enable integration of critical project information from Microsoft Project so it can be utilized within other applications," said Burke Fewel, lead product manager of Microsoft Corporation. "Our customers can work with Project Office for more in-depth portfolio management, while still leveraging all of the important enterprise project management features Microsoft Project provides."

Project Portfolio Management is a continuous process of selecting and managing the optimum set of project-oriented initiatives that deliver maximum business value. In this decision-making process, management can reach consensus on the best use of resources to focus on projects that are achievable and strategically aligned with business goals. The resulting project portfolio delivers a tactical balance of what is possible and what is needed. Similar to a financial portfolio, where the mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments is manipulated based on the overall financial goals of the owner, PPM stems from the need to look at all projects within an organization under one umbrella, ensuring organizational goals are being realized.