AEC Software Unveils FastTrack Schedule 9; New release of PM software provides project consolidation functionality, more direct integration with Microsoft Project(TM), new productivity features.

STERLING, Va. -- AEC Software, a leading developer of business productivity solutions, announced today the shipment of FastTrack Schedule 9, the latest release of the company's flagship project management (PM) software, for both the Windows and Mac environments.

The ninth generation of the PM solution known for its usability and cross-platform compatibility, the new release provides a redesigned interface and more direct integration with Microsoft Project(TM) and other leading PM solutions. In addition, new capabilities have been incorporated to make project planning and tracking simpler, including project consolidation and enhanced linking functionality, publishing projects as iCalendars, direct exporting to iCal and a larger library of pre-defined templates for a variety of project types.

"FastTrack Schedule 9 has all the project management functionality most businesses need and none of the clutter from features they simply don't," noted Dennis Bilowus, President and CEO of AEC Software. "Because it's intuitive and simpler to use than the bulky tools out there, everyone on your team will actually use it - and that's the only time project management can be successful."

FastTrack Schedule enables users to quickly and simply plan projects, present plans clearly with colorful timelines, track performance precisely, and easily share project information. Often implemented as an alternative to or in parallel with Microsoft Project,(TM) FastTrack Schedule is viewed by end users as simpler to operate, ultimately resulting in higher adoption and therefore more successful PM initiatives. At the same time, advanced project managers who are accustomed to Microsoft Project(TM) can continue to use the tool with the assurance that all users' work will seamlessly integrate. In addition, because FastTrack Schedule is fully supported on the Mac platform, it can help organizations with both Macs and PCs bridge departments, regardless of operating system.

Specific upgrades embedded in the new version include:

--Project consolidation - combine multiple projects into a single master project file

--Enhanced linking in accordance with PMI practices

--Directly open Microsoft Project(TM) (.mpp) files

--New templates, tutorials and example files

--Support for Mac OSX Services for v10.4 Tiger, including Spotlight support

--Ability to publish projects as iCalendars to remote servers

--Enhanced XML and MPX support

--Ability to capture and store multiple project Baselines

--AutoArchive, AutoSave, and File Properties with user-definable metadata and privacy preferences

"We commit ourselves to a close dialogue with our customers in order to learn about their needs and determine the functionality they would like to see us add to our product," added Bilowus. "FastTrack Schedule 9 represents the result of that ongoing collaboration - and we think we've delivered to market our best tool yet."

Free Trial Versions Available

Trial versions of FastTrack Schedule 9 are available online at the AEC Software website: http://www.aecsoftware.com/downloads/demo/.

Pricing and Availability

FastTrack Schedule 9 is available for an estimated retail price of US $349. Upgrades from previous versions of FastTrack Schedule start at US $149.

About AEC Software

Headquartered in Sterling, VA, AEC Software, Inc. develops and publishes project-focused and business productivity solutions for Windows, Mac, and other operating systems. Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders use AEC Software's products to schedule activities, manage project information, and achieve project goals. For more information about AEC Software and its productivity solutions, visit http://www.aecsoftware.com.