Quarterdeck releases new line; first launch since reorganization.

Quarterdeck Office Systems Inc., the Santa Monica-based computer software company, has launched its first new product line since its corporate reorganization late last year.

The new products are aimed at getting the company into the growing online communications business, and have contributed to a big hike in Quarterdeck's stock, which has more than doubled in price since early in the year.

Specifically, the company is in the process of introducing several products that can be used to access and use the Internet, the worldwide computer communications network.

The products are designed for both consumers and businesses, which is a switch for Quarterdeck because previously the company concentrated almost exclusively on developing and making software for commercial uses.

The Internet software are the first new products put out by Quarterdeck since its reorganization and the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer, Gaston Bastiaens.

Bastiaens became CEO in January, succeeding interim chief King Lee. Lee was brought in by Quarterdeck's board of directors last August after co-founder, president and CEO Therese Myers left, along with co-founder and chief operating officer Gary Pope. The company said Myers and Pope left the company amicably and voluntarily.

A third principal in the company, Stanton Kaye, also left Quarterdeck last year.

In a statement late last year, the board of directors said: "We wish to thank them (Myers, Pope and Kaye) for their important roles and many achievements in founding and directing the growth of Quarterdeck."

Internet access 

The new Quarterdeck software, which will be released later this month, connects users to so-called Internet providers, such as Netcom On-Line Communications Services Inc. and UUNET Technologies Inc. that access the Internet and establish user accounts.

In addition to Netcom and UUNET, Quarterdeck software will access a third provider, Portal Information Network.

"This is the first in a series of expanding partnerships with Internet providers that will make Quarterdeck's Internet software products stand out above the others for their ease of use and ability to get you on the net faster," said Bastiaens.

Earlier this month Quarterdeck launched another Internet software product that will connect users to Cerfnet, another Internet service provider.

All of the agreements with the providers are aimed at making access to the Internet easier, cheaper and less time consuming, said a Quarterdeck spokesman.

Quarterdeck is not releasing projections for sales of its Internet software but analysts said by next year the products could comprise 25 percent of the company's total annual revenues.

In the fiscal year ended last Sept. 30, Quarterdeck had total revenues of $26.8 million. In the prior year, that was $44.9 million and in fiscal 1992, it topped out at revenue of $55 million.

"We are expecting that the new products could become a significant part of the company's revenues, especially since they are starting out at zero right now," said Chris Galvin, an analyst who covers Quarterdeck for Hambrecht & Quist LLC in San Francisco.

New divisions

The new Internet products are being produced by one of three new divisions created at the company as part of the reorganization, which also cut employment from 300 to 200.

The three divisions, which are organized along product lines, are software for memory management, remote computing and products for the Internet.

The introduction of the new Internet products has helped drive up Quarterdeck stock by more than 100 percent since early this year. Last week, the Nasdaq stock was trading in the $9.50 to $10 a share range compared to a 52-week high of $10.60 and a low of $1.88.

Analysts said the stock has increased for several reasons, including the new products, the reorganization, earlier under-valuation of the company and settlement of a shareholder lawsuit.