Primus Knowledge Solutions released Primus Answer Engine version 3.0 with new capabilities for answering customer questions in Web self-service and assisted service environments. Answer Engine 3.0 enables companies to take advantage of valuable content that already exists in disparate corporate databases and document repositories by consolidating access with self-service search. Answer Engine uses proprietary natural language search technology to deliver precise answers to incoming questions without forcing businesses to build or maintain complex taxonomies. When a user types a question in natural language, the Answer Engine analyzes the usage context, parts of speech, and other language characteristics to match the question to available content, and returns the correct answer with the relevant text highlighted inside the document. The software can deliver information from 225 document formats, including Lotus Notes, ODBC-compliant databases, and legacy systems. Answer Engine 3.0 runs as a standalone technology or in conjunction with Primus eServer. Answer Engine 3.0 is Web Services-based, built on J2EE, and will support deployment on Windows or Solaris. The Answer Engine operates in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch. www.primus.com
Day: December 1, 2002
The OASIS interoperability consortium announced that its members have approved the ebXML Collaboration Protocol Profile and Agreement (CPPA) v2.0 as an OASIS Open Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification. ebXML CPPA defines business partners’ technical capabilities and documents agreements between partners, enabling organizations to securely engage in electronic business collaboration. ebXML CPPA was developed by Commerce One, Cyclone Commerce, E2open, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, Intel, IONA, Mercator, SAP, SeeBeyond, Sterling Commerce, Sun Microsystems, Sybase, TIBCO, Vitria, webMethods, and other members of the OASIS ebXML Collaboration Protocol Profile and Agreement Technical Committee. In related news, the ebXML OASIS UN/CEFACT Joint Marketing Team published version 1.0 of the ebXML Adoption Update, a listing of ebXML implementations, projects, products, and industry initiatives from around the world. The ebXML Adoption Update is posted at www.ebxml.org/ebxml_jmt/index.htm#documents, www.oasis-open.org
Adobe Systems Incorporated announced the availability of Adobe Document Server and Adobe Document Server for Reader Extensions. Adobe Document Server lets customers dynamically assemble customized Adobe PDF files from a variety of data sources to create technical manuals, electronic forms, contracts, business reports and invoices. The software enables enterprises to tap into existing ERP, CRM and CMS systems, document management systems, and databases to generate custom business communications in PDF. Adobe Document Server also supports Extensible Style Language Formatting Objects (XSL-FO). Adobe Document Server for Reader Extensions offers the ability to assign usage rights to Adobe PDF documents and forms. Once these rights have been assigned, users of Acrobat Reader version 5.1 will be able to save, fill and route PDF forms, add electronic sticky notes for comments or questions, and digitally sign completed forms. Adobe Document Server pricing starts at US$20,000 per CPU. More information on licensing and pricing is available at www.adobe.com/products/server/products_purchase.html, Acrobat Reader 5.1 is available free-of-charge at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Adobe Systems Incorporated is now shipping Adobe Graphics Server 2.0. Adobe Graphics Server enables businesses to create, update and repurpose high-quality images used in a variety of mediums, and is designed to be used in both Web and cross-media workflows, while meeting the requirements of content management, asset management and prepress systems. The software has support from Artesia, Burntsand, Context Media, Documentum, MediaBin, NetXposure, North Plains and WebWare. Adobe Graphics Server runs on application servers from BEA, IBM, iPlanet, and Oracle. New capabilities in Adobe Graphics Server include support for Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) and PDF; conversion of SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files to PDF; enhanced support for image metadata and Adobe Photoshop 7.0 native files and engines; CMYK image manipulation; and clipping path support. Adobe Graphics Server 2.0 is available direct from Adobe, or through Adobe-authorized corporate licensing centers and authorized VARs and System Integrators. Adobe Graphics Server 2.0 is sold with Documentum Media Services and MediaBin Brand Asset Management. Pricing begins at US$7,500 per CPU. An upgrade from AlterCast to Adobe Graphics Server 2.0 is US$2,250 per CPU. www.adobe.com/products/server/graphics/main.html
Watchfire Corporation announced the release of version 2.0 of Watchfire WebXM. WebXM automates website testing and analysis to help detect and manage content quality, privacy and accessibility issues on large enterprise websites. WebXM 2.0 introduces a standalone web accessibility testing module designed to help organizations test their site’s level of standards compliance, including the U.S. Government’s Section 508 and the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This release also introduces integration with content management systems through a new Web Service interface, and a fully documented Software Development Kit. A key motivation for developing a Web Services interface was to create a tighter integration of WebXM with content management systems from Documentum, Microsoft, Vignette and Interwoven. Using Web Services, web content can be automatically checked by WebXM at any stage in the web development workflow process and can be accepted or rejected. WebXM 2.0 is available from Watchfire’s direct sales force. WebXM is also available as a managed service offering. www.watchfire.com
Mohomine Inc. and Wordmap Limited have announced a strategic technology relationship and the launch of a fully integrated solution for classification and enterprise taxonomy management. The combined Wordmap and Mohomine Taxonomy Solution will combine Wordmap’s Taxonomy Management System with the Mohomine MohoClassifier in an integrated solution. Wordmap’s Taxonomy Management System allows organizations to tag content by storing consistent metadata terms. It powers navigation interfaces with a security layer that allows personalized navigation views to be served to multiple users and groups. Multiple language versions of taxonomies are supported. Mohomine’s MohoClassifier is a high performance auto-categorization solution built using “learn-by-example”/machine learning technology. Mohomine’s language-independent algorithms provide accuracy and performance, and can be deployed and modified quickly. The combined solution is available in the Americas from Mohomine Inc., and in EMEA from Wordmap Ltd. www.mohomine.com, www.wordmap.com
