For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Mary Leong
415-252-2118
mary@macromedia.com
Macromedia Announces Worldwide Availability of Pathware 4
Web-Based, Enterprise-Wide Solution Enables Companies to Create,
Manage and Track Mission-Critical Learning Systems
Redwood Shores, Calif.- April 28, 1999 – The Interactive Learning
Division of Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACR) today announced the
worldwide availability of Pathware 4, the industry’s first
Web-native, open, scalable enterprise learning management system.
Pathware 4 allows corporations to easily create, deploy, and track
online learning content via corporate intranets or the Internet. In a
separate release, Macromedia announced that its Pathware software is
enabling a broad range of customers – including Compaq Computer
Corp., US WEST, and Remedy Intelligence Staffing – to re-engineer the
way they train and educate employees and customers.
Pathware 4 is the latest addition to Macromedia’s Attain Enterprise
Learning System, which includes Macromedia’s Authorware 5 Attain and
Dreamweaver Attain software. Pathware 4 guides users through the
entire online learning process – from planning and producing
curricula, to administering and delivering courses, and reporting on
student progress. The new product streamlines corporate training
processes and delivers tangible return-on-investment (ROI) by
enabling companies to develop and reuse modular curricula, decrease
training time and implementation costs, track student progress
online, and generate results reports.
“In today’s highly competitive marketplace, corporations are
beginning to view online learning as a key competitive tool,” said
Elliott Masie, founder of The MASIE Center and the On-Line Learning
Council. “With Web-based learning products like Pathware 4, companies
not only shorten the learning curve among employees in corporate
training programs and cut costs, but can also educate extended
enterprise parties such as customers and partners about products and
services and capture mindshare.”
“We are transforming enterprise learning with the Web,” said Ian
Richmond, president of Macromedia’s Interactive Learning Division.
“With Pathware 4, companies can fundamentally change the way they
train their employees and do business with their customers and
partners. That’s a huge benefit for today’s enterprises.”
Pathware 4 is an enterprise-wide learning system that enables
corporations to achieve mission-critical training results across
three critical areas: Required training: Training that is important
to manage and document, such as courses which are required by law,
employee safety training, and certification programs.
Competitive advantage: Skills training for sales, customer service
and field staff for enhanced performance or enhanced revenue
generation. Extended enterprise: Training for customers and channel
partners to help educate them about products and services and capture
mindshare
Pathware 4 is accessible through a browser even over low-bandwidth
connections and is the first Web-based system engineered for
enterprise-wide deployment. Unlike competitive offerings, Macromedia
is taking enterprise learning to the next generation with an
integrated system that provides the following benefits:
Easy Enterprise Access: Pathware 4 is accessible to all users via
Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers, versions 3 and 4, even over
low bandwidth connections; no additional software or plug-ins are
required. Highly Scalable Architecture: Pathware 4 scales from
departments with hundreds of users to enterprises with thousands of
users, and can accommodate extended enterprises hosting hundreds of
thousands of users in remote locations and offices around the world.
Security in the Enterprise: Security and privacy of records is
provided through password protection, permission-based interaction,
sixty permission types and SSL network security.
Interoperability for Easy Integration: Pathware 4 tracks results
using the latest AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee) standard, the
industry’s only open standard in widespread use for technology-based
learning systems. As a result of its open architecture, Pathware
works with industry-leading, off-the-shelf courseware from NetG,
Teach.com, Tarragon (a division of CBT Systems), and Catapult (a
division of IBM). Pathware also supports Internet and database
standards for easy integration with other ERP and front-office
applications.
Integrated Solution: Pathware 4 is integrated with Authorware 5
Attain and Dreamweaver Attain to create an easy-to-use system
incorporating best-of-breed authoring and management capabilities.
Availability/Distribution/System Requirements The Pathware 4 learning
system that can be configured to run on a single server or multiple
servers for any level of desired performance. Available today,
Pathware 4 is priced from $35,000 for a single server license. Client
system requirements for Pathware 4 include: Microsoft Windows 95, 98,
NT 3.51 or later; 16MB of RAM (32MB recommended); 256 colors; and
Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, Ver. 3 or later.
Server system requirements include: Microsoft Windows NT or later;
Microsoft Internet Information Server 4; and Oracle or Microsoft SQL
Server database.
With its Attain Enterprise Learning System, Macromedia’s Interactive
Learning Division is the leading provider of mission-critical,
enterprise-wide learning solutions. Macromedia’s Authorware 5 Attain
is the leading authoring tool for creating Web and online rich-media
learning courseware that enables users to learn at their own pace and
retain more information by interacting with compelling content.
Macromedia’s Dreamweaver Attain, built on the leading visual tool for
professional Web site design, is the industry’s first visual HTML
authoring tool designed for creating Web-based learning content.
Pathware 4, a standards-based enterprise learning management system,
offers a completely integrated solution for assembling, assigning,
delivering, and administering learning courseware as well as tracking
detailed results. Pathware is the first learning management product
to receive AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee) certification
interoperability.
About Macromedia
Macromedia’s mission is to add life to the Web. By providing its
award-winning Web Publishing, Web Traffic, and Web Learning solutions
to web designers, consumers, and the enterprise, Macromedia is
delivering a completely new generation of Internet tools and
technologies designed to transform the Web experience. Headquartered
in San Francisco, Macromedia (NASDAQ: MACR) has more than 550
employees worldwide and is available on the Internet at
http://www.macromedia.com Macromedia also hosts one of the most
engaging entertainment sites on the Web at http://www.shockrave.com.