Leading Groupware Vendor SoftArc Introduces Enterprise Communications
Server for Windows NT

MARKHAM, Ontario, September 5, 1995--SoftArc Inc., the leading developer of
cross-platform, client/server groupware and number four vendor of
LAN-based e-mail worldwide, today announced the release of a high
performance PC server for its FirstClass family of products. FirstClass
Server for Windows NT is a 32-bit version of SoftArc's existing FirstClass
communications server, a product commercially available for four years.

The FirstClass Server for Windows NT offers industrial-strength server
performance and scalability. Compatible with existing FirstClass clients
and servers already installed, the plug-and-play FirstClass NT server
ensures seamless integration with SoftArc's installed base of over 3.5
million users in 15,000 sites worldwide.

The FirstClass Server for Windows enables companies to dramatically
increase productivity by encouraging communication and collaboration
across diverse employee workgroups. The new FirstClass Server for NT
offers PC sites the full functionality of SoftArc's existing
server--including state-of-the-art e-mail, group conferencing, forms
processing, database access, online service functions, remote access--and
more.

More Scalable than Lotus Note or Microsoft Exchange

The FirstClass Server for Windows sets a new standard for e-mail and
groupware Server capacities. The extremely robust design of the FirstClass
NT server supports more than 100,000 user accounts per server--and allows
simultaneous connections from upwards of 250 users via network or remote
connections.

"No other product comes close to the power of FirstClass under NT in terms
of performance and scalability," said SoftArc president Steven Asbury.
"FirstClass now supports significantly more users per server than products
such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes, while offering the benefits of
proven client/server performance, simple graphic administration and ease
of implementation."

Industry Analysts Call FirstClass Server For Windows "Strategic"

"SoftArc's FirstClass is an excellent product, with many features that are
very attractive to both users and support staff," said David Ferris,
principal of e-mail analyst firm Ferris Research. "FirstClass deserves
success in large organizations. The new FirstClass Server for Windows
should be a big help in this regard; previously, you've needed a Mac-based
server, which doesn't work for many user departments. FirstClass is a
system worthy of evaluation for corporate-wide, diverse communication
needs."

Bay Networks accommodates its 3200 employees worldwide on FirstClass, and
plans to migrate the company's existing FirstClass Macintosh servers to
Windows NT. Network engineer Steve Hall said, "The Windows release is very
significant for our organization because it supports a large number of
disk volumes and a large number of open files. What's also important is
that the cutover from our existing Mac OS servers to Windows NT servers
will not be visible. Our thousands of users won't even know the back-end
has changed."

The Windows NT server is a "port" of SoftArc's existing Macintosh
server--the same proven communications server the company has been
shipping since 1991. Users of existing FirstClass client software--already
available for Windows, Macintosh, Power Macintosh and terminal emulation
environments--are able to transparently connect to either the new Windows
server or existing Macintosh servers. FirstClass servers of either
platform communicate seamlessly over multiprotocol LAN, WAN or modem
connections for replication of discussion databases, exchange of private
mail and directory synchronization, as in current server-to-server
connections.

FirstClass servers for both Windows NT and Macintosh are similarly easy to
administer. All administration for either Server is performed using the
graphical FirstClass client software for either Windows or
Macintosh--regardless of the platform of the server. The Windows server
offers several administrative enhancements; the backup and restore process
of Windows-based FirstClass post offices is significantly faster and more
straightforward than the process for Macintosh. Similarly, the Windows
Server also accommodates an unlimited number of files per volume,
simplifying the management of post offices with thousands of users.

Competitive Pricing

The FirstClass Server for Windows offers easy-to-use e-mail and workgroup
functionality similar to Microsoft Exchange, at a price comparable to
mail-only products. The FirstClass Server for Windows is priced at $495
(the same as the Macintosh Server), which includes five user licenses.
Additional user licenses range from $79 to $35 per user, depending on
volume. Other platform licenses, protocol options and gateways are sold
separately. The FirstClass Server for Windows requires a 386DX or better
CPU (486DX2-66 recommended as minimum) running Windows NT 3.5 or later
(either Workstation or Server version), with a minimum of 16 MB RAM and a
large capacity hard drive (540 MB recommended as minimum).

SoftArc is accepting orders for its new FirstClass Server for Windows
immediately.

FirstClass is a client/server workgroup communication system that
integrates advanced e-mail with replicable discussion databases, remote
access, forms processing, enterprise database access and online
information services. The product offers a number of unique features and
enhancements designed to improve information communication and management.
FirstClass offers the same ease of use, functionality and robust
performance over network or modem, and operates in Windows, Macintosh,
DOS, OS/2 and terminal emulation environments. The product is available in
12 languages and is used by businesses, educational institutions,
governments and private individuals in more than 30 countries. SoftArc is
headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

SoftArc Inc
100 Allstate Parkway
Markham, Ontario
Canada L3R 6H3
905-415-7000,  fax 905-415-7151
 
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