Prairie Group Grows

The Prairie Group, the same Midwest-based investors who brought us PrairieSoft last year (see TidBITS-188), now introduces Advanced Software, L.C., the Group’s second operating company. Advanced Software, L.C. late last week completed the acquisition of InTouch, DateView, and QuickTools from Advanced Software, Inc., of Sunnyvale, California. The shuffling allows The Prairie Group to bring these Macintosh programs and Advanced Software, Inc.’s technical staff to West Des Moines, Iowa, where they’ll share PrairieSoft’s headquarters.

InTouch (see TidBITS-153) has been Advanced Software, Inc.’s flagship product since its introduction. The $99.95 package is a free-form address book and contact management utility. DateView, introduced early this year, integrates with InTouch to provide calendaring and to-do list handling. QuickTools is one of several collections of Macintosh utilities on the market. While none of the components is extraordinary, QuickTools provides several useful items in an affordable ($79.95 retail) bundle.

Larry Lightman, CEO of Advanced Software, Inc., had been interested in selling the products so he could pursue other opportunities, according to Richard Kirsner, president of the new company. Paul Miller, PrairieSoft’s chief operating officer, commented that "the arrival of Advanced Software allows both companies to build on each other’s strengths in product design, development, marketing, sales, and support." The pairing also allows the small companies to share some of the overhead and infrastructure costs that can be troublesome for young software businesses.

PrairieSoft’s products include DiskTop, a file management utility; personal scheduler Alarming Events; and In/Out, an electronic in/out board for small offices. According to public relations manager Sue Nail, The Prairie Group plans to introduce additions to each company’s product line in the future, as well as updates to existing products.

Advanced Software, L.C. — 515/225-9620 — 515/225-2422 (fax)
<[email protected]>

— Information from:
Advanced Software propaganda
Sue Nail, The Prairie Group