Lotus Announces SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1

Features New Pricing; New Versions of Word Pro, Organizer and ScreenCam

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 31, 1995 -- Lotus Development Corp. today announced
SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1, a complete suite of Notes-ready desktop
applications for users who work independently or collaborate in teams. New
in SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1 are:

* Word Pro, the new word processor that helps teams work together more
effectively by streamlining the process of creating, reviewing and editing
shared documents;

* Organizer 2.1, an update to the industry's most popular personal and
group scheduler for Windows and;

* ScreenCam 2.0, an enhanced version of Lotus' interactive tool for
creating just-in-time, PC-based training movies, or quick, informal
presentations.

Lotus SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1 also includes 1-2-3 Release 5,
Freelance Graphics 2.1 and Approach 3.0. The product will ship in the
United States on CD-ROM and on disk in August. Single shrink-wrapped
copies will sell for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $399, and $199 for
upgrades. In addition to SmartSuite, Lotus also plans to ship NotesSuite
2.0 for Windows 3.1 in the third quarter.

Lotus Word Pro Redefines Word Processing

Central to SmartSuite 4.0 is Word Pro, the first word processor to focus on
collaboration and team processes. By offering the new Word Pro as part of
SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1, Lotus is demonstrating its commitment to
meeting the needs of today's business teams utilizing existing operating
systems. Team computing features such as Versioning, TeamReview, Multi
Editor Revision Marking and TeamConsolidate allow users to communicate,
coordinate and collaborate on shared documents easily and efficiently.

Other innovative word-processing features include on-the-fly spell
checking, SmartMasters, Divider Tabs, the Lotus InfoBox and full
implementation of LotusScript 3.0 for enhanced programmability.

Word Pro will make our jobs easier by allowing us to finalize documents in
a timely, more efficient manner, said Mike Husak, Workstation Support
Consultant at Royal Insurance. We're especially happy that these
capabilities are being offered in a Windows 3.1 version of SmartSuite, so
that we can take advantage of these features now on our existing systems.

New Applications Promote Team Computing

Organizer 2.1 and ScreenCam 2.0 also provide tools to help teams work
together more effectively. Organizer provides easy integration of
LAN-based group scheduling and shared calendaring with daily task
management of addresses, notepad notes, to-dos, phone calls and
anniversaries. Organizer is an integral part of Lotus' enterprise
messaging solution since it provides robust, scaleable group scheduling to
organizations that use Lotus Notes and/or Lotus cc:Mail. Organizer 2.1
improves performance, and includes new features for both personal and
group scheduling users, and easier administration of group calendaring and
scheduling.

ScreenCam 2.0 promotes team computing by enabling organizations to
demonstrate and share ideas more interactively. The new release includes
major enhancements, including captioning, sound compression, editing and
Notes/FX integration. Users can capture screen activity, cursor movements
and sound into an integrated file that can be saved and distributed across
local- and wide-area networks as well as the Internet.

Lotus Shows Commitment to Team Computing on Both 16- and 32-Bit Platforms

By delivering team computing in SmartSuite today, Lotus is addressing our
customers' current and future desktop application needs, said Bob Weiler,
senior vice president of Lotus' Desktop Business Unit. Our Buyer's
Assurance Plan enables customers to migrate to OS/2 Warp or Windows 95
applications when it makes sense for them without being penalized on
price.

Lotus' Buyer's Assurance Plan, announced last month, offers customers who
purchase Windows 3.1 desktop products by Dec. 31, 1995, a free license for
software upgrades to Lotus' next generation OS/2 Warp or Windows 95
products.

SmartSuite 4.0 shows Lotus' commitment to today's desktop application
users, said Chris LeTocq, analyst at SoftTracks in Los Altos, CA.

SmartSuite 4.0 puts Lotus' most advanced suite features in the hands of
users today, with a clear migration path to Windows 95 or OS/2 when, or
if, they plan to move.

NotesSuite 2.0 for Windows

In addition to SmartSuite 4.0, Lotus plans to ship NotesSuite 2.0 in the
third quarter. NotesSuite 2.0 will comprise SmartSuite 4.0, the latest
version of Lotus Notes, the industry standard, client-server platform for
developing groupware applications, and the NotesSuite Application
Collection (NAC) 2.0.

NotesSuite applications enable organizations to manage information and
workflow in critical areas, including expense reporting, contact
management, customer feedback and workgroup document sharing.

New to the U.S. version of the NAC are two starter applications:

* Sales Proposals and Contracts is a workflow application for creating and
tracking sales proposals, and generating contracts. This database displays
the high degree of integration between Notes and SmartSuite by using
Notes/FX to access 1-2-3 and Word Pro while using Approach to create
detailed reports.

* The Budget Planning application electronically tracks expense budget and
revenue forecast worksheets from entry to approval for a workgroup of
Lotus Notes and 1-2-3 users. It combines the functionality of Lotus Notes
with Lotus 1-2-3 in a single, production-quality process application.
Enhanced reporting and analysis is accomplished through Lotus Approach.

These applications can be used right out of the box, providing users
solutions to typical business problems using Notes and SmartSuite. All
versions of NotesSuite work with the extensive list of server platforms
already supported by Notes, including OS/2, Windows, Windows NT, Novell
NetWare and four versions of UNIX.

Pricing and Availability

The new ERP for SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1 is $399. The upgrade ERP of
$199 is available to current SmartSuite or individual Lotus desktop
application users, as well as to those using qualifying competitors'
suites, spreadsheets, word processors, databases and presentation graphics
packages. Customers also can purchase SmartSuite License + Maintenance
options at a reduced cost through Passport, Lotus' volume purchase
program. For example, users can purchase 25 upgrade units (Passport Level
A) of SmartSuite for $279 each, including one year of maintenance.

As part of Lotus' Global Product Strategy, International English, French,
Italian, German and Spanish versions of SmartSuite 4.0 are scheduled to
ship within two weeks of the U.S. version. The product is scheduled to be
available in additional languages including Danish, Dutch, Finnish,
Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish and Czech within 90
days; and Chinese and Korean versions of SmartSuite 4.0 are scheduled to
be available in the fourth quarter of 1995.

A stand-alone version of Word Pro for Windows 3.1 will be available this
summer for an ERP of $105. A $20 rebate coupon will be offered to
customers of any Lotus product. In addition, customers who purchased Lotus
Ami Pro 3.0 and above or SmartSuite 3.1 after April 24, 1995, can upgrade
to Word Pro for a shipping and handling charge of $14.95. SmartSuite 3.1
users who would like the complete 4.0 update kit, including Word Pro,
Organizer 2.1 and ScreenCam 2.0 can purchase it from Lotus for $30.

The ERP for NotesSuite and NotesSuite Desktop at Passport Level A (25
units) is $499 and $399, respectively. Upgrade pricing for NotesSuite and
NotesSuite Desktop is $399 and $299, respectively. Upgrade qualifications
are the same as those for SmartSuite. Customers also can purchase
NotesSuite License + Maintenance options at a reduced cost through
Passport. For example, users can purchase 25 upgrade units of NotesSuite,
and one year of maintenance for an ERP of $529 per unit. Customers can
order directly from Lotus in the United States at 1-800-343-5414 or in
Canada at 1-800-GO-LOTUS.

System Requirements

System requirements for SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows are an IBM PC compatible
(386 or higher) running Microsoft Windows 3.1 and a Microsoft Windows
compatible video adapter (VGA or higher resolution). A minimum of 8MB of
RAM is recommended. Installation of all products requires a minimum of
57MB of hard-disk space; additional space is required for the installation
of optional features.

Client system requirements for NotesSuite are an IBM PC compatible (386 or
higher) running Microsoft Windows 3.1 and a Microsoft Windows compatible
video adapter (VGA or higher resolution). A minimum of 8MB of RAM is
recommended. Both versions of the NotesSuite client require a hard drive
with a minimum of 73MB or access to a network file server. Additional
space is required for the installation of optional SmartSuite features.
For specific Notes server requirements, including the NotesSuite
Application Collection requirements, call Lotus at 1-800-346-1305.

Lotus Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBM Corp., offers
high quality software products and support services that reflect the
company's unique understanding of the new ways in which individuals and
businesses must work together to achieve success. Lotus' innovative
approach is evident in a new class of applications that allows information
to be accessed and communicated in ways never before possible, both within
and beyond organizational boundaries. The company also provides numerous
support services, both from its consulting division and its award-winning
24-hour support center.

All prices and terms are for the USA only.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email: rbakerpc@delphi.com  -or- RBakerPC (on AOL/Delphi)
 =========================================================
