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ManageSoft 6.0 Debuts -- OSA Changes Name to ManageSoft

ManageSoft Corporation unveiled the world's first corporate software warehouse, adding key upstream management facilities to its powerful software distribution and management solution. This new approach to software management reflects all the functionality of a physical logistics system, giving enterprises unparalleled visibility and control of each stage of the software lifecycle, from purchasing and inventory through to installation and eventual decommissioning. ManageSoft, previously known as NetDeploy Global, was the first software management solution certified for Windows 2000, extending existing corporate infrastructure to manage current and legacy platforms for fixed, mobile, and remote users. ManageSoft unifies the IT diversity found in large corporations, reducing downtime, and cutting total cost of ownership.

ManageSoft is a powerful solution for software management and deployment in large corporations. What sets ManageSoft 6.0 apart is its innovative and comprehensive software warehouse, providing central corporate information and control of all software assets before, during, and after distribution. Where other solutions address only software deployment, ManageSoft and its warehouse provide total visibility throughout the whole software supply chain. This virtual logistics system gives CIOs, CFOs, and IT managers easy access to the IT information they need, eliminating waste and ensuring that all software and hardware assets are used to maximum benefit.

"The ManageSoft software warehouse is an exciting breakthrough in corporate software management," said Dr. Detlef Pohl, from Siemens Business Services. "Using ITIL best-practice standards, the ManageSoft software warehouse addresses the real software management issues facing our customers."

Much more than just a storage space, the ManageSoft software warehouse enables highly productive processes that parallel the functions of contemporary physical warehousing. Within the warehouse, the company's software manager can receive, catalog, store, pick, pack, test, and distribute software for installation on company computers worldwide. The same solution can also extend software management securely beyond the enterprise to suppliers and customers.

To minimize implementation time and costs, the software warehouse acts as a point of integration for existing IT infrastructure. The plug-in architecture allows connection to existing infrastructure such as help desks, and distribution using existing file or Web servers. Built on industry standards, ManageSoft extends Microsoft Windows technologies to manage current and legacy platforms. For example, ManageSoft provides the industry's tightest integration with Active Directory -- invaluable for corporations looking to roll out Windows 2000 or XP and use its Active Directory services to manage mixed platforms. This broad coverage, rapid implementation, and leverage of existing infrastructure combine to shorten payback periods and maximize company-wide ROI.

"Downstream software distribution is becoming a commodity market. However, upstream management control and easy access to information on the state of software assets throughout an organization is an area where breakthrough software configuration management solutions can add real value for large corporations -- enabling CIOs to extract full value from their software assets," said Ronni Colville, research director with Gartner.

Aligned with industry standards, ManageSoft also integrates with key Microsoft technologies. Corporations with existing software deployment solutions like Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) can use ManageSoft to enhance their current tools. ManageSoft offers out-of-the-box integration with Microsoft SMS, and extends management to fixed, mobile and remote users with equal ease. The software warehouse provides flexible reporting and analysis of results, and integrates data directly into standard SMS reports, if required. ManageSoft also leverages other Microsoft technologies including Microsoft Operations Manager, Active Directory, and Group Policy with the software warehouse, managing software throughout global corporations.

Software and hardware inventory reports

You can't manage what you can't measure. That's why ManageSoft provides hardware and software inventory reports as an integral part of the warehouse -- not as a high-cost add-on. The ability to produce a detailed inventory of all software and hardware, regardless of location -- fixed or mobile, local or remote -- allows organizations to drive efficiencies across their business, giving several immediate business benefits. Among others, it allows allocation of software costs across business units; the ability to track the location of mobile computers; and produce cost savings through better management of software licenses.

Rapid, flawless distribution

From the software warehouse, ManageSoft efficiently distributes software to all the corporation's users wherever they are. The process is fast, automatic, and reliable -- even across intermittent dial-up connections and low bandwidth Internet connections. Using patented technology, ManageSoft transforms all computers into self-managed devices, reducing user down-time, and cutting IT help desk costs.

Visual KPI status

The ManageSoft software warehouse also offers summary, active graphics that highlight key performance indicators. Managers at any level of the business can tailor "executive dashboards" to monitor relevant service levels or project status. For example, on-screen displays can reflect virus protection readiness or the moment-by-moment progress of a global software rollout.

Solutions for a competitive advantage

The ManageSoft software warehouse is offered as part of a customized solution that can meet each customer's unique software management challenges. To this end corporations can select from a range of ManageSoft professional services and lower their total cost of computer ownership even further. Among others, these include:

• Best practice software management processes consistent with ITIL and MOF guidelines;
• Active Directory design and implementation to reflect the business structure, and assist new platform roll-outs;
• Customized management reports and software warehouse controls;
• Detailed training courses

"You can't manage software without a software warehouse -- it's as simple as that," said John Cromie, CEO of ManageSoft Corporation. "ManageSoft is the breakthrough that can unify the IT diversity common in businesses today. It's the one solution that combines corporate management of standards with delegated local control. A software warehouse is the only way to truly manage the software assets that drive your business. The ManageSoft warehouse provides the upstream management control missing from downstream software distribution products."

ManageSoft 6.0 offers a complete forward migration path for all versions of NETDEPLOY GLOBAL, and will be available this quarter from ManageSoft sales and support offices worldwide, and from accredited ManageSoft partners including Siemens Business Services.

What Leading Analysts are Saying about ManageSoft 6.0

• Enterprise Management Associates
  
  "Effective software management requires coordination across a number of business and IT disciplines, but the information, management, and tools are not typically integrated. ManageSoft 6.0 resolves this disconnect by providing a real-time, centralized view of the software management process through a software warehouse. This approach provides the visibility and tools that enable cohesive management of all software assets." -- Michael Howell, analyst, 303-543-9500, howell@enterprisemanagement.com
  
  
• Gartner Inc
  
  "Downstream software distribution is becoming a commodity market. However, upstream management control and easy access to information on the state of software assets throughout an organization is an area where breakthrough software management solutions can add real value for large corporations enabling CIOs to extract full value from their software assets." -- Ronni Colville, research director 203-316-1233, ronni.colville@gartner.com
  
  
• IDC
  
  "In large organizations software management is a major challenge. ManageSoft answers the challenge with an advanced IT concept -- the Software Warehouse. The software warehouse is a powerful, centralized source for control of all software management activities -- software acquisition, packaging, storage, distribution and inventory control. CIOs will welcome the upstream management control ManageSoft's software warehouse provides to cut IT costs. Most importantly, the software warehouse facilitates effective decision-making by extracting business-critical data relating to all software assets and presenting it in a graphical executive dashboard." -- Fred Broussard, senior research analyst, Client Management Software, 508-935-4404, fbroussard@idc.com
  
  
• Illuminata Inc
  
  "Automated software distribution offers real cost savings. The embedding of industry best practices into its tools, and management console for monitoring distribution processes according to a logistics model, makes ManageSoft a strong offering for companies deploying Windows technologies." -- James Governor, analyst, 603-598-0099, james.governor@illuminata.com
  
  
• META Group
  
  "Too many organizations can't say with certainty what systems and software they have in their IT portfolio. Yet without up-to-date details, they can't operate efficiently and control costs. We advocate centralized tracking of all software and related assets on servers, desktops and laptops. This storehouse approach pays off in many areas beyond daily operations such as determining actual usage levels to negotiate better software licenses, preparing properly for an application rollout, and simplifying the complex problems of software management for the disconnected workforce." -- Patrick Dryden, program director, 203-705-6544, patrick.dryden@metagroup.com

Open Software Associates to Become ManageSoft Corporation

New identity asserts leadership in software management market

Open Software Associates announced a new corporate identity that will spearhead its global growth program and support its standing in the worldwide software management market. Effective immediately, the company is now ManageSoft Corporation.

Simultaneously, the company also introduces ManageSoft 6.0 -- the next generation software management solution which supersedes NetDeploy Global. ManageSoft 6.0 uses the world's first software warehouse to deliver a powerful automated software management solution for large organizations that reduces business IT costs, and improves business flexibility.

"The new brand ManageSoft, reflects our aggressive and ambitious plans to hold the number one position in the software management market," said John Cromie, CEO of ManageSoft. "With over ten years' experience providing software solutions to major corporations, we know that just having the best technology isn't enough. To hold the number one position we also need the best name -- one that directly communicates our demonstrable strength managing software. In ManageSoft we have found such a name."

Since 1990 ManageSoft has become a global software management powerhouse, with customers that include some of the world's largest organizations -- Merrill Lynch, Siemens, Texas Instruments, and Wells Fargo. With offices across the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, ManageSoft will continue to grow aggressively across all regions.

ManageSoft 6.0 uses the world's first software warehouse to deliver a powerful automated software management solution for large organizations. The software warehouse parallels the functions of a contemporary physical warehouse. More than just a storage space, this virtual warehouse enables active monitoring and control of software throughout large organizations. Within the software warehouse, companies can receive, catalog, store, pick, pack, test, and distribute software for installation on company computers worldwide, fixed or mobile. The same solution can also extend software management securely beyond the enterprise to suppliers and customers. ManageSoft cuts corporate IT costs through best-practice management of software assets, and delivers centralized software management control from the software warehouse.

A pioneer of real-world software solutions for over a decade, the company now provides corporate software management solutions built on patented ManageSoft technology. The quality of ManageSoft products and professional services has generated continuous global growth for the company, averaging 40 percent revenue growth each year.

About ManageSoft Corporation

ManageSoft delivers a powerful automated software management solution for large organizations, with the world's first software warehouse. ManageSoft cuts corporate IT costs through best-practice management of software assets (based on ITIL/MOF standards), and delivers competitive advantage with centralized control of software distribution from the software warehouse to fixed and mobile computers around the globe. ManageSoft Corporation, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, is also a global partner of Siemens Business Services. Founded in 1990, ManageSoft has offices across North America, Europe and Australia, with corporate customers including Merrill Lynch, ANZ Bank, Dresdner Bank, Siemens, Texas Instruments, Wells Fargo, and World Bank. For more information see www.managesoft.com.

Contact William Davenport, ManageSoft Corp, 603-886-4330, William.davenport@managesoft.com.