Lotus announced Domino Release 5 (R5) server support for XML and Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) technology. Lotus will provide an XML-based application-development environment for users. Combining Domino with the Lotus XSL processor extends Domino applications to clients such as browsers and handheld wireless devices via XSL stylesheets. Support for XML begins with the next quarterly update of Domino R5, allowing information to be viewed as an XML document. Domino R5 and Lotus Notes R5 Client will also support Microsoft COM, giving users the ability to create integrate Domino workflow, security, and messaging and collaboration capabilities into applications for Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Office users can add Notes and Domino data and workflow to desktop applications as well. Lotus Domino Application Server R5’s next quarterly update, including XML and COM support, is expected within the next 30 days. The Domino Application Server R5 is available now at a price of $1,795; the quarterly update is expected to be free of charge. www.lotus.com.
Year: 1999 (Page 33 of 97)
Informix Corporation announced support in Informix Internet Foundation.2000 for XML. With XML, Internet Foundation.2000 customers will be able to integrate existing data with their new E-commerce applications and efficiently exchange data with their customers, partners, and suppliers. Informix also announced its strategy to support XML across all of its products. Specifically, Informix announced: XML support in Internet Foundation.2000 – Available immediately, XML is supported through the newest version of the Informix Web DataBlade module. Hierarchical XML Data Storage – Allows Internet Foundation.2000 users the ability to import, export, store and query/index XML structures in their native hierarchical format. It provides a unique performance advantage over other approaches to storing XML documents in flat relational tables, where the use of a document’s structures when processing queries is lost. In the first half of the year 2000, Informix will deliver other XML-enabled products, including a server-based workflow engine that supports the communication of XML documents and enables rules to be embedded in documents for exception handling or processing. An XML metadata repository is also in development, which will make metadata uniformly accessible to tools and applications, regardless of the data source. Other XML-related standards like XSL, XML Schema, XML Query Language (XQL), XML Linking, and XML Infoset are planned to be supported as they are finalized by the W3C. Informix also announced its membership in the W3C and OASIS. www.informix.com
XMLSolutions announced a strategic partnership with blue Point Distribution Channel and the formation of XMLSolutions Europe. Frank van der Plas, Senior Partner at HCM Investment and Services B.V., parent company of blue Point Distribution Channel, is responsible for XMLSolutions Europe exposure to the European community. www.xmls.com
Bluestone Software, Inc. announced its response to the need for a comprehensive e-business solution with the launch of Total-e-Business product suite, an e-business solution that meets the demands of the people responsible for e-business operations, sales, marketing, and finance, while addressing the IS technology mandate for a non-stop, high-performance platform to support mission-critical applications. Total-e-Business combines best-of-breed components for content management, personalization, and e-commerce with Bluestone’s Sapphire/Web application server infrastructure and Bluestone XML Suite integration server -based upon Java Server Page (JSP) and XML standards. To support Web-based commerce activities, Total-e-Business e-commerce components provide the necessary pre-built e-commerce components typically required to sell goods and services over the Web, including catalog capability, shopping cart, search engine, credit card processing, tax calculation, shipping, order checking, and user registration components. The e-commerce components of Total-e-Business are based on a unique JSP and XML framework that allows for rapid integration of existing applications. Total-e-Business also comes with decision support systems to speed and simplify the entire reporting and analysis process. Total-e-Business is scheduled to ship in December 1999. www.bluestone.com
Open Text Corporation announced the release of the BASIS Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) and BASIS Perl DBI Drivers, enhancing the accessibility and openness of BASIS Web applications and advancing BASIS integration with Open Text’s collaborative portal solution, MyLivelink. The BASIS JDBC Driver enables Web developers to build applications that take advantage of such BASIS features as searching against hybrid databases of relational, bibliographic, and textual information. The BASIS Perl DBI Driver exposes BASIS server functionality through Perl, thereby extending the ability to customize Open Text’s BASIS WEBserver product. The BASIS Perl DBI Driver is an Open Source Initiative – this means that binary and source code is licensed at no charge, encouraging BASIS customers around the world to contribute their own functional extensions to the product. The BASIS JDBC Driver is available now and is priced at $15,000 US per BASIS server. The BASIS Perl DBI Driver will be available by November 1 and is licensed under the terms required by the Open Source Initiative. www.opentext.com.
FRx Software Corporation announced that its upcoming product release, code-named “Vulcan,” will embrace the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) XFRML initiative to create standardized digital financial statement formats using XML FRx’s first XML output option will create a single, standard XML output file that can be viewed using FRx’s DrillDown Viewer or any other browser that supports XML. This output option allows reports generated by either of FRx’s applications to be shared with any other XML-aware application. The second option will create an XML output file exclusive to FRx’s applications that is geared towards high performance and advanced viewing and drilling capabilities within the DrillDown Viewer. With the second option, users will be able to drill through corporate hierarchies as well as summary information to transaction detail. Both options will provide users with the ability to export the XML data to OLAP cubes, Lotus, Excel or ASCII file formats. The XML output functionality will be included in FRx’s “Vulcan” product, scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 1999. www.frxsoftware.com.
RNCi announced the launch of its browser-based content entry tool, WriteNOW. With WriteNOW, non-techies can publish content to the Net from any location in the world. There is no software to download, two simple steps to submit information and it takes only minutes to publish. At the same time, users have the ability to syndicate the content to multiple web locations, intranet applications, and/or digital technologies, such as PDA’s. The latest release of WriteNOW is a browser-based content entry tool that combines both the simplicity and ease-of-use for aggregating, publishing and syndicating content to the Net. By simply clicking through the browser-based wizard, a user types in their password information and uploads the file. The information is automatically converted into HTML and syndicates to the Net within minutes. Upon completion, the user immediately receives an email indicating that the article successfully published. The only requirement for WriteNOW is an Internet connection and a 4.0 or higher browser. To access the content publishing tool, first-time users must register as an affiliate of RNCi’s network. www.RNCi.com.
Object Design, Inc. announced it has acquired Transformis L.L.C., makers of XSL Stylus, an XSL tool for building eBusiness applications. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. ODI will immediately integrate XSL Stylus with eXcelon, ODI
