Crystal Decisions Awarded Best of Show at MS Tech Ed 2001

Crystal Decisions, an information infrastructure company that is a market leader in reporting, analysis and information delivery, was recently presented with the Best of Show award in the SQL Server category at Microsoft Tech Ed 2001 by Penton's Windows 2000 Magazine Network.

The award highlights the core strength of Crystal Analysis Professional as an easy-to-use, yet powerful analytic reporting tool for business users and advanced users alike.

The recently announced Crystal Analysis Professional is a front-end On-line Analytical Processing (OLAP) product that transforms powerful multidimensional analysis into easy-to-understand Web-based reports for interactive viewing. Tight integration and support for Microsoft SQL Server OLAP Services 7.0 and SQL Server Analysis Services 2000 enable companies to unlock the full potential of their OLAP data investments for all business managers across the organization.

Crystal Analysis Professional was deemed the SQL Server category winner of Best of Show for demonstrating strategic importance to the market, and for delivering competitive advantages and increased value to the IT customer. Winners were chosen from a pool of more than 200 entries, and 40 finalists who were chosen through a rigorous selection process.

"We chose Crystal Analysis Professional as the SQL Server category winner because it delivers innovative methods for OLAP analysis," said Karen Forster, editor in chief of Windows 2000 Magazine. "The product allows end users to easily create snapshots of multi-dimensional OLAP data and present information in the most effective manner for business decision-makers. We believe that Crystal Decisions is providing these capabilities better and less expensively than others in the field."

"Based on years of experience in OLAP analysis and in reporting, Crystal Analysis Professional is poised to take the top spot for best-in-class analysis tools," said Tony Wind, vice president of product management at Crystal Decisions. "Doing for OLAP data what Crystal Reports does for relational data, Crystal Analysis Professional is a truly unique tool for extending the benefits of multidimensional OLAP to business users within an organization. We are thrilled that Windows 2000 Network has recognized this potential."

For More Information

Crystal Analysis Professional is available through the channel from various resellers and directly from Crystal Decisions. The SRP is $395 and includes a five-user license copy of Crystal Enterprise Standard. More information is available at www.crystaldecisions.com or by phoning 1-604-681-3435 (International) or 1-800-877-2340 (U.S. and Canada).

About Crystal Decisions

Crystal Decisions, formerly Seagate Software, is a privately held Seagate company owned by a group of investors that include Silver Lake Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Crystal Decisions is an information infrastructure company, which provides award-winning reporting, analysis, and information delivery solutions. The company's world-class products are used by millions of customers in thousands of companies worldwide and include, Crystal Analysis, Crystal Enterprise, Crystal Reports and Holos.

About Penton Media Inc

The Windows 2000 Magazine Network - a print, online, email newsletter and event media network - reaches more than 1.5 million IT professionals every month. Penton Media www.penton.com is a leading diversified business media company that produces market-focused magazines, trade shows and conferences, and Web sites. Penton's integrated media portfolio serves the following market sectors: information technology; Internet/broadband; electronics; natural products; food/retail; manufacturing; design/engineering; supply chain; aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality. Penton generated revenues of $404.6 million in 2000.

Contact Crystal Decisions Corp, Kristine Berry, 604-647-8557, kristine.berry@crystaldecisions.com.