Year: 2000 (Page 55 of 63)

Microsoft Corp. released a preview version of its XML parser. The XML parser delivers on Microsoft’s commitment to support the W3C’s latest recommendations of XSL Transformations (XSLTs) and XML Path Language (XPath) and includes new features that increase performance and efficiency. Today’s preview release is available for immediate download at . Microsoft plans on releasing technology previews regularly to allow products and services to be updated in “Web time” and to be compliant with the latest industry standards. In addition, this vehicle will be used to introduce new features with the intent of soliciting feedback from the developer community. These releases do not replace shipping product; rather, they are technology previews that allow early adopters to build prototype applications. Microsoft plans to use the feedback received from users of these releases in the integration of new features into mainstream product cycles. Growing use of XML in business-to-business solutions means increased demands on server-side processing of XML. Microsoft continues its ongoing focus on server-side optimization with this version of the XML parser, which has resulted in performance gains of 200 percent to 300 percent in some common scenarios. In addition, developers will be able to install this preview release with their existing solutions and run their current applications as before, because it runs side by side with their existing parser, allowing developers to build new applications that take advantage of the XML services and features in the preview release. http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/

Interleaf, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement providing for the acquisition of Interleaf by BroadVision. Key to the acquisition is the e-Content Company, a division of Interleaf and leader in XML-based content management tools. This separate Interleaf business unit is dedicated to the development, marketing and sale of XML-based content management tools which enable the design, creation and management of dynamic and intelligent content for web and wireless applications. The e-Content Company comprises nearly 70 percent of Interleaf’s approximately 400 employees and has been the most significant area of growth and investment within Interleaf over the past two years. Under the terms of the agreement each outstanding share of Interleaf common stock will be exchanged for .3465 shares of BroadVision common stock, and all outstanding options and warrants to purchase Interleaf common stock will be assumed by BroadVision. Based on basic shares outstanding as of January 25, 2000 and both companies’ closing price as of that date, the transaction represents approximately a 40 percent premium over Interleaf’s current value. On a fully diluted basis, BroadVision would issue approximately 5.6 million shares of its common stock, having a value of approximately $877 million based on BroadVision’s closing stock price on January 25, 2000. www.interleaf.com, www.broadvision.com

FileNET announced it has formed a new independent business unit — Panagon eSolutions — to develop and deliver business to business information portals and eBusiness applications targeted at the financial services and insurance industries. The Panagon eSolutions eBusiness applications are designed to link a company’s employees, customers, suppliers and business partners together by creating dynamic, interactive portals that store, retrieve, manage, and exploit the vast amounts of information companies must deal with every day in conducting business over the Web. Panagon eSolutions portals make it possible to aggregate relevant information from the Web as well as from a company’s repositories — dynamically generating custom views of information for users based on their needs. Panagon eSolutions portal applications will be built upon parent company FileNET’s Panagon technology family. www.filenet.com

Tegic Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and DENSO Wireless announced the companies have signed a global licensing agreement which allows DENSO Wireless to integrate Tegic Communications’ T9 Text Input software into its next generation of wireless phones. The Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone will be the first handset manufactured by DENSO Wireless to integrate T9 Text Input software. The phone, available exclusively through Sprint PCS, is slated for availability later this year. T9 Text Input makes text entry on wireless phones quick and easy, enabling wireless phone users to more easily use advanced wireless services such as Internet access and email. The Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone provides subscribers with a simple, affordable way to enjoy the clarity of voice and data services, all within a compact, lightweight design. Among the phone’s features are the ability to access the Internet, a built-in mouse that allows easy navigation through menus and functions and a large, easy-to-read 7-line LCD display. Although each key on a telephone keypad can be interpreted in multiple ways — a single press on the “5” key could be “J,” “K,” or “L”-T9 Text Input uses an internal database to automatically scan possible variations to determine the correct word. For example, entering the word “call” into a mobile phone will take just four key presses with T9 Text Input rather than ten key presses required by conventional “multi-tap” text entry. T9 Text Input is available in a variety of languages including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. T9 Text Input supports Simplified and Traditional stroke-based Chinese, as well as phonetic Pinyin and BoPoMoFo text input. Work is underway toward the completion of versions of T9 Text Input software for Eastern European and Middle Eastern languages. www.densowireless.com, www.tegic.com

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eBusiness Technologies, a division of Inso Corporation announced that DynaBase will integrate with WAP servers to enable wireless delivery of Internet content. DynaBase’s enhanced architecture will enable businesses to create and publish Web content from the same server and database that delivers content to the Internet and their intranets as well as a wide range of wireless networks and devices, such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios and handheld personal computers. WML-enabled DynaBase will: serve static and dynamic WML content, serve both WML and HTML from the same Web, and access extra WAP meta-data. WML-enabled DynaBase will run on both Windows NT and Sun Solaris platforms. www.ebt.com

Bitstream Inc. announced that the entire Bitstream Typeface Library is now available cross-platform. For the first time, the Bitstream library of over 1,200 fonts is available in PostScript Type 1 and TrueType formats, making it available for Macintosh and Windows. The Bitstream Typeface Library contains hundreds of Bitstream Originals and Bitstream Classics. In addition, every typeface design also includes the Euro currency symbol, designed to match each typeface. www.bitstream.com