OASIS Member News: DataChannel Launches DataChannel Server 4.1

[Scott McGrath <scott.mcgrath@oasis-open.org>]

DataChannel Leads Industry with Launch of DCS 4.1 Mobile-Capable
Enterprise
                                  Portal

-- Deloitte Consulting and Advantage Sales and Marketing Select
DataChannel
                    For Wireless Enterprise Solutions--


BELLEVUE, WA, August 8, 2000 ? DataChannel, Inc.,
(www.datachannel.com), a
leader in XML "Business-to-Anyone" (B2A) solutions, today
announced the
launch and general availability of DataChannel Server (DCS) 4.1,
the latest
version of its XML-based Enterprise Information Portal (EIP)
solution.
DataChannel, one of the first EIP vendors to successfully
demonstrate the
delivery of enterprise information to wireless devices, including
cell
phones, PDAs and two-way pagers, has strengthened its mobile
device support
and will exhibit DCS 4.1's mobile capability at the DCI Corporate
Portals
Conference, August 8-10, in Boston.

The release of DCS 4.1 reinforces DataChannel's leadership in the
EIP
market with mobile device capabilities and easy integration of
Web-based
applications. With enhanced functionality over its previous
release, DCS
4.1 allows enterprise customers to access corporate directories,
navigate
information folders and receive user notifications when content
is changed.

"DCS 4.1 sets DataChannel apart from other EIP vendors," said
Lucie J.
Fjeldstad, president and CEO of DataChannel. "Information does
not simply
reside in the portals we build ? our XML-based portals connect
information.
We take an inside/out approach so that you don't have to worry
where, in
the back end, your data resides. Our portals are data and device
independent, two-way, and come with the benefit of our seasoned
professional services team and our certified partner integration
firms, so
that you make the most of your data."

By using XML and DCS, DataChannel provides a portal solution that
separates
enterprise data from display so information can be re-purposed
and
presented on multiple devices. Extensible Stylesheet Language
(XSL), a W3C
open standard, transforms XML data into a rendered, visual format
for
display in a Web browser. These Stylesheets can be modified to
transform
the same XML data into a mobile data format ? independent of
size. In
addition to delivering access to any Web browser, DCS 4.1
provides advanced
capabilities to deliver critical business information ?
regardless of
device. You can see DataChannel's three tier approach online at
http://www.datachannel.com/dcs/.

Deloitte Consulting and Advantage Sales and Marketing have
selected
DataChannel's DCS 4.1 as a component of their wireless enterprise
solutions.

"We are committed to the wireless enabling of enterprise
applications,
while maintaining a vertical focus and a keen eye on return on
investment,"
said John Donovan, principal for Deloitte Consulting. "To do this
right, we
need a portal solution that can rapidly integrate multiple
applications,
uses an XML information backbone and allows for customization.
This is why
we selected DataChannel as a platform for delivering enterprise
information."

"By the end of the year, we'll have nearly 3,000 users on Windows
CE
devices," said Kevin Paugh, CTO for Advantage Sales and
Marketing, a
wholesale food broker and DataChannel customer. "Our sales force
can be on
the road, at a client's office, at a customer site or in a hotel.
With the
Advantage Sales and Marketing Tri-Net based on DCS 4.1, they can
even be in
a grocery store accessing important customer information from a
more
convenient handheld device ? instead of a laptop."

In addition to mobile enterprise capability, DCS 4.1's new
product features
include:
·    XpertLinX ? XpertLinx integrates Web content with other
enterprise
data and applications to provide direct access from a user's
personalized
start page to syndicated news, and stock quotes, as well as
email,
calendars, ERP, CRM, and othr enterprise applications.
·    Improved Performance and Scalability ? DCS 4.1 enables
organizations
to deploy DataChannel server in a distributed manner.  Using
common load
balancing techniques, DCS can scale to support large numbers of
users and
large volumes of data.  DCS 4.1 will support in excess of 10
times the
amount of user's supported by previous versions.
·     Enhanced Personalization ? DCS 4.1's improvements in
personalization
make it easier for users to modify the look and feel of their
portal.
·    Integrated Full-Text Search ? DCS 4.1 delivers full-text
search
integration. DCS 4.1's XpertSearch capability is an advanced,
intelligent
search and knowledge retrieval solution that includes spidering,
categorization and indexing.
·    Enhanced Administration ? DCS 4.1 administration has been
improved to
make it easier to configure, manage and optimize the performance
of the
portal server.
·    Activity Tracking and Reporting ? Standard and custom
administration
reports are available to identify user behavior and traffic.

DCS 4.1 integrates smoothly with an organization's existing
environment and
makes use of critical enterprise applications through external
data
connectivity and broad enterprise platform support. It meets
changing
business needs with a portal server flexible enough to take data
from
inside the enterprise and deliver it to any device.

"Having access to information no matter where you are is critical
to
success today," said Kate Fessenden, research director for
Aberdeen Group.
"DataChannel is a catalyst for Business-2-Mobile applications and
keeping
people connected to business-critical information. It's now easy
for
organizations to give their employees access to the information
they need
to do their jobs ? with a device as convenient to carry as a PDA
or
Web-enabled cell phone."

DataChannel's flexible, open-standards architecture is built with
XML from
the ground up to ensure that customers can support other devices
later,
without having to redevelop their portals.

DCS 4.1 is available as an intranet application for employees
only, an
extranet application for integration with customers and partners,
or as an
ASP application. Pricing for DCS 4.1 in intranet applications
starts at
$80,000 for 250 users.  New version enhancements are
automatically included
under currently held maintenance agreements.  Pricing for
extranet and
Application Service Provider (ASP) applications are available
upon request.

DCS 4.1 will be available for shipment beginning Aug.15. You can
see a
demonstration of the product at the DCI Corporate Portals
Conference, Aug
8-10, at the Boston Park Plaza in Boston. Demonstrations will
include
mobile device support with wireless application samples for the
Palm VII
and Sprint PCS Wireless Web phone.

About DataChannel

Privately held and founded in 1996, DataChannel is the leading
provider of
powerful and flexible intranet, extranet and Internet portal
solutions
designed with open standards-based XML technology. DataChannel is
leading
the charge into the Business-to-Anyone (B2A) arena by providing
solutions
that allow enterprise organizations to easily access and exchange
information with anyone, anywhere, anytime.


DataChannel's portal solutions ensure the reliable, personalized
exchange
of data, keeping people connected to business-critical
information wherever
and whenever it's needed.


Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., DataChannel offers a
comprehensive
portfolio of products that are platform, data and
device-independent, and
extend business initiatives beyond traditional boundaries.
DataChannel's
industry renowned XML and SGML expertise, professional services
teams and
key strategic partnerships help customers maximize the value of
their
information assets and transform their business to successfully
compete in
the Internet economy. For more information, please visit
www.datachannel.com or e-mail info@datachannel.com.


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


                                   # # #



Scott McGrath
Member Services Manager

OASIS
Organization for the Advancement of
Structured Information Standards

+1 978 667 5115  (US & Int'l Voice)
+1 978 667 5114  (US and Int'l Fax)
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