Arbor Software and IDEA Demonstrate Web-Enabled OLAP Applications Running on Network Computer; Network Computer Leverages Essbase Server's Thin Client Architecture for Low-Cost OLAP Applications

Business Wire, Oct 21, 1996

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1996--Arbor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: ARSW), a leading provider of client/server software for business planning, analysis and management reporting, and IDEA, a leading provider of data communications and network integration solutions, will today demonstrate business applications using Arbor's Essbase and Essbase Web Gateway with IDEA's Internet Client Station (ICS), a Web/Java-enabled graphical desktop platform compliant with the Network Computer (NC) reference profile.

The demonstration, at Arbor's second annual user conference -- Dimensions `96, marks the first wide-scale demonstration of Web-enabled OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) applications running on the Network Computer.

Today's demonstration illustrates an open, scalable, low-cost solution for customers to deploy corporate OLAP applications over intranets and the Internet. An applications of this technology is remote managers interacting with the latest corporate performance information residing in a centralized Essbase database. The IDEA ICS thin client leverages server-based power, to reduce software support and administration costs on the individual desktop with the added advantage of synchronized updates. With Essbase Web Gateway and the ICS, corporations can leverage Essbase's analytical power for OLAP applications that are low cost and easy to deploy across intranets and the Internet.

"There is clearly a trend among organizations worldwide to embrace Web technology for decision support," said Teresa Wingfield, a senior industry analyst at Giga Information Group, a leading research and advisory firm. "Essbase's server-centric processing not only enables thin-client OLAP as epitomized by the NC, but goes one step further by preserving the functionality found in existing desktop OLAP tools."

"The industry is rapidly adopting an open architecture for distributed, business-critical applications across intranets and the Internet," said Mike Chatterton, IDEA's vice president, marketing, Internet Products. "The Essbase Web Gateway is a compelling application for our IDEA Internet Client Station which enables organizations to adopt an open, low-cost framework for their OLAP applications."

"Many Essbase customers are deploying or planning Web-enabled OLAP applications such as budgeting, sales and profitability analysis and executive information systems," said Kirk Cruikshank, Arbor's vice president of marketing. "Today's demonstration illustrates why Essbase's thin-client architecture makes it a natural fit for the the network computing platform. With support for industry standards such as the NC, our customers can immediately leverage Essbase to deploy robust, cost-effective applications across intranets or the Internet."

About Essbase Web Gateway

The Essbase Web Gateway provides scalable, high-speed, interactive, read and write access to the Essbase multidimensional database server over the World Wide Web. Essbase and the Essbase Web Gateway allow corporations to deliver OLAP applications directly from legacy and operational systems, or within an overall data warehousing architecture.

A live, on-line demonstration of the Essbase Web Gateway is available on the Internet at http://webgate.arborsoft.com. The demonstration features sample ad-hoc analysis, management reporting, budgeting, and enterprise information system applications.

About the IDEA Internet Client Station

The IDEA Internet Client Station (ICS) is a cost-effective, Web-enabled Network Computer (NC) for business users. The ICS allows graphical browsing, multiprotocol communications including SNA host access, office automation and the ability to download and execute Java applets at the desktop. The NC standard provides new levels of interoperability, flexibility and performance at a fraction of the cost of a PC.

About IDEA

IDEA is a leading provider of data communications and network integration solutions for corporations and other multi-user organizations. Since its founding in 1982, IDEA has become a global company with over 300 employees and with customers and business partners all over the world. With an installed base of more than one million seats worldwide, customers include all sizes of industrial and manufacturing enterprises as well as entertainment and service companies, financial and academic institutions and federal and state agencies. IDEA maintains sales, service and support offices in cities across the United States as well as in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and Hong Kong. IDEA's home page is located at http://www.idea.com.

About Arbor Software

Arbor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: ARSW) develops and markets client/server software for business planning, analysis and management reporting. Arbor's products are used by more than 800 corporations spanning a broad range of industries and business applications including BankBoston, Fidelity, Los Angeles Times, Pennzoil, PEPSICO, Prudential and Sears. Arbor has over 100 application, services, tools and platform partners, including Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Microsoft. Arbor's products are sold direct, as well as through system integrators and VARs worldwide. Arbor's offices are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale, Washington D.C., Hamburg, London, Paris and Sydney. More information on Arbor products and services can be found on Arbor's World Wide Web (WWW) site at http://www.arborsoft.com. -0-