Path: network.ucsd.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!caen!batcomputer!memory!mha Message-ID: <1994Apr03.151742.179523@memory.ithaca.ny.us> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm Distribution: world From: mha@memory.ithaca.ny.us (Mark H. Anbinder) Organization: Memory Alpha BBS Date: Sun, 03 Apr 1994 15:17:42 EDT Subject: Fwd: FirstClass 2.5 Now Available Lines: 81 Released Thursday, March 31st SoftArc Now Shipping FirstClass 2.5 SCARBOROUGH, Ontario Forms editing and enhanced e-mail functions are among the highlights of a new release of SoftArc's FirstClass* cross-platform electronic mail and conferencing system, now available to registered owners. FirstClass 2.5 also allows graphical access to SQL or DAL databases through third-party database extensions or custom database gateways. "FirstClass, with this release, dramatically leapfrogs mail-only products like cc:Mail and Microsoft Mail, and squarely competes with Lotus Notes," said Steven Asbury, SoftArc President. Directory Synchronization Enterprise-wide FirstClass installations with multiple servers may now synchronize their user directories by enabling a synchronization option in FirstClass 2.5. User directories can now remain consistent from server to server... even among sites with hundreds of servers. Even when as large as one hundred thousand users, FirstClass still performs directory searches and name matches quickly. In addition, FirstClass 2.5 lets users send mail to any other user on any other servereven if the two do not communicate together directlycourtesy of a new multi-hop mail architecture. Advanced e-mail The new version gives users of the graphical FirstClass communications system advanced e-mail features such as message unsend, priority, sensitivity and receipting. In addition, autoreply and autoforward allows users to forward their mail when on vacation or send automatic "I'm out off the office" replies (this ability is included in the base FirstClass product at no extra cost, nor does it rely on third party software.) Forms Editor The FirstClass Forms Editor, shipping with FirstClass 2.5, allows administrators to create their own message forms or edit existing ones. Forms are multi-platform and function identically on Macintosh or Windows. Enhancements to the forms system now provide for embedded graphics within FirstClass forms. Database Access Finally, FirstClass 2.5 allows users to query SQL or DAL databases. With an optional "database extension" for FirstClass, servers can hand off queries formulated from data entered in a FirstClass form and retrieve the results within FirstClass. Entering queries can be as simple as toggling checkboxes in a FirstClass form. Users may simply double-click on search matches to pull up an entire pertinent record from their database. (For more information on database access through FirstClass, see accompanying press releases on 411 for FirstClass, and FirstConnectthird party database extensions for FirstClass.) With this release SoftArc is issuing new versions of its freely-distributable FirstClass Clients for Macintosh and Windows. The FirstClass Client software is free; anyone may download the latest versions from America Online, CompuServe, Internet FTP servers or SoftArc OnlineSoftArc's corporate FirstClass system (416-609-2250.) More than 850,000 people worldwide in a dozen languages currently use SoftArc's Macintosh and Windows client software. Registered owners of FirstClass systems may download version 2.5 of the FirstClass server from SoftArc's FirstClass system SoftArc Online free of charge, as with all updates to the FirstClass server or client. Registered users may optionally purchase SoftArc's FirstClass 2.5 server upgrade package including new diskettes and documentation for $95 plus shipping and handling. For more information, contact Dallas Kachan, Manager Sales & Marketing, SoftArc Inc. ______________________________________________________ SoftArc Inc. Global-Area Communications 805 Middlefield Road, Suite 102, Scarborough, Ontario, CANADA, M1V 2T9 1902 Ridge Road, #325, West Seneca, New York, USA, 14224 Tel: 416-299-4723 Fax: 416- 754-1856 FirstClass: 416-609-2250 Internet: sales@softarc.com FirstClass is a registered trade name of SoftArc Inc. ========================================================================== Mark H. Anbinder | mha@memory.ithaca.ny.us News Editor, TidBITS | mha@tidbits.com ========================================================================== .