Kontiki announced that it has added new Grid Delivery Server software to its enterprise software suite, the Kontiki Delivery Management System (DMS). The DMS enables enterprises to upgrade their existing networks to securely and automatically deliver corporate video and documents. Kontikis DMS is based on the companys grid delivery technology. Like grid computing, which taps underutilized CPU processing power, Kontikis grid delivery software pulls together existing networks and storage space on both PCs and servers to create a network capable of delivering rich media with greater efficiency and lower costs than traditional delivery methods. Kontiki claims the DMS has resulted in reductions in the cost of rich media delivery by a factor of 10 to 25 times, compared with traditional methods of delivering similar content. This improvement is driven by the hardware, bandwidth, and operations savings of Kontikis grid delivery technology. The new Grid Delivery Server runs on standard PC hardware and improves network efficiencies by time shifting deliveries to smooth demand, eliminating failed deliveries with pause/resume, and adaptively multi-serving the content from the delivery grid. www.kontiki.com

Microsoft Corp. announced a new set of technologies designed to enable developers to build business solutions based on the next version of Microsoft Office, code-named “Office 11.” A new set of tools, code-named “Visual Studio Tools for Office,” enables Visual Studio .NET developers to use Microsoft’s application development tool to build solutions based on Word and Excel documents, as well as several new XML development experiences. Microsoft will continue to support Visual Basic for Applications. Using “Visual Studio Tools for Office,” developers can create applications written in Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET that run in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. “Visual Studio Tools for Office” will be available in conjunction with “Office 11” in mid-2003. “Office 11,” features enhanced support for XML, including improved object model programmability, the ability to use XML schemas, built-in support for XML Web services and a new smart document solution model. Word and Excel templates can be designed with an underlying customer-defined XML structure. Integrated support for XML Web services in “Office 11,” along with support for XSL and XPath, leverages existing Office and Web development skills. www.microsoft.com/office/developer/preview

eMotion, Inc. announced the launch of CreativePartner Project, a service that allows customers to engage eMotion’s digital media management software solution and hosting services on a project-by-project basis. The new offering enables eMotion to target a much broader range of customers seeking a digital media management and collaboration solution for creative projects, but not necessarily on a continuous basis. The CreativePartner Project service includes set-up, hosting, operation and administration of a web-based digital media management solution for as little as two weeks to as long as six months or more. Clients can establish a project workspace for their assets (graphics, photos, video and audio files). In addition to CreativePartner Project, eMotion offers licensed software solutions MediaPartner Enterprise, CreativePartner and ArchivePartner. www.emotion.com

eTrack Solutions announced the availability of eTrack Web Portal. The new portal establishes a single technology platform that can enable a worldwide web site, an employee intranet, and multiple company extranets. The eTrack Web Portal includes features for creation and modification of web pages, customization of the look and feel, news posting, document management, application integration, database integration, user access control and management and file uploading. A portal administrator can customize navigation, modify content, publish content, maintain a document library, post news, manage user access and security, upload files to a web page and define multiple page templates. Portal administrators do not require a software programming background. The eTrack Web Portal was developed using Microsoft.NET technology. www.etracksolutions.com

IMS announced the launch of IMS SiteManager, a content management product for the Web, aimed at small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. IMS SiteManager features easy-to-use content management tools that allow customers to manage and update their Web site from any browser. Customers can choose modules to expand on functionality, adding an online store, events calendar, site search, and many other options. IMS SiteManager offers a diverse portfolio of quality designs. Customers can choose a stock design appropriate for their needs, or work with IMS designers to create a custom look for their site. Other features include hosting, training and ongoing support for the content management tools, free version updates, and the ability to expand capabilities with additional modules. IMS SiteManager has an annual license fee starting at $2495.
www.ims.net

Workshare announced the launch of its new metadata product, Workshare Metawall. Workshare’s new product addresses the problems with hidden metadata in Microsoft Word documents and acts as a tool for document control and protection. Workshare Metawall 1.1 is designed as an enterprise solution to clean documents of unwanted metadata before they are sent out via email to external parties. The product integrates with and enhances Microsoft Outlook and Document Management Systems. In future modules of Workshare Metawall, the product will focus on cleaning metadata and also on the problem of document control. The next version of the product, to be released during the first quarter of 2003, will tag Microsoft Office documents to be sent externally via email in order to restrict delivery to prevent sensitive documents from leaving the organization. Documents may also be tagged so that the proper approvals must be received before they can be sent externally by email. www.workshare.com

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