WRQ Business Practices and Reflection Products Support the New Euro Currency

Business Wire, Dec 30, 1998

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 1998--WRQ, Inc., makers of Reflection(R), Express(R) and AtGuard(tm) software, today announced that both its business accounting systems and its Reflection 7.0 product line support the new euro currency.

Starting tomorrow, eleven European nations are scheduled to convert to the new uniform currency. While support for dual currencies is required during the transition, stock exchanges will immediately start trading in euros and large businesses will begin tracking finances in euros. Companies around the world must have their trading tools ready if business is to resume on Monday.

Industry analysts estimate the worldwide conversion to euros may cost more than $100 billion to fix. This combined with the task of addressing Year 2000 compliance problems presents a daunting task for many companies.

"With 40 percent of WRQ's business conducted abroad, adapting to support the euro has been a priority," said Ron Tilden, VP of Finance and Operations for WRQ. "It is always a goal at WRQ to anticipate impending issues for our customers and help them make a smooth transition to compliance, whether it is the euro currency conversion or the Year 2000 bug."

WRQ Reflection Product Line Euro-Ready

In order to support the new euro currency standard, software must be adapted to recognize the new euro symbol. WRQ included full support of the euro in its Reflection 7.0 host access product line released earlier this year. Euro support is also included in WRQ's web-to-host solution, Reflection EnterView 1.0 for connection to IBM mainframes. WRQ Reflection products are distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide.

WRQ Reflection host access software makes it possible for PC users to access information stored on large corporate computers, then view that information in a familiar environment such as Microsoft Windows. To support the euro, Reflection products will recognize input and display of the new euro symbol, enabling users to compute in euros.

WRQ's continued compliance with the new euro currency standards depends upon two external events. The international standards organization needs to officially adopt the euro symbol into standard character sets, and leading operating systems software manufacturers need to offer support for the new standards, including desktop platforms such as Windows and host based software development by IBM, Compaq, Sun, Hewlett-Packard and others.

In addition, euro notes and coins are scheduled to enter mainstream circulation in 2002, causing another wave of change for companies conducting business with the European community. As with all critical market transitions, WRQ will continue to closely monitor the evolution and adoption of the euro and provide its customers and business partners with compatible solutions.

WRQ Ready to Do Business in Euros

In Europe, WRQ works with a network of locally owned and managed distribution partners whose accounting and financial systems will support the new euro currency. This means WRQ customers will be able to purchase products in euro currency as easily as they did before the conversion. WRQ has offices in the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. WRQ's US offices are also ready to handle euro currency transactions with international customers.

WRQ Products for Y2K Compliance

In addition to business process and software compliance for the euro, WRQ has addressed the impending Year 2000 problem -- its latest versions of products for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh platforms can accurately process dates greater than 1999.

WRQ also produces Express 2000 Software Manager, which enables IT managers to discover, prioritize and control Y2K problems on their PC networks. Express 2000 assists system administrators in determining what mission critical applications are capable of running in the Year 2000. Because it measures usage in addition to taking inventory, Express helps organizations with the crucial task of prioritizing what to fix. The package can also prevent the launch of software that is not Y2K compliant.

WRQ -- When It Has to Work Right

WRQ, established in 1981, develops software to connect, manage, and secure networked information systems. These software solutions help IT managers reduce network complexity and manage costs, while exceeding expectations for quality. WRQ products are backed by WRQ's award-winning Guide Services customer support program.

WRQ, Inc., is the 17th-largest PC software company in the U.S. (Soft-Letter). It has offices throughout the world and distributes products in more than 50 countries through a worldwide distribution network. For more information, contact WRQ, 1500 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. Phone: 800/872-2829 or 206/217-7100. Fax: 206/217-0211. E-mail: info@wrq.com. Web: http://www.wrq.com.

(c)1998 WRQ, Inc. All rights reserved. WRQ, the WRQ logo, Reflection, Reflection Suite for the Enterprise, Express Meter, and Express Audit Kit are trademarks of WRQ, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries, and Express 2000 and Reflection EnterView are trademarks of WRQ, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Patent Pending.