Press Release

For more information contact:
Joe Romano, Partner, HighGround, Inc. at +1 781.279.1320 x208
Frank Yacano, Director of Business Development, +1 617.497.1300

SYWARE Unveils Visual CE^® 5.0 - Database Development Software for Windows CE and Pocket PC Handhelds

Raising productivity for mobile professionals - new features help users design databases and access information in the format they need

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Cambridge, MA (September 11, 2000). SYWARE, Inc., a leading developer of intuitive database tools for business and personal productivity, today announced Version 5.0 of Visual CE^®, the database development tool for building customized databases on Windows CE and Pocket PC handheld computers. The new release significantly extends the capabilities of this popular software whose drag-and-drop customization enables the rapid creation of database and forms applications by programmers and business professionals alike…no programming required!

"Visual CE users come from many backgrounds, but share a common goal: to maximize their productivity in the field," said Sy Danberg, President of SYWARE. "Visual CE is being used today to help mobile users eliminate duplication of effort and increase productivity in such areas as patient records, inventory management, field surveys, and expense tracking. Drag-and-drop customization, a wealth of editing features, automatic synchronization, and compatibility with native Windows CE databases allow users to create the perfect database or form for any task."

The Go Anywhere Database
Visual CE 5.0 has been designed to completely mirror the look and feel of the device it is running on, providing a familiar environment and consistent user experience. One of the most powerful new features is the ability to open an image, play a recorded sound, or open a Pocket Word document from within a database form at the click of a button. This is very useful when referencing related text or graphical information that cannot be conveniently shown within the body of a form.

New look-up functionality allows users to be extremely specific in how they access and define data. Data can be pulled from multiple tables and shown on a single form. In addition, the contents of a drop-down list can be changed based on the value selected in another list. For example, if a user selects Ohio from a list of states, a second drop down list of cities would display only cities in Ohio. The number of dependent lists in an application is unlimited, allowing maximum flexibility for accessing data as needed.

Smooth, fast synchronization is another major enhancement. Visual CE 5.0 enables database synchronization between desktop and mobile to be performed with unprecedented ease. New options allow users to define automatic synchronization based on any scenario of changed, deleted, or unchanged records, on the mobile or desktop, in either direction.

Visual CE applications are created on any Windows 9x-, NT-, or 2000-based desktop system and downloaded to the Windows CE device. Applications draw from a set of controls: labels, edit boxes, note boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, command buttons, lookups, and drop down lists. Font control, device-based printing, timestamps, Digital Ink (scribble), and simple calculations are also supported. Additional features include support for color, data filtering, wild card searches, password protection, and calculations across records. Supported data types include text, note, bitmap, data/time, numeric, and money. A pop-up calendar, file selection box, and numeric keypad facilitate data entry.

Four Editions Available
Visual CE 5.0 is available in four editions to support the diverse needs of individual and business users. Visual CE Lite is a new entry level version ideal for non-programmers building databases for their own use. The Lite edition is available at the low price of $79 and offers the same forms building functionality of the more advanced versions (with the exception of a few other desktop connectivity features).

The other three versions include Personal, Professional, and Enterprise editions. In addition to offering full synchronization capabilities, the Visual CE Personal Edition now offers some features previously available only on the Professional and Enterprise versions, including command buttons, table export-import, and auto recalc.

The Professional and Enterprise editions are designed for developing more advanced and multi-user applications, with additional capabilities for manipulating and editing tables, creating and reading multiple tables, and synchronizing multiple devices to one desktop. In addition, the Professional and Enterprise Editions allow developers to create an unlimited number of applications and distribute them to an unlimited number of end-users, royalty-free. Applications can be distributed to hundreds of users, sold, or given away on the web.

The Enterprise Edition includes SYWARE's Report CE^®, a full-featured reporting and printing tool for Visual CE. Users can create and print invoices, quotes, reports, and other custom documents from any Windows CE device, using any printer with an infrared connection. Report CE is also available for purchase separately with the other Visual CE editions.

Pricing & Delivery
Visual CE 5.0 is available in four editions. Visual CE Lite Edition is priced at $79, quantity one. Visual CE Personal Edition, with full synchronization capabilities, is priced at $129, quantity one. Visual CE Professional Edition provides a more advanced feature set and includes royalty-free distribution rights, and is available for $399. Visual CE Enterprise Edition includes all the features of the Professional Edition plus SYWARE's Report CE software; it is priced at $599.

About SYWARE
SYWARE, Inc. is a leading developer of mobile database tools for business and personal productivity. Founded in 1990, the company offers innovative data management and connectivity software for use in a wide range of applications, including patient monitoring, inventory management, and field surveys. The cornerstone of SYWARE's product line is Visual CE^®, the popular database development tool for Windows CE handhelds used by such companies as IBM, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, ChevronTexaco Corp., and US Geological Survey. For more information, see www.syware.com.

EDITORS: Photography available on request.

For further information, contact:
Frank Yacano, Director of Business Development
SYWARE, Inc.
PO Box 425091, Kendall
Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
+1 617.497.1300
Fax: +1 617.497.8729
Web: http://www.syware.com

PR Office:
Joe Romano, Partner
HighGround, Inc.
+1 781.279.1320 x208
jromano@highgroundinc.com