IMSI INTRODUCES COMPETITIVE UPGRADE TO CAD PROGRAM.

IMSI (Nasdaq:IMSI), a provider of business productivity software for the retail and online markets, has introduced TurboCAD software in its new "Dare to Compare" competitive upgrade campaign.

"No other CAD product on the market today offers users complete CAD functionality, full raster-to-vector conversions, speech recognition, more than 16,000 CAD symbols and clip art, and 700 3D CAD symbols in one heavy-duty CAD software package," said Roopinder Tara, general manager for IMSI's CAD division. "TurboCAD Professional is the exception. With this campaign,we want to reach out to CAD users and offer them the opportunity to experience the superiority of TurboCAD at an easy-to-adopt price."

In this special competitive upgrade offer, current users of AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, MicroStation, Visio IntelliCAD, Visio Technical, and CADkey will be able to upgrade to TurboCAD Professional for the low price of $99.00. A 32-bit Windows-based 2D/3D product, TurboCAD Professional normally retails for $295. Effective until March 1, 1999.(a)

Raster-to-Vector Conversions A Big Draw

Tara, who is the former editor of Cadence magazine and an expert on the CAD industry, notes that TurboCAD Professional's raster-to-vector capabilities are a huge draw to new users.

"This is a tremendous deal for CAD users," he said. "Other CAD products on the market do not offer raster-to-vector conversions or they offer it to users only as an extra add-on at an additional cost. Those raster-to-vector software programs can cost several hundred dollars more."

The raster-to-vector feature in TurboCAD Professional allows users to scan in a drawing or sketch (up to B-size). The built-in raster-to-vector conversion takes the scanned raster image and converts it to a CAD vector format.

In addition, TurboCAD Professional offers advanced tools that automate the clean up of lines, arcs, and circles. The user can output the vector format directly into TurboCAD, which can then be edited and saved as a TurboCAD file or as a DWG, DGN, or DXF file.

Increase Productivity with Voice Recognition

In addition, IMSI is the only company that has voice enabled its entire line of CAD software.

"Voice enabling technology increases productivity for the typical CAD user by allowing a single spoken command to substitute for multiple menu picks," Tara said. "It greatly reduces the time it typically takes to complete a drawing -- specifically because it allows the user to focus more intently on the drawing, rather than on the external functions that operate the software."

He added that voice recognition will eventually become as natural a tool to professional CAD users as the mouse -- dramatically increasing productivity as users become more proficient in its use.

"CAD professionals are discovering that voice recognition can revolutionize the way they use CAD," Tara noted. "Already, it has affected the lives of CAD users with physical disabilities who have sought out TurboCAD Professional in their desire to lead fully productive professional careers. Now, non-disabled professionals are discovering that voice recognition can increase productivity and the quality of their work as well."

Carl Dunn, a designer for industrial control systems and a disabled veteran, agrees.

"With TurboCAD's voice enabled features, I'm able to use my voice and brain instead of fumbling with my hands," said Dunn. "Being disabled makes it hard to use the keypad. With TurboCAD, I can complete tasks 500 percent faster."

TurboCAD Professional also offers more than 16,000 CAD symbols and clip art, and 700 3D CAD symbols. It supports 22 drawing filters, including DWG, DXF, DGN, IGES, and 3DS -- making it remarkably adaptable to any CAD environment. The software can read DWF files -- a popular Internet drawing file format -- as well as read and write AutoCAD's DWG files and MicroStation's DGN files, making it compatible with industry standards.

Features Exclusive to TurboCAD

-- Advanced raster-to-vector conversion of scanned drawings

-- Voice-enabled CAD menu commands

-- 22 industry standard file filters

-- 16,000+ CAD symbols and clip art

-- 700+ 3D CAD symbols, TurboCAD

-- Online Software Synchronization enables users to receive patches, updates, and enhancements through their Internet connection

-- Inference-based Internet Help

-- 3D Handle-based editing

Availability and System Requirements

TurboCAD Professional requires a CPU of 486 DX II/66 or higher; memory of 16 MB minimum; hard disk space of 30 MB minimum; a VGA monitor/display card or better (256 colors or higher); CD-ROM drive/double-speed minimum; and a mouse.

For voice recognition: industry standard 16-bit sound card or built-in audio system and microphone are required (not included in product). 24 MB required for NT Internet connection is recommended.

IMSI's CAD History

IMSI has shipped more than one million units of the company's core CAD product, TurboCAD, making it a forerunner in all areas of computer-aided design, including the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) and mechanical markets.

For the past ten years IMSI has been producing CAD software with comprehensive functionality, flexibility and expandability for the technical professional as well as ease-of-use for the inexperienced user.

Dedicated to the task of providing access to the DWG format while still providing the freedom of choice in CAD software to design professionals, IMSI is one of the founding members of the OpenDWG Alliance. This association of vendors and users are committed to the promotion of the DWG drawing file format as an open industry standard for the exchange of CAD drawings.

About IMSI

Founded in 1982, IMSI (International Microcomputer Software, Inc.) is a provider of computer-aided design, business productivity, utility and visual content software. Headquartered in Novato, IMSI has offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Brazil, and Japan. The company produces and sells its software in 13 languages and in more than 60 countries worldwide.

(a) The $99 upgrade is available for a limited time only and is intended as a competitive comparison for users of other CAD products. This special offer is good only for current users of AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, MicroStation, Visio IntelliCAD, Visio Technical and CADkey; TurboCAD Professional is available at its regular retail price for all other customers.

The latest test version of Inquire Design is ready for downloading English language: http://beta.inquire.de/home_e.html German language: http://beta.inquire.de/home.html

For more information, call 415/878-4000 or visit www.imsisoft.com.