Logotron :: LOGOTRON AND WIDGIT MERGE

Two of the leading and most innovative educational software publishers in the UK have merged. Cambridge based Logotron, publishers of high quality mainstream software tools for schools, and Widgit, specialists in software for learners with Special Educational Needs, have joined forces to bring powerful new ideas to both markets.

Logotron, itself the subject of a management buy-out a year ago, has enjoyed a busy year in 2001 with UK launches of major new products like Imagine Logo, the Viewpoint family, the Control Insight family, Keypoint 2 and, lately, the introduction of Control and Modelling Workshops. Widgit, whose revenues are split between UK sales and overseas licensing, has achieved worldwide success with the word and graphics processor, Writing With Symbols, and has recently launched the unique musical composition program, Music Factory.

The merged company will trade as Logotron Ltd, based in Cambridge, and will continue developing the brands 'Logotron' and 'Widgit' for the mainstream and SEN markets respectively. Mike and Tina Detheridge, co-founders and owners of Widgit, become Directors of Logotron Ltd and also bring key Sales/Marketing and Development staff to the company.

Commenting on the merger, Graham McIntosh, Logotron's Chief Operating Officer, said:
"Widgit has an outstanding track record of success in developing software for those with learning difficulties and they have built significant overseas markets with clever translation and licensing policies. Their expertise in these areas, together with Logotron's sales and marketing reach in the UK, will create great opportunities for both brands and both sets of customers."

Mike Detheridge added:
"Logotron and Widgit have so much in common ideologically, but no overlap in terms of product targeting. We are therefore an ideal combination. We can aggregate our strengths, learn about each other's markets and continue to do what we're good at. Our joint commitment to producing world class software and offering great customer service will be stronger than ever."

About Widgit Software:-

Founded in 1981, Widgit Software is the longest running Special Educational Needs software company in the UK. Its products are designed to develop literacy using pictures, symbols and words, particularly for learners who have a measure of difficulty in developing traditional orthographic skills.

Widgit has pioneered the use of symbols in software and it’s reputation for high quality and meeting real needs was rewarded in 2000 with the BETT Top Company award for small businesses.

The flagship title, Writing with Symbols, is used all over the world in a number of different languages and has been recognised as a Millennium Product. Another innovative program, Inter_Comm, allows non-text users to email in their own preferred graphic system. This exciting project will offer essential translation between languages as well as different symbol systems.

Mike and Tina Detheridge, co-founders of Widgit, are recognised as leading figures in the development of symbols for literacy in the UK. They are the joint authors of Literacy Through Symbols (Fulton 1997) and have contributed to numerous other publications. They work with many organisations both at home and abroad advocating the use of symbols as tools for participation and communication for people with learning disabilities.

Visit the company web site at http://www.widgit.com/

For further information please contact: -

Graham McIntosh or Gerald Daish on 01223 425558, or send an email to info@logo.com