---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Third Party Product Announcements I SunFLASH Vol 43 #15 July 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- As usual, the listing os these third party product announcemnets does not imply an endorsement by Sun. -johnj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- New TurboSwap(r) Products Extend Capacities Aurora Announces Solaris 2.0 Compatibility Aurum Introduces Customer Resource Planning (CRP) System 66%+ Discount on AVIATOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: New TurboSwap(r) Products Extend Capacities From: sales@Ceram.COM Org: CERAM Inc Phone: 1-800-237-8600. Fax: CERAM, Inc. has announced several additions to its TurboSwap(R) line of PACZ(TM) solid state storage systems for Sun SPARCstations and servers that extend capacity to 960MBytes. PACZ systems (Page Addressed Compressed Zero Latency solid state storage systems) dramatically improve price/performance and response time in workstation and client-server computing by eliminating disk storage system latency. The TurboSwap line of PACZ systems interfaces to the SBus and ships with included software that allows support to be easily configured into the Solaris kernel to provide transparent, seamless operation. TurboSwap systems provide high speed, zero latency swap space and temporary file systems enabling significantly higher performance from large data set and response time critical applications. TurboSwap Benefits Include: * Significantly Improved Response Time on Loaded Systems * Enables Use of Larger Data Sets w/o Performance Degradation * Better Average System Throughput Performance * Enables Larger Loads on Smaller Machines * Upwardly Mobile to New Sun Platforms / Preserves Investment * Enables System Configurations with Better Price/Performance According to CERAM's Director of Applications, Craig Warner, "The most significant benefits are the enabling of larger data sets and models on workstations and dramatically improved response time on fully loaded systems. The raw measured throughput performance can also be very impressive. For example, batch job throughput performance improvements of 3X have been measured for Verilog logic and timing simulations. Improvements of up to 8X have been measured for batch database queries using Oracle. While actual improvements are application, data set, and configuration dependent, almost every installation will realize some significant productivity improvements from TurboSwap." NEW PRODUCTS in the TurboSwap line include the TS1600, a single slot SBus card that provides ~160MBytes of storage capacity, and the TSE series of external chassis configurations providing from 240MBytes up to 960MBytes of fast storage in a pizza box form factor. U.S. list prices range from $42 to $30 per MByte depending on configuration. Most configurations are shipping now. TurboSwap will soon also be available through many Sun VARs. For information contact CERAM sales at sales@Ceram.COM or call 1-800-237-8600. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Aurora Announces Solaris 2.0 Compatibility From: skids@auratek.com (Brian Skidmore, Marketing Director) Org: Aurora Technologies, Inc. Phone: (617) 290-4800 Fax: (617) 290-4844 ** New Solaris 2.0 Compatible Software Drivers Provide Higher Performance ** * New Solaris 2.0 Drivers Significantly Boost Performance and Versatility of Aurora's Intelligent SBus Multiport Serial and Parallel Products * Using the New Multithreading Capability, These Drivers Offer Unique Simultaneous I/O Versatility Enabling New Communications Applications * These Intelligent SBus Serial and Parallel Multiplexer Cards are Compatible With Hundreds of Devices, Such As Printers, Plotters, Terminals, and Modems * Aurora's Solaris 2.0-compatible Products Offer Full Binary Compatibility With All SPARC SBus System Implementations running Solaris 2.0 * In Addition to Performance Enhancements and Solaris 2.0 Compatibility, These Products Feature The Aurora Advantage: o High Performance o Low-CPU Load o "Plug-and-Play" Installation o High Reliability o Verified Compatibility with SPARC Systems by SPARC International o Superior Warranty, and Technical Service Available: August 1992 Pricing: See end of this release. WALTHAM, MA - July, 1, 1992 -- Aurora Technologies, Inc., the leading SPARC enhancement product vendor, today announced its commitment to support the new Solaris(R) 2.0 operating system for SPARC systems from SunSoft, the software subsidiary of Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC). Aurora will ship Solaris 2.0-compatible drivers for the popular SBus Multiport parallel and serial products this August. Aurora's SBox expansion chassis, which provides four additional SBus slots for adding new functionality to SPARC systems, is Solaris 2.0-compatible today. The remaining products scheduled to be ported to Solaris 2.0, including the new FirstScan II image-capture software, will ship shortly thereafter. Aurora's products continue to provide the broadest SPARC system hardware and operating system compatibility, allowing the company to maintain its leadership position in the SPARC system enhancement market. "Aurora is committed to providing "plug-and-play" compatibility with all key SPARC platforms and technologies," said Dennis Daudelin, President of Aurora Technologies, Inc. "From laptops to multiprocessing desktops and servers, we will continue to provide SPARC users with enhancement products that allow them to more effectively leverage their system investment regardless of the particular implementation." "SMCC strongly supports Aurora Technologies' leadership in porting their product line to Solaris 2.0 running on SPARC systems," said Harold Sonenklar, Manager of SBus Marketing and Business Development at SMCC. "The compatibility of Aurora's products with the latest version of Solaris ensures that users can continue constructing efficient enterprise and workgroup solutions using the SPARC/Solaris platform." AURORA'S PRODUCTS GET PERFORMANCE BOOST WITH SOLARIS 2.0 "We're excited about the new features of Solaris 2.0, especially the new multithreading capabilities which allow us to fully exploit the power of multiprocessing systems. While multithreading is also important in uni-processor systems, we see multiprocessing as the dominant computing technology of the '90s and we're there at its beginning," said Daniel Kozin, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Aurora Technologies, Inc. "Being part of the Solaris Early Access Program has allowed our engineering staff to concentrate on the substantial changes required to seamlessly integrate our products into multiprocessing systems." By taking full advantage of the new multithreading features of Solaris 2.0, the Aurora Multiport drivers will provide significantly faster serial and parallel port performance in both uni-processing and multiprocessing systems. For example, the Multiport Model 210S(TM) has two serial ports and a parallel port. With the Solaris 2.0-compatible driver, the system can simultaneously send and receive data on each of the serial ports while also transmitting data on the parallel port. In addition to providing increased I/O versatility, the new driver works more efficiently, demanding even less power from the CPU than before. Other features offered in Aurora's Solaris 2.0-compatible drivers include: Extended Character Set Pass-through - in serial communications, this feature provides support for 8-bit international characters, allowing special characters to be sent and received intact. Full DBI/DKI Interface Support - enables full binary compatibility with ANY SPARC SBus system running Solaris 2.0. FUTURE PRODUCTS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ADVANCED SOLARIS FEATURES All future products will include Solaris 2.0 compatibility and, where appropriate, advanced features will be supported. For example Aurora's synchronous SBus multiplexer products, Multiport Model 400S+ and 800S+, will offer support for Solaris 2.0 DLPI interface. This feature allows new synchronous communication protocols to be easily added to these products. PRICING AND AVAILABILITY Pricing: Multiport Model 10S(TM) $395.00. Multiport Model 20S+(TM) $595.00. Multiport Model 210S(TM) $595.00. Multiport Model 400S(TM) $795.00. Multiport Model 800S(TM) $995.00. Multiport Model 1600S(TM) $1495.00. SBox(TM) Expansion Chassis $2195.00 (No software driver required) Available starting in August 1992, each of these products include a simple-to- install Solaris 2.0-compatible device driver, a helpful User's Guide, a one year limited warranty, maintenance for the first year, and telephone support for the life of the product. ### Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Aurora Technologies, Inc., develops, markets, manufactures and supports enhancement products for SPARC workstations. These include SBus multiplexer cards, communications products, peripherals, interfaces and SBus expansion products, all specifically designed to increase the performance and functionality of SPARC workstations. Founded in 1988 by Dennis Daudelin and Daniel Kozin, former members of Sun's engineering and marketing teams, Aurora is a member of SPARC International and an Advantage member of the SMCC Catalyst program. =============================================================================== Aurora Technologies, Inc., 176 Second Avenue, Waltham, MA 02154 (617) 290-4800 Voice (617) 290-4844 Fax =============================================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Aurum Introduces Customer Resource Planning (CRP) System From: debbie@aurum.com (Debbie Murray) Org: Aurum Software, Inc. Contact: Lisa Ganson, Director of Marketing Address: 5201 Great America Parkway, Suite 240, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Phone: (408) 562-6370 Fax: (408) 562-6195 First Integrated System for Telemarketing, Sales, Customer Support, and Quality Management Applications Santa Clara, CA., May 26, 1992 -- Aurum Software, Inc. today announced the Aurum Customer Resource Planning (CRP)tm System, a suite of integrated customer applications. The Aurum CRP System is based on a client/server architecture, runs with all major RDBMSs, is a 4GL-based for flexible customization, and runs across multiple platforms in standalone or integrated mode. The CRP System consists of four major components: TeleTrak tm, for telemarketing and tele- sales; SalesTrak tm, for field sales; SupportTrak tm, for customer support; and QualityTrak tm, for quality management as it relates to customers. The Aurum CRP System is targeted at today's evolving enterprise-wide information environment. The CRP System consolidates the information from a company's telemarketing, field sales, customer support, and quality management departments by building one common database. By integrating this customer information with the rest of the enterprise's information systems in finance and operations, the Aurum CRP System provides executives, MIS, and departmental level managers with a real-time window into their business, markets, and competitors. Peter Mork, Aurum president and CEO states,"The concept behind Aurum's CRP System is comparable to Manufacturing processes in the late 70s and early 80s. Similarly, we believe CRP is a breakthrough for the 90's, enabling companies to automate the entire customer interaction process from the sales lead to the satisfied customer. Our mission is to be the leading provider of Customer Resource Planning Systems by successfully implementing customer- specific departmental and enterprise-wide solutions." The Aurum CRP System Aurum's CRP System is based on four integrated applications that reside on the leading UNIX-based relational databases, which include: Oracle, SYBASE, Unify, and Informix. The applications support all major graphical user interfaces including: Microsoft Windows, Motif, OpenLook, and MAC'X', as well as character-based terminals. The applications are written in a fourth generation language (4GL) to run across multiple hardware platforma in a client/ server environment. In addition, the Aurum CRP System interfaces with existing third party applications such as Oracle Financials, Ask Manufacturing, Frame Desktop Products, and other third party packages, as well as existing corporate developed applications. *TeleTrak: A telemarketing/telesales module designed for the complex sales cycle which completely automates inbound and outbound telemarketing functions. TeleTrak initiates calls, leads the user through the lead qualification form, and provides audit trails. Information that can be tracked includes: customer contact information, product interests, buying time frames, and lead sources. TeleTrak provides on-line quote and sales order generation -- the automatic generation of letters including a mass letter campaign generator, mailing labels, and literature pack lists. The TeleTrak module includes a full menu of reports for lead tracking, account history, and fulfillment reports, as well as the ability to create customized reports through an end-user tool. *SalesTrak: A sales module designed to support complex, long term sales cycles by automating the entire sales process -- prospect lists, contact information and account activities, price lists, quotes, and forecast tracking. SalesTrak lets users monitor information on both prospects and customers. All information is captured in activity records that automatically produce "to-do" lists and items due on a daily basis. On-line price and product lists allow for the automatic generation of quotes and sales orders. SalesTrak has a powerful forecasting system that allows sales executives and managers to track the sales effort step-by-step through the sales cycle. A territory management feature automatically assigns sales reps to accounts based on zip code, and tracks and refers sales leads to the appropriate field sales reps. Reporting capabilities include: an activity history report, a "to-do" list report, forecast and territory reports, as well as customized sales reports. *SupportTrak: A customer module that ensures all steps of customer service and support are recorded, tracked, escalated when appropriate, and resolved in a timely manner. The system automatically handles everything from identifying problems, dispatching field personnel, inventory parts tracking, and maintenance contracts. SupportTrak logs all incoming service calls and verifies service contract status. Service representatives can then follow a pre-defined call script to determine a known problem in the problem/solution database. After the initial screening, any open items in SupportTrak can be tracked. For instance, requests for field service calls are put into queues and tracked by assigned engineers, priority levels, length of time outstanding, and assigned support managers. SupportTrak offers a contract administration module which maintains and trackes all service contracts including ones for multiple sites, multiple support levels, mixed hardware and software support, etc. Automatic generation of quotes and contracts is done through on-line access to parts/support price lists. Inventory parts tracking can be built into a transaction history. Report capabilities include: a call metrics report and a service call report, as wel as customized reports. *QualityTrak: A quality management module designed to automate product problem tracking and resolution, failure incident reporting, and priority issue tracking. QualityTrak helps to control and manage the problem resolution process. The system automatically notifies a group or groups of users via e-mail when a problem reaches a new state. The system also monitors and manages the changing status of a user's problem. The system tracks product problems identified by field engineers, technical staff, or customer service department. The problem is logged by origin, as well as by products affected and release levels affected. The system automatically cross references similar problems. All activity is time/date stamped and available for tracking and analysis. Reporting capabilities include: problem metric reports, failure incident reports, and priority issues tracking reports, as well as customized reports. Aurum's CRP System modules can run standalone as departmental solutions or integrated together in an enterprise customer management system. Aurum Support Services Aurum provides customers with three levels of support: *Professional Consulting: Aurum provides customers with the application source code so that on-site customization can be done by the customer or by Aurum's consulting group. Thus, customers can not only customize their application from the start, but they can continue to customize their applications in the future to reflect changes in their business. Aurum supports changes made by either Aurum or the customer. All Aurum applications are written in a 4GL to allow maximum flexiblity and power in making changes. *Product Training: As part of Aurum's professional consulting services, product trainiing includes the installation of Aurum products and administrator training -- from executives to end-users. In addition, product training includes "train the trainer" services so that an orginization can provide ongoing end-user training independent of Aurum. *Technical Support: Aurum's help desk allows customers to call Aurum technical representatives to get an answer to operational questions, and troubleshoot application problems. In addition, Aurum provides on-line modem connection to customer applications to work directly with the customer on the technical support problem. "Our CRP System is architected to allow companies, for the first time, to automate their customer managment process with a flexible solution that meets their current and future needs," said David Buchanan, executive vice president and founder of Aurum. "When a company buys an off-the-shelf product, it gets generic off-the-shelf applications; with our systems, a company gets exactly what it wants to integrate sales, customer service, and support areas." Platforms, Pricing, Availability Aurum's CRP System is designed to run in a client/server architecture and supports over 40 UNIX platforms. Aurum's pricing is based on the number of active users per database server. Pricing for TeleTrak, SalesTrak, and SupportTrak ranges from $15,000 for five users to $200,000 for 200 users. Pricing for QualityTrak ranges from $10,000 for five users to $100,000 for 200 users. All Aurum CRP System modules -- TeleTrak, SalesTrak, SupportTrak, and QualityTrak -- are immediately available. Aurum Software Founded in 1990, Aurum Software, Inc. is a privately-held, profitable company based in Santa Clara, CA. The company shipped its first products in 1991 and to date has over 80 installations at 50 customer sites. Aurum's products are sold through a direct sales and consulting group located at its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, as well as a regional sales office in Burlington, Mass. The company has marketing and technology partnerships with: Oracle, Sybase, Unify, Informix, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation, Sequent, and Pyramid Technology. # # # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 66%+ Discount on AVIATOR From: bruce@ahi.ahi.com (Bruce Factor) Tel: (415) 367-5029 Fax: (415) 367-6029 email: aviator-licenses@ahi.com AVIATOR DISCOUNTED OVER 66%!! LICENSES PURCHASED BEFORE AUG-28 SELL FOR $49.95 It has been one year since we started shipping our premier networked flight simulator, AVIATOR(TM). In celebration of its anniversary we will be offering licenses for Aviator for only $49.95 each (regular price $150). This offer is good for all users (WordWide), and will be in effect between June-29th and August-28th 1992. These specially priced licenses will be host-locked (instead of floating), and will only operate for Aviator version 1.8. We have been overwhelmed by the interest in the OpenWindows Version of Aviator. Since it was introduced five months ago, we have shipped thousands of copies worldwide. We appreciate your interest, and if you have any questions or comments on how we can improve the product we would be glad to hear from you. ORDERING: --------- To order a license or media please contact our distributor (Qualix Group) at: Tel: (415) 367-5029 Fax: (415) 367-6029 email: aviator-licenses@ahi.com If you don't have the current version (1.8) of Aviator you can order a copy on CD-ROM for only $7.95. You will only need one copy per site. CONFIGURATION: -------------- Software: OpenWindows V2 or V3 SunOS 4.X Hardware: SPARC workstation with GX (or GXplus) accelerator This includes all IPX and SS2-GX workstations DISTRIBUTORS: ------------- We are always looking for new distributors worldwide. If you know of someone who could use Aviator to help promote the SPARC platform please refer them to us. If you would prefer to contact a distributor in you area please contact us (marketing@ahi.com) for their name and phone number. OTHER INFO: ----------- For more information regarding Aviator please send email to: aviator-interest@AHI.COM General inquiries aviator-marketing@AHI.COM Sun Office Licenses aviator-licenses@AHI.COM Ordering Information or aviator-request@ICDwest.Teradyne.COM Aviator mailing list additions aviator@ICDwest.Teradyne.COM Aviator mailing list # # # # (C)1992 Artificial Horizons, Inc. Artificial Horizons is a trademark or Artificial Horizons, Inc. Aviator is a trademark owned by Bruce Factor and Curtis Priem licensed to Artificial Horizons, Inc. All other products or services mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Pricing and Specifications are subject to change without notice. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.