Hitachi announces directory synchronization for Microsoft Exchange; Streamlined GUI highlights SyncWare 2.0 release; New agent synchronizes Microsoft exchange directories with all other E-mail environments

Business Wire, Nov 29, 1995

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 1995--Hitachi Computer Products today announced SyncWare 2.0, the newest version of its E-mail directory synchronization product, and Agent@Exchange, a new Agent for synchronizing Microsoft Exchange with other dissimilar E-mail directories.

Incorporating a streamlined user interface, enhanced rule mapping, and improved network testing features, SyncWare 2.0 provides E-mail administrators at-a-glance status and control over the most complex synchronization activities across enterprise-wide networks. SyncWare 2.0 and Agent@Exchange, software-only products, synchronize a Microsoft Exchange directory with the directories of many other mail environments including cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail, QuickMail, Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, BeyondMail, DaVinci Mail, OfficeVision, and SMTP mail. Hitachi is demonstrating SyncWare 2.0 and Agent@Exchange at the EMail World and Internet Exposition (Booth 711) being held here today through November 30.

"After a year of talking with customers, we've learned a lot and have made synchronizing dissimilar directories a whole lot easier. First, we've simplified the most complex part of synchronization, translating addresses from one proprietary format source directory into the proprietary formats of one or more destination directories. It's a now an easy point and click interface. With SyncWare 2.0, an administrator can now choose from a set of the most common conversion rules and quickly implement fully automated enterprise E-mail directory synchronization. In addition, we've added testing and status features to give the administrator a better understanding of network activity. SyncWare 2.0 is a major leap forward for us -- and for the E-mail administrator," said Dave Toth, Vice President of Hitachi's Network Products Group.

By synchronizing with Microsoft Exchange, SyncWare-based environments have a powerful, distributed tool for automatically synchronizing the address directories of dissimilar E-mail applications. SyncWare users have an immediate solution to enterprise E-mail directory synchronization and a flexible migration path to Microsoft's future E-mail technologies.

"SyncWare provides open-platform, value-added directory services to users of current and future Microsoft E-mail products. With SyncWare's Agent@Exchange, Hitachi advances its long-standing technical collaboration with Microsoft," said Toth.

"Hitachi's SyncWare currently offers an engine to synchronize multiple E-mail directories without time consuming, manual intervention, thus reducing cost of ownership. We are optimistically awaiting support for enterprise directory services (NDS, X.500, StreetTalk) within SyncWare, positioning it as a key technology in the migration toward truly enterprise directory services," said Mike Rothman, Vice President of Meta Group.

How it Works

SyncWare 2.0 is a mail-enabled software product based on a Server/Agent model. SyncWare Agents are installed on each E-mail system; the SyncWare Server is installed on a UNIX workstation. Each Agent monitors address changes in the local E-mail directory. At a predetermined time -- usually during off hours -- the Agents send address changes to the SyncWare Server. The Server then propagates these changes to all the Agents on the network, thereby updating each E-mail system's directory with the most current user information.

Pricing and Availability

SyncWare Agents are priced from $1,995; Servers from $4,995. For more information, interested parties may call 408/986-9770 and ask for SyncWare Sales, or send E-mail to info@hitachi.com.

Hitachi provides SyncWare Agents for cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Exchange, Novell GroupWise, Lotus Notes, BeyondMail, DaVinci Mail, QuickMail, OfficeVision for VM and MVS, SMTP, and, through the universal Agent, many other E-mail environments not listed here. The SyncWare Server and the Agent@SMTP are available for the SunOS, Solaris, and HP-UX operating systems.

SyncWare is designed, developed, marketed, and supported by Hitachi's Network Products Group, which has its headquarters in Santa Clara, CA. Hitachi's Network Products Group creates standards-based products that enhance the usability and value of dissimilar networks, applications, and messaging environments.

Hitachi is the world's premier technology company. Each of the company's 20,000 products -- from consumer electronics to computer hardware and software to large scale power plants -- is built with a relentless commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

SyncWare -- the multi-platform software solution for enterprise E-mail directory synchronization. -0-

Note to Editors: All trademarks and registered trademarks are proprietary to their respective manufacturers.

CONTACT: Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc.

Rick Davis, 408/986-9770 ext. 278

r_davis@hitachi.com

or

Complete Communications

Dianne Douglas, 415/584-4906

DIDOUGLAS@aol.com