Preview Systems Extends Publishers' Options for Creating ESD-Ready Software with Vbox.CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1998--Preview Systems today announced a Microsoft Visual Studio Microsoft Visual Studio is Microsoft's flagship software development product for computer programmers. It centers on an integrated development environment which lets programmers create standalone applications, web sites, web applications, and web services that run on any platforms add-in that puts Vbox ESD (1) (Electronic Software Distribution) Distributing new software and upgrades via the network rather than individual installations on each machine. See ESL. capability just a click away from thousands of software publishers. Preview also announced its new EasyBox service, and a new technology jointly developed by InstallShield and Preview to efficiently ESD-enable off-the-shelf software with Vbox. The moves provide publishers greater convenience and flexibility with Vbox than with any other ESD-enabling technology. Today's announcement gives software publishers three convenient options for building ESD-ready Vboxed titles: from within the development cycle; during the build process; or after a golden master has been generated. The first option for publishers is a new technology that integrates Preview's Vbox ESD capability directly into Microsoft's [MSFT MSFT Microsoft (stock symbol) MSFT Movimento Sociale Fiamma Tricolore (Italy) MSFT Multi-Stage Fitness Test MSFT Master of Science in Family Therapy MSFT Macalester Students for Fair Trade ] Microsoft Visual Studio, the most widely used Windows development tool, as a free add-in component. The integration lets publishers add ESD functionality at the end of the development process with just a single click. Preview Systems' Microsoft Visual Studio add-in will be available in July. Second, a publisher can choose to use the free Vbox builder as a stand-alone application before or after building the install script, to conveniently generate ESD-ready titles complete with sales and marketing information. Preview's Vbox is fully compatible with all major installers, including InstallShield, Install from the Web, Mindvision's Installer VISE, and WISE. "We are pleased that Vbox has been designed to be compatible with InstallShield. This will allow InstallShield customers to use VBox to gain access to Preview Systems' ESD commerce servers," said Brian Hall, InstallShield vice president of marketing. Third, in collaboration with InstallShield, Preview Systems has developed a new technology to add Vbox persistent ESD functionality (needed for try-before-you-buy and rental) directly into an existing gold master packaged with InstallShield. Through a new service, called EasyBox, Preview Systems can add Vbox persistent electronic packaging, even for applications with multiple EXEs, DLLs, and OCX (OLE Control EXtension) A component software technology from Microsoft that enables a Windows program to add functionality by calling ready-made components. Generally called "OLE controls" or "OLE custom controls," they appear to the end user as just another part of files, an industry first. "As a result of the successful collaboration between the Preview and InstallShield development teams, InstallShield-packaged products can now be ESD-enabled with Vbox quickly and easily, without having to go back to the publisher for repackaging," said Cay Horstmann, vice president of technology for Preview Systems. Preview's Vbox includes the industry's most complete set of functionality, including support for sales models such as try-before-you-buy, delivery via CD, DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. , or direct from the Web, electronic marketing, download management, customer registration and copy protection. Vbox currently is distributed free of charge from Preview's Web site and 20 popular shareware sites, including download.com. Over 3,000 copies of Vbox have been downloaded since its release on April 1, and is the most widely adopted electronic-packaging technology on the market. Vboxed applications can be sold through the Internet's largest resellers, including software.net, Netscape Software Depot by software.net, and BUYDIRECT.COM. In addition, a single Vboxed application can also be sold or distributed on CD, DVD, direct from a publisher's Web site, or through a growing number of worldwide software distributors, including Softway International. About Preview Systems Preview Systems is changing the way soft goods are bought and sold. The company is the worldwide market leader in ESD systems for the digital sales, marketing and distribution of software and other digital content. Preview Systems was established with the May, 1998 merger of Preview Software and Portland Software, two ESD technology pioneers. Preview Systems' value-added ESD commerce service partners include CyberSource, Concentric (CNCX), and EC Direct. Preview's technology underlies the largest global ESD network, including software.net (SWNT SWNT Single-Walled Nanotube ), BUYDIRECT.COM, Netscape Software Depot by software.net, VBXtras, Softway International, and Infobank. Preview Systems is a privately-held company with headquarters in Cupertino, California, and offices in Portland, Oregon. Investors include Discovery Ventures, Encompass Group, France Telecom Innovacom, Intel Corporation (INTC INTC Intel (NASDAQ symbol) INTC Intercept INTC Interrupt Controller ), Olympic Venture Partners, Phoenix Partners, RWI RWI Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (Germany) RWI Raoul Wallenberg Institute RWI Recreational Water Illness RWI Rusty Wallace, Inc. Group II, L.P., Sand Hill Financial, and Telos Venture Partners. Customers of Preview Systems include Digital Equipment Corporation, Microsoft (MSFT), Quarterdeck (Quarterdeck Corporation, Marina del Rey, CA) A pioneering software company, founded in 1983, that offered a variety of utilities, diagnostics, connectivity and Internet products for the PC and Macintosh. , Broderbund (BROD BROD Big Bike Riders of Dagupan (Motorcycle Club in the Philippines) ), IMSI IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI International Microcomputer Software, Inc. IMSI International Mobile Station Identity (now International Mobile Subscriber Identity) IMSI Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI), Connectix, Symantec (SYMC SYMC Symantec Corporation (stock symbol) ), Ulead, Seagate Software (SEG n. 1. (Bot.) Sedge. 2. The gladen, and other species of Iris. 1. A castrated bull. ), Visioneer (VSNR), Global Link, Verifone, 3M, Palo Alto Software and many other publishers and channel partners. NOTE TO EDITORS: Vbox, ZipLock, ZipLock ESD System and Preview Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks of Preview Systems. All other products and brands may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: McLean Public Relations
Jessie Brumfiel, 650/685-3850 (3840 direct)
jb@mcleanpr.com
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