Microsoft Announces Winners of First Microsoft Retail Application Developer Awards

REDMOND, Wash., June 11, 1996 — Microsoft Corp. presented the first Retail Application Developer (RAD) awards last night in Dallas. The awards recognize applications that provide tangible business benefits to small and medium-sized retailers.

The winners were chosen by an independent panel of retail-technology experts based on the applications' ability to help retailers increase their revenues and reduce operating costs. Along with the functionality of the system, developers' presales distribution and postsales support capabilities were reviewed. Judges also considered the ease with which a small retailer could adopt, use and maintain the technology.

The awards were given in two categories: Microsoft® Windows® operating system-based applications that are currently shipping and being installed in retail establishments, and Windows-based applications that are under development and are expected to ship by Sept. 30, 1996. Although many of the winners ship products to a variety of retail segments, the awards were given to recognize specific industry segments.

The following are the 1996 award winners currently shipping Windows-based solutions:

Front of house Twenty/20 Visual Systems, Dallas

Back of house Eatec Corp., Berkley, Calif.

Medium-sized Datavantage, Cleveland

Small Sales Management Systems, Anaheim, Calif.

Medium-sized ProfitLine Inc., Fort Smith, Ark.

Small Virtual Systems, Wixom, Mich.

C Soft International, Raleigh, N.C.

Point of sale Stores Automated Systems Inc. (SASI), Bristol, Pa.

Back office Info Systems of N.C. Inc., Charlotte, N.C.

The following are the 1996 award winners currently under development for Windows:

Front of house Progressive Software, Charlotte, N.C.

Back of house Compris, Kennesay, Ga.

Medium-sized T4G - Technologies for Growth International, Toronto

Small PARCOM Technologies Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.

Medium-sized Trimax Retail Systems, Markham, Ontario, Canada

Small Synchronics, Memphis, Tenn.

Panasonic Information & Communications Co., Elgin, Ill.

The judges awarded honorable mentions to the following applications:

Medium-sized OpenSystems Solutions Inc., Clearwater, Fla.

Small Go Software Inc., Savannah, Ga.

"Microsoft is committed to working with specialists in the retail industry such as the companies recognized in the Microsoft Retail Application Developer Awards," said Judy Dulcich, marketing manager, retail industry sales and marketing at Microsoft. "Today's competitive market is putting severe pressure on small to mid-sized retailers that are looking to drive down operating costs and differentiate themselves through in-depth product knowledge, superior customer service and greater customer intimacy. Microsoft sees technology as a key tool to help smaller retailers achieve these objectives."

The RAD award judges were Jim Dion, senior consultant and president, J.C. Williams Group International; Barry Wise, president, Wise Retail Consultants; Don McDowell, MIS manager and system development manager, Lettuce Entertain You; Don Gilbert, senior vice president of information technology, National Retail Federation; Robert Grimes, president and CEO, Cyntergy Corp.; and Dennis Hadley, board member, ICRDA.

"Small businesses need solutions that integrate well with other applications and legacy systems and are easy to adopt and maintain," said Barry Wise, president, Wise Retail Consultants. "The RAD Awards recognize retail solutions that will enable small businesses to have a competitive advantage through technology."
These winning applications will be featured during the National Retail Federation 37-city 1996 Small Store Technology Tour that begins later this month. Additional information on Microsoft solutions and the NRF tour for retail can be found on Microsoft's World Wide Web site at http://microsoft.com/industry/.

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.

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