Press & Analyst FAQ
Q: What is USWeb/CKS announcing today?
A: USWeb/CKS is announcing an evolved vision and technology roadmap for managed application services that includes two new offerings: iFrame™ and iAMsystem™, delivered by USWeb/CKS Managed Services, formerly called E-Services.
USWeb/CKS and Microsoft are announcing an expanded strategic alliance that will help make this strategy a reality. Microsoft will provide $67.5 million over the next 12 months to fund USWeb/CKS' efforts to develop and market iFrame-based managed application services and technologies.
Q: What is Managed Services?
A: Managed Services, formerly known as E-Services, is a service group within USWeb/CKS. Managed Services builds and manages comprehensive Internet-based, entry- and enterprise-level application systems for emerging digital ventures and mid-market and Fortune 1000 companies.
Q: Why did the name change from E-Services to Managed Services?
A: USWeb/CKS changed the name to reflect the expanded services offered and better represent our value proposition.
Q: Does this announcement change USWeb/CKS' position in the Internet professional services market?
A: In fact, USWeb/CKS is redefining the Internet professional services market and what is necessary for E-SuccessTM. By providing a standardized architecture for managed applications, USWeb/CKS is uniquely positioned to act as a digital intermediary. For clients of Managed Services, USWeb/CKS will become an integral part of the digital supply chain, adding value to business by building new online relationships and opening new markets for its clients.
Q: Does this announcement represent a change in strategy for USWeb/CKS?
A: No, this announcement reflects USWeb/CKS' leadership and is a refinement of its strategy. USWeb/CKS is committed to helping companies transform their business. In the digital economy, companies have to adapt quickly to survive. The challenges they face are the need for rapid deployment of integrated applications, global 24x7 operations, the shortage of IT professionals and huge capital outlays required to build today's Web-centric IT infrastructures. Standalone managed applications only provide a stop-gap measure. The USWeb/CKS standardized architecture addresses these issues and provides a long-term, sustainable platform for growth that helps ensure E-Success.
Q: Is Managed Services an application services provider (ASP)?
A: No, Managed Services offers ASP-like services, but is much more than an ASP. Managed Services will proactively manage its clients' applications. Managed Services provides more than just "rent-an-application," offering a host of integrated Internet business applications implemented on a common platform and framework including management services that encompass everything from proactive network management to strategy consulting.
Q: What is USWeb/CKS' vision for e-business?
A: USWeb/CKS believes the cycle of transformation will continue to accelerate in the digital economy. Efficient systems and recurring Time-to-Value - the time it takes for a business initiative or technology to impact a company's business - will become paramount. USWeb/CKS' vision for e-business is one where the Internet will connect 1 billion people in a single high-speed frictionless communications and commerce system where relationships define competitive advantage and leadership. USWeb/CKS sees a unique opportunity to facilitate "digital" relationships - acting as the dial tone to the digital economy.
iFrame and iAMsystem
Q: What is iFrame?
A: Internet framework (iFrame) is a combination of standards, application components, methodologies and tools for developing, deploying, managing and extending fully integrated Internet business applications. iFrame is expected to provide a robust, scalable platform for the USWeb/CKS Internet Application Management System (iAMsystem). Based on Microsoft® Windows® Distributed interNet Architecture (Windows DNA) 2000, USWeb/CKS Managed Services and Professional Services will build standard and custom applications on the iFrame platform, to help companies more easily scale and adapt their businesses to the demands of the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Q: What is iAMsystem?
A: iAMsystem will encompass a range of both standard and custom managed Internet business services and interoperable line-of-business applications - including solutions for Communications and Knowledge Management, e-Commerce, Customer Relationship Management and Back Office - on which a company can build its entire Internet business strategy. Leveraging iFrame, iAMsystem solutions can be rapidly and cost-effectively deployed, scale easily and integrate seamlessly with new and legacy business applications.
Q: When will iAMSystem and iFrame be available?
A: iAMsystem applications for Communications and Knowledge Management and e-Commerce, built on iFrame, are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Q: How much will they cost?
A: Pricing is set on a per-month subscription basis. Contact Managed Services for more info.
Customers
Q: Who is the target customer for these solutions?
A: Target customers are emerging digital ventures and mid-market and Fortune 1000 companies that need an integrated business strategy for success in the digital economy and the technology to make that strategy a reality.
Q: Who are the companies' joint clients?
A: USWeb/CKS has implemented more than 3,500 e-commerce solutions based on Microsoft's platform. These customers include Levi Strauss, Harley-Davidson, furniture.com, Dick's Sporting Goods, National Airlines and other industry leaders. The iFrame architecture announced today is the next phase of the companies' relationship - and the companies will provide updates on client implementations when iAMsystem is delivered to market.
Q: Why is the offering of Managed Services important to USWeb/CKS customers?
A: Internet professional services firms must offer a holistic approach when implementing comprehensive e-business solutions - incorporating everything from overall strategy and marketing to complete technology solutions that make the strategy a reality. USWeb/CKS is one step ahead of the competition in doing this, evolving the model for Internet professional services by delivering a standardized architecture for managed applications. The architecture provides the perfect technology solution for our strategy + marketing + technology equation, and is designed to ensure that our customers will receive maximum, recurring Time-to-Value from their e-business initiatives.
Q: What is the benefit of implementing managed solutions on a standardized architecture?
A: The iFrame architecture ensures that a company's managed solutions can be rapidly deployed, scale easily and automatically integrate with new and legacy systems, ensuring maximum, recurring Time-to-Value for customers as they implement increasingly comprehensive
e-business solutions. In addition, companies that implement the iAMsystem solutions can become part of a Digital Value Network (DVN) to help them extend and create new business relationships and open new markets online.
Q: What is a DVN?
A: By interconnecting the iAMsystem solutions of multiple clients, USWeb/CKS will facilitate the emergence of Digital Value Networks. DVNs will create virtual enterprises, or value networks, with seamless integration of business processes from the customer to the smallest supplier in the value chain. DVNs are multiple networks of businesses, partners and customers acting in concert. DVNs open proprietary relationships and extend relations between sectors. USWeb/CKS believes that the companies that enable and create DVNs and provide value-added services to DVNs will be the most competitive and successful in the transition to the digital economy.
Microsoft Alliance
Q: What is the nature of the expanded alliance with Microsoft?
A: USWeb/CKS and Microsoft have expanded their strategic alliance to develop the USWeb/CKS Internet framework (iFrame) based on Windows DNA 2000. As part of the alliance, Microsoft is providing funds to USWeb/CKS to assist in the creation of a joint technology development lab, as well as marketing and training programs to bring iFrame and associated application services to market. The joint development lab will be located on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. The companies will also establish executive briefing centers in Redmond, San Francisco and Vienna, Virginia, for demonstrating managed services solutions to joint customers. In addition, they will collaborate on sales, marketing and training initiatives, which includes training and certifying 750 USWeb/CKS professionals as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers and Microsoft Certified Solution Developers.
Q: When will the lab and executive briefing centers be operational?
A: They are expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Q: Why did Microsoft decide to collaborate with USWeb/CKS?
A: Microsoft believes that managed services are an effective strategy for many companies facing an array of IT challenges in the fast-moving digital economy. Microsoft also believes that USWeb/CKS has the core competencies and experience needed to bring this concept to market successfully. Together, Microsoft and USWeb/CKS can dramatically simplify the IT experience for many customers and help them drive their e-business strategies by offering the right combination of technology and managed services.
Q: Why did USWeb/CKS choose the Microsoft Windows DNA 2000 platform?
A: USWeb/CKS chose the Microsoft platform because of Microsoft's proven track record of building best-of-breed, reliable and scalable enterprise applications. The products and technologies within Windows DNA 2000 such as BizTalk and AppCenter Server will enable us to more rapidly and effectively deliver new iAMsystem services to our clients. Additionally, the standards built into Windows DNA 2000 (such as XML) will enable the iAMsystem applications to seamlessly integrate with other applications both inside and outside of the enterprise.
Q: What is Microsoft's vision for the future of digital business?
A: Digital business is not a future, it's a reality today. In many ways, the technology is ahead of the strategy, organizational processes and enterprise communications, collaboration and methodologies. Microsoft will continue to play a key role in the evolution of digital business as its Web services platforms are utilized as the enabling infrastructure for the digital economy. BizTalkTM Server, BizTalk Frameworks, Active DirectoryTM and the overall Windows DNA 2000 architecture will play a major role in defining how this rolls out.
Q: Why is Microsoft collaborating with USWeb/CKS to achieve that vision?
A: USWeb/CKS has combined unique elements of professional services including strategic consulting, marketing communications and Managed Services in a unique blend that provides incredible time-to-market advantages in the digital economy.
Q: How will the relationship enable companies to achieve success in business-to-business transactions?
A: The combination of iAMSystem and iFrame, as implemented on Windows DNA 2000, will provide a combination of Managed Services based on Microsoft technology that will facilitate incredibly powerful DVNs and that will be made operational in weeks or months rather than years. Achieving success in business-to-business is a matter of application integration, operational integration, functional integration and business policy rules integration between companies. Through their combined efforts, Microsoft and USWeb/CKS can help organizations achieve all of that quickly.
Microsoft, Windows and Active Directory are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other Countries. USWeb/CKS, iFrame and iAMsystem are trademarks of USWeb Corporation in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Melinda Mattei, USWeb/CKS, 650-558-0890, mmattei@uswebcks.com
Sarah Rades, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-443-7000, sarahr@wagged.com
Kisja Gunderson, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 425-637-9097, kisjag@wagged.com
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom, 503-443-7000, rrt@wagged.com