Sage Group Plc, Newcastle-upon-Tyne has moved to please analysts in the City, announcing a deal with Microsoft Corp and a raft of products to be released over the next few months. The company is to ship a new version of its Windows accounting software Sterling +2, an Accountants Product range for easier auditing, an Executive Information System module for the Sovereign family and a developer kit for third party product integration. The US will see Windows versions of its contact management software Telemagic, and DacEasy accounting. The Microsoft deal involves the development of real-time links between Sage and Microsoft applications. Sterling +2 version 2.0 will arrive in October, while the Executive Information System is planned for December this year. When used in conjunction with Sovereign, the Windows-based system functions as a reporting tool. The company also announced that a new version of Sovereign was under development. Later on in the first quarter of next year the Accountants Product Range will ship, aimed at accountants whose clients use Sage software, streamlining the auditing process. The developers kit, aimed at third party vertical applications vendors, will ship in November. It enables them to graft their software onto Sterling more easily and accompanies the company’s applications directory, Sage Additions, which launches this month. The French Ciel Windows product will both ship in October.
