SoftArc Inc. Releases FirstClass 3.5 for Windows, DOS, and Mac OS; FirstClass 3.5 Series of Enhancements and Products Includes Work Offline, a Spelling Checker, a New Client Extension Toolkit, Improved Database Access, and a DOS Client.MARKHAM, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--SoftArc Inc., the number four vendor of LAN-based e-mail worldwide, today released FirstClass 3.5. The new version of SoftArc's flagship product A primary product of a company, which is typically why the company was founded and/or what made it well known. For example, MS-DOS, Windows and the Microsoft Office suite have been flagship products of Microsoft. CorelDRAW is a flagship product of Corel Corporation. offers a number of significant enhancements to both existing Windows and Mac OS clients and servers -- and marks the introduction of new products into the FirstClass family. Version 3.5 adds many new features suggested by SoftArc's installed base and delivers tighter integration with the Internet than ever before. As with all FirstClass upgrades, the new version is available free of charge to registered owners. Users of the FirstClass Client software may obtain the new versions from the FirstClass administrator, SoftArc's public FirstClass Server (fc.softarc.com), or SoftArc's World Wide Web site (www.softarc.com). Pricing of FirstClass 3.5 remains unchanged from previous versions. FirstClass Servers for Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. or Mac OS are each available for $495 U.S., including five user licenses. Pricing of additional user licenses also remains unchanged, ranging from $35 to $79 U.S., based on volume. "Look out, Lotus Notes Messaging and groupware software from IBM Lotus that was introduced in 1989 for OS/2 and later expanded to Windows, Mac, Unix, NetWare, AS/400 and S/390. Notes provides e-mail, document sharing, workflow, group discussions and calendaring and scheduling. , FirstClass is better than ever," said beta tester Sean Murphy Sean Murphy can refer to the following people:
spell-checker dictionary, lexicon - a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them , online viewers, and configurable toolbars makes the easiest groupware to use even easier." Client Enhancements in FirstClass 3.5 Among the most anticipated features in FirstClass 3.5 is the ability for users to work offline. Offline users may now take advantage of virtually all features of a FirstClass client/server session. The FirstClass Client reproduces users' e-mail, FirstClass Directories, and conferences on a local workstation or mobile computer. Data may be replicated over modem, Internet, or LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. connections. Once the information is stored locally, users can work while disconnected from the FirstClass Server. Work offline is handled by a new component: the FirstClass Personal replication agent. FirstClass Personal is installed by the FirstClass Client and works in the background, invisible to the user. For sites with normal FirstClass user licenses, no added software or configuration is needed -- only the upgrade to FirstClass 3.5. Sites licensed for remote-only users must purchase a special software license to enable offline capabilities. Also new to FirstClass 3.5 clients and servers is a "client extension" technology. Made available to developers prior to the public release of 3.5, the FirstClass Client Extensions Toolkit enables independent software vendors to create products that add features to FirstClass. Collaborative whiteboards, viewers for files attached to FirstClass messages, and voice or video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. modules are just a few examples of the types of technologies enabled by client extensions. SoftArc is shipping several client extensions with FirstClass 3.5, including modules for cross-platform previewing of BMP files, PICT files, Windows WAV sound files, Macintosh sound files, CompuServe GIF files, and JPEG JPEG in full Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard computer file format for storing graphic images in a compressed form for general use. JPEG images are compressed using a mathematical algorithm. files. Additional client enhancements include a spelling checker, user-customized toolbars, drag-and-drop support between FirstClass and other applications, an improved 32-bit version of the client optimized for Windows NT and Windows 95, and three-dimensional forms. Server Enhancements in FirstClass 3.5 New server features in FirstClass 3.5 allow for easier administration. For multiple-server sites, new directory and routing options improve both Directory synchronization (1) See synchronous and synchronous transmission. (2) Ensuring that two sets of data are always the same. See data synchronization. (3) Keeping time-of-day clocks in two devices set to the same time. See NTP. and routing among networks of servers. Enhancements to the batch administration system allow administrators to automate a larger number of labor-intensive tasks. Common Mac OS backup tools can now be used to back up post offices on Macintosh servers. Administrators are also able to filter the types of Directory entries available for view by classes of users. FirstClass 3.5 supports new connectivity to corporate databases and other information sources. Changes to SoftArc's Database Toolkit allow developers to write powerful real-time connection modules for SQL SQL in full Structured Query Language. Computer programming language used for retrieving records or parts of records in databases and performing various calculations before displaying the results. , DAL, or ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) A database programming interface from Microsoft that provides a common language for Windows applications to access databases on a network. databases networked to the FirstClass Server. Users can now easily update database records, execute relational queries, and display the query results in a single form. Multimedia information support is also enhanced. DOS Client Released in Conjunction With FirstClass 3.5 SoftArc also now offers a FirstClass Client for DOS with the release of FirstClass 3.5. The new client offers the friendly, graphical FirstClass interface to users of 640K or better DOS machines, running MS-DOS MS-DOS in full Microsoft Disk Operating System Operating system for personal computers. MS-DOS was based on DOS, developed in 1980 by Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft Corp. bought the rights to DOS in 1981, and released MS-DOS with IBM's PC that year. , version 3.3 or later. The DOS client is freely distributable, but only connects to FirstClass Servers licensed with SoftArc's Text Services or Command Line Interface options. FirstClass is a client/server workgroup communication system that integrates e-mail with replicable discussion databases, remote access, forms processing, enterprise database access, and online information services See Information Systems. . The product offers a number of unique features designed to improve information communication and management. FirstClass offers the same ease of use, functionality, and robust performance over network or modem, and operates in Windows, Mac OS, DOS, OS/2, and terminal-emulation environments. The product is used by businesses, educational institutions, governments, and private individuals at more than 20,000 sites in 30 countries. SoftArc is supported by a worldwide network of SoftArc Certified Consultants. The Company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario Markham (2006 Population 261,573[0]) is located in York Region, directly north of Toronto, and is part of Toronto's CMA. It is larger than many Canadian cities. Despite its qualifications regarding population, it has not had the title of city conferred upon it by the , Canada. -0- Note to Editors: FirstClass is a registered trademark of SoftArc, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies. CONTACT: SoftArc, Inc. Dallas Kachan, 905/415-7000 dallas@softarc.com or Sterling Communications, Inc. Diana Swanson, 714/488-8980 dks@sterlingpr.com |
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