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Microsoft names HMS Software an Office Launch Partner

Microsoft recognizes HMS Software for its work integrating TimeControl and Office Project 2007

Montreal February 21, 2007 - HMS Software, a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet solutions, has been recognized by Microsoft as one of its "Office Launch Partners". HMS Software has had a techno9logy partnership with Microsoft since 19995 through the link between HMS Software's popular TimeControl timesheet system and Microsoft project. The recognition of HMS Software by Microsoft underscores HMS Software's investment in integrating TimeControl with Office Project 2007.

"We've been working on this link between TimeControl and Project 2007 for over a year," said Chris Vandersluis, President of HMS Software. "We've made significant investments in TimeControl's architecture and added some impressive new functionality in order to do so."

Existing functionality such as TimeControl's ability to integrate with both project management and financial applications has been the hallmark of the product's success. TimeControl has already been deployed to over 100,000 users in over 20 countries since its original release in 1994.

Some of the output of this work within TimeControl includes a wide range of enhancements to make the integration with Project 2007 even more powerful than previous releases including:

Updated interface

The main TimeControl interface has undergone a complete overhaul. Old users will recognize familiar items where they expect but the overall look and feel has been upgraded to the Web-based and Windows-Vista standards. The result is an easier to navigate and more effective interface.

New data architecture

TimeControl 5 moves from using the Borland Database Engine to an ADO structure. This will improve performance and allow for more types of database connections from within TimeControl.

Project Validation Interface

This interface has been overhauled with multiple views to provide project managers the ability to view timesheet data which might be problematic for the project schedule prior to accepting that data back in the project. Project Managers can then take immediate action including updating the timesheet and redistributing the hours or updating the Estimate to Complete for each task on the fly. TimeControl tracks, of course, a complete audit trail of all changes.

Project Management Server to Server links

With the new data architecture, TimeControl is now able to create links directly from the TimeControl Server to Project Management systems Servers and to schedule that movement of data to occur unattended. Project Managers and Administrators can schedule work to move at any time or multiple times per day or per week as they require.

Support for Microsoft Office Project 2007

HMS has been working closely with the Microsoft Office Project development team to ensure that TimeControl 5 would be fully integrated into the all new Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007, Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. TimeControl's Server to Server link moves data to and from Office Project Server 2007 using the new PSI protocols developed by Microsoft.

HMS and Microsoft have been collaborating on this release of TimeControl since 2005. HMS started working with beta versions of Office Project 2007 as early as October 2005 in order to ensure that both products would be completely compatible. In 2006, HMS Software was named as a "First to Market" partner by Microsoft.

"We're excited and gratified that HMS Software is one of our 'First-to-Market' solution partners for Microsoft Office Project 2007," said Michael Angiulo, General Manager Microsoft Project Division. "This great achievement and distinction recognizes their solid commitment to lead the market by participating in quality development practices as part of our Technology Adoption Program (TAP). Microsoft's success depends heavily on leading companies like HMS Software to build specialized solutions on our platform that meet the most demanding customer needs across a broad range of markets."

As one of the limited number of partners who were named as Office Launch Partners by Microsoft, Microsoft distributed information on TimeControl and HMS Software around the world as part of the Office 2007 launch.

"We were very excited to see HMS on a list of only 220 Office Launch Partners," said Julie Benard, from HMS Software. Out of the hundreds of thousands of Microsoft partner, to be one of only 220 is a huge mark of prestige."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information about Microsoft Project visit www.microsoft.com/project.

About TimeControl

TimeControl was originally released in 1994. It was immediately successful in the project management sector and today is recognized not only as a project management solution, but also as an enterprise timesheet solution in use by companies worldwide. TimeControl is designed as a multipurpose timesheet able to serve the needs of both Finance and Project Management simultaneously. It includes features such as a multi-browser, multi-device interface, a PC and mobile interface, vacation approvals, executive dashboards, extensive approval functionality, flexible reporting and links to project management and corporate systems which makes the timesheet product ideally suited for integration with existing systems in any organization. TimeControl's flexibility allows it to be deployed for use as a time and attendance, time and billing, project tracking and flex-time system. TimeControl is available both for purchase for an on-premises installation or as an on-line subscription in the Cloud.

To access the free Hosted TimeControl Trial site, visit our free trial page.

For more information about TimeControl, monitor the TimeControl blog at http://blog.timecontrol.org/ or the TimeControl website at www.timecontrol.com.

For information about TimeControlOnline, our hosted timesheet subscription service in the cloud, go to www.timecontrol.com/features/timecontrol-online.

For any other questions, please contact HMS Software at info@hms.ca.

TimeControl is represented around the world by our distributors in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and the U.S.

About HMS Software

Based in Montreal, Canada with offices in Toronto, HMS Software has been a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet systems and services since 1984. HMS Software's first customized timesheet application was written in 1984. With the launch of TimeControl as a commercial application in 1994, HMS Software began servicing clients worldwide.

HMS Software's client list reads like a who's who of business. It includes Acergy, Aecon, Rio Tinto, the Atlanta Airport, the City of Montreal, the County of San Mateo, Electromotive Diesel, EXFO, FT Services, Kelly Services, Koch, Merck Frosst, the Government of Quebec, Georgia Pacific, Parker Hannifin, Rolls Royce, Sobeys, Volvo Novabus, Zimmer Inc. and hundreds of others.

For further information about HMS Software, please visit the HMS website at: www.hms.ca or contact us at info@hms.ca.