Macromedia announced Macromedia Authorware 7. Authorware enables developers to deliver AICC/ADL-SCORM compatible courseware, and the latest version adds learning management system Knowledge Objects that make it easier to communicate between the application and the LMS. A Learning Object Content Packager helps developers organize and upload content to the LMS. The packager compiles the metadata, Authorware files and resources, and an XML manifest into an ADL SCORM-compatible zip file. The product imports and exports XML to create data-driven applications, supports JavaScript to enable additional programming depth, and enables all product properties to be scripted, allowing developers to create commands, Knowledge Objects, and extensible content. Macromedia Authorware 7 is available as both a standalone product or as part of the Macromedia eLearning Suite. Authorware 7 is expected to ship later this month for Windows 98, SE, Me, NT 4, 2000, and XP. The product is priced at $2,999 for new users, $399 to upgrade from Authorware 6.5, and $899 to upgrade from Authorware 5.x and 6.0, with educational pricing at $499. www.macromedia.com/go/aw7
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Progressive Information Technologies announced the release of Vasont SG, a low-cost version of its content management system for cross-media publishing. Vasont SG specifically addresses fundamental content management needs for editorial groups with limited resources. Vasont SG is available as a client/server system for small editorial groups within organizations that have a need for content management for technical documentation, manuals, reference materials, and publications that are continually updated and republished in multiple media channels. The license fee for Vasont SG is $29,975 USD and includes one server and five client/server seats. Full support and training are also available. Vasont SG clients who determine a need for additional seats, Web seats, or advanced content management functionality can purchase a full Vasont system and receive credit for the entire Vasont SG purchase price. www.vasont.com
Stibo Catalog announced the North American release of its STEP ePublisher. This tool enables formatted and stylized product data to be produced for web, intranet and/or CD-ROM catalogs and simplifies dynamic publishing. At the same time, it improves the efficiency of publishing paper catalogs. STEP ePublisher supports dynamic web publication and provides a summary of the current status of the content objects contained in an electronic catalog that has been created (draft, approved or published). The appropriate status is shown via color coding. The STEP ePublisher process is always linked to a specific publication defined within the Publication Manager, a cornerstone of the STEP application suite. www.stibocatalog.com
FatWire Software announced it has completed the acquisition of divine’s Content Management business from Saratoga Partners, a New York private equity firm. As part of the divine bankruptcy auction, Saratoga Partners acquired certain assets of divine, including divine’s content management assets, and Saratoga Partners simultaneously transferred the content management assets to FatWire.
FatWire also announced that it had completed the sale of the Participant Server product line (formerly Eprise, Inc.) to SilkRoad Technology, Inc. FatWire will focus its efforts on its enterprise content management software, Content Server and UpdateEngine. Existing investors in FatWire, including Topspin Partners, EuclidSR Partners, Wheatley Partners and Newlight Associates, purchased additional equity in FatWire to fund the acquisition as well as to provide additional working capital to fund the company’s projected growth. www.fatwire.com
Interwoven, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MediaBin, a digital asset management (DAM) company. The two companies announced the integration of their products in October 2002. The new joint solution will combine Interwoven Intelligence Server software for content classification and taxonomy management with MediaBin, to deliver intelligent management of rich media assets. This combination of Interwoven and MediaBin’s capabilities will allow organizations to protect their brand by ensuring consistent, accurate, and current content assets to support all enterprise products and services. This new solution will include extensions to print applications, such as Adobe InDesign, and will utilize Interwoven’s ContentServices standard for Web Service-enabled applications. The Interwoven Digital Brand Management Solution is available from Interwoven today and can be purchased for an entry price of $100K. Interwoven will market both the MediaBin DAM line of products and the combined MediaBin and Interwoven solution immediately. Interwoven client services and technical support are trained and prepared to assist customers with these products. www.interwoven.com
Ektron announced it will add RSS syndication as a new addition to Ektron CMS300 and CMS200. With Ektron’s RSS capabilities, organizations can syndicate content from a CMS200- or CMS300-empowered Web site to any RSS-aware Web site, program or content aggregator. The site owner simply gives individuals the opportunity to opt in to their RSS feed. Individuals are alerted when new content is posted. Within Ektron CMS200 or 300, the site owner identifies the specific content to be syndicated. The system dynamically creates RSS documents as end-users publish specified content. www.ektron.com
Ask Jeeves, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement under which Kanisa, Inc. will acquire Jeeves Solutions, the enterprise software division of Ask Jeeves. Jeeves Solutions’ search technology and analytics will enable Kanisa to offer a larger, more robust suite of customer service solutions. With the sale, Ask Jeeves will focus solely on its growing Web-wide search business. Under the terms of the agreement, Kanisa will acquire substantially all assets of Jeeves Solutions including the JeevesOne technology and its approximately 40 corporate customer accounts. Kanisa will pay a purchase price of $4.25 million, of which $3.5 million will be paid in cash on closing and the remaining in a one-year promissory note for $750,000, which is subject to certain conditions. The sale is expected to close in July 2003.
www.AskJeevesInc.com
Inxight Software, Inc. announced the general availability of adaptors to multiple enterprise information management systems, including Documentum, Lotus Notes, Microsoft SQL Server and Plumtree. These adaptors enable Inxight SmartDiscovery customers to access data stored in these disparate systems for processing and delivery through SmartDiscovery. SmartDiscovery Enterprise Adaptors offer Inxight customers a means of integrating content inside existing information management systems into a single point-of-access solution. SmartDiscovery Enterprise Adaptors allow users to schedule updates and retrieve documents and emails from these systems. This information is then analyzed and relevant metadata is extracted to enable search, classification, entity extraction, summarization and visualization of the data. The resulting metadata can be populated back into the original system for display in existing portals or other interfaces, or can be stored in a dedicated repository and accessed by Inxight’s user environment. SmartDiscovery includes Web and file crawlers that enable users to access information stored on hard drives, internal networks, and Web sites. www.inxight.com
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