Software Toolbox to distribute OPC DataHub in North America

Georgetown, Ontario (December 1, 2006) Cogent Real-Time Systems and Software Toolbox, Inc. have agreed on a sales, distribution, and support plan for Cogent's OPC DataHub and related software. Effective today, Software Toolbox becomes the Master Distributor of the OPC DataHub for North America.

"We are very pleased to be working with Software Toolbox" said Andrew Thomas, president of Cogent Real-Time Systems. "They are the leading vendor of third party products in the OPC market, are very technically knowledgeable about OPC, and have a reputation for offering outstanding customer service and support. We are confident that the team at Software Toolbox will provide excellent representation for the OPC DataHub in the North American market."

"Cogent's commitment to OPC interoperability and certification meets the high standards we set for our diverse client base," said John Weber, President of Software Toolbox. "At the 2006 OPC Interoperability Workshop, where the OPC DataHub was thoroughly tested with Software Toolbox's existing OPC server and client products, we gained a high level of confidence in the quality of the OPC DataHub."

The OPC DataHub connects live data to a wide range of clients over a network or Internet connection, using technology that was first developed for highly embedded systems, where speed and reliability are mission critical. The OPC DataHub is a single tool for OPC tunnelling, bridging, and aggregation, as well as for connecting OPC servers to Excel, ODBC databases, Linux, and the web.

"The OPC DataHub is unique," said Mr. Weber. "We currently offer many OPC-related products, but there has never been a tool available that integrates all this functionality into one easy-to-use package. We foresee a strong interest in every segment of the market. Anyone using an OPC Server or client that we offer will want to find out how the OPC DataHub can enhance their information solutions."

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC., Software Toolbox was founded in 1996 in Charlotte, NC and has helped over 7,000 users, integrators, and OEMs in 67 countries by providing software add-ins, development components, and software applications that enable them to maximize their industrial automation software results. Software Toolbox's products add functionality, improve connectivity, enhance the engineering and user experience, reduce development time, and improve overall results with every major HMI/SCADA software application in the industry, and enable Microsoft Visual Studio developers to access and visualize plant floor data.

Founded in 1995, Cogent Real-Time Systems is the leader in real-time cross-platform data integration between Windows, Linux and QNX. Customers include the Bank of Canada, Cadbury Chocolate and the European Space Agency. Cogent leverages its experience in real-time data communications to provide the next generation of OPC products.