Leading SFA Provider Chooses Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere for
Windows CE as Exclusive Database to Power SFA Applications
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies
and Sybase, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBS) today announced a strategic alliance to deploy
handheld sales force automation (SFA) applications targeted to the
pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies
will embed Sybase(R) Adaptive Server(R) Anywhere 6.0 for Windows CE as the
exclusive mobile database engine to power handheld SFA applications for the
Windows CE operating system. The new handheld applications are designed to
make it easier for mobile sales forces to get immediate access to customer and
product information, as well as capture call and sampling information. The
announcement was made today at an IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies customer
conference held in Orlando, FL.
"Sybase's mobile database technology has been a key enabler for delivering
sales force automation solutions and we are pleased to be extending our
longtime partnership to deliver solutions in the handheld market," said Doug
Brainard, vice president, business development, IMS HEALTH Strategic
Technologies.
"Microsoft is pleased that leading technology providers like Sybase and
IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies are driving the adoption of Windows CE-based
devices into the enterprise market," said Roger Gulrajani, Group Product
Manager in the Windows CE group at Microsoft. "Enabling mobile sales forces
to get immediate access to customer and product information is an advantage
that Windows CE-based devices and applications offer."
Collaboration to Drive SFA Applications to Handheld Devices
The Sybase/IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies solution for handheld devices
running the Windows CE operating system will offer mobile sales forces the
opportunity to further extend their sales force automation applications to a
new class of users. Sybase's Adaptive Server Anywhere, the industry-leading
small-footprint database, already powers IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies'
CORNERSTONE(TM)3.0 application running on laptop computers.
CORNERSTONE 3.0 is the most technically advanced, flexible and reliable
technology enabled sales (TES) product available to pharmaceutical sales and
marketing organizations. The product enables sales representatives to quickly
share and integrate sales and marketing information, providing for key program
or project/opportunity management in a highly collaborative and automated
process. This functionality is rapidly becoming the key to a pharmaceutical
company's ability to more effectively utilize critical sales resources for key
programs like product launches, regional promotions, hospital and managed care
projects and formulary placement opportunities.
Sybase Mobile Solution Enables Information Anywhere
Adaptive Server Anywhere for Windows CE builds on Sybase's proven
technology to deliver a small-footprint, self-tuning, fully-functional RDBMS
engine for applications operating in remote or mobile computing environments,
such as handheld PCs, or as embedded solutions. Its bi-directional
synchronization technology and low overhead make it the number one database
choice for embedding in applications such as sales and field force automation.
"Sybase is committed to help drive the delivery of information anywhere- - -
from an enterprise server, to a laptop, to a handheld device," said Terry
Stepien, vice president and general manager, product marketing, Sybase. "We
are pleased to be working with IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies to address
the demand for next-generation handheld sales force automation applications,
enabling organizations for the first time to leverage Windows CE-based devices
as a part of their corporate enterprise."
Availability
IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies expects its Sybase SFA application for
Windows CE to be generally available in the first half of 1999. Sybase
Adaptive Server for Windows CE is currently in beta, and is expected to be
generally available by the end of 1998.
About IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies
IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies is the global leader in pharmaceutical
sales and marketing automation systems, with a customer base of more than
35,000 users worldwide. The company offers sales and marketing applications
which can be integrated with all client-critical databases to provide customer
and business insights. IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies is a division of IMS
HEALTH (NYSE: RX), the world's leading provider of information solutions to
the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. With more than $1 billion in
1997 revenue, IMS HEALTH operates in over 90 countries. IMS HEALTH is the
largest pharmaceutical manufacturer information partner, with over 40 years'
experience in the industry. Key products and services integral to customer
day-to-day operations include: market research for prescription and over-the-
counter pharmaceutical products; sales management information to optimize
sales force productivity; technology enabled selling solutions for sales and
marketing decision-making; and technology systems and information services
that support managed care organizations. Additional information is available
at http://www.imshealth.com.
About Sybase, Inc.
Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase, Inc. is one of the ten largest
global independent software companies. The company helps businesses manage
and deliver applications, content and data anywhere they are needed. Sybase's
products, combined with its world-class professional services and partner
technologies, provide a comprehensive platform for delivering the integrated
solutions businesses need to be successful. Leveraging its existing strengths
in enterprise data management and enterprise application development, Sybase,
Inc. is focused on delivering end-to-end solutions for mobile and embedded
computing, data warehousing, and Web computing environments. Sybase customers
represent the industries leading the global economy, with strong
concentrations in financial services, public sector, telecommunications,
health care, and media and entertainment. Sybase, Inc. was the official
software supplier for the France 98 World Cup football tournament. The
company's Web address is http://www.sybase.com.
Adaptive Server and Sybase are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Sybase, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks
of the respective companies with which they are associated.
SOURCE IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies
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Related links:
http://www.sybase.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com or
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 115785
CONTACT:
John Lax of IMS HEALTH Strategic
Technologies, 404-841-5061; or Shirley Macbeth of Sybase, Inc.,
510-922-4576
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