Windows Support Policy

19^th August 2006

As of today, Software Systems ceased the support and development of its range of Windows based products. This announcement directly affects these products:

• SoundFX

• NetCenturion

• SwsVpkt

• MailCenturion. NB a Linux hosted version of MailCenturion is in development.

The following products will continue to be developed and supported:

• MTClib

• SwsSock

Future Directions

This announcement is a result of Software Systems' decision to abandon the Windows platform and migrate to the OpenSource Linux environment. We believe that Linux and OpenSource hold the key to our future computing needs.

This decision was made so much easier by several recent Microsoft announcements:

• The Windows Genuine (dis)Advantage program and the serious impact that it has had on many friends and colleagues with bona-fide Windows installations,

• The requirement to digitally sign all drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit. This is a huge financial hurdle for independent developers.

• The use of Product Activation for all recent OSes which has caused us huge problems during testing and hindered our product upgrades.

• Lack of commitment to core, open programming languages, like C, in Visual Studio 2005 and the obsessive push to .NET, C# and Visual Basic.

• Cessation of support for Windows 98SE amd ME.

• Cessation of new product and driver development for Windows 2000.

Lawrence Rust,
Software Systems, www.softsystem.co.uk