Friday 21 February 1997. The leading component supplier, ComponentSource, will be one of three major sponsors at MicrosoftÆs first European Visual Basic DevCon event due to be held at Disneyland Paris from the 8-10 April 1997. This important conference will focus on the launch of Visual Basic 5.0, providing an intensive three day technical briefing that will illustrate how corporate and software house developers can maximise their investment in Visual Basic and take advantage of add-on component technology.

The event will be attended by 1500 highly qualified software developers paying ú899 to attend. Senior members of the Microsoft Visual Basic development team and several major ActiveXTM component vendors will deliver over 40 in-depth technical presentations and briefings over the three days. Delegates will also be given the chance to interact with leading ActiveX component and tool vendors in the DevCon exhibition hall.

Said Louise Upsdell, ComponentSource Marketing Executive, "With ActiveX control creation capabilities now part of Visual Basic and more and more component vendors launching new products every week, this event is a major opportunity for ComponentSource to promote its position as a single, global channel solution for component builders and as the definitive source of software components for developers."

To illustrate the hundreds of ActiveX controls and components that are already available to developers, ComponentSource will provide information, help files, technical specifications, demonstrations and evaluations on over 350 ActiveX controls and software components in a special Visual Basic DevCon conference CD pack, free to delegates. In addition to freely available information, the CDs include the encrypted full retail product versions. Developers wishing to purchase a product can contact ComponentSource, who will unlock products in exchange for payment details. Also included in the pack will be essential speaker notes and information from the Visual Basic DevCon technical sessions and presentations.

Said Andrew King, Microsoft European Marketing Manager, Developer Customer Unit, "We are delighted that ComponentSource is sponsoring our first European Visual Basic DevCon. Much of the success of MicrosoftÆs Visual Development Tools stems from the growing range of add-on functionality provided by third party companies creating software components. With the world component market set to increase from $250m today to $2 billion* by the year 2000, the number of add-on component products will reach the thousands, making it easier than ever for developers using Microsoft Development Tools to create professional PC and web applications in record time. ComponentSource offer instant accessibility, information and a practical format for developers looking to incorporate third party components into their software."

Customers can find more information on the Microsoft Visual Basic DevCon by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/europe/msdn/events/vbasic/, or by phoning +44 (0) 1252 776 299.

ComponentSource specialise in the supply of software components, companion products and add-ons to global enterprise and software businesses. It is the first company to offer component vendors secure encryption of their full retail products on a freely distributed CD-ROM aimed specifically at component users. ComponentSource CDs are distributed with all new and upgrade sales of Microsoft Visual Basic (English international edition).