Wang unveils document imaging software for Microsoft Windows operating system; Wang demonstrates software at Imaging Expo '95 Conference.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 1995--Wang (NASDAQ: WANG) today unveiled the document imaging software that will be included in future releases of the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system.

The software is being demonstrated to approximately 12,000 people at the Imaging Expo '95 conference held this week at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

The company stated that plans are on schedule to have the software available worldwide, in multiple languages, for users of Microsoft Windows(R) 95 by the end of the calendar year through a number of standard Microsoft on-line network services including the Windows 95 sections of Microsoft's Web site (www.microsoft.com) and MSN(TM), the Microsoft Network online service dedicated to Windows 95. The software will also be incorporated into future releases of the Windows operating system and will be available through the Microsoft Developer Network CD.

"Together, Wang and Microsoft are working to provide millions of desktop users with unprecedented access to document imaging," said Paul Maritz, group vice president, platforms group at Microsoft. "Through a variety of on-line services and marketing initiatives, we will ensure that both users and developers will have immediate and easy access to this rich set of cost-effective options -- not only for better managing paper and fax-based information, but also for building imaging-based applications.

"Through our alliance with Wang, we will not only bring improved document imaging and workflow management capabilities to all users of Windows, but will also accelerate the deployment of workflow automation software as a mainstream application for client-server computing," said Maritz.

Don Casey, president of Wang, added, "With exposure to more than 100 million users over the next three years, this product will help establish important standards by which the entire imaging industry can grow and thrive. In addition, our alliance with Microsoft will have a dramatic effect on the acceptance of workflow and imaging technology. Together, we are making document imaging a pervasive and inexpensive mainstream application and will accelerate the deployment of workflow as a widely used business productivity tool."

Document Imaging Software Features

The software is a full imaging application that will be made available in future releases of the Windows operating system. It provides robust imaging services to end-users as well as a set of industry-leading interfaces based on OLE 2.0 for developing image-enabled applications. With Wang's document imaging software, users can integrate, access, distribute, and control paper-based information throughout an enterprise. The document imaging software also provides automatic viewing capabilities of images mailed through MAPI-based messaging environments, such as Microsoft Mail Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. Wang's document imaging software enables desktop users to:

o Create image document through scanning and fax, or import

images from popular image formats

o Send faxes through popular fax products including Windows 95

Microsoft Fax

o View and use image documents in black and white, greyscale, or

color, and in a variety of page formats

o Manipulate documents with page navigation, scrolling, panning

and zooming capabilities

o Add notes, comments and markups to image pages

o Integrate image documents into e-mail systems such as Microsoft

Mail and Microsoft Exchange Server to route documents

throughout an organization

Wang's document imaging software also provides developers and integrators with components and standard interfaces for image-enabling applications or for simply customizing or controlling the capabilities provided in Windows 95. These interfaces include:

o Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology to add image

documents to Windows-based personal productivity and

database-driven applications

o OLE Automation for integrating imaging into existing

line-of-business applications

o OLE Controls (or OCXs) for building new applications using

developer tools of choice

In addition, Wang's document imaging software is built on 32-bit technology, taking advantage of the performance and multi-tasking capabilities of Windows not possible with 16-bit technology. The software supports a standard set of image file formats including PCX, DCX, JPG, BMP, AWD, and TIFF. Scanner support includes the TWAIN interface, the most popular scanner interface on the market today.

Product and Specification Availability

The software will be available to end-users, developers and integrators by the end of the year through a host of standard Microsoft on-line services. The software will also be incorporated into future releases of the Windows operating system and will be available through the Microsoft Developer Network CD.

For developers and integrators, the specifications for the OLE Automation interface are currently available in the October Microsoft Developer Network CD. All other documentation and specifications, along with examples, will be available as part of on-line documentation and on the Microsoft Developer Network Level II CD in January. In addition, annotation specifications for the TIFF annotation tag will be available in the first quarter of 1996 through on-line services including the Aldus managed FTP server for TIFF.

Commitment to Backend Server Integration

In the first half of 1996, Wang will provide connections between its document imaging software for the Windows operating system and Wang's family of image server products. The connections will enable users to access and retrieve, through the desktop document imaging software, images stored on any Wang image server, regardless of platform. In addition, Wang plans to incorporate the OLE support model featured in its Windows document imaging product into its entire workflow, imaging and document management product line, offering further integration capabilities between the desktop and backend server software products.

The Wang-Microsoft Alliance

The software is a result of the broad alliance between Wang and Microsoft announced last April. Both companies are committed to providing superior 32-bit OLE imaging at the desktop and the companies continue to work together toward this goal. This alliance will bring improved document imaging and work management capabilities to all Windows users, exposing millions of new users to the value of imaging at the desktop. As part of the alliance, Wang is designated as Microsoft's preferred workflow and imaging vendor and is working closely with Microsoft in the definition of the MAPI Workflow Framework for enabling interoperability between production workflow systems and messaging environments such as Microsoft Exchange.

In a separate announcement, Wang said it has begun shipping OPEN/workflow and OPEN/image for Windows NT, its imaging and workflow server software for Microsoft BackOffice and Windows NT Server. The availability of the Windows NT products provider users with a highly scalable, enterprise work management solutions for improving mission critical business operations. With these products, Wang can benefit immediately from the market opportunities made possible by its alliance with Microsoft.

Wang Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: WANG) is a recognized worldwide leader in workflow, integrated imaging, document management, and related office software for client/server open systems and a major worldwide provider of integration and support services for office software and networks.

Microsoft, Windows, MSN, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The Microsoft Network is operated by Microsoft Corp. on behalf of Microsoft Network LLC.

CONTACT: Wang

Ed Pignone, 508/967-4912

or

The Weber Group

Sue Parente, 617/520-7072

or

At Imaging Expo: Booth No. 1623