| Originally code-named
"Phoenix" the IntelliCAD project came to life when Visio Corporation acquired
certain assets of Boomerang Technology Inc., a privately held developer of Autodesk
AutoCAD-compatible software, located in San Diego, CA. Under the terms of the agreement,
Visio acquired source code and certain other assets for cash payments totaling US$6.7
million. Visio accounted for the transaction as a purchase with the acquisition price
expensed primarily as in-process R&D in the March 1997 quarter. This technology was
scheduled to be incorporated into a future product offering. Under a prior separate arrangement, Visio employed nine developers
from Boomerang Technology Inc. who remained located in San Diego, CA, and who would
continue to develop the AutoCAD-compatible technology. Prior to forming Boomerang
Technology Inc., the team of San Diego-based developers was employed by Softdesk, a
leading supplier of AutoCAD-based AEC (Architectural/ Engineering/ Construction) software.
Prior to joining Softdesk, the team developed and licensed Autodesk ADE (AutoCAD Data
Extension) to Autodesk, which is an extension to the AutoCAD product.
Visio Corp. had long held a strong presence in the
technical drawing market with Visio Technical. Visio Technical, on the market since
December 1994, already held a 52% market share in units among comparably priced products
sold through retailers and corporate resellers in the technical drawing category (PC Data,
Q3, 1996, Distributors Report, US). Being able to offer a product such as IntelliCAD
enabled Visio to better meet the needs of its existing users and open the door to new
users who need the precision, functionality and features that this product offers.
"We see this acquisition as an important
development in our long-term strategy to become a leader in the technical drawing
market," said Jeremy Jaech, president and CEO of Visio Corp. "The Boomerang
technology is unique and powerful in that it marries traditional CAD with the latest in
Windows technology, without sacrificing any compatibility with existing AutoCAD-based
drawings or solutions."
The first IntelliCAD preview beta version was
release to wide public scruitiny late in November 1997. A second preview beta version was
released in February 1998 and is not timed to expire until June 1998. This preview beta is
still available via the Visio website (http://www.visio.com/intellicad)
"The combination of Visio's market approach of
making technical drawing available to a broad market, along with Boomerang's extensive
AutoCAD compatibility, creates an opportunity for users and developers to preserve their
investment in existing drawings and applications without being locked into expensive,
high-end tools like AutoCAD," said Mike Bailey, president and CEO of Boomerang
Technology Inc.
Consensus among beta testers is that IntelliCAD is
a good solid, application that delivers on the claims that many felt were extraordinary
and almost too good to be true. Extensive use of Windows facilities such as multiple
document interface and built-in Visiual Basic for Applications have been well-received.
Native support for DWG documents and the high level of compatibility with AutoLISP and
AutoCAD commands provide a new benchmark in the functionality/price equation. The
commercial release was made available in March 1998 and includes a number of features not
previously seen in the beta previews.
"We are very excited about this acquisition by
Visio and believe that both customers and developers will appreciate the possibility of
having a viable option to Autodesk's AutoCAD technology," said Bob Palioca, Chairman
and CEO of Ketiv Technologies, a leading developer of AutoCAD AEC software.
Many other leading software developers have
indicated they will support their products used with IntelliCAD. The number of developers
with IntelliCAD-ready applications ready to ship indicates that industry support for
IntelliCAD is very strong. Users requiring discipline-specific add-on applications or
front-ends should feel confident that they will be able to obtain first-class, proven
software from third-party vendors.
In a dramatic turn of events in the week after
IntelliCAD was officially released in the United States, Visio found itself without Mike
Bailey and seven of the original Boomerang Technology software development team.
Explanations of the separation differ depending on the source. Whatever the circumstances,
the loss of this key human resource is not a great start to the public birth of such a
promising new product. Only time will tell on the effect that this change will have
on IntelliCAD. |
