Enable Software, the wholly-owned UK subsidiary of the New York based Software Group, has announced Enable/OA, an enhanced version of its Enable office automation system, which now provides multi-tasking under MS-DOS, OS/2, Xenix and Intel-based Unix operating systems. The software was originally launched by the Group in 1984 and its installed user base has grown from 10,000 then, to 25,000 in 1988. The UK office in London was opened this September to market, sell and distribute Enable in Britain and Europe; and Ted Newlin, the President of the Group, claims that the company will have a seven to ten percent share of the European integrated software market in 1989. The newest version of the word processing, telecommunications, relational database, spreadsheet and graphics software application can now read 25 leading file formats including WordPerfect and Samna, from applications such as dBase, Lotus 1-2-3 and DisplayWrite. The system also includes a built-in local area network application which supports networks such as Novell Advanced Netware, IBM PC Network Program, AT&T Starlan, and OS/2 networks. Enable/OA is hyped as being user-friendly, having full on-line hypertext documentation, and uses a common command structure for all applications. Once installed, a telephone support line is on offer for regular users, and a dealer training package called Enable/Learn is being developed in a bid to reduce any maintenance problems. The fledgling operation in Britain has signed contracts with the British Telecom Leeds trunk network operations centre, and Shell, and is about to close deals with two unnamed banks. The system, offered at an introductory price of UKP664, will be available from January 16 1989, and will be distributed by Xitan Ltd and Frontline Ltd; but companies that have bought their Enable since November 1 1988 will be relieved to hear that they’ll be getting a free upgrade.
