BILLERICA, Mass. and REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 16, 1996 — Wang and Microsoft Corp. today announced the release of imaging software developed by Wang for the Windows 95® operating system. The software provides built-in support for new document-imaging applications by enabling users of Microsoft® Windows 95 to scan, view, annotate, manage, store and share faxes, paper documents and electronic images. The software is available now over the Internet and major online services. It will also be incorporated into future versions of the Windows® operating system.

With the new Windows 95-based imaging software, a user can transform any paper or fax-based information into an electronic image that can be stored, filed, retrieved, edited, annotated, printed, faxed and shared. This eliminates the need to manage and store paper documents such as handwritten meeting notes, memoranda and business correspondence. The software also includes powerful 32-bit OLE interfaces that allow developers to create image-enabled applications easily.

"Users of Windows 95 will now have easy-to-use, high-performance imaging software that can change the way they work and communicate," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the personal systems division at Microsoft. "Wang’s commitment to providing cost-effective and reliable imaging software is a true benefit to customers."

"The Wang® imaging software for Windows 95 makes an important technology immediately available to millions of people worldwide," said Bob Weiler, president, Wang Software. "Working with Microsoft, Wang has made desktop document imaging a pervasive and inexpensive mainstream application. It will accelerate the broad deployment of imaging and workflow as business productivity tools."

Users, Developers Gain Unprecedented Imaging Access

The imaging software for Windows 95 provides an open, standard way to handle image documents and to view faxes through Microsoft Exchange Inbox. For example, in an office environment, the easy-to-use, intuitive interface enables users to transform paper and faxes into useful electronic documents as bit-mapped or rasterized images in black and white, grayscale or color. The software supports Windows 95 Explorer, standard Windows 95-based printers and fax products, as well as popular electronic mail systems such as Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Mail.

The imaging software provides developers and integrators with standard interfaces and components for creating image-enabled applications and for customizing or controlling Windows 95 capabilities. These interfaces include the following:

• OLE component technology to add image documents to Windows-based personal productivity and database-driven applications
• OLE Automation for integrating imaging into existing line-of-business applications
• OLE Controls for building new applications using a broad range of popular developer tools

In the first half of 1996, Wang will provide connections between client imaging software available for Microsoft Windows 95 and Wang’s other imaging software products. The connections will enable users to access and retrieve images stored on any Wang image server. In addition, Wang plans to incorporate the new OLE interfaces into its entire workflow and imaging product line, offering further integration capabilities between the desktop and back-end server software products.

A Significant Result of the Wang and Microsoft Alliance

The imaging software is a significant result of the broad alliance between Wang and Microsoft announced last April. This alliance will bring improved document-imaging and work-management capabilities to all users of Windows 95 and the Windows NT™ operating system. As part of the alliance, Wang was designated Microsoft's preferred workflow and imaging vendor and is working closely with Microsoft to define the MAPI Workflow Framework for enabling interoperability between production workflow systems and messaging environments such as Microsoft Exchange.

Easy, Convenient Access Over the Internet

The new imaging software for Windows 95 is available immediately worldwide through the Internet (http://www.microsoft.com and http://www.wang.com) and will be available through other Microsoft online services.

The software is available immediately in seven languages. This includes U.S. English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese (PC98), Japanese (PCAT), and Spanish. The software will also be available on the April Microsoft Developer Network CD.

Wang Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:WANG) is a recognized worldwide leader in workflow, integrated imaging, document management and network storage management for client/server open systems and a major worldwide provider of integration and support services for office software and networks.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Wang is a registered trademark of Wang Laboratories, Inc.

Press Only, Contact:

Kelly Stremel, Waggener Edstrom: 503-245-0905

Ed Pignone, Wang: 508/967-4912

Sue Parente, The Weber Group: 617/520-7072