Monday April 5, 7:47 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Unisys Unveils Powerful Browser Capability for FBA Navigator FBA
Navigator delivers 'thin client' using Microsoft DNA technologies
BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 1999--Unisys Corporation, a premier provider of solutions to the global financial marketplace, today announced a ''thin client'' (browser-based) version of its FBA Navigator integrated retail delivery solution.
FBA Navigator Release 3.0 delivers reduced administration and maintenance costs, and underlines Unisys continued commitment to provide ''Multiple Channels, One Solution'' with FBA Navigator via the deployment of advanced technologies.
This new FBA Navigator release gives users access to a feature-rich teller system in a browser environment. The client workstation runs both Microsoft NT and Microsoft Internet Explorer, with the FBA Navigator software residing only on the server (branch, regional or centralized).
''Industry analysts predict that the next major advancement in retail delivery will be the implementation of browser technology for branch tellers in 2001 and beyond,'' says Glenn Santmire, group vice president of Unisys Worldwide Financial and Imaging Solutions. ''The driver for this is that less distributed software reduces development and maintenance costs, and simplifies administration. We are thus very excited about this new FBA Navigator capability, which further increases choice and scope for our FBA Navigator users and gives them another powerful tool for gaining competitive advantage in the new millennium.''
This FBA Navigator ''thin client'' has been built using Microsoft DNA-compliant technologies such as IIS, Dynamic HTML and Active Server Pages. John Grispon, worldwide banking industry manager at Microsoft Corporation, comments on the alliance with Unisys: ''Building on the Unisys and Microsoft Enterprise Partnership, Unisys FBA Navigator, based upon SQL Server 7.0 and the Windows DNA architecture, will enable financial institutions to reduce cost of ownership in an integrated retail delivery system. With Unisys as a key member of the Windows DNA for Financial Services (DNAfs) Advisory Council and instrumental in the development of the DNAfs specification, we look forward to continued work together to bring leading products to the financial market.''
Established and recent users of FBA Navigator recognize that the availability of release 3.0 means that they can begin development of their customized browser-based solution this year with a plan to deploy in 2000. Meanwhile, they can continue to use their client/server solution, while preparing for the next technology turn. Unisys will provide tools to facilitate the migration process.
According to Ricardo Bustamante G., vice president, Organizational Development Division, Banco de Credito del Peru, ''Unisys has been a key business partner with Banco de Credito del Peru since 1994. Unisys has proven to us that they understand our business and are capable of providing us with a continued growth path that will keep us competitive in our market. We are excited about the opportunity to migrate our Windows-based teller workstations to FBA Navigator 3.0, This new Internet Explorer-based application will minimize our NT workstation hardware configuration and reduce our software deployment costs.''
This enthusiasm for the new thin-client version of Navigator is supported by a client who recently completed roll-out of their client/server FBA Navigator solution. Said Dr. Paulo Rodrigues da Silva, Group IT Director at Banco BPI in Portugal, ''We have just deployed FBA Navigator for transaction management across all 527 of our branches and are ready to begin implementing other channels like the call center. The new browser version of FBA Navigator is exciting for us because we will significantly reduce our software deployment and administration costs. Instead of deploying software updates to thousands of workstations, we will be able to distribute to a manageable number of regional servers. We look to implement FBA Navigator for sales and service across channels with browser-based transaction processing. Starting our development efforts in 1999 will enable us to roll-out this combined environment in the new millennium, giving us a competitive edge in our marketplace.'' |
