ACCPAC Completes Acquisition of SBT Accounting Systems
From ACCPAC.com
Pleasanton, CA, July 24, 2000 — ACCPAC International, Inc., a division of Computer Associates' (NYSE: CA) interBiz group, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Software Business Technologies, Inc., known as SBT Accounting Systems (SBT), a leading provider of database accounting solutions. The acquisition, which was approved by SBT shareholders, closed on July 14. The acquisition of SBT provides ACCPAC with an expanded product line, including a complimentary range of mid-market business management solutions, and a seasoned staff with considerable industry expertise. The transaction also adds more than 1500 resellers, increasing ACCPAC's global base of business partners to more than 5,000, and more than 50,000 registered clients, bringing ACCPAC's registered client base to more than 500,000.
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Altigen Altiserv
From Altigen.com
By Les Freed, PC Magazine
November 24, 1999
The AltiGen AltiServ is the graybeard of our product roundup, having been on the market for more than three years. AltiGen's experience shows in dozens of small details that make the product a pleasure to use. At around $610 per extension (plus the cost of phones) in our configuration, the AltiServ is inexpensive, but it offers a complete feature set — smooth voice/e-mail integration and simple setup and administration. Of the products that separate voice and data, the AltiServ is your best option; we have selected it as an Editors' Choice in this roundup.
The AltiServ system consists of a Windows NT Server PC, one or more AltiGen Quantum telephony boards, AltiGen's AltiWare server software ($695 list), and AltiView client software. AltiGen manufactures several Quantum interface cards with different combinations of trunk and extension interfaces, as well as T1 and ISDN PRI interfaces. The AltiGen system works with any standard telephone, but you'll need to factor the cost of phones into your buying decision. A single AltiServ server can support up to 256 ports, with up to 160 extension and 96 trunk lines. Several AltiServ servers can be used together on a LAN or connected via a WAN. AltiGen's optional VoIP support ($1,995 per server) allows two AltiGen PBX systems to communicate over the Internet or a private IP network.
Typically, a VAR installs the AltiGen Quantum boards and AltiWare server software in the server PC and performs the initial installation and configuration at the customer site. After the sale, most AltiGen customers handle their own administration, calling the VAR when they need additional capacity. AltiGen's Microsoft Windows-based management software is intuitive and easy to use, but it operates only from PCs attached to the local LAN. Moves and extension changes are usually the most time-consuming PBX ad ministration chores, but AltiGen users can move their phones simply by plugging them into any available jacks and dialing their four-digit codes followed by their extension numbers.
AltiView, AltiGen's standard user client software, employs a futuristic but attractive user interface to manage incoming and outgoing calls and voice mail. A monitoring feature lets authorized users view the status of any other extension or group of extensions. A client-based call log keeps track of incoming and outgoing calls, with caller ID, date and time, and call duration, making the system ideal for law firms, consultants, and other professionals who bill clients for their time.
AltiGen's call handling and voice mail are superb and include innovative features we haven't seen in other products. A One Number Access feature lets users tell the AltiServ system where to find them when they are out of the office. When a call comes in to a user's phone, the AltiGen system answers and asks the caller to say his or her name. The system puts the caller on hold and dials up to four numbers to track down the user. When the user answers from one of the remote numbers, the AltiGen system announces the caller's name (in the caller's own voice) and lets the user decide whether to take the call. Another clever feature, called Zoomerang, uses the caller ID data stored with each incoming voice mail message to let users return calls directly from the voice mail system through the PBX. When a returned call is complete, Zoomerang plays the next voice mail message, without making the user hang up and log on to the voice mail system again.
Most organizations will use AltiServ's 16 automatic attendants to handle incoming calls, but AltiGen offers an expanded client software package, called AltiConsole ($495), for groups that prefer a traditional, human attendant-based system.
18-extension, 6-trunk configuration, $1,100 street. AltiGen Communications Inc., Fremont, CA; 888-258-4436, 510-252-9712. Company Info.
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Letter to All Clients Currently Using SBT Accounting Systems
Dear Valued SBT User:
Frensch Technology Group is pleased to announce that SBT Accounting Systems has merged with ACCPAC International, a leading supplier of accounting software. That means we are now part of a larger family of accounting technology products.
We view this as good news for all our customers, because the combined companies form a substantial industry leader, with more than 100,000 client companies' worldwide.
The merger is not affecting our day-to-day operations, since the merged company has made a solid commitment to taking the SBT product line forward. The merged company has endorsed our credentials as a fully authorized reseller, so we move forward as usual with our ability to serve you.
We want to assure you that your investment in SBT products has been a smart choice and that you will continue to see upgrades and new products from us in the future. We also want to assure you that our commitment to delivering service and support to your company remains our utmost goal.
Thank you for your continued loyalty to Frensch Technology Group. We look forward to serving you for many years to come. If you have any concerns or questions about how the merger will affect your company, please don't hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
John Franke, Director
