ADSN News
September 27, 1999 10:40
Microsoft, Intermec and Advanced Systems International Connect Mobile Workers and
Enterprise Solutions in Real Time
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- As early as October of 1999, a forklift truck operator in a high bay
warehouse will be able to access and interact with all of the inventory management tools resident in the corporate enterprise
solution. The operator will be using the handheld, Windows CE operating system-based device, such as an Intermec 5020
data terminal, and an application written in Visual Basic to communicate with the ATLink(TM) data collection solution
developed by Advanced Systems International ("ASI") (OTC Bulletin Board: ADSN).
Don Richardson, industry manager for manufacturing at Microsoft Corp., said, "ASI's latest application, based on Windows
CE and the Intermec 5020, is a brilliant example of advanced and innovative ways that the Windows CE operating system
extends the power of the Windows platform to the plant floor."
Tony Black, group manager of business development for Intermec Technologies Corporation, commented, "ASI has been
very successful at providing innovative solutions to SAP(TM) R/3(R) (the leading provider of inter-enterprise software
solutions) customers using Intermec data collection equipment. We believe ATLink will provide an outstanding application
framework for the Intermec 5020 Data Collection PC and our family of Windows CE devices."
According to Bill Mottram, Vice President, E-Commerce of ASI, and a 10-year data collection industry veteran, "The
GUI-based (graphical user interface) handheld interface to enterprise software such as SAP R/3 from the shop floor, in real
time and on-line, represents a major industry breakthrough. We are currently showing it to a number of existing customers
and prospects and we anticipate having our first installation before the end of this year. With our ATLink product, the
customer's application development cycle and related costs could be reduced by as much as 90%. The market for this type
of system is substantial."
Mottram continued, "The SAP R/3 Certified ATLink handheld GUI application is operational, stable and very, very fast. For
example, it queries back to the database in less than a second. For the first time, it will enable mobile workers to directly
access an enterprise system via radio frequency communication and enter data at the point of control. They will be able to
use the same familiar icons and user-friendly Windows-based tools as those found on the desktop. It puts the power of the
host computer into the worker's handheld unit, significantly improving productivity and data reliability."
To implement the handheld terminal application, ATLink's component-based framework is used to provide seamless
interfacing between Windows CE-based data collection devices and various enterprise host systems, such as SAP R/3
inter-enterprise software solutions. This component architecture is based on Microsoft's Distributed Internet Architecture
(DNA) model. Mobile Windows CE devices interact with a variety of middle-tier ATLink services running on a Windows NT
platform over a wireless network. ATLink provides data services to effectively and efficiently manage resources, such as
database and host system connections.
Paul Abraham, ASI's Manager of Engineering explained, "This enhanced ATLink framework reaffirms ASI's approach to
providing open solutions that can be developed and deployed quickly. ATLink provides a data collection device independent
platform (DOS, Win9x, and Windows CE), back-end independent layer (Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Sybase), and
uses industry-standard development tools such as, Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual Basic to quickly develop
for all tiers."
Abraham added, "We continue to leverage both our investment and momentum in Microsoft's COM (Component Object
Model) technology for ATLink. This was achieved by using Intrinsycs' DeviceCOM product to provide a synchronized or
real-time DCOM (Distributed Component Object Module) bridge between our ATLink COM server components and custom
Visual Basic applications for the Windows CE platform."
Advanced Systems International is a leading supplier of mission critical application solutions for the enterprise-processing
environment. Solutions include: the web-enabled LABORVIEW.com(TM) and the ATServer(R) time and attendance/labor
allocation applications, which address the time collection and labor management needs of corporations; and the ATLink(TM)
product, designed to support business-to-business electronic commerce, by enabling the collection, communication and
integration of critical data on different platforms or operating systems.
ASI's cost-effective, comprehensive product offering encompasses the application software, hardware, implementation
services and on-going support necessary for rapid deployment of enterprise-wide distributed processing. Key markets
include automotive, automotive supply, packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, paper products, food processing and other
manufacturing industries. The company markets its products through direct sales and in conjunction with strategic partners.
In conjunction with the provisions of the new "Safe Harbor" section of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
this news release may contain forward-looking statements pertaining to future anticipated projected plans, performance and
developments, as well as other statements relating to future operations. All such forward-looking statements are necessarily
only estimates of future results and there can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations.
Further information on potential factors that could affect Advanced Systems International, Inc. is included in the company's
Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Microsoft, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows CE and SQL Server, ActiveX, Windows and Windows NT are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
SAP, R/3 and all SAP product and service names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Advanced Systems International
/CONTACT: Howard Tarnoff, VP Sales and Marketing, 508-482-0802, or
email, htarnoff@advsysintl.com; or Quentin Mai, Investor Relations,
248-263-0000, toll free, 888-399-7000, or email, qmai@advsysintl.com, both of
Advanced Systems International/
/Web site: advsysintl.com
(ADSN)
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