ANGOSS to Develop Data Mining SDK for SQL Server 2000

ANGOSS Software Corporation, a industry leading developer of advanced data mining solutions that help business users make better business decisions every day, announced it has agreed to develop a Data Mining Software Development Kit (SDK) for SQL Server 2000, Microsoft Corporation's industry leading enterprise database application suite. The Data Mining SDK leverages SQL Server 2000's Analysis Services platform and related standards (OLE DB for DM).

The Data Mining SDK will contain customized versions of selected KnowledgeSTUDIO data mining components being developed by ANGOSS under a development services agreement with Microsoft for royalty free distribution by Microsoft. Further announcements outlining beta distribution and general availability of these components are planned. ANGOSS has agreed to provide support for licensees using the Data Mining SDK, as well as a defined upgrade path for users seeking to leverage SQL Server 2000's Analysis Services capabilities. ANGOSS is also joining the Microsoft Data Warehousing Alliance.

"This is another important milestone for the data mining industry" commented ANGOSS president Eric Apps. "Microsoft's promotion of data mining as a mainstream technology will create new opportunities for ANGOSS and for other application developers, solution vendors, systems integrators and consulting services firms who wish to embrace and leverage this exciting technology to help businesses get more value from their business data."

"SQL Server is at the core of Microsoft's WindowsDNA, Microsoft.net and Data Warehousing Alliance initiatives," commented ANGOSS vice-president, Technology, Ken Ono. "These initiatives offer businesses - large and small -- a broad range of powerful and affordable options to bring their decision support systems into the 21st century. By making these components broadly available to the developer community, Microsoft is empowering application developers to build a wide range of more innovative, flexible, affordable and intelligent applications."

"SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services offers businesses and software developers another compelling reason to select SQL Server as their platform for enterprise intelligence" commented John Eng, Lead Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation. "SQL Server offers powerful and integrated analytics capabilities that decision makers across industries can use to drive revenue growth, improve business processes, reduce costs and optimize customer, partner and supplier relationships across all touch points of interaction. Our work with ANGOSS on the Analysis Services initiative also reinforces the willingness and ability of Microsoft and independent solution vendors to work in collaboration to deliver the most innovative and affordable infrastructure, tools and applications to the marketplace."

Further announcements are planned outlining distribution of beta and final versions of the Data Mining SDK. Technical documentation on the Data Mining SDK, registration information for developers interested in participating in beta testing for the Data Mining SDK, case studies, and related links and resources, can be found at www.angoss.com/products/SDK/SDKforSQL.html.

About ANGOSS Software

ANGOSS Software Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, develops and delivers industry leading data mining solutions to customers and technology partners "at the intersection of the Warehouse and the Web." ANGOSS analytical tools help our users make better business decisions every day. ANGOSS developer tools and solutions help our customers and partners build the intelligent enterprise.

The ANGOSS KnowledgeSuite of advanced data mining solutions includes:

• KnowledgeSEEKER and KnowledgeSTUDIO, advanced analytical tools used by leading Global 2000 companies in the financial services, retail, telecom, pharma / healthcare and advanced manufacturing sectors.
• KnowledgeExcelerator and KnowledgeAccess, data mining add-ins for Excel and Access, the popular spreadsheet and database applications of Microsoft Corporation, designed for business analysts.
• KnowledgeSERVER, a cross-platform, n-tiered, high scalable and functionally rich data mining application server for developing and deploying intelligent applications enterprise wide.
• KnowledgeSTUDIO for Siebel, a Web-ready data mining plug-in for users of the Siebel Systems eBusiness application suite, offering a powerful and dynamic data mining analytics and model deployment framework for users of Siebel eBusiness application suites.
• KnowledgeWebMiner, a data mining solution for e-business marketing professionals.
• The Data Mining SDK for SQL Server, a data mining software developer kit for software developers and enterprise application vendors developing applications integrated with SQL Server, Microsoft Corporation's market leading enterprise intelligence platform.
• The KnowledgeSTUDIO SDK, a cross-platform, feature rich software development kit leveraging Microsoft developer tools, standards and technologies and offering integrated with all major databases for building intelligent enterprise applications.

VisibleWeb, an advanced data mining and data visualization solution for e-business, is currently planned for release in 2001. VisibleWarehouse, an advanced data mining and data visualization solution for data warehousing systems, is currently planned for release in 2001.

Contact ANGOSS Software Corporation, Eric Apps, president, 416-593-2430, eapps@angoss.com or ANGOSS Software Corporation, Ken Ono, vice-president, Technology, 416-593-2401, kono@angoss.com, www.angoss.com.