(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Justsystem to Sell Word Processing, Graphics Upgrades in Sept.
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July 29, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Justsystem Corp., Japan's largest developer
of word-processing software, on July 23 announced that it will launch,
at the end of September, two upgraded products called Ichitaro 9, a
word processing software package, and Hanako 9, a graphics package.
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This is the first major upgraded version of Ichitaro software in a year
and a half, and it will be Hanako's first upgrade in three years. Ichitaro
has been improved dramatically. And Hanako will enable users to create
various documents such as postcards, maps, newspapers and slides for
presentations, using various types of artwork.
The company is deliberately launching the upgraded Ichitaro and Hanako
software at the same time.
"We hope to turn around our business with both the new Ichitaro series,
our flagship product, and Hanako," said Justsystem president Kazunori
Ukigawa.
Justsystem is apparently positioning Hanako as the second flagship product
following Ichitaro.
A new feature of Ichitaro is called Document Navigation. It supports
document creation with the following two main features: (1) When a desired
document template (a report, letter or home page) is selected, a corresponding
tool bar, menu contents section or help menu will be displayed; and
(2) when an input action is required, with a cursor pointed, an object
to be input will be displayed in the form of a text box.
Because it is designed to display functions and guides required for creation
of a specific document, users can carry out tasks easily.
"Our Document Navigation is a completely new feature that one cannot
find in other products. This feature makes a manual unnecessary. Users
will be able to quickly create in-house documents. Its user friendliness
contributes to improved productivity. We plan to publicize its attractiveness
among corporate users, in particular," Ukigawa said.
Both products will be priced at 20,000 yen (US$140). A special price
of 12,000 yen (US$85) will be offered to customers of Justsystem products
and registered users of other products. Both products are Windows 98-capable
and equipped with the built-in "ATOK12," a Japanese input method system,
and "Shuriken," email software.
The company will offer a limited edition of 50,000 units of the "Special
Pack," a set of Ichitaro 9 and Hanako 9, and priced at 30,000 yen (US$210).
Justsystem hopes to ship 1.5 million units of Ichitaro 9 and 300,000
units of Hanako 9 in the first year.
As for the "ATOK12," Japanese input method system, the company plans
to launch a single package priced at 9,800 yen (US$70) in November.
The company also revealed its plan to launch a Java-capable "ATOC Server"
this autumn. And it is planning to introduce a Macintosh-version of
"ATOK12."
An Office product, a package that includes Hanako is under consideration.
The company previously launched two packaged products, called Ichitaro
Office 8 Pro and Ichitaro Office 8 Personal.
"We plan to launch only one Office package concentrating on a specific
product line-up," Ukigawa said. He did not reveal a time frame for the
release.
(Hi-Tech News Center)
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