Softshare Releases ECS 5.0 Just in Time for the Holidays.

Softshare ECS, Softshare's Electronic Commerce Server, Now Offers a "Lite" Version and a New Web Management Module

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. & AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Softshare, a provider of e-commerce products and services since 1982, announced today the availability of Softshare ECS 5.0, a powerful e-commerce server that moves data into, out of, and across your enterprise in real time.

"Softshare ECS has been part of Softshare's e-commerce suite since 1999 and over the last seven years, we've kept it current and relevant in the ever-changing e-commerce market," said Robert Fox, Softshare's Director of Product Development. "With this new release, we're continuing to ensure the product's relevancy by offering a new entry-level version, a new Web management module, and cutting-edge features to better support the real-time nature of Web services."

Entry-Level Version: ECS Lite

For the first time ever, Softshare is offering a scaled-back version of Softshare ECS. ECS Lite has been added to the ECS 5.0 family for those users who need a modest communications application to pair with Softshare Delta, our data translator, but who don't require all the advanced enterprise management capabilities that come with ECS Standard.

WebECS

The Standard and Enterprise versions of Softshare ECS 5.0 ship with WebECS, a Web component that lets users manage various aspects of ECS from their browsers--or even cell phones. Most of the ECS client utilities such as Data Administrator or Management Console that are available locally from the desktop are now also available as parallel Web utilities from within the WebECS interface.

Even More Real-Time Web Services

Prior versions of Softshare ECS have supported real-time Web Services, but using the new synchronous immediate response type for HTTP input paths, ECS 5.0 is now able to send back Web services responses before processing the payload. This reduces response time from 5-10 seconds to 1-3 seconds.

About Softshare

Softshare Inc. (www.softshare.com) and Softshare B.V. (www.softshare.nl) offer a multi-tiered approach to electronic commerce with EDI/XML software solutions that range from desktop applications to integrated server applications. Fully compatible with Softshare's value-added network, Softshare's software solutions are reliable and affordable, and top-notch customer support is always accessible. With headquarters in Santa Barbara and Amsterdam, Softshare has more than 20,000 clients using its various network, software, and EC services. For more information, call 800-346-6703 (U.S.) / 020-6388077 (Netherlands) or e-mail [e-mail].