New NET-Install Site License Program for Electronic Software Distribution in Large Organizations.

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1996--20/20 Software Inc. today announced a new NET-Install site license program designed to help large organizations more efficiently distribute software.

The new program provides businesses, governments, universities, and others with large numbers of personal computers the ability to use an Intranet-based electronic software distribution strategy for approximately the cost of a single personal computer. Special introductory pricing for the new one-year Site License program is just $2,500 per site, allowing unlimited use of NET-Install at that site.

NET-Install is the first Internet and intranet installation program specifically designed to support distribution and setup of Windows software and data files from World Wide Web pages. In many large organizations, distributing software and data files has become a complex and time-consuming process, often requiring information systems professionals to install new software at night and during weekends to minimize system downtime.

With 20/20 Software's NET-Install, Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 users can merely click a button on a web page and the installation process will begin automatically. Professional looking setup screens are displayed, files are copied to the right places, icons can be added to the Windows desktop, and the software can also be uninstalled if the user so desires.

The resulting installation program can determine the type of computer requesting the software, and only transfers and installs those files that are appropriate or that are selected by the user, reducing downloading time, improving server performance and increasing user satisfaction.

The promise of electronic software distribution has been one of the goals of computing for years. Yet until today, truly easy electronic software distribution has been more promise than reality. The main stumbling block to easy electronic software distribution has been the heterogeneity of computer configurations, applications software and associated internal networks.

If all machines in an organization were identical, ran the identical software, and were connected by the same network, the task might be much easier. But such conditions rarely exist, because computing is not a "one size fits all" environment.

Recently, the rapid proliferation of Internet and intranet systems provide, for the first time, the potential "pipelines" through which applications and data files can be easily and reliably distributed electronically.

Intranets used for electronic software distribution improve productivity and efficiency because they shift the responsibility for distribution and installation from a central source, such as a MIS department, to shared responsibility between, say, MIS and users.

Significant Cost Savings Possible

Although the data available about the costs in installation are imprecise, certain figures have become generally accepted as indicators:

-- average time to install a new application or upgrade -- 30 minutes;

-- typical number of major upgrades per year -- 8 (2 per major application);

-- Expected burdened labor cost of installations and upgrades -- $50 per hour;

-- Total expected cost per computer for annual upgrades -- $200.

To support the new Site License, 20/20 Software also can provide additional custom security features designed specifically for a customer's location and server configuration. This Custom Installation Service builds on the company's success with NET-Install and PC-Install -- an award-winning application that provides users with a fast and professional way to distribute software and data files into DOS, Windows 3 and Windows 95/NT environments.

"NET-Install is a perfect fit for our software installation plans on our intranet," said Bob Smiley, Manager of Networked Personal Computing, at IKEA N.A. Services Inc. "Now we have a product that can let users install software on their PC and we know that it will be right and work the way that we want. Definitely cuts our support costs."

Pricing and Availability

The new NET-Install Site License is available now from 20/20 Software. A license for a single site, consisting of unlimited use of Netscape Navigator Plug-Ins and/or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 Components, as well as NET-Install Publishers' Toolkits, is $2,500 ($US) until Dec. 31, 1996.

Custom consulting services, particularly to enhance intranet security, as well as enhanced technical support to cover periods after the initial ninety days of free technical support are also available.

Information can be obtained by calling the company 800/735-2020 or by sending an electronic mail message to [e-mail]. 20/20 Software Inc. is a rapidly growing developer of software utility products for the DOS and Windows environments, best known for its award-winning PC-Install and NET-Install software.

The company also has developed PC-Loan, a graphical loan analyzer for Windows and database applications such as the successful Nimbus Report Writer, WestLake Imager and DocIt programs. The company is a Certified Developer Partner with Microsoft, Borland and Hewlett-Packard. 20/20 Software is located at 8196 SW Hall Boulevard, Suite 200, Beaverton, Ore., 97008. -0-

Note to Editors: NET-Install and PC-Install are trademarks of 20/20 Software. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

CONTACT: 20/20 Software Inc.

Tom Gifford, 503/520-0504

[e-mail]

or

Alliance Consulting Group Inc.

Kim Collier, 503/452-5919

[e-mail]