KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Jan. 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Neoware Systems (Nasdaq:NWRE), the leading supplier of award-winning software, services and thin client appliances, today announced that retailer Art Van Furniture, America's largest independent furniture retailer, has deployed Neoware's thin client appliances throughout its 30 retail and warehouse locations. The deployment enables Art Van sales professionals to better serve customers by providing a simple to use system for processing and scheduling deliveries and completing transactions while connecting with the company's legacy inventory system, directly from the showroom floor.
Before implementing server-based computing through Neoware's thin client appliances and software, Art Van sales professions relied on dumb terminals to check inventory availability and a point of sales system to complete purchases. The Neoware deployment simplifies the customer service process, enabling showroom salespeople to spend more time with customers rather than at monitors and keyboards. At the same time, Neoware's thin client appliances provide Art Van's management staff with a familiar Windows interface and office productivity applications, which streamlines the learning curve and enhances communications throughout the organization via email and word processing.
The Neoware architecture enables the integration of digital signature capture as well as credit card processing-again, enhancing customer service for Art Van's customers. Wireless versions of Neoware's thin client appliances are being deployed in Art Van's warehouses to enable mobile workers to manage inventory without the cost or inconvenience of a wired network.
"The core of our technology platform has been our server-based point-of-sale system, and Neoware provided a solution that allows us to continue to access years of data within our existing environment and upgrade our field systems with leading-edge technology, without having to do a costly system upgrade," said Matt McGlynn, Operations Manager of Art Van Furniture.
Art Van Furniture purchased Neoware's thin clients through IBM, which sells Neoware products as part of a strategic sales and marketing alliance between the two companies. IBM customers can purchase Neoware products through the existing IBM procurement channel, gaining the benefits of Neoware's products at the same time that they purchase other IBM hardware, software and services.
"Neoware's software and thin client appliances allow Art Van Furniture to maintain access to their legacy technology platform while also providing access to Windows applications," said Michael Kantrowitz, Chairman and CEO of Neoware Systems. "Through Neoware's leading thin client technology and our partnership with IBM, Art Van Furniture, a showcase account, has accelerated the purchase process, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and expanded sales opportunities."
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.
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