Tech Briefs

BEST UNVEILS SIMPLY ACCOUNTING 2005: Best Software has released Simply Accounting 2005 Basic, an updated version of its proprietary integrated solution for small businesses.Priced at $49, Simply Accounting 2005 features a clear graphical layout and includes more than 100 starter templates for different business types, 30 days of free telephone support, and an optional payroll tax update service.

The new Basic version also provides more than 50 enhancements and new features, with a focus on business analysis and reporting. The solution's key performance indicators include the Daily Business Manager, an executive dashboard that provides a series of 25 business performance measures. Meanwhile, key business ratios give a quick overview of how well the company is performing for real-time analysis.

Simply Accounting is also available in more advanced versions - Pro adds multi-user support and departmental accounting, among other advanced features, and Premium offers a range of customization and upgraded reporting features, including a customizable chart of accounts, industry-specific terminology options and multi-company consolidated financial reporting.

Separately, Best said that year-end revenues for the period ended Sept. 30 were $517 million, a 30 percent rise over its previous fiscal year, while operating profit rose 13 percent, to $112.1 million.

"Our parallel strategies of key acquisitions and focused organic growth continue to generate strong results," said Best Software chief executive Ron Verni. "The integration of the Accpac, Timberline and BusinessVision acquisitions has significantly grown our customer base in the U.S. and Canada, and has already resulted in improved operating efficiencies."

VERTICAL LEND AND TAXSLAYER PRO PARTNER IN PROMOTION PACT: Online mortgage products concern Vertical Lend has joined up with Augusta, Ga.-based tax software developer TaxSlayer Pro in a promotional partnership.

Under the terms of the cross-promotion pact, clients of TaxSlayer Pro will have access to Vertical Lend's turnkey business model. Terms were not disclosed.

"We're very happy to introduce our clients to the benefits of Vertical Lend's unique program," said Nick Srott, director of sales for TaxSlayer Pro. "We take our mission of boosting our clients' bottom line very seriously, and feel that Vertical Lend will only further help our clients expand their businesses."

BIZNET LAUNCHES SOX COMPLIANCE SOLUTION: BizNet Software Inc., a provider of business management software to middle-market companies, has launched BizNet Insight for Compliance, a Sarbanes-Oxley compliance solution.

Insight for Compliance enables enterprises to port their existing procedures created for first-year compliance and subsequently implement an ongoing compliance process. The integrated system supports knowledge management, workflow, control documentation, risk assessment, information sharing and status reporting.

Designed by accountants, BizNet Insight for Compliance works to improve internal controls, automate current processes and gain efficiencies in compliance reporting.

BQE RELEASES TIMESLIPS-TO-BILLQUICK CONVERSION: BQE Software Inc., manufacturer of the BillQuick time, billing and project management software brand, has made available a new Timeslips-to-BillQuick conversion utility.

The BillQuick utility's features include:

* Real-time integration with QuickBooks.

* Multiple time and expense capture methods, including a multi-instance timer and managing time and expenses via the Web, cell phones, PDAs and e-mail.

* Microsoft Outlook appointments and tasks converted to time entries.

* Project management that includes billing type, status, project-specific invoice format, project bill rate and custom fee schedules, budgets, budget comparisons, retainers, project dollar maximum and processing rules.

* 60 customizable invoice formats and 300 customizable reports, including extensive analysis reporting.

The utility is free and available on the BillQuick Web site.

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