Progress Software Corporation and eXcelon Corporation jointly announced they have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which Progress Software will acquire eXcelon in an all-cash transaction for a purchase price of $3.19 per share or approximately $24 million in the aggregate. The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Progress Software and eXcelon and is subject to the approval of eXcelon’s stockholders. The acquisition is expected to close within 90 days, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. All of the directors, certain officers and the largest stockholder of eXcelon, holding approximately 9% of eXcelon’s outstanding common stock in the aggregate, have entered into stockholders agreements with PSC agreeing to vote in favor of the merger. www.exln.com, www.progress.com
Month: October 2002 (Page 5 of 9)
Percussion Software announced a technology integration partnership with Advanced Software, Inc. (ASI). Percussion will embed ASI’s DocuComp comparison engine into the next release of Rhythmyx Content Manager, expected in early 2003. DocuComp, best known as the popular “compare documents” feature in Microsoft Word, will enable Rhythmyx users to simplify the content review, localization and approval processes involved with authoring and publishing Web content. This will reduce the time needed to process content modifications and approvals as well as improve the workflow efforts of content creation teams. The DocuComp comparison engine uses sophisticated pattern matching techniques to compare any two versions of a file, reporting inserted, deleted, replaced and even moved text. ASI’s DocuComp comparison technology operates in cross-platform application environments and is accessible through a C, C++ or Java application programmer’s interface. Licensees can embed the DocuComp technology into any web-based enterprise application to compare HTML, XML or SGML. www.docucomp.com, www.percussion.com
Adobe Systems Incorporated announced the Adobe Document Server, which enables enterprise customers to automatically generate and customize Adobe PDF files and forms. Adobe Document Server is built for easy integration with existing ERP and CRM systems, Content Management Systems, document management systems, and databases. The software lets companies automate document creation and assembly for technical manuals, brochures, proposals and policies, as well as create custom electronic forms with pre-populated fields, and produce business reports that contain charts and graphs dynamically generated from data in a database. With support for APIs for Java, Perl, COM and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) environments, programmers can develop scripts for automating the creation of Adobe PDF documents. Adobe Document Server also supports Extensible Style Language Formatting Objects (XSL-FO). Adobe Document Server is expected to be available by the end of 2002, with pricing starting at US$20,000 per CPU. www.adobe.com/products/server/documentserver/main.html
Banta Integrated Media announced new functional enhancements to its B•media enterprise Digital Content Management software platform specifically designed for catalogers, publishers and marketers. Bmedia 3.1 allows users to publish entire data directories or single assets by selecting a publishing target to send Bmedia content to. New administrative tools simplify the management and maintenance of complex corporate security, permissions and access models. An administrative interface makes it easy to set up complex publishing routines. Thumbnails and previews are automatically created upon check-in of QuarkXPress documents, providing users with visual validation of spreads and layouts. Whiteboarding has been enhanced to enable users to “pour” whiteboards into open QuarkXPress documents to automate page composition and preserve and reuse static elements. User-defined tag names can be applied to text in metadata fields to pass style information QuarkXPress and Web documents. Complex, multilevel keywords have become much easier to manage and use and keywords can be supported in multiple languages. In addition to standard reporting capabilities, users can capture attribute information about any selected asset(s), creating a reusable file for viewing, printing, and Web display. www.banta-im.com
WebWare Corporation announced that Adobe Graphics Server 2.0 will be fully supported in WebWare MAMBO, Version 4.0, the new edition of WebWare’s enterprise-level digital asset management software. A unique feature available in the combined solution is the ability to manage, preview and transform individual layers in an Adobe-format compound file. Users at a remote location may call up a graphic stored in a WebWare content repository and view it on a standard Web browser. If the document is comprised of different layers, users will view all separate layers as an animated GIF thumbnail, essentially allowing them to “see” into a file without opening it. They may then re-order or make other layers invisible, and see how the newly reconstituted file will look. Adobe Graphics Server 2.0 will be bundled with WebWare MAMBO Version 4.0. Pricing has not been announced. The J2EE-compliant WebWare upgrade will be available early in Q1, 2003. www.webware.com
Blue Hammock Inc. announced added service offerings with Data and Content Management. The company terms these offerings, “Information Assets,” defined as leveraging and improving an organizations’ data and content so that it will deliver critical business information. The company has formed alliances with Trillium Software and Interwoven, Inc. in an effort to support these new service lines. www.trilliumsoftware.com, www.interwoven.com, www.bluehammock.com
Canto announced “Web Publisher Pro”, a new Option that allows users to publish Cumulus catalogs and to market digital assets on dynamic web pages in the Internet. The new Option is based on the Cumulus Java Classes and is designed for users who do not merely publish their assets but also intend to market them, as is the case in marketing departments, ad agencies, publishing houses, PR departments, and also in museums, mail-order-houses and other user groups. The integrated ordering system enables users to choose a preferred method of asset delivery-download, email, or physical fulfillment. Separate management of users and groups has now been implemented, based on the Cumulus database so that no additional installation and licensing efforts are required. Customizations and integration with existing databases of other suppliers (e.g. mySQL) can be easily realized. Web Publisher Pro will be available in the second half of November 2002 with English, German and French user interface on Mac OS X, Windows, Solaris and Linux platforms. A batch cataloging license of Web Publisher Pro will be available for $1495. Upgrades for existing Web Publisher installations will be
also offered. www.canto.com
Stellent, Inc. announced that Palm Inc. has embedded its Outside In Wireless Export technology in the new Tungsten Mobile Information Management (MIM) Solution. The Tungsten MIM Solution offers enterprises a complete and secure wireless email and groupware access system using the Palm i705 handheld and the Palm m500 series handhelds with the Xircom 802.11 module. The Stellent Wireless Export technology will enable Tungsten MIM users to view email attachments on their Palm handhelds without having to perform a HotSync operation with their desktop environments via a cradle or transfer the native file to the Palm handheld prior to viewing. Palm’s Tungsten MIM Solution is scheduled to begin shipping on Oct. 28, 2002. www.stellent.com, www.palm.com
