"Punch WebGroups Enterprise combines the best features of traditional document management systems with the ease of use and ubiquity of the browser and the Web," said the president and CEO of Punch Networks. "The Web has made it possible for companies to make important files and data available to the people inside and outside their organization who need it most. But the business reality is that files and documents frequently change. Punch WebGroups Enterprise not only makes it easy for companies to store files on the Web, it also helps users within the corporation manage the inevitable changes to their files."

Punch WebGroups Enterprise 1.0 is ideal for companies that face increasing external connections with partners, suppliers, customers and other outside resources. As these connections grow in number, so does the need to effectively, securely and accurately communicate.

"We see this fitting into the enterprise in a number of different ways," continued Punch's President and CEO. "You can use it as a extension to your intranet for your remote users or telecommuters, or as a extension to your extranet for file sharing and updating with partners and customers. Smaller companies may find it useful not only for file sharing, but also for off-site backup of important, mission-critical files."

Store, share and update files from the Web
Administrators set up Punch WebGroups Enterprise on a Web server either inside or outside their firewall. A single user or collections of users create a WebGroup (a secure page on a Web server) where they can securely store, distribute and update files using just their Web browser. Any time a user changes a document and uploads it to the WebGroup, the system notifies the other members of that WebGroup via email that the document has changed. The other members can then come to the site and download the new version of the file directly to their machine, automatically updating the existing version.

Importantly, Punch WebGroups uploads and downloads only the information that changes between versions of a document, so updates occur quickly. The site is password-protected, and files are encrypted on the server. Because the service is Web-based, users can access their files from any Internet-enabled machine. The server has advanced functionality, including:

- Update status:
Upon logging in to a WebGroup account, the Punch WebGroups server checks the user's machine to see if the files he or she has locally are up-to-date. On a file-by file basis, the User Interface displays whether or not the user has the current version of the file. If the user is out of date, all it takes is one click to update the file on the user's machine.

- Version tracking and management:
The WebGroups server stores all published versions of a file, which means any user can at any time download any version of a file. Because Punch WebGroups sends only the changes between versions, it also stores only the changes. So when a user downloads a previous version of a file, only the changes between the version selected and the version on the hard drive are sent across the Web.

- Audit trail:
Administrators have a full suite of tools that lets them track user activity, enable/disable accounts, set user authorities, regulate access to the site, and perform other tasks.

- Administrative Tools:
Upon logging in to a WebGroup account, the Punch WebGroups server checks the user's machine to see if the files he or she has locally are up-to-date. On a file-by file basis, the User Interface displays whether or not the user has the current version of the file. If the user is out of date, all it takes is one click to update the file on the user's machine.

"Companies are now ready to trust the Internet, are comfortable with the level of security offered and understand both the limitations and the benefits," Punch's President said. "Punch WebGroups Enterprise is perfectly timed to catch this wave of forward thinkers in the corporate arena and will help to streamline their business objectives, processes and communications."

System Requirements
To run the beta version of Punch WebGroups Enterprise, companies will need the following: Microsoft NT Server 4.0 SP 4; Microsoft IIS 4.0; Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 SP 5a; Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP 2 with LDAP (Directory) Site and SMTP services enabled; and Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 with a Reverse Proxy Configuration. The shipping version will support NT and Sun Solaris operating systems, IIS and Netscape Enterprise Server, SQL server 7.0 and Oracle 8.x.

A product and a service
Punch Networks will sell Punch WebGroups Enterprise 1.0 through a network of value-added resellers beginning in November, 1999. The company currently offers Punch WebGroups as a service to users through partnerships with other providers, such as portals like intellifact.com, workz.com, powerstudents.com and cos.com. Users can always try WebGroups for free directly from the Punch Networks Web site, punchnetworks.com.

About Punch Networks Corporation
Founded by David Campbell in 1995, Punch Networks develops software products and technologies that help people effectively manage changing digital information. The company's first service/product, Punch WebGroups, lets anyone access, share and automatically update their files using just their Web browser. The Company offers WebGroups as a hosted service to business partners, and also sells an Enterprise version of Punch WebGroups, through a network of Value Added Resellers.

For more information, visit the Punch Networks website at www.punchnetworks.com, email info@punchnetworks.com, or call (206) 343-7661.