BSD SpecLink(R)-E Software Announced

ATLANTA — Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) today announced the final beta release of its new BSD SpecLink-E (SLE) software and master database for preparing construction specifications. SpecLink-E is the successor to BSD’s award-winning BSD SpecLink+ software currently being used by thousands of design professionals nationwide. SLE is client-server software that uses Microsoft’s SQL Server database management system to support multi-user collaboration over a local area network or a wide area network between multiple offices. The SLE software is also easily installed on a single computer for standalone operation by a single user.

SpecLink-E will participate in the building information modeling (BIM) process through integration with CAD environments such as Revit Architecture 2009 via an integration manager called BSD LinkMan-E(TM) (LME), also in development at BSD with a patent pending. With LinkMan-E and SpecLink-E in place on the same computer or the same network, relevant project data can be transferred in both directions between the CAD environment and the specifications environment. Users will also be able to set SLE so that data from the drawings will inform the specifier about product choices, or the software can be set to automatically select appropriate sections and “pre-edit” the specifications, based on decisions made in the CAD environment. In addition to showing its current products, BSD will demonstrate linking between BSD SpecLink-E and Autodesk’s Revit at the AIA National Convention and Expo in San Francisco, April 30 - May 2, 2009.

SpecLink-E has been designed to allow real-time updating of its master database over the Internet at any convenient time. The master database updating can be scheduled in off hours with little or no disruption to the specification preparation process. Updates to the individual user’s client software take advantage of Microsoft technology called ClickOnce installation. This allows the client software on each user’s computer to update itself automatically from a central location on the network once the site manager decides to make the update available to users at that site. As with the previous generation SpecLink+ software, data updates to SLE will not overwrite user modifications in any existing projects, including so-called “office master” projects, because of the product’s unique database structure. Project-specific information entered by a user is stored in separate project overlay tables that are automatically merged with the master database content when a project is viewed or printed.

The version of SLE that will be demonstrated at the AIA convention in San Francisco will be distributed to current BSD SpecLink subscribers this summer, together with updates to BSD SpecLink+ and BSD CostLink/AE.

About BSD: Building Systems Design, Inc. develops, maintains, and provides training and technical support for innovative cost estimating and specification writing software tools for the architecture, engineering, and construction markets of North America. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bsdsoftlink.com.

Accelerator for .NET at Common

New Application Development Toolset opens options to IBM i Power Systems

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., — Surround Technologies today announced Accelerator for .NET, a new offering in its Accelerator line of Application Development tools. Accelerator for .NET offers compelling new front-end presentation and deployment opportunities for the IBM i Power Systems community, including AS/400, iSeries, and System i.

Accelerator for .NET, available now, fully generates code for both Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Silverlight, granting exciting new User Experience potentials for modernization efforts.

Like all Accelerator Development Solutions, the .NET version provides developers with a high level of advanced functionality, a structured architecture and wizard-driven code generation that drives developer productivity to groundbreaking new levels.

WPF is Microsoft’s new feature-rich Windows desktop front-end platform, supporting advanced components like complex images, 3D graphics, video and audio. Silverlight brings the same rich user experience to web applications, offering cross-browser, cross-platform, and cross-device compatibility that simplifies development.

“We are extremely excited over the potential the new Microsoft technologies offer the IBM mid-range world,” says Derek Maciak, Surround’s Chief Technology Officer. “They are truly transformational technologies and we think they will change a lot of people’s minds when they come to know what we know.”

Accelerator for .NET in its first release supports back-end legacy systems under the Visual LANSA programming environment with future versions expanding that support later this year.

Surround chose the Common Annual Meeting this week in Reno, NV, the largest gathering of IBM mid-range users, as the logical stage to make the announcement, nicely coinciding with general availability.

About Surround Technologies

Surround Technologies develops highly usable software tools that accelerate custom application development for Power IBM i, Windows, .NET, Unix and Linux Platforms. With offices in New Jersey and Florida, Surround provides software products and professional services that help enterprises produce advanced agile software. Surround Technologies’ Accelerator products appeal to companies large and small, and are in use modernizing applications at companies like Gannett, Verizon, and GE. More information at http://www.SurroundTech.com.

NXPowerLite Reduces the Size of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPEG and ZIP files

London, UK, - British company Neuxpower has released a new version of NXPowerLite, the market-leading optimization software for Microsoft Office files. As well as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, NXPowerLite Desktop Edition 4.0 can optimize JPEG images, reducing them to a fraction of their original file size. Files can even be optimized when they're stored within ZIP archives -- an industry first.

NXPowerLite Desktop Edition 4.0 also features better integration with email clients. Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook users can automatically optimize their Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPEG and ZIP attachments as they are sent. Recipients don't need NXPowerLite to open or edit the attachments.

File optimization offers IT Managers a simple way to reduce costs and become more environmentally friendly. Reducing file sizes can significantly lower an organization's storage, bandwidth and power requirements. It also minimizes instances of congested email inboxes and undelivered attachments, and cuts the number of calls to the IT Helpdesk.

Mike Power, Nexupower's CEO comments: "With the added support for JPEG and ZIP files, NXPowerLite 4.0 is taking file optimization to the next level. IT Managers can now save even more on storage and bandwidth, while end-users can email large photographs with no fear of bounce-backs."

NXPowerLite Desktop Edition 4.0 costs just $45 USD for a single-user license, with discounts available for bulk licensing. It's available to purchase immediately from http://www.neuxpower.com and all good software resellers. A fully functional trial version can be downloaded from the website. NXPowerLite is also available as a File Server Edition.

About Neuxpower:
Established in 1997, Neuxpower Solutions is a global leader in file optimization software. NXPowerLite technology is designed to help organizations manage the impact of large Microsoft Office files on their business. Our desktop and server solutions are used by more than one million people worldwide.

CallMix is the first sales force planning software package of its kind

CallMix is the first sales force planning software package of its kind to enter the market; CallMix is a simple yet powerful sales force planning tool that replaces spreadsheets with a dynamic, drag-and-drop, point-and-click interface
HEATHROW, Fla. — Cozmix Inc., a sales force strategy consultancy and software development company, has announced the release of CallMix, the sales industry’s first point-and-click sales force planning software package.

CallMix is an easy-to-use yet powerful sales force planning tool that puts sales managers in complete control of their sales teams. Managers will always know which products and audiences should be the focus at any point in time and can easily communicate the sales plan to the rest of the organization.

One key benefit of CallMix is that it provides a consistent planning approach across multiple markets. If a sales force spans multiple states, regions or countries, CallMix shows how each area is utilizing its sales force to promote each product to each customer segment. Companies can use CallMix as a solution for global sales force planning.

When considering a large multinational company with a large sales force, it is often the case that various geographic regions have different methods of sales force planning. This can create unnecessary communication barriers within the organization, which can lead to significant difficulty in managing the sales force. CallMix can be used as a tool to streamline the entire company’s sales force planning structure by alleviating the need to “translate” each region’s sales plan.

Steve Maughan, President of Cozmix, initially developed CallMix as an in-house tool used for Cozmix’s sales force optimization consulting projects: “One of the most common weaknesses that we see in sales organizations is the lack of direction given to sales reps. Companies often spend time and resources analyzing what the sales force has done in the past but little time sitting down and planning exactly what the priorities should be in the future. This is why we developed CallMix.”