Arbortext, Inc. and Extensibility, Inc. have announced a technology and marketing alliance. XML Authority, Extensibility’s solution for the creation and management of XML DTDs and schemas, will be integrated within Arbortext’s Epic e-content management solution. With Extensibility’s technology embedded within Epic Architect, end users benefit from an intuitive and user-friendly graphical tool to design and build DTDs. The integration of XML Authority into Epic Architect’s user interface enables customers to use free-form editing in Epic Editor or Epic Editor LE (Light Edition) to perform rapid prototyping. This rapid prototype feature helps reduce development time by up to 80% over traditional methods. The Arbortext and Extensibility alliance also enables users to convert SGML DTDs to XML DTDs, or any other commonly used XML schema dialect, through Arbortext’s Epic e-content software.
Month: June 2000 (Page 4 of 5)
PureEdge and XMLSolutions have signed an agreement to combine PureEdge’s award-winning InternetForms Commerce System with XMLSolutions’ XEDI Translator. Together, PureEdge and XMLSolutions will allow organizations to leverage their investment in EDI by integrating legacy systems with partners and processes that were previously excluded from EDI-based relationships. The PureEdge-XMLSolutions integration will enable organizations using EDI to establish full trading relationships with partners of any size. InternetForms provide a legally binding XML front end to EDI systems, and appear as human-readable and familiar form interfaces to trading partners accessing them from Web browsers. A partner at a small or medium-sized enterprise can use a browser to open an InternetForm — such as a purchase order, invoice, or other contractual agreement — and fill, save, sign, and submit it for processing, thereby interacting with an EDI system that was previously available only to other EDI systems. www.PureEdge.com, www.xmls.com
SoftQuad Software, Ltd. announced XMetaL 2.0, a major upgrade to its XML content creation solution. The new version of XMetaL makes it easier for everyone to create XML content, and provides integrators even greater flexibility in deploying effective content solutions for real world production environments. Key features to this upgrade include well formed editing, a new Structure view, support for more advanced XML constructs and expanded customization options. XMetaL 2.0 provides new features and functions for deploying effective content creation environments that integrate seamlessly with an organization’s applications and workflow processes. XMetaL 2.0 features built in access to script engines and a Script Editor that supports code coloring and pretty printing. XMetaL 2.0’s Forms Editor facilitates the creation of custom dialog boxes to bring windows dialogs and behaviors right into the document interface. XMetaL provides support for inline ActiveX controls and features an extended object interface that allows embedded ActiveX controls to be hosted within a Resource Manager tab. Plus, XMetaL 2.0 features enhanced support for advanced XML constructs like internal subsets, parsable external entities, the DOM, OASIS catalogs, and UTF-16 (Unicode) encoding. XMetaL 2.0 also supports well-formed editing, so users can open and edit documents without associated DTD and work with document fragments. As well, XMetaL 2.0’s new Structure View provides a quick way to navigate and edit documents. XMetaL 2.0 will be available in late June 2000. New users can purchase XMetaL 2.0 for $495.00 (US) per single user license. Registered owners of XMetaL 1.0 or 1.2 with a support and maintenance contract can upgrade to XMetaL 2.0 for $75.00 (US). Without a maintenance contract, the upgrade price is $195.00 (US). The product is sold directly and through VARs and OEMs. Volume discounts, site licenses, partner programs and on-site training are all available. www.softquad.com
Engage, Inc., a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held, Acton, Mass.-based MediaBridge Technologies, Inc. This acquisition is expected to advance Engage’s marketer-focused strategy by connecting web site software applications for merchants with Engage’s large online advertising network. Upon the close of the acquisition, which is expected by late summer and subject to MediaBridge shareholder approval, MediaBridge will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Engage. Bob Angelo, MediaBridge’s president and CEO, will report directly to Paul Schaut, president and CEO of Engage. Under the terms of the agreement, Engage will issue approximately 14.5 million shares of Engage common stock to the shareholders of MediaBridge, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. MediaBridge currently has over 200 customers and employs 185 people in offices in Acton, Mass., Los Angeles, Chicago and London. The company’s fiscal year 1999 revenues were $17.8 million. Many marketers that run both offline and online promotional campaigns spend a significant amount of time and money managing two separate programs. A combined Engage and MediaBridge solution will allow the marketer to bridge all programs through a single solution set: The MediaBridge content.server solution allows media, retail and catalog marketers to efficiently manage and reuse product information, including images, descriptions and SKUs, and plan both online and offline promotions based on this product information; Engage ProfileServer allows marketers to build permission-based profiles and anonymous interest profiles by observing customer behavior across their web sites and using that information to deliver more relevant promotions and offers; Engage AdManager allows marketers to manage multiple campaigns overtime targeted at any individual audience. www.mediabridge.net, www.engage.com
Chrystal Software announced the availability of Eclipse, a solution that incorporates traditional Web pages with dynamic, personal content. With Eclipse, businesses can precisely manage their Web-based information and assemble personalized information for each site visitor. The software provides rich support for XML to structure information for dynamic content delivery to the Web and to other formats including graphics, PDF files and HTML pages. Eclipse also provides specific capabilities to users who are involved in creating, managing and delivering Web content. The system is very flexible and requires few additional resources because it allows the use of familiar tools and applications. It provides full content management and is compatible with existing Web pages, Web design tools, Internet browsers, Web servers, and XML authoring software. With its multi-lingual support, Eclipse also addresses the growing need for Web sites that are presented in multiple local languages. www.xerox.com
Open Text Corporation announced the next evolution of BASIS and Techlib-the document collection and library automation components of the Livelink product family- myBASIS, the collaborative portal interface. The customizable portal framework of myBASIS allows users to organize multiple information sources. With the interface, library users can define on a single page, different areas to deliver internal news channels, external news feeds, content subscriptions and favorite URLS. myBASIS also provides search access to predefined resources like the organization’s Techlib library catalog, any BASIS or Livelink repository or content from b2bScene.com’s Content Services (www.b2bScene.com/contentservices). Users personalize their own page according to individual need and preference. The optional development toolkit can be used to configure new content choices for internal and external sources. This announcement follows last year’s release of the Livelink Cataloged Library, an integration of the Techlib OPAC (Online Patron Access Catalog) with Open Text’s Livelink collaborative enterprise application. Continuing Open Text’s strategy to advance an organization’s ability to organize multiple information sources, a second-generation Web OPAC is planned. Available independently or as the Advanced Search option from the portal interface, this new OPAC uses Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) for data access and includes a fully standardized Java Development Toolkit (JDK) to support local extensions and customizations to integrate library collections with other enterprise information assets. www.opentext.com
SoftQuad Software, Ltd. and Vignette Corporation announced that they have partnered to provide e-businesses with a comprehensive platform for implementing and deploying XML-based content solutions. Through the integration of SoftQuad’s XMetaL content-creation platform, and the Vignette V/5 eBusiness Platform, businesses can now leverage the use of XML technology. This partnership allows for the deployment of Web-based solutions that capture content from a wide variety of sources and integrate it with both internal and external systems. SoftQuad Software has become a Vignette Technology Partner and will also become a Vignette V2B Services partner. Vignette V2B Services streamline the process of purchasing, implementing and using e-business applications. Vignette V2B Services are provided via the Vignette V2B MarketPlace and Vignette V2B Communities. The integration of the two products gives e-businesses the ability to efficiently create and work with XML documents within a productive workflow environment, enabling the delivery of personalized content that attracts customers and builds successful e-relationships more quickly than ever before. With XMetaL’s word processor-like interface, more people within an organization can quickly create content directly in XML, or convert documents from other formats including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, into XML. Content creators can then save XML documents directly within the Vignette V/5 eBusiness Platform production workflow. To further streamline the approval and revision process, XML content can be retrieved and submitted to Vignette’s Web-based workflow management interface or directly from within XMetaL. The transparency of the integration dramatically decreases the costs associated with providing an XML content solution and accelerates the speed with which e-businesses can deliver customized content to their customers. www.vignette.com, www.softquad.com
webMethods, Inc. and Oracle Corp. announced a partnership to provide solutions for the rapid deployment of global B2B exchanges. As part of the agreement, webMethods will be a preferred solution provider for integrating buyers and suppliers to trading networks and exchanges built on the Oracle Exchange platform. Oracle and webMethods have integrated the Oracle Exchange platform and webMethods B2B to enable secure, reliable Internet-based delivery of XML messages. Oracle-powered exchanges, including OracleExchange.com, will use this integrated message hub to integrate buyers and suppliers. webMethods B2B will route mission-critical business documents, such as purchase orders and order confirmations, through the Oracle-powered exchanges to enable real-time business transactions among diverse trading partners. By using webMethods B2B to provide an integration solution, Oracle will be able to build a solution that is easily replicated across all of its B2B exchanges, which include industry specific exchanges, company branded exchanges and OracleExchange.com. WebMethods will provide integration support and services to buyers and suppliers connecting to Oracle Exchange through their webMethods’ B2B Rapid Integration Team, which includes the Internet industry’s leading systems integrators. This rapid deployment strategy provides customers with an experienced implementation team dedicated to providing cost-effective solutions for implementing B2B e-commerce initiatives. Customers will have their choice of integration firms to help connect to any number of Oracle Exchange marketplaces. www.webMethods.com, www.oracle.com
