What Happened to Snowbound VirtualViewer Document Viewer?

Snowbound^® VirtualViewer^® was once the next generation of document viewers designed for web-based viewing. Initially launched in 2008 and built on Java Applet technology, it evolved alongside the industry as companies migrated from Windows^® Desktop document viewers to web-based solutions, eventually upgrading to HTML5-based technology. VirtualViewer offered comprehensive document viewing capabilities including annotations, document manipulations, and document conversions. The viewer also featured numerous connectors to seamlessly integrate with enterprise applications like IBM FileNet, Microsoft SharePoint, Pega, and other business-critical systems.

The Acquisition Timeline and Strategic Shifts

In mid-2022, Accusoft^® acquired Snowbound Software primarily for their intellectual property and existing customer base. By early 2023, Accusoft had taken over Snowbound’s business operations, resulting in significant workforce reductions. Accusoft’s strategic direction was clear: place VirtualViewer in maintenance mode with no new feature development, as their flagship product PrizmDoc^® was intended to be the migration path for all VirtualViewer customers. While existing customers could still purchase additional VirtualViewer licenses, Accusoft’s sales organization was no longer actively pursuing new customer acquisitions for the platform.

The situation became more complex in July 2025 when Apryse^® acquired Accusoft, creating the world’s largest document viewer and imaging SDK company. With VirtualViewer now under Apryse ownership, customers face an accelerated End of Life timeline for the viewer. Industry analysts expect that PrizmDoc’s limited feature set will be consolidated into Xodo document viewer, Apryse’s current flagship document viewer, positioning Xodo as the sole document viewing solution in Apryse’s future product portfolio.

Why VirtualViewer Customers Are Choosing eViewer

Faced with uncertain Apryse product roadmaps and forced migrations, VirtualViewer customers are increasingly selecting MS Technology’s eViewer as their replacement solution. This migration trend is driven by several compelling factors:

Complete Feature Parity and Beyond

• Document Format Support: eViewer supports all the same document types as VirtualViewer, plus additional formats for comprehensive coverage
• Third-Party Integrations: Seamless compatibility with existing enterprise systems including IBM FileNet, Pega Systems, Microsoft SharePoint, and other critical business applications
• User Experience Continuity: All familiar out-of-the-box user features from VirtualViewer are available in eViewer, including comprehensive annotation support, ensuring minimal user retraining

Enhanced Technical Capabilities

• Superior API Architecture: More extensive REST APIs than VirtualViewer, providing greater flexibility for custom integrations
• Advanced Automation: Comprehensive APIs designed specifically for workflow automation and business process integration
• Modern Platform Integration: Native compatibility with low-code/no-code development platforms, enabling faster deployment and customization
• AI-Powered Features: Intelligent document redaction capabilities and AI-based document version comparison tools that weren’t available in VirtualViewer

Accessibility and User Experience Advantages

• WCAG 2.1 Compliance: Full accessibility compliance ensuring legal compliance and inclusive user experiences
• Text-to-Speech Integration: Built-in accessibility features for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties
• Modern UI/UX Design: Contemporary interface design that enhances user productivity and satisfaction

Business Continuity Benefits

• Award-Winning Customer Support: Industry-recognized support organization with proven track record of customer satisfaction
• Predictable Pricing Model: Transparent licensing structure without the uncertainty of corporate acquisitions and product consolidations
• Long-term Product Roadmap: Committed development trajectory with regular feature updates and improvements
• Migration Support: Dedicated migration assistance to ensure smooth transition from VirtualViewer with minimal business disruption

Enterprise-Grade Security and Performance

• Enhanced Security Framework: Advanced security features exceeding VirtualViewer’s capabilities
• Scalability Options: Better performance optimization for high-volume document processing
• Cloud and On-Premise Flexibility: Deployment options that weren’t fully available with VirtualViewer’s architecture

Conclusion

The acquisition of Snowbound VirtualViewer by Accusoft, followed by Apryse’s acquisition of Accusoft, has created significant uncertainty for organizations relying on VirtualViewer technology. With the product now in maintenance mode and facing an accelerated end-of-life timeline, businesses must act decisively to protect their document management investments.

eViewer by MS Technology emerges as the clear successor to VirtualViewer, offering not just feature parity but significant enhancements that address the limitations of the legacy platform. Organizations choosing eViewer gain access to modern AI capabilities, superior accessibility compliance, extensive API functionality, and the peace of mind that comes with a dedicated product development team focused on continuous innovation.

For VirtualViewer customers, the migration to eViewer represents more than just a platform switch, it’s an opportunity to modernize document viewing capabilities while maintaining operational continuity. With comprehensive migration support and a proven track record of successful implementations, eViewer provides the stability and advanced functionality that growing businesses require in today’s competitive landscape.

The choice is clear: while Apryse focuses on product consolidation and legacy system retirement, MS Technology remains committed to advancing document viewer technology with eViewer at the forefront of innovation.