Great Plains Dynamics and Dynamics C/S+ Achieve Windows 95 Logo Compliance; First Financial Applications to Earn "Designed for Windows 95" Logo

Business Wire, Nov 13, 1995

Software announced today its award-winning accounting and financial management applications, Dynamics and Dynamics C/S , have earned Windows(R) 95 Logo Compliance from Microsoft(R). Beginning with Release 2.2, scheduled to ship this month, Dynamics and Dynamics C/S are the first financial applications for small businesses to midrange corporations which have passed the strict compliance testing standards and gained the highest seal of approval for Microsoft Windows 95 applications-use of the "Designed for Windows 95" Logo.

According to Microsoft, "to earn the `Designed for Microsoft Windows 95' Logo, software products must be Win 32(R)-based applications, providing better multitasking and application robustness. Applications with the Windows 95 Logo will also feature the enhanced user interface of Windows 95, support for long file names, automated installation, test on Windows NT(TM), and have uninstall capability." "Great Plains continues to be a leader in providing superior Windows-based financial applications which align closely with Microsoft technologies," commented Pieter Knook, general manager of Industry Sales and Marketing, Microsoft Corporation.

"Because Great Plains Dynamics and Dynamics C/S are designed from the ground up as 32-bit applications, customers will be able to take advantage of the usability, desktop power and flexibility of the Windows 95 environment."

Great Plains First to Ship Windows 95 Financial Applications

Shipping just one day following Microsoft s official release of Windows 95, Great Plains Dynamics and Dynamics C/S were the first 32-bit accounting and financial management applications compatible with Windows 95. Official Windows 95 logo compliance further sets Dynamics and Dynamics C/S apart as products which are truly built from the ground up to maximize the benefits of Windows 95. Great Plains Software is one of the first 100 companies with software products to pass these rigorous tests and the first financial application to receive this prestigious designation.

Great Plains Dynamics, which recently won the PC Magazine Editors' Choice award, and Dynamics C/S offer Windows 95 benefits, all of which are required of logo compliant applications. These benefits include performance enhancements such as preemptive multitasking, an interface design consistent with Windows 95 conventions and enhanced developer integration through the utilization of the WIN32 API. Dynamics and Dynamics C/S also support a fully-automated graphical installer and the use of long file names to provide comprehensive explanation of file content.

"Dynamics customers now have confirmation from Microsoft that Great Plains Dynamics and Dynamics C/S have passed strict compliance testing standards," said Ray August, chief technology officer, Great Plains Software. "Since December of 1991, we've been working towards the vision of delivering truly portable 32-bit applications. Great Plains achieved 32-bit optimization in 1994 and is now delivering the benefits of this technological innovation to customers."

Great Plains is currently shipping 20 modules and tools for both Dynamics and Dynamics C/S . Dynamics is designed for small to medium businesses migrating to Windows from traditional DOS systems, while Dynamics C/S -a three-tier client/server product-is designed for midrange corporations.

Both Dynamics and Dynamics C/S support the entire family of Microsoft Windows desktop environments, as well as Macintosh and Power Macintosh clients. Microsoft Windows NT can be run as both a client and server operating system on either product. Dynamics also supports NetWare as a server platform, while Dynamics C/S offers UNIX server support.

Great Plains Software develops, markets, and supports accounting and financial- management software worldwide. The multi-national company--with overseas offices serving 27 countries--offers solutions ranging from midrange client/server systems to small business integrated accounting software. International Data Corporation (IDC) recently ranked Great Plains among the top five vendors of client/server financial applications worldwide. Founded in 1981, Great Plains is privately owned and is headquartered in Fargo, ND.

Microsoft, WIN32, Windows, and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States or other countries. All other products mentioned in this release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Pam Rose, 701/281-6539, prose@gps.com