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Global Graphics' Jaws PDF Technology Powers New Service

Press release from the issuing company

Cambridge, UK; March 4, 2003 — A new European based on-line service for creating files in the Portable Document Format is powered by Jaws® PDF technology from Global Graphics Software Ltd, a division of Global Graphics S.A. and leading developers of printing and document management software. Global Graphics has developed a custom solution - integrating several of its own software components – in a collaborative project with T-Online one of Europe’s largest Internet Service Providers. T-Online launches the new service to its 10 million subscribers in Germany at the international trade fair CeBIT next week (Hanover, 12 – 19 March). T-Online PDF Creator allows subscribers in Germany to create PDF documents in a matter of seconds from source documents created in Microsoft® Word, PowerPoint or Excel for secure onward transmission over the Internet or for archiving. The selected document is uploaded from the user’s hard disk onto the secure T-Online server. The user chooses the type of PDF file he wishes to produce and after a couple of mouse clicks, receives a final, high-quality PDF. Alternatively a Wizard can lead users through the steps involved to customize the conversion parameters required to produce optimized PDF files. This joint development with T-Online exemplifies Global Graphics’ strategy of driving forward its PDF technology with integration partners and original equipment manufacturers in order to bring to market a range of solutions from document creation to delivery, distribution and print. The development program between Global Graphics’ and T-Online technical staff was interactive throughout. Global Graphics used its PDF conversion technology as an engine to drive a number of its own software components in order to custom-build the solution. These components included a new wrapper* around its Software Development Kit Jaws PDF Library™ that allows developers and systems integrators to produce robust PDF files from the Windows® platform. A component based on the Jaws RIP is used to produce preview images so that the customer can check the documents he has selected for conversion to PDF over the Internet. Global Graphics also built the web-based front end to the system to T-Online’s specification. The cost of using T-Online PDF Creator depends on the size of the source document. Subscribers are charged via T-Online’s automated billing system which uses T-Online’s standard billing client installed on their PC. Global Graphics integrated the PDF solution with T-Online’s billing software on the server to create an intelligent system that validates a customer account and payment before a PDF download is authorized. In this case the item will show on the customers’ phone bill. If a user is not a subscriber, they can pay for the service using the Internet prepaid card system Micro Money. “This project is another example of how we’re able to leverage our robust core technology, this time in component form to produce original, innovative and customer focused solutions,” says Adrian Ford, Global Graphics’ chief technology officer. “Our development teams have used the SDKs and toolkits we deliver to our OEM, software vendor and systems integrator partners to construct a specific solution that adds significant value for our customer. Our flexible and open approach to the relationship with our partners, right down to the engineering level, means we are able to implement competitive solutions to meet the demands of the markets in which our partners do business.” PDF is rapidly becoming the preferred, standard file format for document management and distribution in a wide range of applications. It is now recognized globally as the ideal electronic format for storing and distributing documents via corporate intranets, the World Wide Web, e-mail and CD-ROM. Unlike other file formats, PDF files cannot be altered easily and their small file size greatly increases file transfer speeds across networks, reduces Internet viewing and download times and maximizes archiving efficiency.