Forte Software Inc has lowered the entry point to its WebEnterprise software development tool with the latest version, WebEnterprise Professional Edition – adding at the same time a graphical, wizard-based, database driven application generator to make development easier. The move is intended to help Forte compete with the newer breed of application server companies such has Sun Microsystems Inc’s NetDymanics, Netscape Communications Corp’s Kiva and Oracle Corp’s recently launched Application Server 4.0. Previous versions of Forte’s WebEnterprise tool, without the front-end tools, could be used only by skilled developers. WebEnterprise, accessed through a standard browser, includes everything from the Forte Application Development environment, but is limited to use by a single developer. Upgrades are available to full scale versions. Pricing starts at just under $25,000 for the Windows NT version. It will also be available on Alpha NT, Solaris, HP/UX, Digital Unix, other Unix platforms and VMS when it becomes available in the first quarter of next year. There is native database access to the major databases, MS SQL Server and generic ODBC. Forte promises further revisions of its pricing models over the next few weeks, offering further price points but not reducing its prices overall.