Business Objects Expands Crystal Product Line

These new products allow customers to access information in databases and applications across the organization, create reports and dashboards, and easily distribute them to end users. The Crystal Vision products also include Crystal Live Office, enabling customers to access live data from within today's Microsoft Office applications.

These two unique products integrate Crystal Reports(R), the industry standard in reporting, with Crystal Xcelsius(TM), the leading data visualization solution. Now small and large organizations alike can turn static data and reports into interactive dashboards that show exactly how their business is performing and where they need to improve operations.

"Today's announcement represents a giant leap forward for small and midsize organizations -- and remote offices of large corporations -- that seek to unlock the power of their information assets," said Donald MacCormick, vice president of product marketing. "With one integrated solution, customers can access, analyze, and share information from within their Microsoft Office applications. These products build on our history of innovation and leadership in delivering business intelligence solutions that are simple to use and relevant for everyone. With Crystal Vision Server, small and medium organizations now have a powerful solution for reporting and can present information in visually compelling ways."

Crystal Vision: Integrated Reporting and Dashboards on the Desktop for Individuals

Crystal Vision offers individuals a simplified way to access company data, create Crystal reports, and then transform them into interactive dashboards on their desktop. The new product includes Crystal Reports XI, Crystal Xcelsius 4.5, and Crystal Live Office.

Crystal Vision Server: A Web-based Solution Designed for Small and Mid-Sized Organizations

Crystal Vision Server gives small to mid-sized organizations an affordable solution that lets them design sophisticated business reports and dashboards, which can be securely managed and shared live in Microsoft Office and over the web. The new product:

• Includes Crystal Reports Server XI, Crystal Xcelsius 4.5, and Crystal Live Office
• Allows reports and dashboards to maintain live connectivity to data so they can be refreshed at anytime
• Provides a web-based solution that enables mid-sized customers to securely publish, distribute, and manage real-time information
• Offers mid-sized organizations a complete solution, including reporting, data visualization, and an accurate, fully-integrated view of corporate data

Channel Partners Endorse New Crystal Products

Business Objects will actively promote and sell the Crystal solutions through its channel partners worldwide. Key partners have previewed the Crystal Vision products and provided their endorsements.

CDW, a North American volume distributor

"To gain competitive advantages, small and medium-sized businesses are seeking tools that enable them to securely and efficiently access, input, exchange and present corporate data from anywhere," said David Cottingham, a director of product and partner development at CDW Corporation, a leading provider of technology products and services to businesses, government and education. "Business Objects helps these companies make smarter business decisions by creating a full business reporting and dashboarding solution that improves managers' ability to analyze the data from a holistic perspective."

Contemporary plc, a UK-based solution provider

"It is encouraging to see Business Objects expand its commitment to the mid-market, as this is a critical market for us," said David Whitehead, managing director at Contemporary plc. "Our small to medium-sized clients are demanding ways to better visualize their data and these new Crystal products will enable us to provide them with stunning new functionality, such as feature-rich reports and visual dashboards, easily shared over the web, without requiring them to make a huge financial investment."