WordPerfect and Borland Create a Suite

May 1993

In a move designed to permit them to more fully compete with Microsoft and Lotus, who have successfully marketed suites of software for some time, WordPerfect and Borland announced today that they have joined forces to create a "virtual suite," one created by combining products from both vendors, with the products optimized to work together in an integrated environment.

WordPerfect and Borland term this a long-term alliance, with a year of planning and negotiation already behind them. The first product offering will be a suite of personal productivity products called the Borland Office, consisting of a bundle of WordPerfect for Windows, Quattro Pro for Windows and Paradox for Windows, selling for $595 (U.S. suggested listed price). This is $1785 worth of software at the individual product level. It compares favorably with the Microsoft and Lotus offerings at $795 and $750, although each has a different set of products in the mix.

It is also the first office suite to do two things: offer products from multiple vendors, and include a top of the line database product. The product will be available in North America, starting in mid-June and negotiations are ongoing to make an international version available shortly. Primary support for the product will be provided by Borland, with back-up technical support on WordPerfect provided by the word processing vendor.

Borland Office customers will also be offered the WordPerfect Extended Workgroup Package. This is an opportunity to buy WordPerfect Office 4.0 (electronic mail, calendaring, and scheduling), forms software, and presentation software. The Extended Workgroup Package will be available in the third quarter; pricing information is not yet available.

This offering will permit WordPerfect customers to buy a suite of productivity applications that includes both their favorite word processor and first class spreadsheet and database software; it will permit Borland to offer a suite that includes the most popular word processor and to gain additional access to customers in the corporate market. This looks like an excellent situation for both vendors and for customers as well.

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Entire contents © 1993 by Amy D. Wohl. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden.