Traction Software Delivers Enterprise Weblog Solution to Western States Information Network

Weblog Technology Enables Law Enforcement Network to Efficiently Capture, Share and Use Critical Information

Contact:
Dana Harris
Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
978-440-8392
Email: dana@redjavelin.com

Providence, R.I. May 12, 2003 - Traction® Software, Inc., the leader in Enterprise Weblog software, today announced that the Western States Information Network (WSIN) has deployed its Traction® TeamPage™ solution. Established through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its initiative for the creation of regional intelligence systems throughout the country, WSIN utilizes TeamPage to deliver efficient communications, collaboration and knowledge-sharing capabilities and present critical information to the right people, in context, over time, to improve the quality and speed of its law enforcement services. In the future, WSIN plans to deliver its 1200 plus member agencies 24-hour, seven-day access to the Traction system to directly support their task force operations.

Founded in 1981, WSIN is one of six Regional Intelligence Sharing System (RISS) centers designed to create a partnership between the federal government and local law enforcement. WSIN serves member law enforcement agencies in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington. WSIN's primary mission relates to narcotics law enforcement, but also includes sharing intelligence on other criminal activity involving members of criminal organizations. WSIN helps its members by providing a broad range of criminal intelligence information, analytical products, and services in support of narcotic investigations and prosecutions. It also supports multi-agency coordination and cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

"The effectiveness of WSIN depends on timely retrieval and efficient exchange of critical intelligence among our personnel and our member agencies at the local, state and federal levels. This leads to greater awareness and more efficient law enforcement," said Karen Aumond, assistant director of WSIN. "The Traction TeamPage solution gives our organization the ability to maximize the value of pertinent information by effectively organizing, and selectively sharing it with our members, who in turn are able to find and act on critical information more effectively."

WSIN uses Traction TeamPage in four different areas of the organization including analytical and research, WSIN special project workgroups, management group and the Watch Center.

• In the analytical and research group, analysts are responsible for keeping up to date on assigned areas of expertise and supporting local investigative teams on their cases. Traction provides analysts with protected spaces to collect, organize and write analysis on data, reports, research and other materials. The information is made selectively visible to the Watch Center and other stakeholders. Traction improves collective awareness and provides a well organized and searchable log of the analyst group work product.
• The Watch Center responds to tactical inquiries from external law enforcement agencies served by WSIN. The team uses information resources selectively exposed by the analyst research group in Traction as an additional and pertinent source. The Watch Center shares database user tips, training schedules, and articles of interest using Traction.
• Traction offers the Management Group a medium for reporting and communication as well as a secure space to create, link and search a collective pool of sensitive information sourced from email, documents, or the Internet. Traction's email integration features make it possible to archive sensitive messages or messages with persisting value while purging others from the traditional email system. Additionally, managers receive an e-mail daily summary of new items posted to Traction.
• Other workgroups within WSIN, including technical, training and administrative teams, leverage Traction to post and collaborate on information about policies and procedures relevant to their projects or programs.

"Government organizations such as WSIN rely on fast, effective communication to link analyst and operational support staff with task forces in the field, while maintaining a 24 hour running log that can be used to keep management and related teams informed and derive new insights," said Greg Lloyd, president of Traction Software. "The Traction solution creates a communication hub that includes a built-in search engine that supports multiple overlapping permissioned spaces, giving teams instantly updated web access to information they need to operate efficiently, linked to insights and lessons learned over time."

About Traction's TeamPage Enterprise Weblog Software
Traction TeamPage Enterprise Weblog software is an easy-to-use powerful solution that allows everyday corporate users to collect, link and organize information from e-mail, the Web, Office and other sources and deliver it organized by time, topic and importance to improve productivity, knowledge sharing, communications and collaboration. Traction's easy to use hypertext journaling system can be used to label, cross-link and deliver relevant content gathered from disparate sources, and plugs into an existing web infrastructure. Traction's unique Instant Publisher allows users to collect and post selected text, pictures, links and attachments directly from Microsoft Word, Outlook or Internet Explorer.

Users can easily flag and link content at the full entry or paragraph level, overcoming the problem of siloed information. Permissioned users can update and enrich content, easily adding comments, cross-links, topic labels and action flags. To be kept abreast of news in the Enterprise Weblog, users have web real-time access or can receive a daily Executive Summary™ email newsletter, which summarizes new information by project and importance, with click through access to the full story.

About Traction Software
Traction Software is the leader in Enterprise Weblog software, delivering easy to use tools for groups and teams to communicate, share, organize and link all-sources information in context. The firm's flagship product, Traction TeamPage™, makes the business intranet a writable web that works as easily as email. Traction's pending patent covers the fundamental indexing, cross-reference and navigational elements that jointly make the Traction platform unique. The company distributes its products directly and through global partners. Traction Software was founded in 1996 and is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Investors include In-Q-Tel, Slater Interactive and private individuals. Learn more at www.tractionsoftware.com.

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Traction is a registered trademark and Traction TeamPage is a trademark of Traction Software, Inc.