Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2000 17:17:13 +1100
From: Nat James <nat@netizen.com.au>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: press release:Open Source task tracking system

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Netizen, a Melbourne based IT consultancy, which specialises in Open
Source software, are announcing the 'alpha' release of their task tracking
system, called Xen (pronounced 'Zen').

Xen aims to improve on other similar proprietary project managment systems
as well as providing task tracking and project managment functionality
via a primarily web-based interface.  Xen is Open Source software and
is based on Zope (the Z Object Publishing Environment, http://zope.org)
and will run on Linux, other Unix and Windows systems. As with other
task tracking systems Xen enables staff of all levels to manage tasks,
projects and activities, maintain activity logs, estimate expenses, keep
record of clients and contacts made to clients and track all aspects of
a project from beginning to end through task trees.

The project has been released under an Open Source License which is a
modified version of the Netscape Public License. Netizen CEO Kirrily
Robert states that "Releasing the 'alpha' version for public examination
is an important stage of any projects development, because it provides an
opportunity for users to contribute and for the project to be subjected
to a peer review before its official release."

Netizen are also asking for expressions of interest from people or
companies wishing to sponsor Xen's development. Sponsors would be
able to have some input into the design and receive priority support
for the product. They would also get discounted consulting rates to
assist in enhancing the system to meet their specific business needs.
In addition to paying for these services the money donated by sponsors
will go towards the initial development of the Xen system.

Netizen hopes to raise around $50 000 (AUD) in total through Xen's
sponsorships and each sponsor would be asked to contribute $5000 to
$10 000 each.

Benno Rice, Xen's lead developer, states that "Xen is amazingly flexible.
The cool thing about it is that no matter what you need from it, it
should be able to do it."

For more information contact:
http://bits.netizen.com.au/Xen/
sales@netizen.com.au
Phone: +61 3 9614 0949
Fax: +61 3 9614 0948

Xen is a trademark of Netizen Pty Ltd

Thanks heaps
Yours,
Nat James
-- 
Natalie James      Sales and Publicity        http://netizen.com.au
Internet and Open Source Development, Consulting and Training.
Level 13, 500 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: +61 3 9614 0949