Aimtech Corporation Expands Its IconAuthor Multimedia Authoring Family; New IconAuthor SE Targeted at Growing Class of Multimedia Author.

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 1996--In a move to address rapidly expanding requirements for interactive multimedia solutions, Aimtech Corporation announced a new, lower-cost edition of its award-winning IconAuthor software. The new IconAuthor SE provides ease-of-use features demanded by multimedia developers and the growing number of technical business professionals who create interactive multimedia applications for a variety of business communications needs.

According to research conducted by Frost & Sullivan Inc., the global multimedia authoring software market will grow from 1.7 million units in 1995 to 2.8 million in 1996, and is expected to reach 6.6 million units by the year 2000. Of this total market, approximately 75 percent is priced below $2,000. IconAuthor SE, with an estimated street price of $1,000, expands Aimtech's reach into this rapidly growing segment of the market.

"Every day, business leaders are challenged to creatively and cost-effectively address issues such as employee training, customer communications, and the impact of the Internet on their sales efforts," said Andy Huffman, president and CEO of Aimtech Corporation. "Using interactive multimedia technology, corporations are moving beyond traditional methods, and creating a competitive advantage for their business. With IconAuthor SE, we will enable individuals and teams in different parts of the corporation to leverage the proven IconAuthor technology currently used by a majority of Fortune 500 corporations."

"IBM has adopted IconAuthor as a key multimedia authoring tool for development of informational kiosks, computer-based training, and interactive marketing presentations," said Larry Bowden, Director of Interactive Enterprise Solutions, IBM Software Solutions. "The introduction of IconAuthor SE enables an entirely new population of business professionals to create interactive multimedia rich applications."

IconAuthor SE provides a powerful multimedia development environment, but with ease of use unmatched by competitive products. Compared to other authoring tools in this price range that require users to master a scripting language, IconAuthor SE's visual development environment eliminates scripting and programming. This allows technical business professionals to create applications without the need for costly outside expertise.

IconAuthor SE also separates the structure of a multimedia application from its content, enabling division of development work into such areas as graphic creation, video editing and application control for greater productivity. As the elements are completed, they are "plugged" into the application structure. Further, IconAuthor SE simplifies the task of maintaining an application. Since content is stored externally, developers don't have to use the authoring tool to update application content.

The current edition of IconAuthor will continue to be used by a select group of sophisticated multimedia developers who use advanced features such as custom DLL extensions, cross-platform deployment, linking to enterprise databases, and the ability to develop reusable engines. For IconAuthor SE customers who want to add these capabilities after the initial purchase, Aimtech will offer upgrade programs.

Internet Support

Internet support for IconAuthor SE is provided via Aimtech's Universal Media Access (UMA) architecture, which allows application content to be stored locally on a hard drive, on a CD-ROM or LAN, or remotely on the Internet. With UMA, authors can update content without going back into IconAuthor, permitting ongoing revision of time-sensitive material, easier application maintenance, and immediate delivery over the Intranet or Internet. Further, this architecture allows the development of "hybrid" multimedia applications, where data-intensive content such as video is stored on a CD-ROM, and time-sensitive information is available on the network or Internet.

IconAuthor SE also includes an HTML Object that lets authors integrate existing HTML documents in their IconAuthor applications. Authors can re-use content already created or linked to any HTML document stored on the Internet. Applications developed with IconAuthor SE can also be delivered through a Netscape browser using the IconAuthor Plug-in that is included with IconAuthor SE.

Product Availability

IconAuthor SE for Windows 3.x and Windows 95 will be available at the end of April 1996 through Aimtech's authorized reseller network at a single user list price of $1,295. The Netscape plug-in will be included with the new software and will also be available at no charge on Aimtech's web site (http://www.aimtech.com), or by calling the company at 800-289-2884 or 603-883-0220. In addition, through the end of June, all purchases of IconAuthor SE will be bundled with CorelDRAW! 5.

Aimtech Corporation, a privately held company headquartered in Nashua, NH, develops and markets software tools for the creation and deployment of interactive multimedia applications delivered via CD-ROM, corporate networks and the Internet. Companies using Aimtech's software create competitive advantages for their products and services, and achieve breakthroughs in the management of employee and customer interactions. -0-

IconAuthor is a registered trademark of Aimtech Corporation. All other product names listed herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: David Conti  Mona Pohl/Susan Breuer

Aimtech Corporation The Weber Group

[phone] Ext. 26 [phone]

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