Solomon IV version 5.5 released:

Industry reviewers are raving about the power and functionality of the newest version of Solomon. CPA Software Review, in their latest product comparison, gave this software its highest rating of 5 stars. See:

http://www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/Solomon/Highlights/solomon_cpafeature.mspx

Version 5.5 was released in June ‘03, as the flagship series for Solomon from Microsoft Business Solutions. There are two versions of the product: Solomon Standard and Solomon, which replace the earlier product names of Solomon Select and Solomon Premier. Price points for this new product have been slightly reduced to reflect common value between Solomon and the other accounting series: Great Plains and Navision.

Product Summary

Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon 5.5 will provide enhanced abilities to integrate powerful new applications and increase productivity to accelerate your profitable growth. Solomon Release 5.5 offers customers significant new capabilities by enhancing the Foundation Series, Project Series and Payroll capabilities. Solomon 5.5 includes the new Microsoft Business Solutions Professional Services Automation Enabler. Organizations driven by projects or jobs will appreciate the Professional Service Automation (PSA) Enabler which brings together the project management capabilities of Microsoft Project 2002 and the project accounting strengths of Solomon. This exciting solution will help project-driven organizations to plan intelligently and execute effectively to realize their profit potential. Solomon 5.5 is now integrated with the new Microsoft Business Solutions Retail Management System. This integration allows for the easy sharing of information between the comprehensive retail solution and proven financial capabilities of Solomon.

Solomon 5.5 takes advantage of new integration points in Microsoft Office XP with the use of Smart Tags and creates an even tighter integration to Microsoft Office. Smart Tag Manager enables the ability to drill down on detailed information from the text within Outlook, Word, and Excel. Solomon 5.5 also adds capabilities that make it easier for contractors of the US Federal Government to be compliant with Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) regulations. Enhancements to Payroll include the printing of multiple checks per payroll run for the same employee, giving the ability to separate different pay types onto individual checks. In addition, investments have been made in the inventory and distribution products to improve business’ overall productivity. Together, these new capabilities will better equip customers to achieve the control they need today, as well as the flexibility to innovate and grow for the future.

Primary New Features of Solomon 5.5

Foundation Series

· Office XP Smart Tag Manager

· Company Name displayed in Title Bar

· Enhanced report management within Solomon Desktop

· Online User Manuals

Financial Series

· Enhanced Time Entry Screens

· Print multiple checks per employee per pay period or payroll run

Project Series

· Professional Services Automation Enabler

· US Government contractor enhancements for DCAA compliance

o Indirect rate calculation

o Time and expense audit trail capability

· More modules available in Solomon Standard

· Revenue allocation rules based on a maximum

· Solomon Desktop Web Time Entry modifications

· Data entry ease of use enhancements

Service Series

· More modules available in Solomon Standard

Integration with Microsoft Retail Management System

This release will be of special interest to:

· Small to mid-sized project-driven organizations that desire best-of-breed project management functionality (Microsoft Project 2002) with unparalleled flexibility of an integrated solution (Solomon Project Series)

· Microsoft Project 2002 users

· Companies who conduct business with the US Federal Government and are subject to DCAA audits

· And the following industries

o Business Services

Establishments primarily engaged in rendering services to business establishments on a contract or fee basis, such as advertising, credit reporting, collection of claims, mailing, reproduction, stenographic, news syndicates, computer programming, photocopying, duplicating, data processing, services to buildings, and help supply services.

o Management/Engineering Services

Establishments primarily engaged in providing engineering, architectural, and surveying services; accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services; research, development and testing services; and management and public relations services.

o Social Services

Establishments providing social services and rehabilitation services to those persons with social or personal problems requiring special services and to the handicapped and the disadvantaged. Also included are organizations soliciting funds to be used directly for these and related services.

o General Contractors

Establishments primarily engaged in construction (including new work, additions, alterations, remodeling, and repair) of single-family houses.

o Special Trade Contractors

Special trade contractors who undertake activities of a type that are specialized either to building construction, including work on mobile homes, or to both building and non-building projects. These activities include painting (including bridge painting and traffic lane painting), electrical work (including work on bridges, power lines, and power plants), carpentry work, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, roofing, and sheet metal work.

o Wholesale Trade (Durable Goods)

This major group includes establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of durable goods.

o Retail Trade

The Retail Trade sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise.

o Food Services

This sector comprises establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption. The sector includes both accommodation and food services establishments because the two activities are often combined at the same establishment. (excluded from this sector are civic and social organizations; amusement and recreation parks; theaters; and other recreation or entertainment facilities providing food and beverage services.)