KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 11, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Neoware Systems (Nasdaq:NWRE), the leading supplier of award-winning software, services, and appliances for thin client computing, today announced that one of France's most popular restaurant chains, Buffalo Grill, has replaced personal computers with Neoware's thin client appliances and software.
The deployment allows wait staff to more quickly serve customers while eliminating bottlenecks caused by an unreliable PC network. Switching to Neoware, Buffalo Grill now benefits from a highly reliable and more manageable thin client solution that speeds order taking and checkout at the chain's French locations.
Founded in France in 1980, Buffalo Grill has over 60,000 employees, and operates a franchise of more than 260 `Wild West' themed family restaurants. Each Buffalo Grill has an unmistakable bright red roof and old saloon decor, and serves a variety of American grilled beef meals, along with dishes such as bison steaks, chicken wings, and ostrich meat, all with a French flair. The restaurants are designed to resemble saloons of the American Old West, complete with oil lamps, totem poles, and paintings of classic Western cowboy scenes. Buffalo Grill also supplies franchisees with fresh meats through its Districoupe operation. The company also operates a handful of restaurants under the Victoria Pub brand.
Previously, Buffalo Grill's wait staff used multiple PCs in each restaurant to process orders. The PCs failed frequently because of software crashes, hardware defects, and other problems caused by the busy restaurant environment. When the PCs failed, waiters and waitresses had to handwrite and manually traffic orders -- "a huge waste of time that decimated productivity during peak dining hours," said Thierry Chirol, IT Manager of Buffalo Grill.
By replacing its PCs with Neoware thin clients and software, Buffalo Grill's restaurants improved reliability and manageability, while preserving their investment in the chain's PC-based point-of-sale software. As a result, Buffalo Grill's executive management is now considering replacing PCs with Neoware thin clients at its corporate headquarters to tackle the company's corporate accounting and other business applications.
"Neoware's solution gives us a more reliable, more manageable system," said Thierry Chirol, IT Manager of Buffalo Grill. "Since going with Neoware, we haven't had a single significant failure, after significant time with heavy use in an unforgiving point-of-sale environment. That's a huge help during rush hours, when customers can't afford to lose even one minute of precious time."
Neoware thin client computing is more reliable than PC computing in large, distributed networks like Buffalo Grill's because thin client appliances can be "locked down," preventing employees from changing settings or using unauthorized software. Software installation and updates can be centrally managed, eliminating the need to send system administrators to remote locations to deal with PC issues.
"Neoware thin clients appliances and software are an ideal solution for demanding point of sale environments like Buffalo Grill's," says Michael Kantrowitz, Chairman and CEO of Neoware Systems. "Because our thin client appliances are highly reliable and easy to manage, they provide a more stable, controlled environment. Neoware's solution fits the bill for Buffalo Grill and many other leading retailers and restaurateurs around the world who need highly reliable systems to keep orders flowing and customers smiling."
About Neoware
Neoware's software, services, and thin client appliances make computing more secure, manageable, reliable and affordable by enabling global enterprises to fully leverage server-based computing. By incorporating open, standards-based technologies and eliminating the obsolescence that is built into standard PC architectures, Neoware provides enterprises with increased flexibility and choice, as well as lower up-front and total costs.
Neoware's software products enable enterprises to gain control of their desktops, and to integrate mainframe, midrange, UNIX and Linux applications with Windows(r) and the web. Neoware's thin client appliances enable enterprises to run applications on servers, and display them across wired or wireless networks on secure, managed, reliable appliances that cost as little as one fourth the price of today's typical business PC. Neoware services enable corporations to benefit from server-based computing with training and end-to-end support.
Neoware's products are available worldwide from IBM, as well as from select, knowledgeable resellers. More information about Neoware can be found on the Web at http://www.neoware.com or via email at invest@neoware.com. Neoware is based in King of Prussia, PA.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding: our expectation of future sales of our thin client products to Buffalo Grill. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in any such forward-looking statement include acceptance of our thin client products, specifically to Buffalo Grill, pricing pressures, rapid technological changes in the industry, growth of the Appliance Computing market, increased competition, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, adverse changes in general economic conditions in the U.S. and internationally and political and economic uncertainties associated with current world events. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Neoware's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.
Neoware is a trademark of Neoware Systems, Inc. All other names products and services are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
From: For:
Gregory FCA Communications, Inc. Neoware Systems, Inc.
27 W. Athens Ave. 400 Feheley Drive
Ardmore, PA 19003 King of Prussia, PA 19406
Contact: Contact:
Tim Cifelli Sharon O'Shea
(610) 642-8253 (610) 277-8300, ext. 1743
email: tim@gregoryfca.com email: sharon.oshea@neoware.com