Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : YEAR 2000 STOCK PICKING CONTEST -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Katie Kommando who wrote (875)	2/1/2000 9:11:00 AM
From: David Alan Cook	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1146

TSSW News: E.support IPO to Be launched later this year. See News Released this AM: TouchStone Software Corp. Announces eSupport.com Inc. Wholly Owned Subsidiary Will Assume TouchStone's Day to Day Technology Operations NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000--TouchStone Software Corp. (OTC BB: TSSW), Tuesday announced the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary eSupport.com Inc. The subsidiary will be a provider of online diagnostic software and other support products to the IT departments of medium to large companies, as well as third party service providers. TouchStone continues to solidify its two pronged business strategy, technology based and business to business e-commerce investment opportunities. All daily operations pertaining to TouchStone's System Management Software, AwardBIOS Upgrades, Direct, OEM and retail Sales will now operate under the newly formed eSupport.com. "The creation of eSupport.com further demonstrates TouchStone's broad-based development capabilities," said Pierre Narath, chairman and CEO of TouchStone Software. "Our business model was founded on the principle of providing cost efficiencies, flexible technology, and value-added business relationships. We see this new company as a quantum leap in our strategic plan to penetrate new markets and capitalize on existing brand identity. We anticipate the completion of an IPO later this year."(a) "Superior customer service will differentiate the winners from the losers in the electronic marketplace. This emerging category of electronic support will quickly become a multi-billion dollar market and eSupport.com is extremely well positioned to capitalize on this trend and meet the growing demand for customer service support over the World Wide Web," said Andrew Razo, president of AM Razo and Co., TouchStone Software's investment advisors. "Furthermore," Razo continued, "according to IDC, a leading market research firm, the electronic support industry will grow from $3.1 billion in 1999 to $14.2 billion in 2003, representing 43 percent of the total support market. eSupport.com provides an automated, end-to-end support solution that integrates all of the elements involved in the technical support process." With headquarters in North Andover, TouchStone Software Corp. is recognized as a major force in the utility software market focusing on PC system diagnostics and utilities. Founded in 1982, TouchStone designs, develops and markets a comprehensive line of utility programs, highlighted by the CheckIt(R) Family of system diagnostics. The CheckIt Family consists of WinCheckIt 6.5(TM), FastMove! 2000(R) and CheckIt NetOptimizer(TM). TouchStone sells and distributes its product throughout the retail, direct and OEM sales channels. In March 1999, Touchstone acquired Unicore Software Inc., which was previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nadaq:PTEC). Unicore is a full service computer engineering company that is also the world's oldest and largest supplier of BIOS upgrades. The company also provides diagnostics, hard drive installation utilities and drivers to many leading manufacturers in the PC industry. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.touchstonesoftware.com. Safe Harbor Statement The foregoing news release may include numerous forward-looking statements concerning the company's business and future prospects and other similar statements that do not concern matters of historical fact. Statements identified with a "(a)" are forward looking statements. Those forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this document, the words "anticipate" and similar expressions are also intended to identify other forward-looking statements. The Federal securities laws provide a limited "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to product development, business prospects and development of a commercial market for technological advances are based on the company's current expectations. The company's current expectations are subject to all of the uncertainties and risks customarily associated with new business ventures including, but not limited to, market conditions, successful product development and acceptance, competition and overall economic conditions, as well as the risk of adverse regulatory actions. The company's actual results may differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason. Contact: TouchStone Software Corp., North Andover Rich West, 978/686-6468 E-mail: rich_west@unicore.com or Market Pathways Shannon T. Squyres (media & investors), 949/955-1860