Optika Inc., a provider of Web commerce solutions for intranets and extranets, today announced that it has entered into a technology partnership with UWI.Com, a leading provider of secure XML forms solutions for the Internet. Under the agreement, the companies will integrate UWI.Com’s XML InternetForms system with Optika eMedia to enable businesses to engage in electronic commerce with their supply chain over Internet, intranet and extranet sites. The integration will enable companies to build forms accessible through standard browsers, providing capabilities that automate the completion and validation of the forms data. Because UWI.Com InternetForms are built on XML, they also include additional metadata used by Optika eMedia systems to automate form processing. For example, a company can use an InternetForm to order additional materials from a supplier simply by going to an extranet site. The supplier’s system will then automatically start up a workflow for processing the request, based upon order amount, shipment deadline and available inventory. www.optika.com, www.uwi.com.
Day: January 26, 1999
Forte Software Inc. has announced XML-based application adapters for SAP R/2 and R/3 and Vantive Enterprise applications, the first in a line called the Forte Adapter Series. The company has also created an EAI business unit and will target its development and process-management tools for EAI tasks. Forte says its development tools are needed to link applications developed in-house. A software development kit specifically designed for integration tasks will be available in about 90 days, according to the company. Forte also said it will resell Iona Technologies’ Orbix middleware for building links to Corba-based software. www.forte.com
Daniel Green Company initiated a collaborative effort to develop new, open standards for data exchange among footwear suppliers, retailers, web sites, sourcing and distribution. These new standards are intended for use with XML. The working group will include representatives from a broad cross-section of the footwear industry, such as athletic, shoes, boots, women’s fashion, retail and Internet outlets. Initial plans call for the working group to define standard terms and design basic document object models that are expected to have a far-reaching impact on transaction productivity within the footwear industry. Ultimate goals include reduced inventories and waste as well as lower costs and greater variety for consumers. www.danielgreenco.com
Open Text Corporation announced record revenues and operating profits for its second quarter ended December 31, 1998. Net income, excluding a one-time charge, for the second quarter was US$3.3 million, which is $0.15 per share (diluted) compared to net income of $153,000 or $0.01 per share, excluding a one-time charge, for the year-earlier quarter. The one-time charge of $3.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 1999 relates to the company’s purchase of certain assets of LAVA Systems. For the twelfth consecutive quarter, Open Text reported the highest quarterly total revenues in the company’s history. Total revenues for the quarter were US$20.8 million up 113 percent from $9.8 million for the year-earlier period. License revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 1998 were $12.9 million, up 90 percent compared to $6.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 1998. www.opentext.com
Inxight Software announced a program for non-profit organizations and educational institutions that offers Inxight’s Hyperbolic Tree technology for creating interactive website maps. The free program gives webmasters and/or web designers the tools to create an intuitive and interactive single-screen site map that enables their website visitors to find information quickly and easily. The Program includes proprietary prototype software that automatically “crawls” the contents of their website and creates a “tree file.” It also includes a simple-to-use “editor” that allows the webmaster to make modifications resulting in a Hyperbolic Tree site map that can be color coded to show related topics with live links that enable a user to easily find the information desired and click directly to the page of interest. Qualifying organizations, whose websites typically have URLs in the .edu and .org domains, can join the program by registering online at Inxight’s website.
