OTTAWA--April 30, 2003-- Corel Corporation today announced the availability of Corel Smart Graphics Studio (TM), a development platform designed to speed and simplify the creation of SVG-based smart graphics. Smart graphics are a new form of enterprise-class, graphically-rich application built using open standard SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) to transform XML and legacy data into powerful and compelling intranet and extranet applications. "Enterprise and government organizations are incorporating XML as a key technology component in their IT development strategies. XML-based technologies that can be used to build dynamic applications that are data-driven and feature rich are drawing the attention of developers within these organizations," said Rikki Kirzner, Research Director at IDC. "SVG is an open standard, XML-based language that can be used to create graphics and images to represent information in a more effective and understandable manner. It also provides the ability to dynamically interact with intranet and extranet applications. SVG is a key XML technology being considered by many professional developers." SVG-based applications are ideal for enterprise and government customers for a variety of purposes including interactive electronic technical publishing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), schematic diagramming, and building Human Machine Interfaces (HMI). "WIPRO has taken keen interest in the Corel Smart Graphics Studio because of its adherence to enterprise class open standards. We are excited to be testing the product with our enterprise IT consulting practice - enabling us to reduce the time and costs associated with delivering visual interfaces to our back-end development efforts," said Ajay Kumar, Marketing Manager, Corporate Vertical at WIPRO Technologies. Corel Smart Graphics Studio enables System Integrators and IT departments to reduce the cost and complexity of building and delivering SVG-based applications. Based on XML, SVG, and XSLT, applications built with Corel Smart Graphics Studio are not dependent on proprietary technology and are highly interoperable with existing tools and infrastructure. Corel Smart Graphics Studio enables application developers to easily produce extensible solutions by maintaining a separation between the graphical, functional and data components of an application, resulting in significantly increased application development ROI. "Many organizations are turning to XML and open standard Web services to ensure the easy exchange and longevity of their data and information. As a result, SVG application development is on the rise - enabling developers to deliver these services in a compelling way, while maintaining an end-to-end XML infrastructure," said Ian LeGrow, Vice President of New Ventures at Corel. He added: "Many enterprises have long recognized the power SVG offers for creating graphical solutions, but were challenged with the task of hand coding these applications - a very time consuming and expensive process. Corel Smart Graphics Studio enables developers to deliver these applications in a fraction of the time, and as a result, will further spur the adoption of the SVG standard."