Artisoft partners with Lotus, Cheyenne Communications & NETCOM to create LANtastic(R) Power Suite.

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 1995--Artisoft, Inc. announced Tuesday the LANtastic Power Suite, a new integrated product that contains an advanced LANtastic network operating system combined with leading communications software.

This suite of six integrated products offers a complete tailored networking and communications solution for small and growing businesses and branch offices.

In addition to the LANtastic network, the suite also includes Lotus(R) cc:Mail(TM) communications software, Lotus Organizer(TM) networked group scheduler and personal information manager (PIM), Cheyenne(R) Communications BitWare(TM) fax and modem communications software, Cheyenne Communications BitShare(TM) modem-sharing and pooling software, and NETCOM(R) NetCruiser(TM) Internet access software.

The LANtastic Power Suite, which starts at $199 for a one-user software-only kit, is expected to begin shipping in the first half of calendar year 1995.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with three of the industry's most recognized and leading companies in their respective markets," said Artisoft President and CEO William C. Keiper.

"The integration of their products with our award-winning LANtastic network ensures that LANtastic Power Suite will provide the ease and power that small business customers demand for their growing organizations," he added.

"LANtastic Power Suite users will receive at an extremely affordable price a full-featured network and robust communication tools once thought reserved just for larger corporations," Keiper continued.

"Because of our application independence, this position of neutrality enables us to partner with market leaders in order to provide our customers with best-of-class products."

If purchased individually, the products in the LANtastic Power Suite would cost $650. However, a one-user software-only kit is $199 -- a tremendous value at 69% less than the manufacturers' suggested retail prices.

The LANtastic Power Suite will add a distinct level of networking power to Artisoft's family of scalable network operating system solutions that includes the LANtastic v6.0 network, the LANtastic for OS/2(R) network and the LANtastic Dedicated Server (formerly called CorStream(TM) server).

Customers with advanced communication needs now will have the choice of the LANtastic Power Suite product to fulfill those requirements.

"We believe this new product will raise the LANtastic system to new heights in providing powerful yet easy networking," said Artisoft Vice President of Software Sunil Padiyar. "We've gone to great efforts to provide end users with a smoothly integrated product. LANtastic Power Suite was rigorously tested in Artisoft's Small Business Usability Lab by users, from novice to expert, performing real-world tasks to assure ease of use in the products and in the documentation," Padiyar added.

Collectively, the components of the LANtastic Power Suite are already being used worldwide by more than 18 million users. Artisoft will offer one-stop purchasing and technical support for all products included in the suite.

"The integration eliminates the frustration of having to manage three or four different applications simultaneously. With LANtastic Power Suite, a single purchase gives users a complete system and just one source for great support on all of the products," said Jeffrey Kay, Artisoft reseller and President of K-Squared Systems in Dallas, Texas.

"By selecting leading developers of tools that are critical for small business and integrating them with the LANtastic network, Artisoft is providing an ideal mix at an incredible value," he added.

A key benefit of the LANtastic Power Suite product is the integration of the network operating system with the communication tools, which eliminates the need to install several different programs. The installation offers custom and default configurations and is streamlined to cause little or no disruption of office routines.

LANTASTIC POWER SUITE COMPONENTS

Artisoft's LANtastic network operating system has been improved with several new features, including a Workstation Cache which accesses data across the network and temporarily stores it on a user's PC, resulting in immediate access to the data. This feature can improve network performance when there are repetitive file reads.

Also new to the LANtastic network is Hewlett-Packard JetDirect Network Printer Support. This allows print jobs to be sent to Hewlett-Packard printers with a JetDirect Ethernet network card installed or to printers connected to an HP JetDirect EX external unit. Benefits of this feature are twofold: printers can be placed in any location that's convenient for the user, and print speed is significantly increased.

Printer pooling has been added to the LANtastic system as well. With this feature a print job is sent to the first available printer in the pool, resulting in productivity gains for the user. Pooled printers can include parallel ports, serial ports and network ready printers.

The advanced LANtastic network also includes PowerSync file synchronization for Windows(TM), which automatically updates single files or entire directories between two computers based on the most recent modification date and time. This provides PowerSync users an easy way to get the latest version of documents or other files.

In addition to these improvements, the LANtastic network also provides advanced security, universal client technology for compatibility with a variety of platforms, and network management capabilities to monitor network activity and tune network performance in almost any configuration.

Lotus' cc:Mail is the world's most popular, award-winning mail system that transparently sends and receives messages. It allows users to exchange text, graphics and application files by using familiar mail terms such as in-box, address and send.

The system's built-in searching and rules provide powerful message management tools for end users. A wide variety of connectivity and administrative options, including a graphical message management system, help users expand their E-mail system over time as their business grows.

Lotus' Organizer is the industry's best-selling networked Personal Information Manager and group scheduler that offers a calendar, to-do list, planner, address book, call manager, notepad, and anniversary reminder. Organizer's multi-user, multi-access database allows users to share calendars or other sections.

Integrated with cc:Mail, Organizer users can set up meetings with other people on the network, attach an agenda or other file to the meeting message, and immediately determine if people or resources are available for booking.

The cc:Mail system is used by more than 6.5 million people worldwide; the Organizer group calendaring and scheduling system has more than 4 million users worldwide.

"Lotus' OEM agreement with Artisoft's LANtastic network gives millions of small to mid-tier businesses a low-cost entry point to installing a low-maintenance network coupled with high-end, industry standard Lotus cc:Mail and market-leading Lotus Organizer group calendaring and scheduling," said Michael Zisman, Lotus' Vice President of Communications Products Business Group.

"We're confident Artisoft's reseller channel will provide new opportunities for Lotus' communications products to reach this rapidly growing market with Artisoft's all-in-one, cost-effective LANtastic Power Suite," he said.

Cheyenne Communications' BitWare software makes it easy to send and receive faxes, as well as connect to online services, such as the Internet, CompuServe(R) and Bulletin Boards. Faxes can be scheduled when rates are low and one document can be broadcasted to many different recipients. Also included in the LANtastic Power Suite is a significant add-on product -- BitShare.

Cheyenne Communications' BitShare software enables companies using the LANtastic system to reduce network and telephone costs by allowing an unlimited number of network users to share up to four modems.

Additionally, BitShare includes an E-mail-to-fax gateway that enables users of the cc:Mail software provided in the LANtastic Power Suite to create one message in cc:Mail and deliver it to some users via E-mail and others via fax. It also provides the means to forward inbound faxes to other network users quickly and easily by attaching them to cc:Mail messages.

"Integrated fax and E-mail systems provide a competitive advantage in the corporate market. The LANtastic Power Suite extends this powerful tool to a broader market of small business networks," said Yuda Doron, CEO and President of Cheyenne Communications. "Our fax and communications products combined with the integrated LANtastic Power Suite solution should result in productivity gains for users regardless of whether they work in an office, on the road or at home," Doron added.

NETCOM's NetCruiser is the most robust Internet front-end and subscription service software available, currently servicing more than 100,000 subscribers. Because NETCOM owns and operates its own TCP/IP network -- the backbone technology of the Internet -- NetCruiser users in a small business environment can enjoy the vast Internet network with the benefit of a friendly Windows-based user interface.

NetCruiser includes several Internet utilities which facilitate accessing and exchanging information. These include World-Wide Web browser, File Transfer Protocol, USENET, Gopher and Telnet.

In response to the needs of its small business customers, Artisoft is working with NETCOM to develop links to multiple small business resources found on the Internet. These links will ensure that users of the LANtastic Power Suite can quickly and easily access information sources that are of particular interest to small business, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Small Business Administration. This integration should assist small businesses in utilizing the Internet as a valuable business asset.

"Through our partnership with Artisoft, NETCOM has the opportunity to offer direct Internet access to new customers and an installed base of more than 2.5 million LANtastic network users -- primarily small businesses that don't have the resources of a large corporation to commit to the Internet," said Don Hutchison, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for NETCOM.

AVAILABILITY AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 

LANtastic Power Suite will be available in several combinations: software-only kits for 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 users; two-user starter kits that include software, two network interface cards and cable; and add-on kits with software and a network interface card.

The system requirements include: IBM(R) PC or compatible with 80386SX processor or higher, 4 MB RAM (6 MB recommended), DOS v3.3 or later (DOS v5.0 or later required for NetCruiser), Windows v3.1 or later and a fax/modem adapter.

Artisoft (Nasdaq "ASFT") is one of the world's leading suppliers of easy, affordable and safe networking solutions to small and growing businesses. The company offers the award-winning LANtastic network operating system as well as network management, backup and multiplatform connectivity systems. Artisoft maintains 10 international offices and distributes its connectivity products in more than 100 countries.

For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft, Inc. at 2202 N. Forbes Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85745. Sales 800/233-5564. Corporate 520/670-7100. Fax [phone].

Lotus Development Corp. (Nasdaq: LOTS), founded in 1982, offers high quality software products and support services that reflect the company's unique understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses must work together to achieve success.

Lotus' innovative approach is evident in a new class of applications that allows information to be accessed and communicated in ways never before possible, both within and beyond organizational boundaries. The company now markets its products in more than 80 countries worldwide and provides numerous support services, both from its consulting division and its award-winning 24-hour support center.

Dedicated to providing mission-critical communications software for the enterprise, Cheyenne Communications, Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheyenne Software, Inc. (AMEX:CYE) in June 1993. Cheyenne Communications' product line includes their flagship product, the networking-based FAXserve software, as well as BitWare which provides facsimile, data, remote access, voice and paging communications services for the stand-alone marketplace.

Cheyenne Software, Inc. and Cheyenne Communications, Inc. are headquartered at 3 Expressway Plaza, Roslyn Heights, New York, 11577, and can be contacted at 800/243-9462 (U.S. and Canada) or 516/484-5110.

NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc., a publicly held corporation based in San Jose, California, is a leader in on-line communication services. Founded in 1988, NETCOM provides high-quality, low-cost Internet access to more than 100,000 users over its own nationwide digital network.

For subscriber information, call NETCOM at 800/501-8649 or contact the company by electronic mail at ([e-mail]). NETCOM is the first Internet connectivity provider to become a publicly traded company. The company's stock is offered on Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol NETC.

CONTACT: Artisoft Inc.

Joe Stunkard, 520/670-7145 or 520/670-7101 (fax)

MCI Mail: 532-6657