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© Copyright 1998-2001, Envelope Manager Software (legal notices)
| NEWS |
Breakthrough mailing software builds on technology from Microsoft partnership
PALO ALTO, CA, March 30th, 1998: Envelope Manager Software® announced the release of
DAZzle Express®, the next generation in easy-to-use postal mailing software. DAZzle Express
builds on the technology used in Direct Mail Manager, a product created in partnership with
Microsoft® Corporation for small businesses. DAZzle Express breaks new ground for mailing software
by providing a wizard-like interface to guide the user step-by-step through the confusing process
of producing a bulk (discount) mailing. This new program is designed to offer the small office/home
office (SOHO) market direct marketing capabilities that previously were only available to large
corporations or professional mailers. The key reason DAZzle Express is able to provide powerful
mailing capabilities in an affordable package is its use of the latest Internet technology. DAZzle
Express uses Envelope Manager Software’s patented Dial-A-ZIP® technology and the Internet to
provide real-time address verification and correction. Additionally, an auto-update feature uses
the Internet to automatically detect and upgrade to new versions of the software.
Simultaneous with Envelope Manager Software’s release of DAZzle Express, Microsoft released Direct Mail Manager®, which
was developed by Envelope Manager Software and is available as part of Office 97, Small Business Edition®, version 2. The two
applications share the same "look and feel" and nearly all of the same features. DAZzle Express adds support for more discount
mailing options, larger mailing lists (no size limit) and comes bundled with the envelope and design utility, DAZzle Plus®. A Direct
Mail Manager user who wants to take advantage of the advanced features of DAZzle Express can upgrade for $195.
Because the United States Postal Service requires all bulk mailing software to perform address correction and verification, vendors
have traditionally relied upon technologies that use a CD-ROM address database to meet this requirement. The CD-ROM based
method is both expensive and inconvenient because it requires frequent distribution of updated CDs. To eliminate these problems,
DAZzle Express provides the same address verification process using the Internet. This patented process, known as Dial-A-ZIP,
connects with the U. S. Postal Service’s national address database via the Internet to verify all of the addresses in the mailing list.
Envelope Manager Software provides this service free of charge to all DAZzle Express customers.
DAZzle Express also takes advantage of the Internet with its "auto-update" feature. This lets the user know when a new version of
the software is available, and gives the user the opportunity to immediately upgrade. For example, when the new U.S. postage rates
are finalized this summer, DAZzle Express customers will be notified the first time they use the program following the rate change.
Within minutes they can be using the updated software.
For DAZzle Express users interested in doing direct mailings, but who may not have the time or equipment to handle the manual
production aspects, DAZzle Express offers the option of electronically forwarding their mailing list, and the document to be mailed,
to NeopostExpress® from Neopost®. NeopostExpress will handle all of the printing, folding, inserting and mailing tasks.
DAZzle Express comes bundled with an award-winning envelope and label design tool, DAZzle Plus. DAZzle Plus supports the
latest US Postal Service automation standards, such as POSTNET barcoding, provides the user with extensive design options
including multiple fonts, color support, graphic images, "rubber stamp" messages, and supports all common envelope and label
sizes. DAZzle Plus also integrates with information managers and organizers such as ACT!® and Goldmine®, and
popular word processors such as Microsoft Word®.
DAZzle Express System Requirements
Envelope Manager Software has been a leader in desktop mailing software for over 10 years. The company focuses on using the
latest technology to create affordable mailing software for the "desktop mailer". Among its most notable achievements, Envelope
Manager Software was the first to offer address verification via modem and the Internet, the first to offer change of address
information over the Internet, and the first to propose a PC-based postage meter (both hardware and software based systems) to the
US Postal Service. Envelope Manager Software products are used nationwide by organizations and businesses that range from the
very largest (e.g., Envelope Manager is the corporate standard of US Postal Service) down to the smallest home-based businesses
and non-profit groups.