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IBM WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 Helps Customers Unlock Potential of Composite Applications

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 18:00 CDT

IBM today announced a major upgrade to IBM WebSphere Portal designed to help customers make better decisions and execute transactions with greater speed and accuracy. The new version simplifies working with composite applications, making it faster and easier for businesses to realize the benefits of integrated applications and reusable services.

"Working with composite applications no longer has to be time consuming and difficult," said Ken Bisconti, vice president, IBM Workplace, Portal and Collaboration Products. "In WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 we are introducing a new application framework which empowers customers to easily assemble applications and process components in the way that best meets their needs."

Composite applications enable the integration of information from multiple applications, providing end users with the content they need based on their role and task. Through the workflows, templates, and content management capabilities in WebSphere Portal Version 6.0, IBM is helping customers realize enhanced productivity and efficiency through composite applications.

The latest version of WebSphere Portal includes a workflow builder, enabling business process owners to create and modify departmental workflows to meet their needs. Users see only the tasks assigned to them along with relevant information from across the company, enabling faster decisions and keeping tasks from getting lost in crowded in-boxes.

As most workflows involve the creation or completion of a form, WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 integrates with the advanced electronic forms capabilities of IBM Workplace Forms. Electronic forms are presented in a standard portal interface, enabling users to easily access information from other applications and collaborate to create, edit, or view electronic forms. Once completed, the e-form can be automatically routed to the next person in the process or stored in a repository.

The latest version of WebSphere Portal also includes IBM Workplace Web Content Management Version 6.0, making it easier to create and deploy Web and portal content. For authors, the creation process is simplified with enhanced rich text editors, and inline authoring capability. For administrators, enhancements include a joint administrator's console for WebSphere Portal and Workplace Web Content Management, template customization, and support for Cascading Style Sheets.

With the latest version, IBM is closely aligning WebSphere Portal with WebSphere Portlet Factory. Obtained from its December 2005 acquisition of Bowstreet, WebSphere Portlet Factory is a comprehensive portlet development environment that automates the process of creating, deploying, and maintaining SOA-based portlets. With WebSphere Portlet Factory, developers can quickly draw on their company's existing applications to create portlets that become the building blocks for composite applications. Once composite applications are created, WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 enables users to save them as templates. As templates, composite applications can be deployed as is, or customized for different groups while maintaining the integrity of the application. In addition, if business conditions change users can quickly modify the template to reflect the new conditions.

WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 also includes features to help improve the productivity of IT managers. Improvements such as policy-based administration, flexible configuration, and enhanced performance and scalability, reduce the time and effort required to manage a portal deployment.

IBM WebSphere Portal Version 6.0 is expected to be available for Linux, AIX, HP, Microsoft Windows, i5OS and Sun in the third quarter of 2006.

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 90 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM Software offers a wide range of middleware and operating systems for all types of computing platforms, allowing customers to take full advantage of the on demand era. The fastest way to get more information about IBM software is through the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com.

IBM, WebSphere and Workplace are trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. All other company product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

 Contact: Erica Topolski IBM Software Group +1-617-693-2816 ericat@us.ibm.com  Kevin Ruane Text 100 +1-617-399-4919 kevinr@text100.com

SOURCE: IBM

Source: MARKET WIRE

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