Now Software Is Back

by , 1:00 PM EDT, July 17th, 2002

In the Mac community, many were first introduced to Personal Information Management (PIM) software through an application called Now Up-to-Date from Now Software. Now Up-to-Date has recently been updated to run in OS X. Good news indeed. What may be more exciting is that Power On Software, the current maker of Now Up-to-Date, is establishing a new division called Now Software. Now Software will concentrate on PIM software -- not just for the Mac but on other platforms as well. From Power On Software:

Power On Software, Inc., a recent inductee into the prestigious Inc 500 roster of America's fastest growing companies, has announced today the formation of a new division: Now Software. The new entity will focus exclusively on the scheduling and contact management line of products that were at the core of the original Now Software's enormous success in the Macintosh market. In creating the new division, Power On is also announcing Now Up-to-Date & Contact for Windows, the most sought-after companion product to its legendary Macintosh personal information manager (PIM). Making its debut at MACWORLD Expo, and scheduled to ship later this year, the new offering lets Macintosh and Windows users share their calendars across the enterprise. In a multi-platform world, it is essential to permit schedules to be tracked on a number of platforms and devices, and Now Software is addressing that need with Now Up-to-Date for Windows.

John Wallace, President of Now Software, explained the decision to create the new division: "Power On Software has grown tremendously in the past five years in both the PIM space with Now Up-to-Date & Contact, and in the utilities space with Rewind?, On Guard?, and the ACTION Utilities. As we formed our strategic plan, it became clear that we would need different organizations to focus on each product area. We could not imagine a more descriptive and venerable name than Now Software to denote this focus on our calendar and contact products." Mr. Wallace continued, "Our new Windows version is feature-for-feature identical with our Mac version. We are working diligently to broaden Now's line of products by adding innovative solutions that address business planning and communications needs."

As part of the new company's strategic focus on facilitating the integration of core business functions, centered on organization and efficiency, new software products will offer virtually identical cross-platform capabilities and interface design to enhance ease of use and reduce cost of ownership. Products sold under the Power On Software brand will continue to focus on utility software, with products such as On Guard for Mac and Windows, ACTION Utilities, and Rewind.

You can get more information about Now Up To Date and other applications from Power On Software from their Web site. If you are lucky enough to be going to MACWORLD New York this week, stop by their booth (#1343).

The Mac Observer Spin:

We were excited to see this announcement come through on Wednesday morning, and then we saw Apple's iCal announcement side-swiped the company. We are big believers in competition at The Mac Observer, and Now has no protected status in our minds, but the timing of Power On splitting off Now Software on the same day that Apple introduces a free product that competes with Now Software's flagship product still elicited a collective frown from the TMO staff.

That said, there are things that iCal doesn't as yet do that Now Up-to-Date & Contact excels at, and imagine that Now Software will do just fine.

Now Up To Date