Percussion Software announced the immediate availability of the Rhythmyx Authoring Accelerator For Microsoft Word 2000. This Accelerator is the second of a series of Rhythmyx Accelerators that enable enterprises to speed deployment between Rhythmyx Content Manager and other technologies. The Word Accelerator provides a pre-packaged tool for interaction between Rhythmyx and Microsoft Word, eliminating the need for third party application development and support. Key elements of the Rhythmyx Basic Authoring Accelerator For MS Word 2000 include: seamless interaction, round-tripping support, ability to filter, field extraction, and in-line system links and images. Through a browser interface, content contributors can assign metadata such as publishable date, expiration date, etc. Once metadata has been assigned to the content, Rhythmyx merges this information into MS Word. www.percussion.com

Zope Corporation announced the release of Zope 2.5. Zope enables the rapid building and deployment of web content. Zope 2.5 includes Zope Page Templates (ZPT), the new model for dynamically generating pages. ZPT embraces W3C standards by leveraging namespace attributes to insert page directives. This approach allows site designers and developers to work side-by-side, since the interim and final product remains valid HTML. The 2.5 release also offers built-in session tracking, encrypted password support and significant performance improvements. Zope Corporation has just released version 1.2 of its Content Management Framework (CMF). Python 2.2 was also recently released. www.python.org, www.zope.com

ArsDigita announced validation of ArsDigita’s Enterprise Collaboration Management (ECM) solution on Oracle9i Application Server (Oracle9iAS). ArsDigita will leverage Oracle9iAS to deploy scalable and reliable ECM solutions. By becoming a member of the Oracle PartnerNetwork, ArsDigita can offer its customers a Web development platform upon which ArsDigita’s ECM solution can be deployed. The support Oracle9iAS provides for J2EE and XML, and the Web and database caching technologies it provides, reduces hardware requirements for high-volume Internet business applications.

MedSeek’s SiteMaker is launching a new version SiteMaker 5, designed to improve the way administrators build websites. This version of SiteMaker offers new tools to help administrators collaborate more efficiently, manage dynamic web content more easily and securely, along with a host of management tools that monitor and deploy large scale installations. New features in SiteMaker 5 include Announcements, QuickProjects, Notepad, Instant Message, StickyNotes, Reminders, Library, Personal Manager, a new improved webpage editor, and enhancements to the graphics manager, network security integration, and the ability to add SiteMaker 5 Server clusters. Websites containing thousands of webpages can be controlled through the Website Tree Toolbar. SiteMaker 5 also gains flexibility by being able to integrate with legacy systems that are used in healthcare facilities. MedSeek has already incorporated web-based “front doors” to important back-end systems. www.medseek.com

MediaBin Inc., announced the signature of a formal agreement with Kerridge Media Services (KMS), an associate company of Kerridge Computer Company Ltd, for the distribution of the MediaBin brand asset management software in the United Kingdom and Europe. This new contract enables MediaBin to leverage Kerridge’s experience in the healthcare, retail, wholesale, automotive, and distribution industries to reach UK and European clients who can use MediaBin software to sell more products while safeguarding their brands. www.kerridge-media.com, www.mediabin.com

Open3 Technologies, Inc. announced its release of the Open3 E-Business Messaging Server 2.1 for enterprise messaging. Open3 EMS 2.1 enables the communication and integration of critical business information in a secure, reliable, and high-performing messaging system. Open3 EMS 2.1 natively supports XML, facilitating the enterprise in constructing a Web services architecture. Open3 EMS 2.1 is compliant with Java Message Service (JMS) 1.02b. Open3 EMS 2.1 combines JMS with XML to create a flexible and interoperable system for communication. Open3 EMS 2.1 also provides the core JMS engine as open source. A high-performing persistence store is included; Open3 EMS 2.1 also supports major SQL databases like IBM DB2, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Additionally, Open3 EMS 2.1 supports clustering for load balancing. Open3 EMS 2.1 has multiple server support to handle fail over. www.open3.com