Agreements Propel Ditek Toward Its Vision of Leadership in Graphics Development Market
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario -- Ditek Software Corp.(CDN:DITK; SEC 12g3-2(b) NO.82-4782) today announced four major contracts that accelerate the company's expansion from a computer-aided design (CAD) company to a market leader in graphics development environments.Ditek signed contracts with industry leaders Sony, MapInfo, Dell Computer, and Ingram Micro.
``Ditek's business strategy has always been to become the graphics engine of choice for vertical solution developers in the computer graphics industry, providing technology that other companies can use to make their products better,'' said Dave Mountain, president of Ditek Software Corp.``These partnerships with Sony, MapInfo, Dell and Ingram Micro demonstrate a fulfilment of that strategy.They allow us to use outside resources to handle much of our distribution, freeing up our own resources to focus on our core strengths: technology development and integration for leaders in existing markets and for those who want to capture markets that are yet untouched.''
The four contracts include the following:
Sony Corporation [NYSE:SNE - news] of America, a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets, will bundle DynaCADD 98 with all of its larger Multiscan® displays aimed at graphics users.
Dell Computer, the leader in direct sales of computer hardware, will offer DynaCADD 98/2D as one of two CAD titles that it presently sells through DellWare.The Dell Online Store, with sales of over US$10 million per day, is one of the world's premier e-commerce sites. Ingram Micro, the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology products and services, will distribute DynaCADD98, DynaCADD 98/2D, DynaCOP, and DynaSCAPE.Ingram Micro is also a leading provider of assembly and integration services, with sales of $20.9 billion for the past four quarters.
Ditek will provide MapInfo Corporation with precision CAD and graphics technology for new geographic information system (GIS)-based products.``Each of these contracts represents an important step in the execution of our strategy,'' said Mr.Mountain.``Our agreement with MapInfo, in particular, takes Ditek to another level in the acceptance and deployment of its graphics development environment.We look forward to working with MapInfo to offer customers both CAD and GIS capabilities in a single application.''
Over the past six months, Ditek has expanded its product line through acquisitions and additional partnerships.On September 23, 1998, Ditek announced the acquisition of GWN Systems, extending its capabilities in GIS, one of the fastest growing areas of the computer software industry according to industry consulting firm Orr Associates International.From GWN came the products DynaSURF, DynaSITE, and DynaSURVEY.
A broad range of vertical CAD solutions has resulted from co-operation with third-party developers.These products are either shipping or in the advanced stages of development:
DynaCOP, a product for creating accurate drawings of crime/traffic accident scenes.(Ditek) DynaSCAPE, a professional-level, landscape design and sales tool.(Garden Graphics, Inc.) ConacCADD, a project management tool that ingrates design creation and cost management from bids to finished project.(The Conac Group) Layout Manager, quotation and layout process software for awning, marine and sign fabricators.(CanvasLink)TubeCAD, for drawing and engineering tube shapes.(Advanced Tubular Technologies)Vision/FM, a facilities management and design tool for graphically tracking equipment, planning office moves and scheduling maintenance.(Vision Facilities Management) Ditek intends to position each of these products as the leader in its respective niche market and aims to make them all de facto standards.
About MapInfo Corporation
MapInfo Corporation, the information discovery company, is the worldwide leader in mapping solutions and a preeminent supplier of spatial technologies.More than 300,000 users in virtually every industry use MapInfo solutions to transform location into meaningful decisions.Its data visualization products are deployed on the desktop, on enterprise servers, on the Internet, and as embeddable mapping objects in decision support and enterprise-wide applications.Microsoft, Oracle, Informix, IBM, Hummingbird and Digital have chosen to make strategic alliances with MapInfo.Company revenues for fiscal 1998 were US$60,603,000.
About Ditek Software Corp.
Richmond Hill, Ontario-based Ditek Software Corp.develops, markets and supports PC-based computer graphics software with a focus on 2D and 3D CAD, rendering, and 3D modeling products.Its DynaCADD product suite has earned a reputation for value leadership in the desktop CAD marketplace.Ditek products appeal to value-driven users requiring premium CAD functionality at an affordable price as well as third party software developers looking for a powerful and flexible CAD engine on which to develop and market industry-specific applications.Ditek shares are quoted on the Canadian Dealing Network under the symbol DITK.
More information is available on Ditek's web site: http://www.ditek.com.
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High Road Communications
Monta Kerr-Johnson, 416/368-8348
mkerr@highrd.com
or
Gloria Vidovich, 416/368-8348
gvidovich@highrd.com
