Scala announces UK's most advanced WAP business solution.

M2 PRESSWIRE-26 January 2000-SCALA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: Scala announces UK's most advanced WAP business solution (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:26012000

* Real-time WAP solution redefines corporate interface

London, UK -- Scala Business Solutions, the leading provider of global e-business management solutions, today announces the UK's most advanced WAP-enabled business application, providing crucial backoffice data in real-time to mobile phones. Scala is demonstrating the solution using WAP-enabled mobile phones such as the Nokia 7110, together with its award-winning e-business product line, Scala.Solutions.

With the recent Butler Group prediction that there will be massive growth in mobile commerce through most of the major industry sectors, Scala has made an early entry into the WAP technology arena, identifying the massive potential for businesses to redefine their interface with business partners, staff and customers through WAP.

"While WAP technology is still in its cradle of existence, smart businesses should already be planning a strategy for WAP solutions to gain a competitive advantage," says Brian Davies, managing director for Scala North West Europe.

"The consumer market for WAP technology has arrived, and the business market will not be far behind. Scala is focusing on satisfying the needs of business people who want a pocket phone with which they can access real-time, backoffice information."

Martin Butler, Chairman of Butler Group, identifies Scala's WAP-enabled business application as the most advanced in the industry, and is demonstrating the application to key target business groups. "Scala are one of the first companies to empower mobile business through the development of the most advanced WAP business management solution. Mobile access to backoffice information creates exciting opportunities to revolutionise the way businesses around the world work," says Butler.

The Scala WAP-enabled business application is easy-to-use and cost efficient, allowing staff to be connected to their business management system while they are out of the office or away from their desk.

Backoffice data such as stock availability, order status and customer credit limits can be accessed in real-time from mobile phones and other wireless devices. Mobile staff can also enter business transactions from mobile phones, reducing errors and saving administration time.

The Scala WAP solution can be used in any country where a network operator can provide a signal. Connected to Scala's multi-national e-business application, Scala.Solutions, users get the benefit of real-time collaboration between a Windows-based, multi-cultural backoffice system, Scala Global Series, and Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. Scala is unique in providing a global business solution for over 90 countries and in 30 different languages.

Scala's WAP support is provided by a connection to a WAP application, which typically is installed at the company's servers. This means that the WAP functionality can be used by simply dialing a phone number for the corporate WAP server.

The Scala WAP business application is currently available in beta release and is expected to start shipping as soon as the WAP-enabled phones are on

general release from their manufacturers.

About Scala Business Solutions

Scala Business Solutions empowers global e-business by providing Internet-enabled business management and e-business solutions combined with local and global services. Scala's products are sold, installed and supported in more than 60 countries worldwide. Scala's current clients - including ABB Asea Brown Boveri, Alfa Laval, Deloitte & Touche, Ericsson, General Motors, Motoman Robotics, Novartis, PG Life.COM, PepsiCo, Sheraton, Sandvik, Siemens, Tetra Pak, Volvo and Zoo Village.Com - all enjoy Scala's ability to turn information into knowledge and new technology into business advantages. Through strategic alliances with partners like Microsoft, Scala delivers affordable technology solutions for e-business.

Scala's award-winning e-business product line, Scala.Solutions, includes support for XML (extensible markup language) and the wireless application protocol (WAP). It fully supports the Microsoft BizTalk framework. In addition, it contains Active Language functionality which, unlike other solutions with different web pages for each language, provides multi-lingual capabilities using the very same web page.

Scala Business Solutions is listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX: SCA), employs over 1000 people worldwide and had a 1998 turnover of US$ 89.3 million.

For more information about Scala Business Solutions or its product family, please visit our website at www.scalaworld.com .

Scala - "Empowering Global Commerce"

Scala is a registered trademark. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2000 Scala Business Solutions NV.

CONTACT: Chloe Aylward/Carolyn Coon, Catalyst Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7932 2500 e-mail: scala.mail@catalystpr.com Tabita Seagrave, Scala Business Solutions Tel: +44 (0)208 498 8100 e-mail: tabita.seagrave@scalabs.co.uk

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