COMPANY REPORTS REVIVED INTEREST IN AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

COMPANY REPORTS REVIVED INTEREST IN AUTOMATION SOFTWARE    Port security issues may have played a role in driving up sales of software products used to transmit advance information to the U.S. Customs Service, a Miami executive said.
   Steven Graham, vice president of Micro Software Services Inc., reported a dramatic increase in sales of his company’s Air Automated System product, EDITRADE, during 2002. He said MSSI has sold seven EDITRADE software packages for the first six months, compared to two packages for all of 2001.
   Air AMS is a cargo inventory control system which allows a carrier to pre-clear their cargo prior to arrival in the United States, while allowing Customs to track air cargo imports. Air AMS captures all of the manifest data, including house air waybill information. It contains information on the shipper, consignee and descriptions of cargo therein.
   “Port security issues are driving the point home that if accurate data is received earlier, it will improve our law enforcement agencies’ ability to protect our borders,” Graham said, referring to the Hollings Bill, a leading piece of legislation in Congress’s development of improved nationwide maritime security. The bill calls for all carriers to electronically transmit manifest data to Customs prior to the carriers’ arrival.
   MSSI has been supplying software and connectivity to Air AMS since 1990.