Last checked at 16 Apr 2010 07:00
ARCONTECH GROUP PLC
("Arcontech" or the "Group")
Arcontech Readies Excelerator Version 3 for Q2 Release
London, 16 April 2010. Following significant new contracts in 2009 and the addition of advanced features in response to client feedback, Arcontech will release, this quarter, version 3 of CityVision Excelerator, its real-time market data "add-in" for Microsoft Excel™. The upgrade is designed to further improve usability, flexibility and compatibility as well as easing migration from competitive products.
The Excelerator product allows traders and analysts to bring real-time data into their spreadsheets from multiple sources, including the Reuter RMDS platform, internal data and other non fee-liable services. It also allows contribution of data from the desktop to multiple destinations, including data vendors like Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg. Implementing Excelerator in place of bundled solutions from data vendors can lead to considerable cost savings as well operational streamlining and increased performance.
Commenting on the forthcoming release, Andrew Miller, CEO of Arcontech said: "This version is inspired by extensive research, trials and constructive feedback from the many banks and brokers we are working with. The redesigned user interface provides a more intuitive look and feel for advanced users, whilst retaining the dynamic approach popular with users. We have also re-engineered the internals to use our Microsoft .net API (DNA), thereby improving performance and robustness even further and enabling us to build in much requested advanced VBA functionality."
The new VBA API makes the full power of Excelerator and DNA available from Excel macros, for both real-time publishing and subscription. Users can receive, process and contribute data programmatically, often with a single line of code, without needing to populate spreadsheet cells or set up complex links.
A further area addressed is ease of deployment, integration and conversion, particularly in a Thomson Reuter RMDS environment. The product is now self-configuring, DACS compliant and includes a utility to convert spreadsheets to CityVision formulae which has dealt flawlessly with the most complex spreadsheets presented to it.
"We are seeing that data-vendor independent solutions are increasingly in demand within institutions where choice, cost and future-proofing are important - most firms, in fact", added Miller. "Excelerator's ability to connect to and integrate multiple data sources, platforms and domains, means that it is ideal as part of a forward thinking market data strategy."
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Notes for Editors
About Arcontech Group Plc
Arcontech Group Plc's (AIM: ARC) key trading subsidiary is Arcontech Limited.
Founded in 1979, Arcontech is real-time software specialist providing products and bespoke systems for collection, processing, distribution and presentation of time-sensitive financial markets data.
Arcontech is independent of any data vendor (such as Thomson Reuters or Bloomberg) and has thrived due to timely delivery of dependable, cost-effective solutions to the financial community based on its award winning CityVision product suite. Its diverse clients range from National Government, Banks and Data Vendors through to Internet Bookmakers.
Arcontech installed its first digital market data products in 1983 and has continually developed new, innovative systems and products, adopting leading edge technology, proven in the marketplace.
Arcontech has experience of a wide range of technical concepts and applications and the ability to combine the best from each. Key areas of expertise include:
Ø Real-time market data systems
Ø Multi vendor data contribution
Ø Contracts for difference trading and spread betting systems
Ø Real-time data collection and distribution
Ø Consulting and custom development
CityVision
CityVision supports collection, aggregation and redistribution of market data in real-time from multiple sources to multiple destinations. Sources can include exchanges, MTFs (Multi-lateral Trading Facilities in MiFID speak) and data contributions from the spreadsheets and trading systems of the pan-European investment banking community. Destinations include multiple vendor contributions, dealing desk displays, Microsoft Excel, real-time streaming web updates and on-line trading applications.
CityVision continued.
CityVision is fast, flexible, fully resilient, scalable and secure, with a full authentication and entitlements system. The system is extensible to receive instruments in any asset class, from hundreds of contributors and to provide controlled re-distribution.
CityVision can interoperate with other systems (such as Thomson Reuters RMDS and exchanges) via existing de-facto standards (such as Market link SSL and FIX) and via its own comprehensive APIs. This means it can provide cost effective solutions to add value to or replace incumbent systems.
AXE
Arcontech's AXE is a complete system for on-line and telephone based Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading and spread betting. It is a fully featured product using our award winning CityVision components, combined with proven customer, deal, order and position management software. It's fast and resilient with automatic recovery from server and/or network failure and instant failover to contingency systems. Support for multiple currencies, different languages and graphics re-skinning mean it can be deployed quickly to suit customers' own branding without the need for costly custom building - meaning customers can get to market fast.
Contacts
Andrew Miller - 020 7256 2300
Sarah Wisbey - 020 7562 7486
sarah@arcontech.com