After three years in development, Interact has launched version 7.0 of its Act! content management software into the Asia-Pacific market.

For the first time, Act! is available in two editions: standard 7.0 (for one to nine users), and workgroup 7.0 (10 or more users). Both have been written on Microsoft's SQL Server 2000 database platform, in contrast to earlier versions of the software, which were grafted on FoxPro.

According to the US-based company, Act! 7.0 contains a range of new features, including rich text formatting for client notes, resource management and additional database functionality.

Speaking to ARN at the Sydney launch of the software, Interact managing director of Asia-Pacific, Craig Young, said the company would push the latest iteration of its Act! suite through its channel.

"We do not have any direct sales, and our focus continues to be on the channel," he said.

However, while both the retail and reseller channels would have access to the standard edition of Act! version 7.0, sales of the workgroup edition would be pushed through resellers only, Young said.

There were now about 50 certified consultants in Australia for Act! products, and 81 in Asia-Pacific, he said.

The company has a total of 750 certified consultants worldwide. All have now been trained and certified on Act! version 7.0, Young said. The company also works with distributors GL Computing and Ingram Micro.

Alongside the Act! product, Interact owns the CRM software suite, SalesLogix, and sale automation tool, TeleMagic. The company was acquired by UK-based business software management giant, Sage, in May 2001.

As a result of its alignment with Sage, Young said the company was now trying to develop its image as an end-to-end software provider. "We're trying to pitch ourselves as offering full the suite of business solutions - from front to back," he said.

To support this, several of its channel partners were now selling across both the accounting and content management software packages, he said.