Back in December, when Intel Visual Fortran was announced, a
Professional
Edition that adds the IMSL* 5.0 libraries from Visual Numerics was
described.
Pricing was given as $1399 for a new purchase, or $849 if upgrading from
Compaq Visual Fortran (CVF) Pro (the upgrade was said to be a limited
time
offer.)
 
Since then, we have had users ask about upgrades from Intel Visual
Fortran
Standard Edition.  It took a while to get the details straightened out,
but we
now have upgrades and pricing set.  Resellers are just now learning
about
these, so please be patient with them if they haven't seen the changes
yet.
 
Intel Visual Fortran Professional Edition has all the features of the
Standard
Edition and adds the IMSL 5.0 libraries from Visual Numerics.  (CVF had
IMSL
4.0).  New features and enhancements in IMSL compared to CVF Pro
include:

- Many new algorithms, including new statistical time series routines 
- New interfaces available with optional arguments, allowing for greater
control and simplified development (source compatible with existing
programs) 
- Dynamic Link Library now provided 
- OpenMP and SMP support 
- Support of Intel Math Kernel Library (purchased separately) for
improved
performance 
- Includes no-charge run-time license for deployment on systems with no
more
than 4 CPUs 
- Full technical support from Intel (in CVF, technical support was not
included)

Pricing:

- New purchase: $1199 "sale" price through 6/30/2004, $1399 thereafter 
- Upgrade from CVF Professional Edition, $849 (available from resellers
only,
qualification done by resellers).  This upgrade offer expires 6/30/2004.

- Upgrade from Intel Visual Fortran Standard: $700 through 6/30/2004,
$900
thereafter (New option)

Each purchase includes one year of support and product updates at no
additional charge.  Support can be renewed for another year thereafter
for
$649.

Academic pricing and floating licenses for the Professional Edition are
not
available.  Please contact Visual Numerics directly (Matt Prentice,
mprentice-at-vni.com) to ask about other IMSL licensing options,
including
large-system run-time licenses.

Availability is expected to be on or about March 31, 2004.  Initial
availability will be download only, with CD product to follow a few
weeks
later.

As you will have noted, we have temporarily lowered the "new purchase"
price
for the Professional Edition.  If you have already placed an order with
a
reseller at the higher price, please contact them to have the price
adjusted.

Lastly, please note that the special $200 upgrade from CVF to Intel
Visual
Fortran Standard Edition expires 3/31/2004.

Please let me know if you have questions about any of the above.

* IMSL is a registered trademark of Visual Numerics, Inc.


Steve Lionel
Software Products Division
Intel Corporation
Nashua, NH

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