PKWARE Ships PKZIP Professional Distribution License for Windows NT and Windows 9x.

BROWN DEER, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1998--

Contains New PKPatchMaker(TM) Technology for Easily

Creating Patch or Update Files Which can be Incorporated

Into a PKSFX(R) Self-Extracting .ZIP Archive (. EXE file)

Using the Standard PKZIP(R) Graphical User Interface 

PKWARE today shipped version 2.70 of its PKZIP Professional Distribution License product. This new version is a 32-bit 80386 or later based application that runs on a Windows NT or Windows 9x platform. PKZIP Professional Distribution License combines the power of PKZIP, the original .ZIP data compression and archiving utility, with PKWARE's new patent pending Patch/Update technology, PKPatchMaker.

PKWARE's exclusive PKPatchMaker technology works by producing an individual patch or update file from the differences found between each file in an old file set when compared to each file in a new file set. In most cases, the differences found between each old and new file are smaller then either original file. Taking these differential units and compressing them using the efficient and powerful PKZIP compression engine, a PKSFX .EXE file can be created to give the smallest patch or update file possible. This process lowers the inherent costs of distributing application or file updates by saving on diskette or other media costs or saving time when downloading via the Internet. In addition to updating existing files or software applications, PKZIP Professional Distribution License also can be used as a quick and easy-to-use installation tool for new software applications.

"Over the years, PKWARE has sold many Distribution Licenses of PKZIP for just about every reason there is when it comes to distributing files or software applications. Customers who have purchased these licenses are made up of everyone from small shareware software developers all the way up to large commercial corporations," said Phil Katz, president of PKWARE. "Many of these customers have been expressing their need to incorporate a patch or update generating capability into a PKSFX .EXE file. By synergistically combining PKPatchMaker technology with PKZIP compression power, PKZIP Professional Distribution License delivers the optimal data distribution solution."

Included with PKZIP Professional Distribution License are two separate program executables so that the user can choose from either a point-and-click Windows based application with a graphical user interface (GUI) or a command-line Windows NT/9x DOS box environment.

PKZIP Professional Distribution License allows embedding of PKWARE Authenticity Verification (AV) code, originally found in PKZIP2.04g for DOS. PKWARE AV allows the user to embed an electronic signature with files stored in a .ZIP archive and subsequently authenticate those files on extraction. This PKWARE AV code allows users to detect whether a .ZIP file's integrity has been compromised.

Additional features of PKZIP Professional Distribution License include run-after-extraction in the graphical user interface version and creation of PKSFX .EXE files on multiple computing platforms like UNIX, OS/2 and DOS. A license to create and distribute unlimited .ZIP and PKSFX .EXE files at no-charge comes with the PKZIP Professional Distribution License product. It also includes the right to distribute PKWARE's PKZIP 2.50 Command Line for Windows NT/9x program executable. This executable when incorporated into a batch file containing a .ZIP archive gives a developer or system administrator much more control over their installation process.

PKZIP Professional Distribution License is priced at US$599. An optional annual maintenance subscription is available for US$120. This would include one year of free updates/upgrades, as well as access to the most recent external data file containing additional self-extracting file types for other operating systems and hardware platforms.

Founded in 1986, PKWARE develops and markets award-winning compression tools and utilities for both the developer and consumer markets. Its products include PKZIP(R), PKLITE(R), PKLITE Professional(R), PKZFIND&PKZOOM and the PKWARE Data Compression Library(R) products for multiple hardware and software platforms. PKWARE products are also available through a growing network of distributors and retailers in the US and internationally. Additional information about PKWARE and its products is available on the Company's home page at http://www.pkware.com or call [phone].

PKWARE, the PKWARE logo, PKZIP, PKSFX, PKLITE, PKLITE Professional and PKWARE Data Compression Library are registered trademarks of PKWARE, Inc. PKPatchMaker, PKZFIND and PKZOOM are trademarks of PKWARE, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Trademarks of other companies mentioned in this documentation appear for identification purposes only and are property of their respective companies.