Percussion Software Announces Major Upgrade of Rhythmyx XML Content Manager; New Dynamic Workflow Engine Streamlines Web Page Development

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

STONEHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2000

Percussion(R) Software, a leading supplier of native XML Content Management solutions and services, today announced the availability of the version 3.0 upgrade of Rhythmyx(TM) Content Manager. This upgrade introduces a new dynamic workflow engine that allows changes to workflow states and transitions after deployment, enabling easier Web development. Rhythmyx 3.0 also features an enriched Rhythmyx Publisher, a loader module for uploading content from syndication services and file systems, enhanced templating capabilities, and an improved user interface for rich content authoring. The goal of Rhythmyx Content Manager v3.0 is to decrease time to deployment for businesses establishing and maintaining a presence on the Web.

Using native XML, Rhythmyx Content Manager completely automates content publishing, eliminating the costs and time associated with converting documents and corporate data, and allowing users to create and manage information independent of formatting requirements. Percussion's Rhythmyx Content Manager has enabled customers such as Ensera, an online solutions provider for the automotive collision repair marketplace, to simplify and enhance their Web page development.

"Rhythmyx Content Manager has cut my workload by two-thirds," said Greta Gize, Ensera's content editor. "Instead of spending my day making sure our Web content has loaded properly, I'm able to work on other projects that have a direct benefit on helping Ensera grow and expand for the future."

"Percussion is meeting the challenge of delivering eBusiness solutions engineered to speed up the deployment of information on the Web," stated Barry Reynolds, president and CEO, Percussion Software. "Our new dynamic workflow engine automates processes required for users to rapidly design, develop and optimize Web content. Rhythmyx Content Manager v3.0 is a critical component to eBusiness success, because it will save valuable time and resources while ensuring that Web content is always up to date and accurate."

Rhythmyx Content Manager automates content creation and management from information owners to company Web sites. Built on a superior, standards-based architecture, Rhythmyx simplifies integration of critical e-commerce components for building "best of breed" e-commerce solutions that are easy to use and maintain. The architecture's strength and flexibility comes from the following:

-- A robust engine for dynamically assembling content using native XML, enabling content to be written once and used anywhere;

-- A powerful and flexible workflow engine for implementing an organization's approval processes;

-- The use of XSL style sheets for re-purposing content, enabling content to be easily targeted at any output device or application; and

-- Relational database technology for storing content and metadata, enabling easier viewing, indexing, and content querying.

Enhanced Capabilities

Rhythmyx Content Manager v3.0 offers the following new feature enhancements, all of which increase content management efficiency:

-- Enhanced workflow for defining the key content management processes using states, transitions, and roles with no coding;

-- Enhanced Rhythmyx Publisher, including site versioning, roll-backs and archiving;

-- Open Java API to extend publishing activities including Web application server integration and custom extensions;

-- Automatic uploading of syndicated content or existing document assets from any file system;

-- An enhanced templating capability supporting reusable content components (such as navigation bars and banners) that separates the management of content and format for unlimited ways to aggregate content items into pages;

-- Enhanced developer tool set for reducing development time; and

-- Enhanced user interface for authoring rich content, including

calendars and date selectors.

Platforms, Pricing and Availability

Percussion Rhythmyx Version 3.0 is now generally available. The Rhythmyx Server supports Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Solaris 2.6, 7, and 8 on the SPARC platform. The Rhythmyx Workbench runs on Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. Contact Percussion for pricing information.

About Percussion

Percussion Software (www.percussion.com) offers the most cost-effective solution for Web content management for fast-paced businesses with mission-critical Web sites. The Company's flagship product, Rhythmyx Content Manager, adopts a superior, standards-based architecture that enables the integration of critical e-commerce components to build a "best of breed" solution that is easy to use and maintain. Rhythmyx Content Manager received Spring Internet World 2000's "Best of Show" award for "Best Web Application Development Software."

Founded in 1994, Percussion Software is headquartered in Stoneham, Mass., with an office in Los Angeles, Calif., and European headquarters in London, England. Percussion Software is a Lotus Premier Business Partner, a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider and has development partnerships with SAP, Oracle, IBM, Sybase and Informix. For the second consecutive year, Deloitte & Touche has recognized Percussion Software as one of the fastest growing high-tech companies in New England. In addition, the Boston bureau of internet.com, a news and information resource for Internet professionals, ranked Percussion Software second on its "20 for 2000" list identifying the greater Boston area's 20 most promising, privately held start-ups.