Covast Delivers New Version of EDI Accelerator for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004

Covast Is Member of Microsoft BizTalk Server Partner Program

MOUNTAIN VIEW -- March 2, 2004 -- Covast today announced EDI Accelerator for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004. Covast's EDI Accelerator is the Microsoft recommended EDI solution for BizTalk Server, enabling companies to support both EDI and XML-based trading relationships through proven EDI and connectivity technology. The announcement coincides with the launch of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004, occurring today as part of Microsoft Corp.'s Silicon Valley Speaker Series in Mountain View, Calif.

"Ocean Spray currently utilizes AS2 with the Covast EDI Accelerator and BizTalk Server to support EDI trading relationships," said Sian Blackwell, Manager EDI/EC, Ocean Spray. "The combination of Covast's EDI Accelerator and BizTalk Server 2004 gives our company an electronic means of communicating with our trading partners and a B2B integration solution that is truly cost-effective."

Companies select Covast's EDI Accelerator product to leverage the value of their existing BizTalk Server infrastructure. Because of Covast's strong relationship with Microsoft as the company's recommended EDI solution provider, many enterprises have deployed Covast's flagship solution with Microsoft BizTalk Server in order to have a first-class EDI platform and a complete business-to-business trading environment. Because Covast does the translation from EDI to XML, customers that have deployed EDI Accelerator in conjunction with BizTalk Server are able to reduce significantly the costs of supporting their global trading partners.

"Customers have compelling reasons for deploying our EDI Accelerator with BizTalk Server 2004," said Daan Scheer, CEO of Covast. "The two products work together to form an effective B2B integration platform and enable companies to standardize on an electronic means of communicating with their trading partners that may require either EDI, XML or both in their trading environment."

Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004, part of the Microsoft Windows Server System, provides foundational technologies - including business-process orchestration, single sign-on capability, and human-based workflow and Web services support - that enable customers to build tailored e-business solutions to connect people with information and processes. Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework and integrated into the Microsoft Office System and Visual Studio .NET 2003, BizTalk Server 2004 addresses the unique needs of information technology professionals, information workers and developers to help increase efficiency and productivity.

"Covast provides EDI and connectivity technology, which will help our customers develop a fully integrated solution with BizTalk Server 2004," said Eric Swift, Director of E-Business Servers at Microsoft Corp. "Covast's EDI Accelerator and Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004 will empower companies to capitalize on new opportunities and build the next generation of tailored e-business solutions that span corporate boundaries and improve business agility."

Availability

For specific information on Covast EDI Accelerator for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004, please visit http://www.covast.com/products/accelerator__2004.asp. Developers and customers can find BizTalk Server 2004 at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/. More information about members of the BizTalk Server Partner Program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/partners/default.asp.

About Covast
Covast provides the Microsoft recommended EDI solution for BizTalk Server. The combination of Microsoft BizTalk Server, the Covast EDI Accelerator and AS2 Adapter delivers the ultimate B2B solution - enabling companies to easily integrate their EDI infrastructures with internal applications and providing a gateway for connecting trading communities. With its European headquarters in the Netherlands and its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Covast has strategic relationships with partners and customers including Microsoft, HP, Citrix, Flextronics, Siemens, Ocean Spray, Grampian Foods and ABX Logistics. For more information, visit www.covast.com.

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