MathSoft INTRODUCES S-PLUS 6 FOR UNIX

MathSoft Inc, Data Analysis Division, a leading provider of solutions for statistical data mining and predictive modeling technology, today introduced S-PLUS 6 for UNIX, a major enhancement to the company's statistical data mining software.

S-PLUS 6 provides a popular software platform for business intelligence and decision support applications that leverage state-of-the-art statistical analysis and visualization methods.

The release features a powerful new Java-based point-and-click user interface to simplify and accelerate access, analysis, and visualization of technical and business data. A new integration method, called CONNECT/Java, allows software developers to enhance the analytical and graphics capabilities within their applications by embedding the S-PLUS engine.

S-PLUS 6 offers innovative visualization capabilities including a new form of Java-based graphic, called Graphlets, which makes it easy to deploy interactive, drill-down graphics via Web pages. S-PLUS includes a suite of flexible and sophisticated data display techniques to transform quantitative information into easy to understand charts, using multiple tabbed pages. A new Java-based graphics device allows users to export graphs in file formats such as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PNM, and Windows BMP formats, in addition to live Graphlets.

"S-PLUS 6's object-oriented programming model is critical for building statistical tools for complex data analysis. In particular, its new interface to Java provides additional tools for integrating S-based analyses into a distributed environment where we can build Web-based reporting applications, access and analyze relational databases, and build other analytical systems," said David James, Statistics Research, Lucent Technologies.

"Java connectivity combined with powerful S-PLUS analytics accessible from our new user interface will allow our customers and our consulting group to build modern business intelligence systems that help users gain insight from their data," said Shawn Javid, senior vice president and general manager, MathSoft Inc. "S-PLUS 6 offers new methods for handling data including missing data and robust statistics delivering more accurate results so decision makers and analysts can make smarter decisions."

S-PLUS 6 for UNIX will initially be available for Linux and Solaris. Versions for other UNIX platforms will be made released over the coming months.

Key new benefits of S-PLUS 6 include:

• New Java-based Graphical User Interface-- Now for the first time users can access the powerful statistical and graphing techniques of S-PLUS 6 through an intuitive, point-and-click graphical user interface. Now, users can easily import and export data, run statistical analyses, and create insightful graphs.
• New Java Programmer Interfaces-- Users can integrate S-PLUS 6 with other applications using CONNECT/Java. The powerful suite of functions gives users the flexibility to call S-PLUS from Java applications and call Java from S-PLUS.
• New Capabilities for Linear and Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models-- Proper handling of correlated data in linear and nonlinear regression models is critical in areas as diverse as biomedical research, manufacturing, and market research.S-PLUS 6 incorporates the latest research by Dr. Jose Pinheiro (Lucent Technologies) and Professor Douglas Bates (University of Wisconsin). S-PLUS 6 offers the most advanced and powerful set of tools for fitting linear and nonlinear mixed effects.
• Major Upgrade of Survival Analysis Tools-- This release incorporates the Version 5 release of the Survival library by Dr. Terry Therneau of the Mayo Clinic. This includes features not found in any other major package, including frailty models, smoothing splines, and sophisticated parametric survival methods.
• New Cutting-edge Library for Handling Missing Data-- S-PLUS 6 is the only package that lets you account for missing data values using three different multiple imputation models: Gaussian, Logistic, and Conditional Gaussian.
• New Robust Statistics Library For More Reliable Estimates-- S-PLUS 6 offers the widest selection of robust techniques for regression, covariance, and time series analysis, plus new plots for outlier detection and a new paradigm for multiple model fits and comparisons. Gain more reliable estimates and forecasts from imperfect data using S-PLUS.

About S

S-PLUS and StatServer are based on S, an object-oriented language licensed from Lucent Technologies specifically for data visualization, exploration and programming with data. S provides a rich, object-oriented environment designed for interactive data discovery. With a large library of functions for all aspects of computing with data, S offers unmatched power, flexibility and extensibility. The S System was recently honored with the prestigious Software Systems Award given by the Association for Computing Machinery. Other hallmark technologies recognized with this award include UNIX, TCP/IP, and Mosaic. MathSoft has exclusive worldwide rights to develop and distribute products incorporating the S technology.

MathSoft Inc, Data Analysis Division

MathSoft's Data Analysis Division provides software and services for statistical data mining, business intelligence, and decision support. It has developed analytic information portals for clients ranging from dot-com start-ups to Merrill Lynch. The Data Analysis Division develops S-PLUS and StatServer, which supply high-end statistics, visualization, and predictive analysis capabilities for the quantification of opportunity, risk, and behavior. MathSoft's consulting group provides expertise and methodology for rapid design, development and deployment of Web-based, analytical solutions. The company serves clients in finance, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, manufacturing and academia. MathSoft's Data Analysis Division has more than 140 employees, with offices in Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, Washington, DC, New York, and London.

More information about MathSoft's Data Analysis Division and its products and services is available at www.splus.mathsoft.com, at 800-569-0123, by fax at 206-283-8691 or via mail at 1700 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109.

Contact MathSoft Inc, Judy McOstrich, 206-283-8802 x356, jmcostrich@splus.mathsoft.com or MathSoft International, Ian Gander, 44-1276- 450111, igander@mathsoft.co.uk.