US Software Publishers Well-Positioned in Japan 
Sales Increase 48% in First Half of 1993

November 15, 1993 (Washington, DC)- US personal computer application
software companies are experiencing significant growth in the Japanese
software market, according to a recent report from the Software Publishers
Association (SPA) and the Japan Personal Computer Software Association
(JPSA).

For the first half of 1993, US publishers' sales increased by 48% to $135.3
million, on an 84% increase in unit sales over the first half of 1992.
Japan has grown to become the fourth largest international market for US
publishers, after United Kingdom/Ireland ($215 million in the first half
of 1993), Germany/Austria ($212 million), and France ($154 million).

For the first half of 1993, US publishers' sales of DOS applications
totaled $52.4 million, but declined 21% when compared with the first half
of 1992. In contrast, sales of Windows-based and Macintosh-based
applications exploded in the half: Windows applications grew 260% to $55.0
million, while Macintosh applications grew 242% to $26.2 million.

"Japan is the only major international market in which DOS-based software
is still dominant," said David Tremblay, SPA's Research Director. "Based
on sales of both US and Japanese software companies, DOS applications
account for about two-thirds of sales in Japan. But the tide is clearly
turning - Windows and Macintosh applications are growing significantly
faster than are DOS applications. That is good news for US companies, who
dominate the applications on these operating systems."

Spreadsheets are far and away the largest application category for US
publishers in Japan. For the first half of 1993, spreadsheet sales were
$62.2 million, a 39% increase from the first half of 1992. The word
processor category was the second largest for US publishers, with sales of
$17.5 million. This category showed very good growth in the period, with a
135% increase compared with the first half of 1992. No other category
accounted for more than $10 million in sales for US publishers in the
half.

Twenty-three US-based software firms participate in the Japan data program
by submitting confidential data to the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen,
which prepared the report. Among the participants are: Aldus, Borland,
Claris, Lotus, Microsoft, Software Publishing, Symantec, and WordPerfect.

The data was collected in 22 software categories (including word
processors, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and others) and in six
software platforms (including DOS, Macintosh, and Windows). In addition to
the US-based companies, 33 Japan-based companies participate in
cooperation with the Japan Personal Computer Software Association (JPSA),
a Japanese industry trade association based in Tokyo.

Information on participation is available from the SPA Research Department
at (202) 452-1600, x317.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the PC software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the leading
publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. Since 1988,
the SPA's ongoing surveys of the PC computing software markets have
provided the most reliable and authoritative sales, management and trends
data in the industry. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris,
France.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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