Accent Software International Ltd., (NASDAQ: ACNTF) develop advanced multilingual technology. The company's contribution to globalizing software, the Accent LanguageWare line of word processors, and its line of multilingual Internet products, allow users to create documents in more than 30 languages. Prior to Accent Software International's research and development, the need for multilingual capabilities in Windows and the Internet went largely unmet.
Formerly known as Kivun Computers, Accent Software International Ltd. was founded by brothers Robert and Jeffrey Rosenschein in 1988 to develop multilingual programs for Windows. In 1991, the company partnered with Microsoft Corporation to develop the technology currently used in bidirectional versions of Windows, now sold worldwide. Bidirectional technology enables users to enter characters into a word processing document right-to-left, for languages such as Hebrew and Arabic; and left-to-right, for European languages. The company has worked in development and distribution with other well-known companies including AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Lotus, Corel and Berlitz.
Now recognized as the industry leader in bidirectional and multilingual software technology, Accent Software International offers a rapidly growing product line of Internet and word processing products for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Current products include Accent Professional,Accent Special Edition, Accent Express, andDagesh2. Accent's newest products are Accent Duo with Translation, which adds integrated translation capabilities to Accent's other multilingual features, and Internet with an Accent, Accent's line of multilingual Internet products.
Unique multilingual product line
In December 1992, Accent Software International Ltd. shipped its first product, a bidirectional and multilingual word processor called Dagesh. Dagesh allows users to enter text in English, Russian, Hebrew and European languages. In early 1994 Accent Software International Ltd. launched Accent 1.0, a multilingual word processing program which allows users to create documents in more than 30 languages using the most complete word processing features and broadest range of utilities available in each language.
Accent Express and Accent Special Edition shipped in October 1994. Accent Express is a basic program that provides word processing functionality in more than 30 languages. Accent Special Edition is an advanced word processor with the same language capabilities as Accent Express, plus a broader range of features and word processing utilities for the five major European languages.
In late 1994, Accent Software launched Dagesh2, an advanced multilingual word processor for the Israeli market. Accent Professional 2.0, Accent Special Edition 2.0 and Accent Express 2.0 with Hebrew and Arabic text entry and interfaces were introduced in 1995.
The latest step in the LanguageWare line is the introduction of Accent Duo With Translation, a line of two-language products- English with Spanish, Italian, German, or French. Duo allows for both multilingual word processing and translations to and from English. Accent LanguageWare products are compatible with other major word processing programs, providing full multilingual capabilities to complement any existing Windows-based system.
Accent's newwest technology allows Internet users to create, publish, and read cyber content in more than 30 languages under any language version of Windows. The Internet suite includes Multilingual Mosaic, a multilingual browser available as a stand-alone browser or as a plug -in to other mainstream browsers; Multilingual Publisher, a multilingual WYSIWYG HTML authoring tool; Multilingual MailPad, a multilingual add-on for MAPI based e-mail programs; and Accent's Multilingual Viewer, a helper application for mainstream browsers for viewing Accent documents on the Web.
Recent developments
In 1994, Accent teamed up with the U.S. investment group, IMR Fund L.P. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The IMR Fund L.P., with $500 million in available capital, consists of a general partner group made up of several experienced management professionals including Irwin Jacobs, a well-known American entrepreneur and investor. In July of 1995, the company went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange (ACNTF).
As part of its cyberspace development strategy, Accent is entering into relationships with leading providers and innovators of Internet technology and service companies. The company is a member of Netscape's Development Partners Program and in October of 1995, the company announced an agreement with Spyglass, Inc. to license Spyglass Mosaic. For up-to-date information about Accent, be sure to see our press releases.
LanguageWare and Accent are trademarks of Accent Software International Ltd.
All other trademarks are owned by their respective manufacturers.