Accugraph Acquires Windows-Based Telecom Product; Arkipelago's
BCMS Software Permits Easy Documentation of Central Office
Equipment from a Laptop Computer
Business Wire - May 31, 1996 13:38
FINANCIAL ACCUGRAPH ACCUF ACU TEXAS COMPUTERS ELECTRONICS COMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT V%BW
P%BW
EL PASO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 1996--Accugraph Corp. (NASDAQ/NMS:ACCUF) today announced it is
acquiring a Microsoft Windows-based software product that will significantly enhance its customers' ability to collect, edit,
view and maintain records of central office telecommunications equipment, all from a laptop computer.
Accugraph is purchasing the Bay Cable Management System (BCMS) product from Arkipelago Inc., a Toronto-based software
company that has been an Accugraph development partner for the past seven years.
The combination cash and royalty agreement gives Accugraph ownership of the product, including source code, documentation
and other intellectual properties, and allows a one-year development and support arrangement to ensure transfer of
Arkipelago's experience and expertise.
Many of Arkipelago's BCMS customers and prospects, who have purchased or are currently evaluating the product, are also
Accugraph customers. These include large telecommunications service providers such as AT&T, Global One, GTE, MCI, and
US West.
"BCMS provides an easy-to-use and portable solution to the tedious, time-consuming chore of documenting the thousands of
pieces of equipment our customers have in dispersed and remote sites," said Accugraph President and CEO Dennis McGinn.
"That initial inventory and population of the underlying database has been the single biggest inhibitor to getting our own
systems easily from pilot to full deployment throughout a customer's operation. What used to take them months can now be
accomplished in days by a small survey team using laptop computers."
BCMS is compatible with Accugraph's Equipment Bay Management (EBM) system, which allows engineers to design and
display graphical views of telephone equipment bays. McGinn said he expects for every EBM license, there could be as many
as two to four BCMS licenses sold as the add-on system to quickly collect, verify and update equipment information.
"Accugraph is in the best position to bring this product to market and support it over the long-term," said Timothy O'Hara, an
Arkipelago co-founder and principal designer of the BCMS product.
"They are the de facto standard in telecommunications infrastructure management, and they have the experience, credibility and
support services to accelerate market penetration and satisfy customer demands."
McGinn said Accugraph will pay Arkipelago $1 million in cash over the next seven months and royalty payments over the next
three years based on gross revenue generated from product, upgrades and phone-support sales. It will also purchase certain
development, consulting and support services from Arkipelago over the next 12 months.
Accugraph's Network Information Software is a key productivity element in network and facility management,
telecommunications and infrastructure design. The company's headquarters are in El Paso, and its registered office is in
Ottawa, Canada. Its stock is traded on NASDAQ National Market (ACCUF) and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (ACU.A).
CONTACT: Accugraph Corp., El Paso
Ron Munden or Gary Shroyer, 915/581-1171
KEYWORD: TEXAS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
PRODUCT
REPEATS: New York 212-752-9600 or 800-221-2462; Boston 617-236-4266 or
800-225-2030; SF 415-986-4422 or 800-227-0845; LA 310-820-9473
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