Briefs

29 October 2001, UK.  Alterian (LSE: ALN), a provider of
high-performance analytic technology, announced today a new analytic
category, called CBAT - column-based analytical technology. CBAT is a
system that stores and accesses data in indexed column structures
specifically designed for analytic queries and decision
support. Alterian has support from over 30 partners, industry analyst
confidence, and a supporting white paper, 'Column Based Analytic
Technology, The Missing Piece to the Analytic Puzzle'.

CBAT differentiates itself from current analytic technologies
including OLAP, data mining, and standard relational systems that
usually require, for performance reasons, the pre-aggregation of data
into cubes, dimensional models, aggregate tables, or arrays of
aggregates. CBAT stores and queries the lowest level of detail
efficiently and does not rely on aggregates to deliver its superior
query performance. While OLAP type solutions are extremely powerful
where access to aggregated data is key such as management reporting -
CBAT is extremely powerful where access to detail data is key, such as
customer value analysis and behavioural-based segmentation.

For more information, see http://www.alterian.com/