To All: More advances by MSFT on the enterprise front- I guess we will have another round of law suits to attempt to slow them down:
Microsoft Unveils Enterprise Project Management Solution By Introducing
The New Microsoft Project 2002 Product Family
Solutions Help Individuals, Teams and Enterprises Manage Schedules
And Resources, Collaborate on Projects and Analyze Project Information
For Better Business Results
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at ProjectWorld San Jose
2001, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced the marketing beta of
Microsoft(R) Project 2002, the next generation of the world's top-selling
project management software. With new enterprise functionality and analytical
tools, the expanded Microsoft Project 2002 family combines intuitive project
management, accessibility and collaboration, and a powerful project management
platform to foster greater productivity and better business results.
(Photo: newscom.com )
"The new features and enhancements in Microsoft Project 2002 make it a
robust and flexible business solution for enterprise customers," said
Chris Capossela, general manager of the Microsoft Project Business Unit at
Microsoft. "Efficient project management can help businesses of all sizes
achieve better bottom-line results. The new solutions and tools that we have
developed provide executives, project managers and other stakeholders with
insight into and control over enterprisewide projects, enabling more informed
decision-making and better utilization of resources."
The new Microsoft Project 2002 family of products includes the following:
-- Microsoft Project Standard, the updated version of Microsoft's core
project management application for scheduling and planning projects
-- Microsoft Project Professional, a new application that works with
Microsoft Project Server 2002 to provide collaboration and
enterprisewide analysis and resource management capabilities in
addition to all the features included in Microsoft Project Standard
-- Microsoft Project Server 2002, a new addition to the Microsoft .NET
Server family that enables full enterprise project and resource
management capabilities and collaboration when used with Microsoft
Project Professional. Microsoft Project Server can also work with
Microsoft Project Standard to provide team collaboration.
-- Microsoft Project Web Access (Microsoft Project Server Client Access
Licenses), a Web interface that extends project information and
analysis tools to executives and team members who do not need the
complete set of project management features of Microsoft Project. These
users can access project information via a Web browser.
Microsoft Project 2002 Solutions Address Customer Needs
The Microsoft Project Management Solution, which includes Microsoft
Project Standard, is designed to help business managers and planners
dynamically manage schedules and resources and easily monitor project status.
Teams can add Microsoft Project Server 2002 to this solution to allow managers
and team members to collaborate on projects and analyze real-time information.
Together, Microsoft Project Professional and Microsoft Project Server 2002
make up the Microsoft Enterprise Project and Resource Management solution.
This solution provides a central repository for project and resource data,
enabling enterprisewide resource management, real-time reporting and scenario
analysis, so business executives can better understand the deployment of
resources and status of initiatives across their organization. Microsoft
Project Professional also includes all the comprehensive project management
features provided in Microsoft Project Standard.
Powerful Project Management Platform Addresses Enterprise Needs
Microsoft Project 2002 offers today's organizations a customizable
platform and tools that can be extended and integrated across business systems
to meet a company's project and knowledge management needs.
"This latest release of Microsoft Project demonstrates that Microsoft is
serious about playing a leadership role in the enterprise project management
arena," said Sharon Ward, vice president for the Customer Relationship
Management (CRM) and Enterprise Applications (EA) practices at Hurwitz Group,
a Boston-based analyst, research and consulting firm. "The open architecture
of Microsoft Project 2002 and the solid enterprise functionality built into it
address the challenges that ISVs and developers today face in building
applications that meet customer demands."
Microsoft Project 2002 is generating excitement among independent software
vendors (ISVs) eager to build custom project management solutions on the
Microsoft Project Server platform. More than 235 providers are already on
board the Microsoft Project solution provider program. More information on the
Microsoft Project solution provider program can be found at
microsoft.com .
Among Microsoft Project premier ISV solution providers is Business Engine,
( businessengine.com ) a San Francisco-based provider of
collaborative project, resource and budget management applications. Business
Engine is embedding Microsoft Project 2002 in its flagship product, The
Business Engine Network (The BEN), an enterprise software suite designed to
help global IT, R&D and engineering customers improve corporate performance
and accountability.
"Microsoft Project 2002 is a compelling platform for The BEN because it
lets us offer customers a comprehensive enterprise solution that serves the
needs of every stakeholder involved in the success of project-driven
organizations, including management, employees, contractors and partners,"
said John O'Neil, CEO of Business Engine. "This will accelerate the measurable
value we deliver customers by offering a single, enterprise Web application
that fully automates the entire enterprise planning and execution process
across the critical dimensions of projects, resources, budgets and users."
Collaboration and Accessibility Facilitate Shared Projects
The collaborative tools and shared data capabilities built into Microsoft
Project 2002 help project teams stay informed and ensure that business
initiatives are aligned with company goals. Microsoft Project 2002 solutions
facilitate collaboration by enabling authorized team members and stakeholders
to view, update and analyze project information through Microsoft Project Web
Access.
The centralization of project data allows users to easily maintain
consistency using real-time project information. The integration of
SharePoint(TM) Team Services with Microsoft Project Server enables users to
centrally store documents and issues associated with each project, so they can
share and track project-related information for better team collaboration and
future project planning.
Intuitive Project Management Solution for Business Results
Microsoft Project 2002 continues to provide comprehensive and easy-to-use
project management solutions that are intuitive for novices and experienced
users alike. Project Guide, a new interactive help tool, helps users of
Microsoft Project easily create schedules and manage projects and resources so
they can immediately realize the benefits of Microsoft Project.
"Project management software has always been limited by users' valid
perceptions of its complexity," said Amy Wohl, president of Wohl Associates
Inc. "By making the interface much friendlier and adding additional,
business-oriented functions that support group collaboration and integration
with enterprise information, Microsoft Project 2002 will broaden substantially
the audience of potential users."
Pricing and Availability
Microsoft expects to deliver the final version of Microsoft Project 2002
in the first half of 2002. Estimated retail pricing* will be $999 for
Microsoft Project Professional version 2002, $599 for Microsoft Project
Standard version 2002, $799 for Microsoft Project Server 2002 and $179 for
Microsoft Project Server Client Access Licenses.
Customers can order the Microsoft Project Standard 2002 Marketing Beta Kit
at microsoft.com through the Microsoft Project 2002
individual beta program. Customers can also contact their local Microsoft
sales representatives to receive the Microsoft Project 2002 Corporate Preview
Kit, which includes beta copies of Microsoft Project Standard, Microsoft
Project Professional and Microsoft Project Server 2002. Both kits also include
resources to help customers plan deployments of Microsoft Project 2002.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
* Reseller prices may vary.
JFD |
