Fabian@cup.portal.com (08/05/88)
SUPERMAC SHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT FOR THE MACINTOSH Mountain View -- (July 18, 1988) -- SuperMac Software, a division of Scientific Micro Systems, Inc. (SMS), is now shipping Acknowledge, the Apple Macintosh software toolkit that opens up remote computer services to Macintosh users. Acknowledge provides the tools to create powerful solutions for communicating with mainframes, minicomputers, and personal computer networks. Acknowledge gives Macintosh users the benefits of peer-to-peer communications without requiring modifications to host systems. With Acknowledge, Apple's vision of seamless communications is available today. "Acknowledge is to communications as dBASE is to database," said John Duhring, Business Development Manager at SuperMac Software. "When businesses invest in Macintosh technology, tying those Macs into an organization-wide information system becomes an important consideration, but the cost of developing an AppleLink or Navigator is prohibitive for most user organizations. In addition, customized network applications must be modified as the organization's needs change. For developers, consultants, and end-user organizations, Acknowledge is the best choice to integrate Macintoshes into an existing information network or to create an organization's information system from scratch." SuperMac's Acknowledge provides an easy to use platform to create applications, known as Connections, that can tie the Macintosh into virtually any telecommunications environment. Using Acknowledge, developers can build Connections complete with icons, pull-down menus and dialog boxes to create a Macintosh interface to their network application. The Connection shields the user from the confusing command structures common to host systems and allows information to flow freely between systems. With an Acknowledge Connection, the Macintosh user has a transparent, easy to use and time-saving interface that simplifies sending and receiving information while automatically navigating through the telecommunications network. "Acknowledge makes communications simple becuase it is more than a simple communications product. It provides a platform to fully integrate remote systems into the Macintosh environment," said Ray Vizzone, President of LAMIR, Inc., the product's developer. "Historically, the complexity of telecommunications sessions has intimidated even experienced Macintosh users. We designed Acknowledge to control computer-to-computer communications while presenting the Macintosh interface to the user, thereby reducing the costs associated with applications development, end-user training, system use, and system maintenance." Acknowledge's programming language, TAL (Telecommunication Access Language) allows developers to build Connections for easy information access while retaining complete security. Using TAL Connections, Acknowledge automatically activates a modem, finds an available carrier and locates the appropriate network to call up the appropriate remote service. Without leaving their Macintosh environment, users are transparently connected to an entire suite of predefined services. With Acknowledge, the Macintosh is the strategic resource for communications networking. "To illustrate what network applications can look like, we include a wealth of example applications in the box," said Brian McDonnell, Acknowledge Product Manager. "AirMail lets you send and retrieve mail from MCI, CompuServe, GEnie, Delphi, and The Source without disrupting your work style. We include TAL source code to AirMail and our other sample applications so developers can easily modify them for their customers. For example, a developer could make a multi-user AirMail Server station to service an entire TOPs or AppleShare network from a single modem." Developers can use Acknowledge in conjunction with high speed modems, digital switches, and virtually any dial-up network to access information on remote host systems. Acknowledge adds to the spectrum of products and services available to SuperMac customers and underscores its commitment to being the leading third party vendor for the Macintosh market. It is now available, for a suggested retail price of $495. Included in the package are Acknowledge (for developing Connections), AckEdit (for adding custom dialog boxes to Connections), Acknowledge Run-Time (for testing and running finished Connections), AirMail, File Express (for sending binary files from one Macintosh to another), Time of Day (sets the Macintosh system clock by the National Bureau of Standards), BBS (lets the Macintosh serve as a host bulletin board service), Terminal (TTY, VT100 terminal emulator), On-line Services (Easy access to Digital's Electronic Store, Dow Jones News Retrieval, MCI Mail, Telemail, CompuServe, Delphi, GEnie, The Source, Portal, and the SuperMac BBS). Run-Time modules are available exclusively through Certified Acknowledge Developers in conjuction with their products and services. The SuperMac Software division of Scientific Micro Systems, Inc. develops and markets high-quality utility and applications software products that enhance SuperMac's hardware products for the Macintosh line of personal computers. Scientific Micro Systems, Inc. is listed on the National Over-the-Counter Market System under the symbol "SMSI". Headquartered in Mountain View, California, the company designs, manufactures and markets a range of proprietary ASICs, data storage devices and a range of computer enhancements for the APPLE, IBM, and DEC marketplaces. For further information about Acknowledge or becoming a Certified Acknowledge Developer, or for editorial review copies of Acknowledge, contact Brian McDonnell, SuperMac Software, 295 N. Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043 (415) 964-8884. Acknowledge is a trademark of LAMIR, Inc. Apple is a registered trademark, and Macintosh and AppleShare are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Digital's Electronic Store is a sales mark of Digital Equipment Corporation. TOPS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian McDonnell (brian_mcdonnell@cup.portal.com), who's the product manager and Steve Lemme (lemme@cup.portal.com), who's the applications engineer for Acknowledge, can be reached via Usenet. Fabian Ramirez SuperMac Technology fabian@cup.portal.com sun!cup.portal.com!fabian