Wang imaging software included in Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 operating system

Business Wire, July 31, 1996

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 1996-- Wang (NASDAQ:WANG) today announced that the imaging software it developed for the Microsoft Windows NT Workstation is being included as a standard feature of Microsoft's Windows NT Workstation, version 4.0. Imaging for Windows NT provides built-in support for image documents and allows Windows NT 4.0 users to view, annotate, manage, store and share these files at their desktop. Imaging for Windows NT also provides developers with free imaging ActiveX (OLE) Controls for development of image-enabled applications.

The software and OCXs are compatible with Wang's Imaging for Windows 95 software, allowing users of both operating systems to share the same image document in an open, standard manner or develop image-enabled applications that will be consistent on both platforms.

"With the availability of imaging for Microsoft Windows NT Workstation, Microsoft and Wang have delivered robust imaging capabilities for users of our desktop operating systems, Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation," said Rich Tong, vice president of the desktop and business systems division, Microsoft Corp. "Our customers will have the benefits of an open, easy-to-use, flexible application to enhance the way they work on a daily basis, regardless of which operating system they choose."

"Microsoft has made Imaging for Windows a standard component on both of its strategic operating systems. This fulfills Wang's objective to make imaging available on every desktop," said Bob Weiler, president, Wang Software. "We will continue to further our relationship with Microsoft to provide the growing Windows customer base with document imaging capabilities that meet the needs of end users as well as developers."

Imaging for Windows NT Features

Imaging for Windows NT provides robust imaging services to end-users as well as a set of industry standard interfaces based on OLE 2.0 for developing image-enabled applications. With Imaging for Windows NT, users can integrate, access, distribute, and control paper-based information. Imaging for Windows NT also provides automatic viewing capabilities of images mailed through MAPI-based messaging environments, such as Microsoft Mail Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. Imaging for Windows NT enables desktop users to: View and use image documents and faxes in black and white, greyscale, or color, and in a variety of page formats Manipulate documents with page navigation, scrolling, panning and zooming capabilities Add notes, comments and highlights to image pages Share image documents using popular e-mail systems, including Microsoft Mail and Microsoft

Exchange Server

Imaging for Windows NT also provides developers and integrators with components and standard interfaces for image-enabling applications or for simply customizing or controlling the capabilities provided in Windows NT Workstation.

These interfaces include: -- Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology to add image documents

to Windows-based personal productivity and database-driven

applications -- ActiveX (OLE) Automation for integrating imaging into existing

line-of-business applications -- ActiveX (OLE) Controls for building new applications using developer

tools of choice

In addition, Wang's Imaging for Windows NT is built on 32-bit technology, taking advantage of the performance and multi-tasking capabilities of Windows not possible with 16-bit technology. The software supports a standard set of image file formats including TIFF, JPG, BMP, XIF, PCX and DCX.

Wang's Commitment to Microsoft Windows NT

As part of its continued commitments to the NT platform, Wang will provide connections between Imaging for Windows NT Workstation and Wang's OPEN/image production imaging system in 1996. The connections will enable users to access and retrieve, through Imaging for Windows NT, images stored on any Wang image server, regardless of platform. Later this year, Wang will be certifying its OPEN/image and OPEN/workflow products for Windows NT 4.0. In addition, Wang plans to incorporate the OLE support model featured in Imaging for Windows NT into its entire workflow and imaging product line, offering further integration capabilities between desktop and backend server software products.

The Wang/Microsoft Alliance

Imaging for Windows NT is a result of the broad alliance between Wang and Microsoft announced in April 1995. In January, 1996, Wang made available its Imaging for Windows 95, which has been downloaded via the Internet by approximately 150,000 users to date. Both Wang and Microsoft are committed to providing superior 32-bit OLE imaging at the desktop and the companies continue to work together toward this goal.

This alliance brings document imaging capabilities to all Windows 95 and NT users, exposing millions of new users to the value of imaging at the desktop. As part of the alliance, Wang is Microsoft's preferred workflow and imaging vendor. Wang also worked closely with Microsoft in the definition of the MAPI Workflow Framework for enabling interoperability between production workflow systems and messaging environments such as Microsoft Exchange. The specification and sample code are available from Wang's and Microsoft's respective Web servers. In addition, Wang continues to work with Microsoft on the co-development of storage management products for Microsoft operating systems.