Agile Workplace software awarded "Designed for Microsoft BackOffice" status; leading Product Data Management software application meets Microsoft standards

Business Wire, June 11, 1997

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1997--At the Design Automation Conference, Agile Software Corp., a leading supplier of product data management systems, today announced that Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) has awarded "Designed for Microsoft BackOffice(TM)" status to Agile Workplace(TM), the PDM software suite.

The goal of the "Designed for Microsoft BackOffice" program is to assure customers' quality and consistency as they confidently deploy products which take advantage of key Microsoft BackOffice technologies. This coveted status means that the Agile Workplace software suite successfully passes extremely rigorous Microsoft compliance testing, and demonstrates superior technical standards.

With this designation, users of Agile products are assured that their PDM software works seamlessly in a cohesive, robust environment, with Microsoft products built on the Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system, Microsoft Exchange Server messaging system and Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 6.5 database. The result is a manufacturing enterprise more agile and responsive to customers and markets.

The Agile Microsoft Partnership

"Agile has had a long-standing partnership with Microsoft," said Bryan Stolle, CEO of Agile Software. "We were the first company to ship a true native PDM application on Windows NT Server, so it is fitting that Agile Workplace is the PDM application awarded 'Designed for Microsoft BackOffice'.

"We spearheaded development on Windows NT Server while many other manufacturing applications vendors ignored it, or settled for retrofitting their applications from other platforms."

"The combination of Microsoft BackOffice and Agile Workplace gives midsize manufacturing organizations the ability to leverage the strength and robustness of the Microsoft BackOffice family along with the flexibility and ease-of-use of Agile.

"With this combination, agile manufacturers are assured to keep up with the ever changing market demands while maintaining profitability and efficiency in configuration management and engineering change control," said Brooke Banbury-Masland, worldwide manufacturing industry manager at Microsoft.

"The small-to-midsize enterprise (SME) market is poised for rapid expansion with the availability of easier to use and implement, affordable NT-centric architectures," commented David Burdick, vice president of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) services at Gartner Group, of Stamford, Conn., one of the world's leading independent research and analysis firms.

"The certification of Agile Workplace as 'Designed for Microsoft BackOffice' is a result of the technical investment that Agile has made with Microsoft, as well as the importance we place on our partnership with them," noted Brian Sietz, worldwide engineering industry manager at Microsoft.

"Achievements such as this designation and Agiles accomplishment in gaining industry acceptance for its PDM solutions paint an impressive picture of the company's dedication to the BackOffice platform."

About Agile Software

Agile Software Corp. is the leading supplier of Windows and Java client/server applications, for desktop-based product data management and change control, such as Agile Workplace and Agile Configurator.

Providing affordable and scalable product configuration management solutions for results-oriented fast moving manufacturers, Agile Software is the leader in delivering applications for the product realization process.

The company offers products and services through a direct field organization. Founded in 1995, Agile Software is a privately held company based in San Jose, Calif. with customer sites throughout the world. Customers include Northern Telecom, Storage Dimensions, Xircom, Aspect Telecommunications, and many others.

For more information on Agiles entire product line, write Agile Software Corp., One Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95113; call 408/975-3900; fax: 408/271-4862; send e-mail to info@agilesoft.com; or visit Agile on the world wide web at http://www.agilesoft.com . -0-

Note to Editors: Agile Software, the Agile Software logo, Agile Workplace, Agile Configurator are trademarks of Agile Software Corp. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT,Microsoft Exchange and BackOffice are either registered trademarks ortrademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

All other brand or product names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Agile Software Corp.

Joe Hage, 408/975-3900

joe.hage@agilesoft.com

or

Technology Communications & Marketing

Doug Molitor, 415/322-9056

doug.molitor@agilesoft.com