[2822] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
PR: InnoVal to Build Java Version of Post Road Mailer
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (innoval@ibm.net)
Wed Apr 23 09:39:52 1997
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:46:42 GMT
From: innoval@ibm.net
Reply-To: innoval@ibm.net
Reply-to: innoval@ibm.net
[Followups directed to comp.os.os2.mail-news]
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File-URLs: http://www.innoval.com/
Contact: InnoVal Customer Service
Harrison, New York, April 22, 1997 InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc., announced
today that it is building a Java email client based on its popular Post Road
Mailer software for OS/2.
"This is really exciting for us," said Dan Porter, president of InnoVal. "The
new release of the Post Road Mailer, version 2.5, has been extraordinarily
successful for both our individual and corporate customers. This will be the
base from which we will build Post Road Mailer for Java. We have considerable
expertise in email technology, a large base of customers with many good ideas,
and a track record for providing features that our customers want."
Asked if this meant that InnoVal was moving away from OS/2, Porter said, "Not
at all. This move to build a Java version of Post Road Mailer, if anything,
reinforces our commitment to OS/2. To succeed in the OS/2 marketplace, we need
to be able to deliver cross-platform solutions. Java, in this case will do
that. We fully expect IBM to release a client version of OS/2 Warp that is
optimized for Java and OS/2 applications. We expect to be ready. Our
customers tell us that they want cross-platform solutions. Many people run
both OS/2 and 32-bit Windows on the same machine. It isn't practical to reboot
the system just to check email; nor is it practical to use two different email
client packages. Mobile workers who use a laptop and base system with
different operating systems also want to be able to use a single client
solution. Corporate workstations running different operating systems across
the enterprise want to standardize on a single email client to reduce costs and
simplify procedures."
"IBM's Java strategy is right-on," said Porter. "It won't happen overnight;
nor will it eliminate existing application dependencies for 32-bit Windows.
But it will have a significant effect over the next few years. We intend to be
on the leading edge of Java-based applications with the Post Road Mailer. As
for the OS/2-only version of Post Road Mailer, I fully expect it to grow as
well. Because release 2.5 is so unbelievably stable, reliable, and robust, one
can be easily tempted to leave it alone. We won't. We'll learn a lot from our
Java work and I expect that we will implement new function in the OS/2 version
along the way."
"The Post Road Mailer has been touted in the press as one of the best email
packages on the market for any operating system. The problem for us has been
that we have been limited to OS/2. We had hoped for better growth of this
marketplace. Now we are betting on Java to expand our market penetration.
Java will allow us to compete on an open playing field."
Porter went on to say that InnoVal would be starting an ideas forum to collect
and share ideas from customers and the public. "We will then ask the forum
participants to be prototype, alpha, and beta testers," he said. "We are going
to make sure that this is the best Java email client on the market whether for
a simple network computer (NC) or a fully loaded OS/2 or Windows NT machine."
As further evidence of InnoVal's commitment to OS/2, Porter pointed out that
Hacksaw, an Internet utility now in beta testing, was developed with
cross-platform source code. Both the OS/2 version and a 32-bit Windows version
are being tested concurrently. The product will be released concurrently for
OS/2, Windows 95 and Windows NT. "We are also making significant enhancements
to NetExtra, our OS/2 web browser add-on. We will bring it up to the level of
features available in WebWilly for Windows NT and Windows 95." WebWilly is an
add-on product for the Netscape Navigator and the Microsoft Internet Explorer
that provides offline browsing, advanced bookmarking, site mapping, link
validation and a number of other useful features. "WebWilly is like WebWacker,
FreeLoader, Smartmarks, and a number of other tools all wrapped into one highly
effective tool," said Porter. "These are Windows products. I promise you that
OS/2 customers are not going to come out on the short end of the stick with
browser add-ons."
A comprehensive list of Post Road Mailer features and demonstration software
that can be downloaded can be found at InnoVal's web site,
http://www.innoval.com. For additional information about the Post Road Mailer,
NetExtra or the Hacksaw beta program, please contact Marianne Roderus by email
at innoval@ibm.net or by phone at 914-835-3838.
InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc.
600 Mamaroneck Avenue
Harrison, NY 10528-1632
Web: http://www.innoval.com
Email: innoval@ibm.net
Phone: (914)835-3838 (8:30am - 6:00pm, New York time)
Fax: (914)835-3857 (24 hours)
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