REDMOND, Wash., and ST. LOUIS, July 19, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) and Unigraphics Solutions Inc. (NYSE
“UGS”
), a leading provider of product life-cycle solutions for design and manufacturing companies, today announced a joint effort to deliver DesignKNet (Design Knowledge Network), a tool suite intended to help enterprise-class manufacturers and ASPs develop design collaboration portals.
DesignKNet is the first offering within the UGS in -KEY family of solutions for collaborative product commerce. An intensive development effort by Microsoft and Unigraphics Solutions has produced a collaboration environment that will reduce design-cycle time, minimize rework costs, enable innovation and product improvement, and improve procurement efficiency.
The DesignKNet solution combines the reliable, scalable collaboration platform of the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system and Exchange 2000 with the industry-proven capabilities of UGS’ product life-cycle software products, Unigraphics, iMAN and ProductVision. DesignKNet facilitates product design and collaboration between global designers and internal departments, as well as between OEMs and their engineering and manufacturing supply chain.
DesignKNet goes beyond visual collaboration, where the end result still requires changes to the design model in the CAD system by allowing a multitude of users to see the impact of design changes in real time using native Unigraphics, UGS’ high-end CAD/CAM/CAE software. DesignKNet and Unigraphics make this real-time collaboration possible by using
“thin”
commands so each system quickly updates to the current state. Users can effectively connect, collaborate and correct with unprecedented functionality and unmatched Internet performance using extensions to the strong foundation of collaboration and conferencing capabilities provided by Exchange 2000.
“DesignKNet brings the power of the Internet to product development collaboration,”
said Tony Affuso, president and CEO of UGS.
“We are extremely pleased with our relationship with Microsoft, and impressed by Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 technology. These products allow us to rapidly deliver a flexible and scalable set of services for the product development community, and we look forward to growing this relationship as we bring other Web-based services to the manufacturing market segment.”
UGS and Microsoft have agreed on an aggressive joint sales and marketing effort to bring this breakthrough design collaboration functionality to the UGS customer base. This go-to-market program will include joint selling with Microsoft’s 1,500 industry focused field sales people, a worldwide Web marketing campaign, implementation assistance programs and third-party efforts.
“We are delighted with the UGS and Microsoft announcement of DesignKNet,”
said Kirk Gutmann, global develop product information officer for General Motors.
“The Windows 2000 platform has already been successfully deployed in GM Canada and has proven to be extremely robust and scalable. We applaud UGS and Microsoft for working together to provide DesignKNet for the Windows 2000 environment.”
DesignKNet will be implemented immediately by ConneXwave, a Singapore-based ASP provider.
“We are excited to forge a partnership with UGS to provide companies in Asia with collaborative commerce solutions that enable them to design, market, configure and manufacture product at Internet speed,”
said Koh Boon Hwee, the chairman of Singapore Telecommunication Ltd. and leader of the ConneXwave management team.
“Engineers and designers are the ultimate knowledge workers,”
said Charles Stevens, vice president of Enterprise and Partner Solutions at Microsoft.
“DesignKNet takes advantage of the conferencing, collaboration and community aspects of Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 with the design and engineering specific capabilities of UGS’ product development solutions to offer a new kind of Internet solution that will help engineers and designers reach their full potential.”
About Unigraphics Solutions
Unigraphics Solutions Inc. is focused on improving the entire product life cycle for design and manufacturing companies through the delivery of software and consulting service solutions that address process and productivity enhancements. Its CAD/CAM/CAE product content management and e-business solutions are designed to promote collaborative product commerce (CPC) through incorporation of today’s most advanced technology and intelligent use of the Internet. Headquartered in St. Louis, UGS has been providing software solutions to engineering and manufacturing companies for over 25 years and is the first company in its industry to earn the ISO 9001/TickIT certification. Please contact UGS at (800) 498-5351 or via the World Wide Web at http://www.ugsolutions.com/ .
About ConneXwave
ConneXwave leverages the Internet to provide a new generation of collaborative commerce (c-commerce) solutions that revolutionize the engineering design and manufacturing process. The solutions manage the critical communication, collaboration and commerce transactions among OEMs, suppliers and customers. ConneXwave has assembled an impressive management team and board led by Koh Boon Hwee, the chairman of Singapore Telecommunication Ltd.
About Microsoft
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.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Unigraphics Solutions, Parasolid, Solid Edge, Unigraphics, ProductVision, iMAN, GRIP, managedServices, LightningStart and RAPIDiMAN are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Unigraphics Solutions Inc. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders. The information within is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Unigraphics Solutions.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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