KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 30, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Neoware Systems (Nasdaq:NWRE), the leading supplier of award-winning thin client software, services and appliances, today announced that the national children's charity KidsPeace (www.kidspeace.org) has standardized on Neoware software and thin client appliances as key components of a technology upgrade designed to roll out modern applications to improve client treatment while providing greater manageability of their desktop solutions.
KidsPeace, the not-for-profit national center for children facing crisis, has been constrained by a limited IT budget that has kept the group several generations of software behind on its aging PCs. KidsPeace wanted to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Office, but with only three technology support administrators to service more than 1,500 desktops across thirty locations in ten states, going to each location and desk to install new software was out of the question.
KidsPeace explored switching to server-based computing and thin client appliances, in which applications and data are installed and run on centralized servers, enabling new applications to be rolled out quickly by network administrators without requiring field personnel to update individual personal computers. KidsPeace decided to install Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) Windows(r) Server with Terminal Services and Citrix Systems' (Nasdaq:CTXS) Metaframe on its servers and Neoware's thin client appliances at facilities in Pennsylvania, Maine, Minnesota and New York.
"After we installed Terminal Services, Citrix and Neoware's thin clients, everyone logged on and instantly had access to the applications they needed to be productive," says Debbie Kruszewski-Warner, manager of network and hardware support. "Neoware made it painless to deploy a new generation of applications, which provides a significant improvement in client treatment by making treatment planning, record keeping and information sharing among child care practitioners more efficient and served as a productivity boost to our child care workforce. Our users love the power and simplicity of Neoware's thin client appliances, and since we installed the network, the number of tech support calls has been reduced by half."
KidsPeace chose Neoware over competitors due to the ease of using Neoware's ezRemote Manager software to manage the thin clients from a central location to complete the upgrade. KidsPeace also realized lower support costs because thin client appliances can be locked-down, eliminating ongoing support requirements.
Neoware's thin client appliances, which do not include hard drives, CD-ROMs or floppy drives, also help KidsPeace to meet the federally-mandated HIPAA privacy requirements because they prevent users from downloading and removing information, providing greater security than personal computers.
"Organizations like KidsPeace that are looking for immediate and long term relief from escalating IT costs and complexity are increasingly turning to Neoware's thin client appliances and software," stated Michael Kantrowitz, Chairman and CEO of Neoware Systems. "Since our thin client appliances cost less to purchase and maintain then PCs, KidsPeace can invest more of their resources to fulfilling their mission of helping children."
About KidsPeace
KidsPeace is one of the oldest, most comprehensive children's charities in America dedicated to helping give kids the confidence, skills and resources to overcome crisis. Founded in Bethlehem, Pa., this 121-year-old not-for-profit organization directly helps thousands of children overcome crisis every day at 50 centers across the country. KidsPeace helps millions more each year through educational outreach and awareness programs designed to help America's kids and parents anticipate, intervene in and master crises that can affect any child -- from disasters and personal traumas to family issues and neglect to life-threatening depression, eating disorders, and the many stresses of modern life.
About Neoware
Neoware provides software, services, and solutions to enable Appliance Computing, a proven Internet-based computing architecture targeted at business customers that is designed to be simpler and easier than traditional PC-based computing. Neoware's software and management tools power and manage a new generation of smart computing appliances that utilize the benefits of open, industry-standard technologies to create new alternatives to personal computers used in business and a wide variety of proprietary business devices.
Neoware's products are designed to run local applications for specific vertical markets, plus allow access across a network to multi-user Windows servers, Linux servers, mainframes, minicomputers, and the Internet. Computing appliances that run and are managed by Neoware's software offer the cost benefits of industry-standard hardware and software, easier installation, and have lower up-front, maintenance, and administrative costs than proprietary or PC-based alternatives.
More information about Neoware can be found on the Web at http://www.neoware.com or via email at invest@neoware.com. Neoware is based in King of Prussia, PA.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding: the growth of the thin client market; our position as the fastest growing player in the thin client computing market; our position as the leading supplier of software, products, services and solutions for the Appliance Computing market; and the benefits of our software-focused business model allowing customers to preserve capital investment and lower ongoing costs of ownership. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in any such forward-looking statement include our ability to continue to lower our costs, our timely development and customers' acceptance of our Appliance Computing products, pricing pressures, rapid technological changes in the industry, growth of the Appliance Computing market, increased competition, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, our ability to identify and successfully consummate and integrate future acquisitions, adverse changes in customer order patterns, adverse changes in general economic conditions in the U.S. and internationally, risks associated with foreign operations and political and economic uncertainties associated with current world events. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Neoware's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2002
Neoware is a registered trademark of Neoware Systems, Inc. All other names products and services are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.