Sourcing, Resource Allocation, and Sell-Side Commerce Systems Gain Access to Advanced Back-End Optimization Software

CombineNet Announces ClearBox 1.0

PITTSBURGH, PA—May 21, 2001

CombineNet Inc. announced the availability of its flagship product, ClearBox™ v1.0, a back-end allocation optimization system for strategic sourcing, resource allocation, and sell-side commerce systems. ClearBox 1.0 is a pioneering software product that will provide significant bottom-line benefits to end users, software companies and consulting firms. ClearBox was developed to be the first back-end tool offering advanced bidding features for allocation optimization in one easy-to-use, high-performance package.

The goal with ClearBox has always been to build a truly expressive, robust and reliable optimization system that's easy to use for all types of allocation and trading environmentsand it has never existed until now. We waited to release the product until all of the fundamental architectural work and months of testing created a rock solid product that can be applied across numerous industries," said Brian Jacobsen, CEO of CombineNet, Inc.

On near-term targets best-suited for ClearBox 1.0 Jacobsen points to, "...direct materials purchasing managers, transportation sourcing executives and their consultants and software providers," gaining the optimization system that will "aid tremendously in the complex contract allocation process."

ClearBox 1.0 provides unprecedented direct access to lower prices, higher revenue, lower overhead, and lower risk, while conforming to business rules and preferences through these key features:

• Truly Expressive Bidding^®: Improving business results through the sophisticated expression of preferences and constraints by incorporating methods such as volume discounts, bundled bids, scenario and price-plus-terms bids.
• Robust Outcome Constraints: Robust outcome constraints allow users to enforce business rules and restrictions without sacrificing additional profit.
• The Optimal Solution: ClearBox determines the 100% optimal allocation of items to bidders quickly and efficiently. These highly complex mathematical problems consider millions of solution options before offering those that maximize profits, minimize risks, and conform to business preferences.
• Developer-Friendly Language: ClearBox employs an easy-to-use XML schema for all input and output, freeing integrators from complex programming.

The product has been released to the public after more than four years of team research, development and testing. The CombineNet R&D team that built ClearBox has more than thirty cumulative years of research in the fields of electronic commerce, market design, automated negotiation and contracting, game theory, multiagent systems, auctions, and combinatorial optimization. CombineNet is a Pittsburgh-based company with regional offices in California. Learn more about CombineNet and ClearBox at www.combinenet.com.

Media Contacts:

Greg Holt
CombineNet Inc.
Director of Marketing
Phone: 412.471.8200
gholt@combinenet.com