BSI To Offer Tech for Digilink Free; Discount Support Plan to be a Life-Preserver for Arrakis Freeware Users.Business/High Tech Editors, Entertainment Writers NAB2001 EUGENE, Ore.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 23, 2001 Broadcast Software International (BSI BSI - British Standards Institute ) today announced that it will provide low-cost technical support service to users of the yet-to-be-released Digilink Free automation product from Arrakis Corporation. Arrakis states that it will only offer tech support for the product via a $2.50 per minute 900 phone number. "We think it is outrageous for a company to charge broadcasters $150 dollars-an-hour for technical assistance for a product aimed at small market users," said BSI President Ron Burley bur·ley n. pl. bur·leys A light-colored tobacco grown chiefly in Kentucky and used especially in making cigarettes. [Probably from the name Burley.] . "It is bad business to lure unsuspecting users into a product only to fleece fleece, mat of wool formed by shearing a sheep in one continuous operation. The average fleece weighs from 5 to 10 lb (2.3–4.5 kg); in highbred wool sheep such as the American Merinos a ram's fleece may reach 30 lb (13.6 kg). them when they need help the most. This isn't a free product, if they need any support at all, it could end up being the most expensive software program they ever purchased." BSI is stepping forward to provide unlimited 24/7 tech support for only $125 per month. This plan will include assistance with installation, configuration and operation of the Arrakis product. If the customer signs up for a one-year contract, it will also include a copy of BSI's own WaveStation digital automation system, which retails for $1499 (Tech support on BSI products is free.) "With a complex program such as an automation system, software is only part of the whole picture. We feel it is unfair to expect customers to adopt a new technology with the expectation that they will need only minimal support," said Burley. "We also learned today that the release of Arrakis' new product has been delayed until mid-May because of software bugs A problem that causes a program to produce invalid output or to crash (lock up). The problem is either insufficient logic or erroneous logic. For example, a program can crash if there are not enough validity checks performed on the input or on the calculations themselves, and the computer . That does not speak well for customers who will be forced to pay $150 an hour in support costs for a product that will see less than a month of testing in its final form. It's a recipe for trouble." "Our customers are our partners," continued Burley. "Software should be able to be downloaded for free to be tested and tried, as has been the case with thousands of copies of BSI's own WaveStation digital automation software. However, there are always complex issues with configuring and interfacing software programs with other programs and hardware. They need assistance with these issues. We are here to help, for our own products and the Arrakis product." BSI will also be acting as a bug report clearinghouse for the Arrakis product, whether or not a user signs on to the BSI support plan. BSI will forward technical issues to Arrakis, however BSI cannot guarantee that anything will be fixed. BSI does make that guarantee for its own software products. BSI is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon The city of Eugene is the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about 60 miles (100 km) east of the Oregon Coast. and is a subsidiary of Cumulus Media Cumulus Media, Inc. (also known as Cumulus Broadcasting) NASDAQ: CMLS is a large owner of radio stations in markets in the United States with 307 stations in 61 markets as of December 31, 2005. (Nasdaq:CMLS CMLS Central Minnesota Legal Services CMLS Chemical Movement in Layered Soils CMLS Centralized Mail List Services (GSA) CMLS Contractor Maintenance & Logistics Support ). They offer digital audio software, including WaveStation digital automation, WaveCart on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. cart machine, and Speedy professional CD-PC audio dubbing dubbing removal of most of the comb of day-old chickens. See also decombing. , as well as broadcast systems and accessories. BSI has more than 6000 clients worldwide and distributors in 26 countries. |
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