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SoftArc
Inc.
announced a brand new product line -
separate from its widely used FirstClass
e-mail and groupware solution. Now in
beta, the FirstClass Intranet Server
(FCIS)will offer a robust and secure
workgroup communication environment
completely integrated with the Internet.
FCIS will natively support popular
Internet protocols POP3, HTTP/HTML,
Finger, SMTP/NNTP, and MIME. FirstClass
Intranet Server will add seamless
Internet/World Wide Web integration to the
already rich messaging and groupware
features found in FirstClass. Like its
sibling FirstClass 3.5 (currently
shipping), FCIS will offer advanced
e-mail, reapplicable discussion databases,
remote access,forms processing, enterprise
database access, and information
publishing services.
FCIS will make
virtually all FirstClass features
available over Internet connections. A
company will be able to publish any or all
of its FirstClass Intranet Server content
on the Web; e-mail messages,conferences,
individual mailboxes, directory services,
message threading,database forms, etc.
will all be available through standard
browsers such as Netscape Navigator or
Microsoft Explorer, as well as through the
FCIS Client. Users will even be able to
use Eudora, CyberDog, or other Internet
mail clients to log into their mailboxes.
Moreover, FCIS will offer the impressive
administration capabilities of its
FirstClass sibling -including access
privileges, security, content expiration,
and replication- making it easy for
companies to automatically manage Web
content.The FirstClass Intranet Client
will allow hyperlinks to the Internet or
other FirstClass Servers. Users can put an
HTTP link (URL) into an FCIS document
which will automatically launch standard
browsers. Users may also configure their
browsers to go directly to their
FirstClass Intranet Server using a unique
domain name. Finally, users can drag
bookmarks from their browser to FCIS,
store bookmarks, and later use bookmarks
in FCIS to launch their browser and go
directly to the desired Web site.
&;FirstClass Intranet Server
represents an exciting new addition to the
SoftArc family of products,&; stated
Steven Asbury, SoftArc president.
&;FCIS offers all the advantages of
traditional, proprietary groupware
combined with the ubiquitous, open nature
of the Internet - all from one
application. For companies looking to
build an Intranet, FCIS offers more robust
features and security, easier
administration, and sophisticated Internet
connectivity. SoftArc has also greatly
simplified its account user pricing and
policy models, so FCIS can be customized
to more precisely fit customer needs at a
lower cost..
Pricing and
Upgrades
With FCIS, SoftArc
is introducing new licensing policies and
mailbox pricing to simplify the
sales/purchase process and reflect the
universal nature of Internet usage.
Licensed account users will have maximum
concurrent access to the Server.
Independent of these user licenses, the
server also has an unlimited number of
free remote accounts. These remote
accounts can be assigned to any number of
users, and only an authorized number
(based on purchased concurrent session
licenses) can be logged in simultaneously.
This will allow sites to more
cost-effectively customize FCIS based on
how they plan to use the system.
The FirstClass
Intranet Server will be offered for $999.
It will include ten user licenses, two
concurrent session licenses, all network
and Internet protocols, and 60-days free
technical support. FCIS user license swill
be sold in quantities of 5, 10, 25, 50,
100, and 250, ranging from $35to $70 per
license, based on volume. Additional
concurrent session licenses are available
for $399 each.
A free FCIS Demo
(valid for 60 days) will be available for
download from SoftArcs Web site, and a
special Intro Server pack will be
available directly from SoftArc for $299.
Existing FirstClass sites may trade up to
the new FirstClass Intranet Server for
$299 within the first 90 days of product
shipping. After 90 days, FirstClass 3.5
Servers may be traded up to the Server for
$599. SoftArc is offering a variety of
discount options for sites wishing to
trade FirstClass Regular user licenses,
Remote session licenses, and Remote user
licenses for the appropriate FCIS
counterparts. Please contact SoftArc
or
Sterling Communications for additional
information.
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