The History of ACT! – updated Feb 2013

A couple of users asked me about the history of ACT!, so I thought I'd post what I could remember:

• 1986 Conductor Software (Mike Muhney and Pat Sullivan) developed QuotePro in Lotus Symphony. When this failed to be successful, they came up with another idea...
• 1987 ACT! for DOS 1.0 (April 1st) - previously codenamed “YES!” – a recursive acronym for "Yes, Everybody Sells!". ACT! was also originally an acronym - first for "Activity Control Technology" and later "Automated Contact Tracking", before becoming just "ACT!"
• 1988 Conductor Software renamed to Contact Software International
• 1990 ACT! for DOS 2.0 (August) - first version with network support
• 1991 ACT! for Windows 1.0 - CodeBase IV engine compatible with dBase
• 1992 ACT! for Windows 2.0 - Added network support for the Windows product
• 1992 ACT! for HP95LX - the first mobile version for PDAs
• 1992 ACT!PAK! - first add-on for ACT! developed by Oakhurst Systems
• 1992 1st ACT! - cut down version for OEMs and single users.
• 1993 Symantec purchased Contact Software International
• 1993 First On-line support forums on CompuServe
• 1993 ACT! for MAC - compatible database with 2.0 for Windows
• 1995 ACT! for Newton
• 1995 ACT! Mobile Link - two way sync for remote users
• 1996 ACT! for Lotus Notes - later sold to original developers, ErgoTech
• 1996 ACT! 3.0 (November) - Win95 product with added back-wards compatibility to run on Win 3.1
• 1997 Symantec adds support for ACT! in WinFax Pro
• 1997 ACT! PalmPilot Link (later ACT! Palm Link)
• 1997 ACT! for Windows CE (July)
• 1998 ACT! 4.0 - Added support for Windows 98 and Office 98
• 1998 ACT! for Psion by Advansys 
• 1998 WiredContact makes ACT! available via web browser and hosting
• 1999 Symantec sold ACT! to SalesLogix (later Interact Commerce Corporation) - headed by Pat Sullivan, original co-founder of ACT!
• 2000 ACT! 2000 (5.0) - Windows XP support added
• 2002 QuickBooks Link for ACT! - the first accounting link FOR ACT!. Developed by Terry McKiernan of PinPointTools
• 2002 Interact Commerce Purchased by Sage Group Plc (Best Software in North America)
• 2002 ACT! 6.0 (later ACT! 2004) – Office 2003 support added
• 2002 ACT! for Palm OS
• 2003 Handheld Contact adds support for ACT! on Blackberry
• 2003 ACT! for Web 1.0 for ACT! 6.0 - originally by dbDynamics
• 2004 ACT! by Sage 2005 (7.0) - Complete re-write with .Net 1.x and MS SQL 2000
• 2005 ACT! by Sage 2006 (8.0)
• 2006 ACT! by Sage 2007 (9.0) - Changed to .Net 2.0 and MS SQL 2005
• 2007 ACT! by Sage 2008 (10.0) - MS Vista and Office 2007 support. 10.02 added ability to add custom sub-tables via the SDK.
• 2008 Launch of Community.act.com site (January) – Much improved communication between senior management and users
• 2008 ACT! by Sage 2009 (11.0) – New Dashboard. Significantly improved Outlook integration and major improvements in stability, reliability, ease of install and speed. Added Vista x64 support and Safari for MAC users. Also free plug-in to provide links to Social Media such as LinkedIN
• 2009 ACT! by Sage 2009 (11.1) – Added Relationship Tab. Expected in March?
• 2009 Handheld Contact adds support for iOS – iPhone (iPad later)
• 2009 ACT! by Sage 2010 (12.0) – eMarketing plus ability to set database currency (can’t be changed) 
• 2010 Sage ACT! 2011 (13.0) – Rename of product, Smart Tasks, sync of contacts and activities with Outlook
• 2011 Sage ACT! 2012 (14.0) – Google contacts, activity sync and History, Scratchpad, Universal Search
• 2012 Handheld Contact adds support for Android phones and tablets
• 2012 Sage ACT! 2013 (15.0) – Social Updates and Smart Tasks improvements
• 2013 Sage ACT! 2013 (15.1) – Adds support for later operating systems, Office and browser versions
• 2013 Handheld Contact adds support for Blackberry V10 phones
• 2013 Sage sells ACT! and SalesLogix to Swiftpage

I don't know how useful this is to anyone, but was kind of nostalgic digging up my memories.

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