APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT ACCELERATES FOR MICROSOFT BACKOFFICE

Integration and Capabilities for the Internet, Intranets Spur Solution
Success

SAN JOSE, CALIF. - APRIL 30, 1996 - Vendors looking to develop leading-edge
business applications are rushing to embrace the Microsoft BackOffice
family as their platform of choice. Praising the server suite's integrated
technologies - especially its capabilities for the Internet and intranets
- more than 500 independent software vendors (ISVs) are now shipping
products that work with Microsoft BackOffice.

"It's gratifying to see both leading software companies and up-and-coming
technology providers rallying around the Microsoft BackOffice platform,"
said Pieter Knook, general manager of business customer marketing at
Microsoft Corp. "The swift pace at which firms with line-of-business
applications and cross-industry solutions are taking advantage of
Microsoft technologies continues to fuel growth in the breadth and depth
of solutions available to our customers."

Built on the foundation of the Windows NTR operating system, Microsoft
BackOffice integrates client-server messaging, systems management,
database, Internet and connectivity services.

"Our clients demand nothing less than the best business-computing platform
available," said Al Blair, president and chief operating officer of MTX
International Inc., a supplier of WindowsR operating system-based
accounting systems. "The power, features and extensibility of Windows NT
make it the logical choice."

With the release of Microsoft BackOffice version 2.0, Microsoft becomes the
first company to offer a complete, Internet-capable server suite.

"Microsoft Internet Information Server and the Internet Server API will
allow us to provide the high-performance imaging and workflow solutions
for Internet and intranet environments that the majority of our customers
want," said Mark Schenecker, vice president of research and development at
Optika Imaging Systems Inc., a global leader in high-performance,
client-server, integrated imaging systems and development tools.
"Microsoft BackOffice is a superb complement to our Internet strategy."

"Our biggest success story is a result of the momentum for Windows NT
Server and Microsoft BackOffice," agreed Gary Harpst, president and CEO of
Solomon Software (a company of TLB Inc.), a supplier and developer of
accounting software for Windows and Windows NT. "Our support of Microsoft
BackOffice started in November 1995 with the release of the Windows NT
Server version of Solomon IV for Windows. In the first month of its
availability, that product represented 9 percent of our business. Now,
after being available for four months, Solomon IV for the Windows NT
Server platform has grown to represent more than 25 percent of our
business. We are looking forward to this momentum continuing and
accelerating as we add increased support for Microsoft BackOffice with
support for Microsoft SQL Server in the spring and Microsoft Exchange
Server later in the year."

"Microsoft BackOffice is a natural fit for our Internet and intranet
customers - especially those looking to exploit Internet technologies,"
said David Harris, president of SBT Internet Systems, a leading developer
of modifiable database accounting software. "Microsoft BackOffice is easy
to administer and offers great performance. The integrated database and
messaging capabilities allow our customers to access and share information
more efficiently. In addition, its security layer lets our customers
perform Internet transactions safely."

"We're betting our business on Microsoft," said Pat Carey, CEO of Intuitive
Manufacturing Systems Inc., which provides discrete- manufacturing
software to small and medium-sized companies. "But given the strategic
thinking behind Microsoft BackOffice, especially its integrated Internet
and intranet capabilities, we think it's a pretty safe bet."

"Gone are the days when we had to cobble technologies together to satisfy
our customers," said Duncan Arnold, field marketing manager at Centura
Software Corp. (formerly Gupta Technologies Inc.). Microsoft BackOffice
gives us everything we need - including an integrated, extensible platform
for developing future solutions easily."

"With ActiveX technologies, Microsoft provided us with a revolutionary
component architecture to build RUMBAR OFFICE 95/NT, the first commercial
Windows application to ship a set of ActiveX controls," said John Wall,
founder and executive vice president of Wall Data Inc., a leading provider
of enterprise access and information publishing software. "The combination
of the ActiveX architecture and the Microsoft BackOffice platform allows
us the flexibility to deliver groundbreaking products to our business
users now and in the future."

Microsoft BackOffice applications work with each other and with client
desktops to provide seamless access to servers, legacy systems and the
Internet. The combination of leading-edge technology and comprehensive
Microsoft support make it a powerful attraction to technology suppliers.

"Microsoft BackOffice provides vendors a brand name that may influence
customer decisions and a best-of-breed tool suite that lets them deliver
Internet-ready products," Microsoft's Knook explained. "Today's companies
want reliable and integrated state-of-the-art solutions, which is why so
many vendors are adopting Microsoft BackOffice as their platform of
choice."

Technology vendors that have announced or have Internet-related products in
development for the Microsoft BackOffice suite include ADP Financial
Information Services, Agena Corp., Andrew Corp, Autodesk Inc., Bankers
Systems Inc., Bloomberg L.P., Brock International, Centura Software Corp.
(formally Gupta Technologies Inc.), Cheyenne Software Inc., Computer
Associates International Inc., ComShare Retail Inc., CSS,
FlexiInternational Software Inc., Folio Corp., Fourth Shift Corp.,
Intellution Inc., Intergraph Corp., Keyfile Corp., Macola Software, MTX
International, Onyx Software Corp., Open Systems, Optika Imaging Systems,
PC DOCS Inc., Plaid Bros., Platinum Software Corp., SAP AG, Saros Corp.,
SBT Internet Systems, SEER Technologies Inc., Showcase Corp., Solomon
Software, Sterling Software Inc., Visteon Inc., Wall Data and XcelleNet
Inc.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft BackOffice comprises the following suite of products, designed to
run exclusively on Windows NT Server: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft
Internet Information Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SNA
Server and Microsoft Systems Management Server.

 
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