Tech Briefs

BEST SOFTWARE UNVEILS ACT 2005: Best Software has debuted new versions of Act 2005, its contact and customer management product, at a recent briefing held in New York.

Act 2005 is designed for individuals and teams of up to 10 users, while Act 2005 Premium for Workgroups will support database collaboration for workgroups of up to 50 users.

Enhancements in the 2005 version of Act, which was first created in 1987, include the ability to track relationships with company records, to apply advanced group management, to customize user databases with advanced field types and activity types, and to integrate with office applications such as Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook. Act 2005 costs $299.99. Act 2005 Premium for Workgroups costs $399.99.

Best chief Ron Verni stressed the Best "Degree of Connection," which includes Act, Accpac and SalesLogix CRM Suites. "The CRM market is like a mosaic and we have every piece to complete it. We deliver CRM products and services that customers can grow with," Verni said.

Best noted that it made Act 2005 and CPAPractice Manager available to Best Software Accountants' Network members by adding both to the BSAN software library.

- Carly Lombardo-Bohach

BLACKBAUD LAUNCHES NEW SOLUTIONS: Nonprofit software concern Blackbaud Inc. has launched The Patron Edge, a ticketing and subscription management solution that helps nonprofits that operate box offices and visitor service centers increase ticket sales. The company has also unveiled The Education Edge, a comprehensive student information system.

The Patron Edge supports all traditional ticketing functions, while also enabling nonprofits to:

* Analyze all types of information related to running a box office;

* Personalize customer experiences and improve decision-making with access to individual patron data;

* Attract new and younger audiences by offering convenient ways to purchase tickets and memberships online, at kiosks, by PDA, by cell phone or by Interactive Voice Response; and,

* Save time and provide greater customer options with easy-to-use venue and ticket design.

The Education Edge manages a school's daily operations, from developing class schedules and recording grades, to generating transcripts and sharing information among key offices. The offering also provides information to administrators to help assess both student and school performances.

DRAKE, CROWN FINANCIAL MINISTRIES PARTNER FOR NEW MONEY MATTERS: Drake Software and Crown Financial Ministries have partnered to release the Money Matters 2005 personal budgeting and finance software.

Money Matters 2005 is designed to help individuals and families manage their income and expenses to reach a reasonable budget predicated on biblical principles. Money Matters offers the capability to print checks, track investments, download bank statements and view reports. The product is based on the late Larry Burkett's "envelope budgeting" system, a Christian-based practice of financial planning.

Money Matters 2005 is available for purchase online at www.moneymatterssupport.com or www.crown.org, or it can be found at Christian bookstores nationwide. The suggested retail price is $60.

AXENA APPOINTS DECKER AS VP OF SALES: Axena Inc., a provider of corporate governance and Sarbanes-Oxley software and services, named former Paisley Consulting executive Robert Decker as vice president of sales and marketing for the company. In his new role, Decker will be charged with revenue growth across all lines of Axena's business.

A 25-year veteran of sales and marketing with an extensive background in strategic planning for software and hardware, Decker comes aboard Axena from Paisley Consulting, where he was responsible for sales, marketing, business development and account management. He has also held business development posts at IBM Corp., Digital Equipment Corp., AmeriData, Shell Oil and Xerox.

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