SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2001 — Today at ProjectWorld San Jose 2001, Microsoft Corp. announced the marketing beta of Microsoft® Project 2002, the next generation of the worlds 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.
“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:
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Microsoft Project Standard , the updated version of Microsofts core project management application for scheduling and planning projects
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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
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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 todays organizations a customizable platform and tools that can be extended and integrated across business systems to meet a companys 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 http://www.microsoft.com/office/project/resources/partners.htm .
Among Microsoft Project premier ISV solution providers is Business Engine, ( http://www.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 ONeil, 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™
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 http://www.microsoft.com/project/ 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 (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) 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.
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