Microsoft Announces Publisher 98 Availability
REDMOND, Wash., March 23, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of Microsoft® Publisher 98, the latest version of the world’s most popular business desktop publishing program for the Windows® operating system. Microsoft Publisher 98 lets small businesses create a wide range of marketing materials – whether they are business cards, brochures or Web sites – that carry a consistent and professional image. In addition, Publisher 98 incorporates new flexible wizards and automated print-to-Web design expertise that makes Publisher 98 an even more valuable tool for small businesses.
“Creating a new corporate identity using Publisher 98’s new Design Sets with our company colors and logo has given our company a more professional and consistent look,” said Walter Parks of Mastertech Roofing. “We are able to easily carry that look across all our marketing and sales materials for instant company recognition.”
Small businesses that previously struggled to maintain a consistent image can now rely on Design Sets, since they encompass a broad spectrum of materials a small business might need – from letterhead and business cards to newsletters and Web sites. Publisher 98 responds to customer requests by providing more flexibility to make adjustments as they work, with wizards that are always available. Small businesses have always relied on wizards to walk through the steps of setting up their publications; now the wizards are available to make global changes at any time, no matter what stage a project is in. Small-business customers also want to save time and reuse content so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel when they turn their brochure into a Web site. The AutoConvert feature allows a customer to convert printed publications to a complete, consistent-looking linked Web site with one click. Re-entering information is no longer necessary, and because all the marketing materials look consistent, it’s easy to present a recognizable image that gets noticed.
“We’re giving our customers even more ways to create professional output, with flexible wizards and the ability to get a consistent look across all their published materials, up to and including their Web sites,” said David Thacher, Microsoft Publisher general manager. “Small businesses tell us that having a unique identity is an important part of their business strategy. With Publisher 98’s Design Sets, creating an identity across all their materials – printed and online – has never been easier.”
New features in Microsoft Publisher 98 include the following:
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Flexible wizards. Guide a user through step-by-step instructions to set up publications, then provide the flexibility to make global changes at any time during the creation process.
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Design Sets. Consistent sets of professionally designed looks to be applied across all of a user’s marketing materials, from letterhead and brochures to Web sites.
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Color Schemes. Over 60 professionally coordinated sets of colors that can be applied to any publication. Completely customizable so users can create their own scheme.
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High-quality content. More than 10,000 pieces of high-quality clip art, 1,000 pieces of specially designed Web art, 175 fonts, 1,500 photographs, 350 Design Gallery elements, 40 sounds and more than 340 animated GIFs. Users can get even more from Clip Gallery Live at http://www.microsoft.com/publisher/ . Clip Gallery Live is updated monthly and is available free for all users (connect-time charges may apply).
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AutoConvert. Automatically reformats a publication to a new size, layout or publication type with the click of a button.
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Automatic copy fitting. Automatically resizes text to fit the layout space provided.
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Consistency with other Office applications. Publisher 98 looks and works like Microsoft Word, so it’s easy for users to get up and running quickly. Publisher 98 includes the Office Assistant, AutoCorrect, Background Spelling and Spell It features.
Availability and Pricing
Microsoft Publisher 98 is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $99.95 (U.S.). Current Publisher customers are then eligible for a $20 mail-in rebate. Microsoft Publisher 98 is also available as part of version 2 of Office 97 Small Business Edition, which includes Word 97, Microsoft Excel 97, the Outlook
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98* messaging and collaboration client, Small Business Financial Manager, Direct Mail Manager and Expedia
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Streets. Small businesses can take advantage of the value and integration of these popular applications for an upgrade price of $249, with a $40 rebate for all registered users of Office for Windows.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
* Office 97 Small Business Edition version 2 ships with Outlook 97 in the box. Outlook 98 is available via a coupon in the box, or via free Internet download at http://www.microsoft.com/outlook/ (connect-time charges may apply).
Microsoft, Windows, Outlook and Expedia are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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