Move over Tally, EX and other financial accounting software products. Computer Associates' ACCPAC, a global brand in the business of finance and accounting, is here. Launched in India by Simplysoft Technologies Ltd., a 51:49 joint venture between Computer Associates and Pentasoft Technologies Ltd., ACCPAC is a product with 20 year standing, enjoying presence in over 100 countries.

A patented product, ACCPAC provides backend solutions through plug-in modules like general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory control, purchase and sales order. It has a solution for every segment including SOHO, emerging business, small to medium size enterprises or SME and corporates, say company officials. For maximum availability and reliability, ACCPAC Online is built on a secure eBusiness foundation managed with technology from iCan-ASP Inc, a recently established independent subsidiary of Computer Associates focussed on serving unique infrastructure requirements of ASPs.

The partners have together invested $ 1.5 million in the project through equity in Simplysoft Technologies Ltd. and hope to break even in two years time, if not earlier, Mr. Rajeev Singh head Simplysoft Technologies told domain-B. The standard variety of the product has been priced at about Rs 5,999.

Describing ACCPAC as "robust and reliable", Mr Charles B Wang, chairman Computer Associates International Inc, world's leading e-business software solutions provider, said," ACCPAC already enjoys a 70 per cent market share in Singapore and we are confident of its success in India as well."

The product was soft launched in India on 15 September 2000 for "Testing Indian Waters" and the response, say officials, has been very good. The ASP version of ACCPAC will be launched in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 and will be distributed through Num TV, a value service provider or VSP streaming 35 channels throughout he world.

Announcing the hard launch Dr V Chandrasekaran, chairman Pentasoft Technologies Ltd., said, " We will bring lot of value to customers by bringing together brain and brand of Computer Associates and bandwidth of Num TV."

The novelty about ACCPAC is that the product is also being offered on a rental basis, where customers will typically rent out ACCPAC on a per user, per month basis. Charges could vary between Rs 100 per user per month on the lower side and Rs 1,000 per user per month on the higher side, Mr. D Kannan director and chief executive of Pentasoft Technologies Ltd. told domain-B.

Simplysoft Technologies Ltd. has also tied up with ICFAI, India's premier institute engaged in imparting education in the fields of management, finance and accounting, which would use business logic of ACCPAC for the benefit of its students of full time MBA course.