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Corel Corp. and ASAP Software have expanded a partnership that will allow customers to purchase Corel Premium and Professional Services through ASAP.

Under the pact, ASAP Software will sell Corel Professional Services for both Windows and Linux platforms and will include premium support packages and professional services encompassing training, deployment and integration, as well as consulting services, custom development and Linux turnkey solutions. These packages and services will be geared toward business, government and enterprise clients.

"This offering is right in synch with our ASAPartner Net program, which provides only the best-of-breed services," said Harry Zoberman, ASAP senior vice president of operations and marketing.

ASAP Software Express, Buffalo Grove, Ill., is one of the largest international resellers of PC software, servicing the domestic and overseas locations of more than 18,000 corporate, government, and education customers worldwide. Corel is based in Ottawa.Merisel Inc. has announced an array of training and technical-support programs for Windows 2000 that allow resellers to choose the training and services that best meet their needs.

El Segundo, Calif.-based Merisel, which expects to report sales of $5.2 billion for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, 1999, said the programs are part of its commitment to make selling Windows 2000 easy and profitable.

"With the right support and solutions, resellers have a great opportunity to generate increased profits with the launch of Windows 2000," said Tracy Robbins, vice president of retail and Internet for Merisel's North American Distribution business.

The offerings include online training with virtual instructors and tools for self-testing for both Windows 2000 and Office 2000 and Microsoft Certification Programs with Web-based, customized, on-site and video-based classes to help resellers become Microsoft Certified Professionals or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers.

Merisel also offers sales, product and licensing training assistance as well as pre-sales technical support assistance so resellers can appropriately address end-user needs.

In addition, Merisel is partnering with Windows 2000-complementary manufacturers, including Citrix Systems Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Symantec Corp., Cupertino, Calif.; and Veritas, Mountain View, Calif., to provide resellers with complete solutions that offer flexible, profitable options.Muse Technologies Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., has released a new version of its multidimensional, user-oriented synthetic environment software, Muse Software Development Environment 2000.

The software package allows both software programmers and end users to better use sound, 3-D graphics, new display technologies and a mix of operating platforms to present and understand complex data using perceptual computing.

Using Muse 2000, programmers can create applications that integrate any form of digital data with powerful visual presentation capabilities, tactile feedback, interactive audio, head tracking and other features that take advantage of human perceptual skills, said Craig Peterson, Muse's managing director of strategic development and founding software engineer.