For a glimpse into the world of the future you don’t need a crystal ball. But you did have to get a ticket to the 15th annual Comdex supershow. Once you walked into the Las Vegas showrooms – bang! – the future was all around you.

Once again Comdex surpassed expectations by bringing the world of information technology under one roof for all to see. From a mere 157 companies at 267 booths in 1979, Comdex has mushroomed into the world’s biggest trade show, featuring 2,200 companies and 12,000 booths. Organizers estimate that over 170,000 people attended the show in 1993. That’s almost as many people as voted for Ross Perot!

But if you mistakenly got on the bus to Las Vegas, New Mexico, instead of Las Vegas, Nevada, and missed the show this year, PSP has compiled a summary of the truly hot products simply everyone was talking about this year. In this issue, we’ll concentrate on contact management and sales productivity software.

“What’s new at Remote Control International?” you ask. A simpler question might be, “What isn’t?” As usual, the developer of industry-leading TeleMagic sales automation software had a few tricks up its sleeve at Comdex. This year Remote Control announced two products to expand its already substantial market share. TeleMagic for Windows handles multiple company contacts without duplicating information while effortlessly tracking company information, contacts at those companies and the projects or products related to those contacts. In addition, the newest update to TeleMagic Version 12 for the Macintosh integrates all business communications functions with such new features as Go To Page hot keys for speedy record editing, improved record handling for large-database filtered browse display and faster record saves for large databases. For more information call 619/431-4000.

Not to be outdone, Texas-based Software Of The Future also strutted its stuff at Comdex with a new version of Marketforce for Windows. By adding mouse-activated pull-down menus, on-screen icons, option buttons and many other features while maintaining all the features and functionality of the successful DOS version, Marketforce for Windows brings the best of both worlds together.

To make things even simpler, the Windows version is still compatible with the existing DOS platform. This way, whether you currently use Marketforce as an individual or company-wide sales automation solution, you can upgrade at your own pace for a seamless transition from old to new. For more information call 1-800-766-7355.

Companies digging for a networked and distributed contact management solution for Windows may hit the mother lode with the new GoldMine 2.5 from Elan Software. Distinguished from other contact managers because it was initially developed with the network in mind, rather than expanded to the network from the single user, GoldMine links integrated contact management, network scheduling, sales automation and e-mail all back to the main source: the contact. Try this product out and you’ll agree that at least in this case, all that glitters is pure gold. For more information call 1-800-654-3526.

As if that weren’t enough, for you real Windows buffs, Traveling Software introduced CommWorks for Windows, the only package embracing five powerful communications tools in one. With remote drive and printer access, fax, terminal emulation, file notification and the LapLink V file transfer program, CommWorks may be the best five-in-one package since the Jackson 5. For more information call 206/483-8088.

Is there an Ecco in here? Any Comdex attendees asking this question needed look no farther than to booth H331 for the latest Ecco product from Arabesque Software. Called Ecco Simplicity, this descendant of the Ecco Professional introduces a new startup screen, enhanced graphical calendars and templates for easily categorized information for first-time PIM users and users with straightforward information management needs. And no, they do not repeat every word you say, every word you say, every word you say… For more information call 206/885-0127.

Thanks to acclaimed author and motivator Harvey Mackay you can swim with the sharks, you know what to do when the naked man offers you his shirt and you’re entirely sharkproof. So what does he want now? To sell you Sharkware, the new combination sales activity management/success building software tool from Cognitech. Not only is Sharkware a highly evolved sales automation product, it also provides users with constant advice from Mackay on how to achieve greater success. Bear in mind that Sharkware might make you a little lonely. Why? Because with this winning combination in your hands, even the sharks will be too scared to swim with you. For more information call 404/518-4577.

In a perfect world, your customers would sell themselves on your product, right? Well, anyone who’s listened to elevator music knows this is no perfect world, but that doesn’t mean your customers can’t sell themselves on your product. With the new Presto! add-on product to MediaShare’s Prism software, users can leave “electronic brochures” behind on diskette after a sales call to let customers review your presentation later. Along with product information, you can customize brochures with competitive analyses, financial information, corporate profiles or almost anything else you can think of. And because it runs on virtually any Windows platform, Presto! is the next best thing to moving into your customer’s office, only not half as cramped. How can you go wrong? For more information call 619/931-7171.

Odd as it may seem, computers will soon help you get in touch with your sensitive side. Or so the people at Sony and Wilson Learning say. These two seemingly disparate companies have joined forces to bring the award-winning Wilson Learning sales training program to CD-ROM. Entitled “Get In Touch: Building And Keeping Interpersonal Relationships,” the program utilizes the very latest technologies to teach interpersonal skills for developing and maintaining rapport, listening to others, displaying sensitivity, eliciting ideas and feelings and presenting feedback. With this program’s help you may soon be as user friendly as your computer. For more information call 212/702-6273.

How much is a software worth that tells you exactly how well a new product will perform in the market? What if this software also tells you everything you need to know about the proposed product, where its competition lies, what you need to do to improve it and how to market it before launching it onto the target audience? If all of this in one software package is worth more than $59.00, then Planned Marketing from Direct Line is for you. This unique product is ideal for when you come up with an idea for a product or service and need to know more about the product and who will buy it.

Planned Marketing asks you highly targeted questions to find out whether your idea is worth fleshing out or just plain flushing. Imagine, if the marketing people at Ford had had this product 40 years ago, we would never have heard of the Edsel. Heck, if they’d had it 20 years ago there wouldn’t have even been a Pinto. Well, at least it’s finally here. For more information call 818/799-0700.