iAnywhere updates its Answers Anywhere middleware

August 1, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- iAnywhere Solutions, a subsidiary of Sybase (NYSE:SY), today unveiled the latest version of Answers Anywhere, a middleware platform for building application interfaces that feature context understanding and natural language capabilities.

Answers Anywhere 4.0 enables users of a wireless phone, handheld PDA, customized console, or desktop computer to access desired functionality and obtain relevant answers to their queries. Answers Anywhere licensees can augment existing user interfaces to integrate legacy content and applications, according to iAnywhere.

Version 4.0 of Answers Anywhere adds support for context awareness; a new hint and suggestions engine; simplified development components and templates; automatic and SQL generation and improved documentation, including end-to-end reference examples.

Specific new features include:

* Improved contextual capabilities -- Answers Anywhere 4.0 incorporates an improved context engine that enables applications to "know" what types of information a user might need based on the user's interactions. For example, in a sales force application, if a user asks for contacts, the application could also display tabs automatically for opportunities, accounts, and other information related to the contact in question.

* Hint Engine -- The hint engine enables developers to easily offer hints and suggestions to help users narrow down what they're looking for. For example, after searching for contacts at a company in a specified location, Answers Anywhere suggests follow-up searches on directions to the contact's location, information about the company, finding meetings set at the specified location with the contact in question, etc.

* Automatic SQL Generation -- simplifies prototyping and database integration.

* Templates and Pre-Built Components -- enable rapid creation of new Answers Anywhere systems.

Answers Anywhere supports a range of input and output modalities, including
voice, email, Web, SMS/MMS, IM, WAP and iMode (multi-modal use is also
supported, so users can request information by voice and receive answers via SMS, for example). iAnywhere says that the software supports information and service requests in "any language".

The software s upports online and wireless services over any connection method -- including wired networks, wireless and Wi-Fi, and cradle synchronization -- and supports major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and
Unix.

Answers Anywhere is priced starting at US $100 per seat. A revenue-sharing model for carriers is also available. To learn more, see iAnywhere.com. For quick information on other iAnywhere offerings, see the company's summary page on MobileVillage.

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