What is Applica?

Applica is Multiuser Technology for Windows 95. Applica allows one PC running Windows 95 to support up to nine users, delivering the full functionality and ease of use of Window 95.

What is the background of your company?

Concurrent Controls has been delivering multiuser operating systems for ten years. Historically, our operating systems have been based around DOS, and we continue to develop and sell Concurrent DOS and Multiuser DOS, for which we are in partnership with Novell. Applica allows us to deliver multiuser capabilities based around Window 95. (Windows NT version coming in 1997).

What products are you delivering based on Applica technology?

There are three primary products. They are Applica WorkGroup, Applica U2, and Applica Remote.

Applica WorkGroup combines Applica multiuser software and connection hardware. The multiuser software runs on one PC under Windows 95. The connection hardware connects a monitor/keyboard/mouse to the PC. Up to nine users can work effectively from this one PC. We recommend a Pentium or higher processor as the CPU for the primary PC.

Applica U2 is an extremely low cost way to add one user to an existing PC running Windows 95. U2 is a plug-in card combined with a special version of the Applica multiuser software. For $249, plus a monitor/keyboard/mouse, you transform a single user PC into a two user PC. This product is aimed at the consumer market.

Applica Remote combines the Applica multiuser software with remote access software to allow telecommuters to dial in to the office PC and run their office applications as if they were at the office physically. Where other remote access solutions require a PC for each dial-in user, Applica allows up to eight remote users to run Windows 95 applications from one PC, all concurrently. This provides tremendous cost savings when compared to the dedicated PC solution.

What is the hardware needed for Applica WorkGroup?

You will need a VGA monitor, a keyboard and a mouse for each user. You then need to be connected into the main or host PC. A suggested way to do this is to use MaxStation hardware.

Does the host PC need to be dedicated to the function of server?

There is no need to dedicate one PC as a server. With Applica, all workstations, including the host PC, are peers.

How many users can be supported from one host?

How many users depends on a number of factors including the type of CPU (Pentium is recommended), the speed of the CPU, the amount of RAM, hard disk space and attached peripherals. It also greatly depends on the applications you will be running. On an average speed Pentium, we have found good performance at up to five users. On a fast speed Pentium (or a Pentium Pro), we have seen good performance at up to nine users.

How much memory will I need?

That depends on the number of users as well as the applications these people will be running. As a general guideline, we would suggest a minimum of 8 megabytes per user. 16 megabytes per user is even better. Fortunately, memory prices have dropped dramatically. We recently bought a 32M module for under $200, or about $6 per megabyte.

How much does Applica WorkGroup cost?

Applica WorkGroup software has an estimated street price of $699 for two to nine users.

A complete three user installation, which includes the connection hardware and Applica software is $1595. A five user system is $2995 and a nine user system is available for $4995.

Talk about some of the vertical market Applications of the WorkGroup product.

There are several niches for Applica WorkGroup. In one scenario, each workstation is dedicated to running Netscape 2.0 or 3.0 or Internet Explorer. The host PC houses a modem or an ISDN/Digital modem. Each user is able to browse the Internet as if they had their own modem. But only one modem and one connection is necessary. This saves considerably in terms of initial cost (you buy one modem instead of a modem for each user) and in long-term costs (you pay for only one phone connection). Where other modem sharing products allow for only one connection per modem at any given time, the Applica MultiBrowser allows for two, three or more simultaneous connections per modem.

In another scenario, each workstation serves as a display kiosk (such as what you have seen in airports, hotels, or museums.) There is typically only one or two vertical market applications running on any given kiosk. The Applica technology removes the need for a dedicated PC for each kiosk by allowing up to nine kiosk stations to operate off of one PC.

What kinds of applications can I run?

The product is designed to handle popular applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database and graphics, as well as popular browsers such as those from Netscape or Microsoft.

Since Applica uses off-the-shelf Windows 95, the vast majority of applications designed for Windows 95 will run with Applica.

What do you plan in the Remote Access area?

We are working on a product, called Applica Remote, which will allow users to dial into a PC running Windows 95 and Applica multiuser software, and function as if they were connected locally. This will be the first product to allow one PC to serve multiple remote sessions under Windows 95. Pricing has not been set but will be considerably less expensive than what Citrix charges for its NT based dial-in server.

Will I need a copy of Windows 95 for each user?

No. Only one copy of Windows 95 will be needed for each Applica WorkGroup.

Will I need additional licenses for applications such as Microsoft Office?

Licensing policies are application specific. Some applications are licensed per CPU while others are licensed per user. If the application is licensed per CPU, then only one copy of the application need be purchased. If licensed per user, you should call the application vendor to get information on multiuser licensing.

Software vendors who sell applications that require file and record locking generally require a multiuser license.

From a technical perspective, Applica allows multiple users to share one license for most applications, including those residing in popular office suites.

Can I run DOS applications?

Yes, Applica is designed to support applications written for DOS, Windows 3.x and Windows 95.

Why would I want to go the Applica route as opposed to buying and setting up five individual PCs?

Initial Cost Savings.
A five PC system could easily cost $10,000 for the hardware alone. This does not allow for whether you want these PCs to be networked, which could easily add another $2000.

Easier Installation.
You need set up only one PC and then connect workstations to this PC.

Easier Maintenance.
When fixing problems or installing new applications, you need only to work on one PC. When work is completed for one, it is completed for all.

Dramatically Reduced Upgrade Costs.
We are all frustrated with the upgrade cycle hardware and software manufacturers put us through every one or two years. The cost to provide hardware and software upgrades can easily rival the cost of a brand new system. Since Applica uses only one PC for every four or more users, only one PC need be upgraded instead of four or more. The Applica upgrade discount can easily reach 75 percent as a result of this simple fact.

Much Lower Total Cost of Ownership.
In a speech given recently, Andrew Grove, CEO of Intel, cited company research that indicated an average cost of $8,000 per PC per YEAR to MAINTAIN individual PCs connected to a network. Because Applica requires that only one PC be maintained per workgroup, the savings in cost of maintenance offers the most compelling financial reason to consider Applica.

Why have you chosen Windows 95 as your server platform ? Would it not make more sense to use Windows NT as the platform?

No other company delivers multiuser for Windows 95. This gives us an advantage from a business point of view.

The cost of Multiuser Windows 95 is much less than the cost of Multiuser Windows NT, from both a hardware and software perspective. In addition, Windows NT Server costs $1100 while Windows 95 costs about $89.

There are many more installed copies of Windows 95 than of Windows NT, allowing more people to leverage the investment they,ve already made in Windows 95. Most PCs sold today include Windows 95. Currently, more than 50 million copies of Windows 95 have been installed. Only one million copies of Windows NT have been sold.

We are planning an Applica Server NT product for mid 1997.

When will the products ship?

Applica WorkGroup shipped mid Decemeber 1996. Applica U2 will ship in January 1997. Applica Remote will ship in the first quarter of 1997.

How can I find out more about Applica or get on your mailing list?

For calls from outside the USA:
415.873.6240

Fax us:
415.873.6091

Email us:
info@conctrls.com

Visit our web site:
www.conctrls.com