Personal computer-to-host connection software vendor Netsoft Inc and its Federal government market division Network Software Associates Inc, has won a contract with Unisys Corp to supply communications products to Unisys for its systems integration contracts. The unspecified multi-million dollar deal provides equipment to Unisys to include in its implementation of the IWS/LAN Intelligent Workstation/Local Area Network project for the US SSA Social Security Administration offices (CI No 2,938). Under the terms of the agreement, Netsoft has supplied its NS/ElitePlus for Mainframe Access desktop-to-IBM mainframe tool for Windows95 and NT, and NS/Elite for AS/400 Access, which will provide 3270 and 5250 emulation for the 70,000 desktops in the programme. Irvine, California-based Netsoft’s involvement on the project comes after an late decision by the SSA last January to change its desktop procurement plans from OS/2 to Windows NT and 95 system implementation. Wall Data Inc, Attachmate Corp, WRQ Inc and Netmanage Inc were also in the running for the contract. Netsoft’s involvement with Microsoft Corp began in 1992 when the two jointly developed SNA Server for NetView. The company also counts Novell Inc and IBM Corp amongst its strategic business partners. It licensed its flagship NS/Router to be integrated with Novell NetWare for SAA 2.0 in 1994. NS/Router is also licensed to IBM and other firms, and Netsoft expects the software to be connected to three million clients in the next couple of years.
