Tuesday October 21 7:55 AM EDT
Company Press Release
Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc. Announces
ActiveMail 1.0; The Essential Graphic Solution for Visual
Email!
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc.
(Nasdaq:SPCO - news) and its subsidiary Software Publishing Corporation (''SPC''), today announced
the release of ActiveMail, the latest addition to the award-winning ''Active'' line of products:
ActiveOffice(TM) and ActivePresenter(TM). ActiveMail enhances ordinary e-mail text by turning it
into powerful, eye-catching graphic images that communicate messages visually. As a member of the
''Active'' line of products, ActiveMail incorporates Software Publishing's patent-pending Intelligent
Formatting(TM) technology. Building on SPC's 17 years of experience in the graphics software arena,
this technology allows users to instantly create graphics without the need for high-end graphic tools or
the technical knowledge that is otherwise required to make graphics look great. Intelligent Formatting
automatically and instantly coordinates the white space, color balance, sizing, text wrapping, and the
behind-the-scenes work of creating professional looking business graphics that communicate
effectively.
''ActiveMail is designed for busy professionals who communicate through e-mail and need to ensure
that their messages get noticed, and most importantly, get read!'' said Barry Cinnamon, President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. ''A picture is worth a thousand words and this is
especially true with e-mail. Communication is much more effective with pictures and we have
developed a way to make it easy for the average user to create great looking messages.''
Creating visual e-mail messages with ActiveMail is quick and easy. A user simply selects an
ActiveMail graphic from one of the many professionally designed layouts available in the program,
types in the message, and clicks Send. ActiveMail is designed to work with popular e-mail systems,
making it convenient when sending messages using Eudora, Netscape, America Online, Microsoft
Exchange, Microsoft Outlook and others. Recipients of these messages can view the visual messages
inline or as an attachment, depending on their e-mail program. The optimally compressed GIF file in an
ActiveMail message makes for a minimal file size and therefore a shorter transmission time. This
minimizes the problems associated with other graphical e-mail on the market that utilize executable files
or large file sizes that can be rejected by corporate firewalls or mail servers.
''Because ActiveMail messages utilize the GIF format, there is no requirement for the user to download
a proprietary viewer to open and read the message,'' said Maurice Hamoy, Vice President of
Marketing. ''The messages becomes more efficient because file size is minimal and therefore download
time is not burdensome.''
The graphic content in ActiveMail is ideally suited to support powerful communication of business
ideas, trends and relationships. Examples of available content include number charts, tables,
organization charts, time lines, calendars, agendas, invitations and greetings. ActiveMail also supports
the insertion of digital pictures to create custom messages that can be used for various purposes.
Additional Content
ActiveMail uses a message pack architecture that allows users to dynamically add new graphical
content to the base product. Additional layouts, templates and message formats are expected to be
available for a variety of specific communication needs. At ship time the ActiveMail Family pack will
be available directly from Software Publishing Corporation for $19.95.
System Requirements
Requires Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 operating system; a 486/50 with 8 megabytes of
memory to run ActiveMail on Windows 95, or with 12 megabytes of memory to run ActiveMail on
Windows NT 4.0; VGA (640 x 486 resolution) display with 256 color setting; minimum of 20 megabytes
of disk space; One CD-ROM drive; an e-mail client such as Eudora, Netscape, AOL, Microsoft
Outlook, and a Windows compatible mouse.
For optimal performance, a Pentium with 16 megabytes of memory, and a SVGA (800 x 600 resolution)
display with High Color setting is recommended.
Pricing and Availability
ActiveMail is expected to be released in late October 1997. For more information visit Software
Publishing Corporation's home page at www.spco.com. The estimated street price for ActiveMail is
$39.95.
About the Company
Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries Software Publishing
Corporation, Serif Inc. and Serif (Europe) Limited (collectively, ''Serif''), is an international developer,
publisher and supplier of proprietary computer software applications and companion utilities programs,
primarily targeted towards the visual communications and presentation graphics, desktop publishing and
business productivity segments of the corporate and small office/home office (''SOHO'') markets. The
Company's products are designed to improve the graphical appeal and overall effectiveness of
documents produced by desktop publishing, presentation graphics, web page, e-mail, word processing
and similar applications, as well as to produce documents through the Company's easy-to-use desktop
publishing and presentation graphics applications. The Company's product lines include several products
based upon its patent-pending Intelligent Formatting technology, including ActiveMail(TM),
ActiveOffice(TM), ActivePresenter(TM), ASAP WordPower(TM), ASAP WebShow(TM),
ASAP(TM) and Serif MailPlus(TM), as well as its traditional products such as Serif PagePlus(TM),
Serif DrawPlus(TM), Harvard Graphics(R), Harvard ChartXL(R), Harvard Spotlight(R), Learn to
Do(R) Windows 95 with John C. Dvorak, and a line of interactive multimedia products based on
Entrepreneur(R) Magazine publications.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are
forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such
factors as the level of business and consumer spending for computer software, the market acceptance
and amount of sales of the Company's products, the competitive environment within the computer
software industry, the ability of the Company to complete and realize benefits from the integration of
the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, the level and costs incurred in connection with the
Company's product development efforts and the financial strength of the retail industry. Investors are
directed to consider other risks and uncertainties as discussed in documents filed by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
NOTE: The Harvard product line is a group of products having no connection with Harvard University.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc.
More news for referenced ticker symbols: SPCO, and related industries: computer. |
