Beta Version of MicroStrategy OLAP Provider Now Available

MicroStrategy Incorporated, a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, launched MicroStrategy OLAP Provider to customers on a beta test basis. With MicroStrategy OLAP Provider, business intelligence applications that utilize other vendors' front-end interfaces can access and leverage the power of MicroStrategy 7. MicroStrategy OLAP Provider uses the standard Microsoft OLE DB for OLAP API to communicate with client interfaces such as Cognos PowerPlay, Microsoft Excel 2000, and custom applications. For more information about the beta program for MicroStrategy OLAP Provider, please visit store.microstrategy.com/ads/7_1_beta.asp.

While thousands of corporations have realized the value business intelligence provides their business, existing applications are frequently challenged by requirements to scale to large volumes of data and provide analytical sophistication beyond simple performance indicators. MicroStrategy 7 is a scalable Web reporting and business intelligence platform capable of easily providing sophisticated analysis against massive volumes of data. With MicroStrategy OLAP Provider, companies can now add MicroStrategy 7 to their existing implementation without discarding their current user interface.

"MicroStrategy OLAP Provider is designed to benefit companies that have reached the data scalability and analytical limits of their current business intelligence solution," said David Sherwood, vice president of Product Management at MicroStrategy Incorporated. "The beauty of this technology is that if a company is comfortable with an existing interface or functionality, they can still significantly extend their scalability and analytic sophistication without compromising that user interface."

Microsoft Excel and Cognos PowerPlay are two common applications in many corporations. Using MicroStrategy OLAP Provider, companies can avoid the costs of retraining their Cognos and Excel users while providing them with enhanced analysis from detailed, transaction level data. MicroStrategy OLAP Provider offers companies the best of both worlds -- enhanced analysis and scalability in their business intelligence applications, without the downside of deploying and training users on a new application. In addition to Cognos PowerPlay and Excel 2000, MicroStrategy expects that future releases of MicroStrategy OLAP Provider will support additional OLE DB for OLAP consumers. MicroStrategy also intends to incorporate new advances in the OLE DB standard, such as Microsoft's XML for Analysis protocol that will enable improved Web-based access to data providers.

Pricing and Availability

MicroStrategy OLAP Provider is currently in beta testing. Pricing will be determined when the product becomes generally available. Please visit store.microstrategy.com/ads/7_1_beta.asp for more information on MicroStrategy OLAP Provider and to apply to the beta program.

Experience the Power of MicroStrategy's Software

MicroStrategy 7, the company's business intelligence platform, is an easy to use, easy to deploy departmental and enterprise reporting product that can answer a vast array of business questions. Anyone interested in MicroStrategy's software can go to MicroStrategy's online store, located at www.microstrategy.com, to demo, configure, upgrade and order software directly. Store visitors can purchase MicroStrategy software, technical support, education, consulting, and documentation online or over the phone in an easy-to-try, easy-to-buy format.

About MicroStrategy

MicroStrategy is a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software and related services. MicroStrategy's technology platform enables companies to build solutions that provide powerful insight into business operations and create lasting, profitable relationships with partners, supply-chains, and customers. MicroStrategy delivers these solutions via Web, wireless, and voice. MicroStrategy also offers a comprehensive set of consulting, training and support services for its customers and partners.

MicroStrategy has approximately 1,000 customers across such diverse industries as retail, finance, telecommunications, dot-com, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and consumer-packaged goods. MicroStrategy also has entered into relationships with approximately 300 systems integrators, application development and platform partners.

For more information, or to purchase or demo MicroStrategy's software, please visit MicroStrategy's Web site at www.microstrategy.com.

Contact Michael Quint of MicroStrategy Incorporated, 703-848-8600 or pr_info@microstrategy.com.