Plumtree updates portal line, unveils retail app

Plumtree Software this week began rolling out a major new version of its portal software product line, including new bundling options, broader platform support and a new stand-alone product the company intends as the first in a line of customized industry applications.

"Of all the releases we've done in the past, this is the one where we've literally gone top to bottom with the product and made everything better," said Andrew Dunning, director of product marketing at Plumtree, which is based in San Francisco.

At the heart of Plumtree's G6 line is its flagship Plumtree Foundation software for building corporate portals. The new version includes an array of features aimed at easing application development, including new debugging tools, an AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and Extensible Markup Language) API (application programming interface), simplified UI (user interface) customization tools and enhanced configuration utilities.

Plumtree is also extending deployment options for its Java-based software. G6 is currently certified for Windows and Red Hat Linux. Within the next few months it will be certified for Suse Linux, Solaris and AIX as well, Plumtree said. In addition to Internet Explorer, G6 supports the Firefox, Netscape and Safari browsers.

Plumtree is creating three different bundles for its applications suite: a Portal bundle focused on its Foundation software, a Community bundle that adds in collaboration and simple application creation tools for building functionality like polls and surveys and an Application package that adds a new product, Plumtree Process, for managing and automating business processes. Plumtree Process is based on BPM (business process management) technology Plumtree licensed from Fuego. Plumtree's Portal suite has a list price of US$267 per user, while its Community suite is priced at US$344 per user and its Application suite is priced at US$396 per user, plus US$38,000 per processor for the Plumtree Process module.

Plumtree launched G6 at its user and developer conference this week in Florida. The company also used the show to unveil its first vertical application, High Performance Store Management Application (HiPer), a retail-focused portal product it co-developed with a customer, restaurant chain operator Applebee's International. HiPer, a stand-alone application, is now in use at Applebee's and will be available for sale to other retailers by the end of the year.

Plumtree will soon be subsumed by BEA Systems, which agreed in August to buy Plumtree for around US$200 million. Plumtree's Dunning said he doesn't expect the acquisition to cause any disruptions for customers; Plumtree regards its G6 line and its new bundling options as the foundation for its long-term direction. "[BEA intends] to support all of our current and all of our planned products," he said.

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