Subj: Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc. Announces...
Date: 98-06-04 06:17:21 EDT
From: AOL News
BCC: Semcominc
Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc. Announces Shipment Of Harvard Graphics 98(R) Revitalizing Acclaimed Product
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc., (the "Company" or "SPCH") (Nasdaq: SPCOD), the visual communications software company(TM), today announced the shipment of Harvard Graphics 98, a new, updated version of its flagship Harvard Graphics presentation graphics software product.
"Harvard Graphics 98 represents the first installment in the Company's renewed commitment to one of the market's leading presentation software programs," said Mark Leininger, President and Chief Operating Officer of SPCH. "Harvard Graphics 98 is the first of an expected series of Harvard visual communications software products the Company expects to introduce to the market in the following months to revitalize the Harvard brand name, increase our share of the presentation graphics software market, and foster a new generation of loyal Harvard users."
Product History
After its inception in the mid-1980s, Harvard Graphics quickly became the leading presentation software program in the U.S., acquiring significant market share and numerous industry awards. Its unprecedented capabilities enabled average PC users, as well as corporate IT departments, to quickly and easily create rich and compelling visual communications that incorporated charts, graphs and an array of visual content. The creators of Harvard Graphics, Software Publishing Corporation, expanded the Harvard line to include Harvard ChartXL(R).
Prior to Software Publishing Corporation's merger with Allegro New Media (renamed Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc.) in 1996, development of the product line experienced a period of diminished emphasis, with the last major release of Harvard Graphics, Harvard Graphics 4.0 for Windows 95, coming out in 1995. However, according to a published report, in 1997 Harvard Graphics held second place in market share for presentation graphics software only to Microsoft's PowerPoint.
"Harvard Graphics had been a core product for Software Publishing Corporation since its introduction, so one of our top priorities in going forward was to refresh this key product," said Bob Gordon, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for SPCH. "We expect that many users of Harvard Graphics will take this opportunity to upgrade their Harvard Graphics program to take advantage of current operating system technologies, and that the well-known advantages of Harvard Graphics will also be introduced to a new generation of first-time users. Although no assurances can be given, with the releases SPCH has planned for the coming months, we expect the Harvard line will reassert its strength within the presentation graphics and visual communications market."
The Exceptional Capabilities of Harvard Graphics 98
Harvard Graphics 98 has been designed for optimal use by users of Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0, allowing users operating in varied environments to utilize its award-winning features. Harvard Graphics 98 is also built upon the primary element, as current users of Harvard Graphics know, that has always differentiated Harvard Graphics from the competition -- its powerful charting and graphing capabilities -- by providing fast import of spreadsheets from all versions of Excel. Similarly, Harvard Montage Lite, the image gallery included with Harvard Graphics 98, provides drag and drop access to art images, and the ability to do the same with images in other applications, while the inclusion of Harvard Gallery provides users with over 15,000 pieces of clipart images and photos.
In response to the increasing use of the Internet for corporate communications, Harvard Graphics 98, in addition to its dynamic print and electronic presentation capabilities, is able to publish electronic presentations via the Web and corporate Intranets. Through the inclusion of Harvard WebShow(TM) Publisher, Harvard Graphics 98 allows an audience to view a presentation online via their browser using built-in ActiveX controls for even the most current Microsoft Internet Explorer or a plug-in for Netscape Navigator programs. This powerful viewing capability enables users to give presentations to remote audiences, eliminating the cost of travel while producing stunning results.
With Year 2000 compliance of foremost concern to most IT professionals evaluating software for purchase, all data fields in Harvard Graphics 98 have been engineered to support proper formatting of prior and post 1999-year formats.
"This new release of Harvard Graphics, with its Internet/Intranet publishing capabilities, Year 2000 compliance, and its interoperability across Windows platforms, provides a solid solution for end-users and corporate IT environments," said Gary Mull, Director of Sales and Marketing for SPCH.
Features That Make Harvard Graphics a Top-Rated Presentation Package
In addition to its new capabilities, Harvard Graphics 98 also includes the characteristics that have made previous Harvard Graphics programs among the computer industry's top-rated presentation graphics packages. Harvard Graphics has received numerous industry awards, including Windows Magazine's Win 100 Award, PC World's Best Buy, PC Magazine's Editors Choice, and others.
Among Harvard Graphics more notable winning features are:
-- Quick Presentations, which allows users to choose from a number of
pre-designed presentations that cover a myriad of business-related
presentation topics, sparing the busy professional the time involved in
creating a quality presentation from scratch;
-- The Adviser provides step-by-step guidance to the best presentation
results, whatever the task, guiding novice and professional alike;
-- Harvard Graphics' award-winning Design Checker not only identifies
style and design problems, but its pioneering "Fixer Mode" helps users
correct mistakes automatically;
-- Harvard Montage Lite allows for the preview of clipart and photos so
that users may visually judge whether to incorporate a particular image
in a presentation, and lastly;
-- Harvard Graphics 98 includes Multimedia Support among its features,
allowing even inexperienced designers to highlight important points in
their presentations by adding impressive ready-made sound and animation
clips.
System Requirements
Harvard Graphics 98 requires at a minimum, an IBM compatible 486 PC or higher, running Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 95, or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0; 8 MB of RAM (see Microsoft memory requirements for Windows 98 or NT 4.0); 20 MB to 50 MB of hard disk space; Microsoft compatible mouse; SVGA display; CD player or optional 3.5" diskette drive, and for multimedia play-back capabilities, an external sound device. For optimal performance, a Pentium processor with 16 megabytes of memory or higher with a SVGA (800 x 600 resolution) display is recommended.
Competitive Upgrade Promotion
In an effort to maintain its loyal user base and to attract additional market share, SPCH has put together an aggressive competitive retail upgrade promotion that will enable users of any presentation graphics who purchase an upgrade copy of Harvard Graphics 98 to qualify for a $50.00 manufacturer's mail-in rebate.
Additional information about the product and the Harvard line can be found on the Harvard Graphics Web Site at harvardgraphics.com
Pricing and Availability
Harvard Graphics 98 is planned to ship on June 15, 1998. Harvard Graphics 98 carries an estimated street price of $395.00. The Harvard Graphics 98 upgrade carries an estimated street price of $99.00. Both versions are available in either CD or 3-1/2" diskette media.
About the Company
Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc., (http://www.spco.com) through its subsidiaries Serif Inc., Serif (Europe) Limited and Software Publishing Corporation, is an international developer, publisher and supplier of visual communications software, including desktop publishing, presentation graphics, business productivity, and computer software applications, for the corporate, small office/home office ("SOHO") and consumer markets. The Company's products produce documents through its easy-to-use desktop publishing, drawing and presentation graphics applications, and also improve the graphical appeal and overall effectiveness of documents produced by either the Company's or third parties' desktop publishing, presentation graphics, web page, e-mail, word processing and other similar applications. The Company's product lines include Serif PagePlus(TM), Serif DrawPlus(TM), Harvard Graphics(R), Harvard ChartXL(R), and its Active series of products, including ActivePresenter(TM), ActiveMail(TM) and ActiveOffice(TM). The Company has established a multi-channel distribution system utilizing direct mail, telemarketing, retail, Corporate, OEM and the Internet. SPCH's Serif subsidiaries operate significant direct mail and telemarketing operations that market and sell its software products.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth herein which are forward-looking statements 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 extent that the Company's direct mail programs achieve satisfactory response rates, the efficiency of the Company's telemarketing operations, the competitive environment within the computer software and direct mail industries, the Company's ability to raise additional capital, the ability of the Company to achieve the anticipated results of its reorganization efforts, the cost-effectiveness of the Company's product development activities and the extent to which the Company is successful in developing, acquiring or licensing successful products. Investors are directed to consider other risks and uncertainties as discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Trademarks
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.
CO: Software Publishing Corporation Holdings, Inc.
ST: New Jersey
IN: MLM CPR
SU: PDT
06/04/98 06:10 EDT prnewswire.com
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