Hi Paul: Another characteristic for our CEO is to be a 'visionary' with solid past performance on implementing the stated business plan. I will pay a preminum for this attribute. For example, here is something I had hoped Novell would have been the leader both in the development and implementation..."Electronic Software Distribution" via the Internet and more importantly the Intranet.
Remember, Netscape and several other top analysts see the "New Novell" as being a service company going forward more so than a NOS or software company. The key is to provide solutions to the customer and as a result you will sell your software and many other 3rd party "open system" applications to boot. The most efficient way of doing this is through "Electronic Software Distribution". Think of it as the Federal Express of the Internet and Intranets.
Remember that big hit we had to take on the re-channel of inventory! Well with "Electronic Distribution" and just-in-time-delivery via the Internet/Intranet would reduce this exposure for many software companies. That is not to mention that upgrades and software patches can be disseminated to customers immidiately.
Look who just announced such a program today...Microsoft <ug>
IMO Novell needs to respond with such a program and offer this as another service option to their customers. Also it can be integrated seemlessly with the Netware 4.11 system providing the appropriate management authorization controls as with any PO paper systems. Finally, Electronic Software Distribution would allow Novell to continue to reduce the distribution expenses which presently are over $50-$100 million per year.
Let's get with it Novell and be a leader and innovator rather than alwys being late to the party.
EKS
P.S. Look who the targeted customers for this service are "businesses, governments, universities, and others with large numbers of personal computers". Sounds like our customer profile.
P.S.S. If we can not develop it, let's Buy it or atleast partner with somebody who can implement the system. WE DO NOT HAVE TO DEVELOP EVERYTHING OURSELF INTERNALLY....MS DOES NOT!
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New NET-Install Site License Program for Electronic Software Distribution in Large Organizations
September 25, 1996, 10:16 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1996--20/20 Software Inc. today announced a new NET-Install site license program designed to help large organizations more efficiently distribute software.
The new program provides businesses, governments, universities, and others with large numbers of personal computers the ability to use an Intranet-based electronic software distribution strategy for approximately the cost of a single personal computer. Special introductory pricing for the new one-year Site License program is just $2,500 per site, allowing unlimited use of NET-Install at that site.
NET-Install is the first Internet and intranet installation program specifically designed to support distribution and setup of Windows software and data files from World Wide Web pages. In many large organizations, distributing software and data files has become a complex and time-consuming process, often requiring information systems professionals to install new software at night and during weekends to minimize system downtime.
With 20/20 Software's NET-Install, Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 users can merely click a button on a web page and the installation process will begin automatically. Professional looking setup screens are displayed, files are copied to the right places, icons can be added to the Windows desktop, and the software can also be uninstalled if the user so desires.
The resulting installation program can determine the type of computer requesting the software, and only transfers and installs those files that are appropriate or that are selected by the user, reducing downloading time, improving server performance and increasing user satisfaction.
The promise of electronic software distribution has been one of the goals of computing for years. Yet until today, truly easy electronic software distribution has been more promise than reality. The main stumbling block to easy electronic software distribution has been the heterogeneity of computer configurations, applications software and associated internal networks.
If all machines in an organization were identical, ran the identical software, and were connected by the same network, the task might be much easier. But such conditions rarely exist, because computing is not a "one size fits all" environment.
Recently, the rapid proliferation of Internet and intranet systems provide, for the first time, the potential "pipelines" through which applications and data files can be easily and reliably distributed electronically.
Intranets used for electronic software distribution improve productivity and efficiency because they shift the responsibility for
distribution and installation from a central source, such as a MIS department, to shared responsibility between, say, MIS and users.
Significant Cost Savings Possible
Although the data available about the costs in installation are imprecise, certain figures have become generally accepted as indicators:
-- average time to install a new application or upgrade -- 30 minutes;
-- typical number of major upgrades per year -- 8 (2 per major application);
-- Expected burdened labor cost of installations and upgrades -- $50 per hour;
-- Total expected cost per computer for annual upgrades -- $200.
To support the new Site License, 20/20 Software also can provide additional custom security features designed specifically for a customer's location and server configuration. This Custom Installation Service builds on the company's success with NET-Install and PC-Install -- an award-winning application that provides users with a fast and professional way to distribute software and data files into DOS, Windows 3 and Windows 95/NT environments.
"NET-Install is a perfect fit for our software installation plans on our intranet," said Bob Smiley, Manager of Networked Personal Computing, at IKEA N.A. Services Inc. "Now we have a product that can let users install software on their PC and we know that it will be right and work the way that we want. Definitely cuts our support costs."
Pricing and Availability
The new NET-Install Site License is available now from 20/20 Software. A license for a single site, consisting of unlimited use of Netscape Navigator Plug-Ins and/or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 Components, as well as NET-Install Publishers' Toolkits, is $2,500 ($US) until Dec. 31, 1996.
Custom consulting services, particularly to enhance intranet security, as well as enhanced technical support to cover periods after the initial ninety days of free technical support are also available.
Information can be obtained by calling the company 800/735-2020 or by sending an electronic mail message to site_license@twenty.com. 20/20 Software Inc. is a rapidly growing developer of software utility products for the DOS and Windows environments, best known for its award-winning PC-Install and NET-Install software.
The company also has developed PC-Loan, a graphical loan analyzer for Windows and database applications such as the successful Nimbus Report Writer, WestLake Imager and DocIt programs. The company is a Certified Developer Partner with Microsoft, Borland and Hewlett-Packard. 20/20 Software is located at 8196 SW Hall Boulevard, Suite 200, Beaverton,
Ore., 97008.
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