SAQQARA Announces ProductServer 3.1 e-Catalog Management Solution for IBM WebSphere Application Server

Business Wire, May 15, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2001

SAQQARA Systems Inc., a provider of product content software and services for B2B e-commerce, announced today availability of its ProductServer(TM) 3.1 e-catalog management solution for IBM WebSphere Application Server.

SAQQARA develops solutions that allow suppliers to transform, manage, and exchange (TME) product information. Specifically, to transform product information to leverage across all e-commerce initiatives, manage that information for accuracy and to build product differentiation, and exchange it with buyers and partners per their format requirements. As part of the manage portion of the TME equation, ProductServer 3.1 now leverages IBM WebSphere to provide businesses with the management tools needed to efficiently and effectively catalog and market their products in the B2B e-commerce arena.

"These two e-commerce enabling solutions are a natural fit," said Jerry Hawk, SAQQARA vice president and chief technology officer. "We are pleased to offer ProductServer 3.1 to the broad user base running IBM WebSphere. Where WebSphere facilitates the rapid deployment of e-business applications, SAQQARA ProductServer facilitates e-commerce by providing advanced search capabilities for differentiation of products. Suppliers are now poised to control product information with this robust authoring and management solution."

SAQQARA ProductServer is a proven electronic cataloging solution used by Global 2000 companies. It delivers a robust authoring environment for efficiently managing product content that includes product-differentiating features. Buyers are further assisted in making informed buying decisions by SAQQARA's patented Step Search(R) parametric technology, an innovation that allows feature-to-feature online comparison of products over the Internet. A multi-language option allows customers to reach broader markets.

ProductServer 3.1 is part of the SAQQARA Commerce Suite of e-marketing applications that includes SolutionServer, StorefrontServer, AnalysisServer, and PIXServer. Collectively, these management applications enable e-catalog creation and guided product selection, channel-customized storefronts, channel browsing behavior analysis and exportation of customized product content. Previously released for BEA Systems WebLogic(R) Server, and now released for IBM WebSphere, ProductServer 3.1 is the core of the SAQQARA Commerce Suite, which allows suppliers to engage buyers through a robust Web storefront that leverages detailed product information.

About IBM's (NYSE:IBM) WebSphere Software

WebSphere is Internet infrastructure software -- known as middleware -- that enables companies to develop, deploy and integrate next-generation e-business applications, such as those for business-to-business e-commerce. WebSphere supports business applications from simple Web publishing through enterprise-scale transaction processing. WebSphere transforms the way businesses manage customer, partner and employee relationships. More information about the WebSphere software platform is on the Web at http://www.ibm.com/websphere.> About SAQQARA Systems Inc.

SAQQARA is the leading provider of end-to-end product content software and services for business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. With the SAQQARA family of solutions for product content transformation, management and exchange (TME), B2B suppliers can deliver rich product content over the Internet and buyers can quickly and easily find, compare and select the products that best meet their requirements. SAQQARA solutions have been selected by leading companies including 3M, Aeroquip, Agilent, GE and Philips Semiconductors to power their e-commerce initiatives. SAQQARA is a privately held corporation with headquarters in San Jose and European operations based in Paris. For further information about the company and its products, visit http://www.saqqara.com or call 408/325-8200 or toll free 877/964-0100.

(c) 2001 SAQQARA Systems Inc. SAQQARA Commerce Suite, SAQQARA ContentWorks, SAQQARA Cornerstone, SAQQARA ProductServer, SAQQARA SolutionServer, SAQQARA StorefrontServer, SAQQARA PIXServer, and SAQQARA AnalysisServer are trademarks, and Step Search, WhoMakesIt, the SAQQARA name and the SAQQARA logo are registered trademarks of SAQQARA Systems Inc. WebSphere is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp. All other company names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.