Phoenix Software launches Acronis True Image Home 10 to SA retail

Phoenix Software, one of the leading software republishing houses, is pleased to announce that it is has successfully concluded negotiations for the rights to distribute Acronis True Image 10 through its South African distribution partnerships.

Acronis True Image Home 10 is the latest version of its file and system disk imaging backup and restore software for home and home office users.

Building upon existing Acronis True Image Home capabilities, which allow for both the imaging of an entire system or file-based backup of individual files and folders, the new Acronis True Image Home goes one step further and enables users to backup specific music, photo and video files, entire applications and e-mail files.

"With Acronis True Image Home 10, individuals and small office users gain more control than ever before in their ability to backup and restore the data that is most meaningful to them," said Walter Scott, CEO of Acronis.

"In keeping with our commitment to make restoring files as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible, this release includes wizard-based controls that walk users step-by-step through the backup and restore processes."

"Having the ability to backup specific file types, such as photographs, music or videos, provides users with tremendous flexibility and value," said Mike DiMichele, a Chicagoland radio personality and publisher of the SaveMyButt.com Web site that helps users with their computer problems.

"Imagine that you've spent $500 or $1 000 buying music or videos on line, or that you've just saved all of your digital wedding photos to your computer. Imagine that you've just scanned your old family photos to the computer. Saving that vast collection of irreplaceable photographs with an inexpensive backup product is not only good sense, it's an absolute must."

Simon Campbell Young, CEO of Phoenix Software, stated: "This is an extremely versatile disk image programme that is packed full of useful features. We are sure that the powerful combination of data backup and full imaging with ease of use and support for Vista will ensure this product will be a success with our channel."

Acronis True Image Home 10 gives users two options for backups and restores. The original disk imaging backup option enables users to create an image of their entire hard disk drive, including the operating system, applications, user settings, and all data. They can use the image to restore their PC to a known working state without any reinstallation.

The new application-based file backup option enables the software to backup and restore individual files that match pre-defined file extensions for music, videos, photographs, finance, e-mail and other applications.

Additional updates to Acronis True Image Home 10 include:

* Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express Backup - Ability to do dedicated backups of an entire Outlook installation, as well as specific backups of calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, signatures, news folders, e-mail rules and user settings.
* Application backup - Ability to backup settings from specific applications, including browsers, business and productivity tools, developer tools, instant messenger settings and history, Windows settings, and much, much more.
* Backup rules - Users can now create rules that define how long stored images will be saved, location size quotas, and the maximum number of backups saved.
* Backup policies - Users can set policies that define when the system will create full backups only, full backups with incremental backups, and full backups with differential backups.
* Password protection for secure zone - Provides extra security for laptops and other remote devices should they be hacked or stolen, yet still guarantees that the computer can self start in case of a crash or loss of data.
* Backup notifications - Acronis True Image can notify a user using Microsoft's WinPopup service or e-mail when a backup or restore operation is completed.

Phoenix Software republishes, markets and distributes the Acronis family of security, disaster recovery and PC/server management products to retail outlets SA and the UK. Acronis True Image is available now at special launch price of SRP R399.99* including VAT from www.computrolley.co.za, www.digitalplanet.co.za, www.telkomsa.net, www.aardvark.co.za and www.kalahari.net.

Retail boxes will be available from retail stores countrywide from Incredible Connection, Hi-Fi Corporation, Game, Dion, Budget Computers, CNA and Makro.

* Normal SRP will be R499.99 including VAT.