IBM announced new software and investments in research and development to help customers and developers leverage information on demand by integrating, analyzing and managing their business data, no matter where it is stored. The offerings include new technologies and assets immediately incorporated into IBM’s portfolio following completion of the acquisition of Ascential Software. The software technologies and investments unveiled include: expanded IBM information integration product roadmap that features the next generation WebSphere Data Integration Suite (code-named “Hawk” by Ascential) – IBM plans to deliver the “Hawk” software platform to customers this year, as part of the company’s next generation WebSphere Information Integration solutions portfolio; expansion of worldwide information integration research and development resources to accelerate the delivery of information integration software; and introduction of a new Federated Records Management software solution for automated electronic records management across the enterprise. An open customer beta test program of the WebSphere Data Integration Suite will be launched in the second quarter of 2005. http://www.ibm.com/software/data