SoftQuad Software, Ltd. announced that it has joined the Ariba Inc. supplier enablement initiative and will integrate its products into the Ariba B2B Commerce Platform using the Ariba Commerce Services Network (CSN). SoftQuad’s XML-based content solutions, XMetaL and MarketAgility, combined with the Ariba CSN, provide suppliers with a single, Internet-based point of access and integration with buyers and marketplaces worldwide. Ariba CSN also provides SoftQuad’s customers with efficient trading mechanisms and commerce processes such as systems integration services, global supplier directories, sourcing tools, B2B auctions and reverse auctions, logistics and supplier enablement, electronic payment and streamlined transaction services. Further, SoftQuad will collaborate with Ariba on the continued development of cXML. SoftQuad will use cXML to integrate its B2B solutions with the Ariba B2B Commerce Platform. www.softquad.com
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Xyvision Enterprise Solutions, Inc. announced it has joined the Citrix Systems, Inc. Citrix Solutions Network as a Gold Solutions Provider. XyEnterprise will sell and support Citrix application server computing solutions, including the MetaFrame product to companies in the aerospace, automotive, high technology, financial, and commercial publishing markets. Through this agreement, XyEnterprise will offer its Parlance Content Manager and XML Professional Publisher (XPP) software solutions via Citrix thin client connections. This solution will provide users with remote access to desktop or server based applications such as Parlance or XPP without requiring the installation of client software on the local desktop. It will also enable XyEnterprise Professional Services to deliver a full line of customer services through remote system control, diagnostics and software updates. As a CSN member, XyEnterprise will provide consultation, installation, integration and support for the Citrix application server product line, which offers a high-performance, cost-effective way to deploy, access and manage business-critical applications throughout an enterprise. www.xyenterprise.com
Accrue Software, Inc. announced that it has signed a letter of agreement to acquire Pilot Software, Inc. The terms of the proposed stock for stock transaction have not been disclosed. Pilot Software develops Web-enabled decision support and business intelligence applications for the enterprise. This acquisition complements Accrue’s existing applications for campaign, content, commerce and affiliate analysis by adding several new clicks-and-mortar applications for the analysis of merchandising, inventory, and operations for both on-line and Point-Of-Sale (POS) transactions. These applications provide instant access to detailed SKU information for markdown and promotions planning, pricing and cannibalization analysis, return on inventory, and stocks and returns. When coupled with Accrue’s existing assortment optimization and seasonal demand profiling applications, Assort and Profile, clicks-and-mortar businesses can avoid unnecessary discounting, minimize out-of-stocks, exploit hidden buying patterns, and better personalize the buying experience to individual shoppers. www.accrue.com
Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Vignette Corp. announced a comprehensive global agreement, including joint sales, marketing and engineering services, that will provide e-business hardware and software solutions for companies to build successful online businesses. The companies have agreed to jointly develop e-business solutions initially targeting the fast-growing new media and telecommunication markets, including wireless. With this agreement, Sun and Vignette have significantly expanded their relationship to deliver solutions based on Sun’s Sun Enterprise servers, Solaris Operating Environment platform and Java 2, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) technology, and the recently announced Vignette V/5 E-business solutions. Companies will be able to leverage Sun’s Java technology to integrate their existing applications with other third-party applications, including the iPlanet Application Server, through Vignette’s recently introduced V/5 E-business applications. As part of the agreement, the Vignette solution will be incorporated into Sun’s iForce Ready Centers, which will enable customers to gain hands-on experience to help them deploy scalable, extensible portal infrastructures combining e-commerce, relationship management, personalization, content management and workflow features on an e-business platform. www.vignette.com, www.sun.com
NetGenesis Corp. announced support for analyzing customer behavior over WAP servers, helping e-businesses that market to wireless devices analyze and improve the success of campaigns. NetGenesis’ Wireless InfraMarketing reports enable e-retailers, content providers and financial and B2B sites, to improve wireless marketing campaigns, content and e-commerce programs by analyzing crucial wireless E-metrics and making better business decisions around them. NetGenesis’ InfraMarketing provides a clear snapshot of customer activity. It reveals customer behavior over time and provides predictive analysis, an analytic baseline to enable e-businesses to predict their customers’ activity patterns and help them target their customers more efficiently based on these profiles. With predictive analysis, e-businesses can begin to anticipate what customers may buy and forecast purchase behaviors. InfraMarketing also allows e-businesses to measure InfraMetrics, the key metrics needed to succeed on the Web. InfraMetrics allow e-businesses to drill deeper into customer interests and segments to track individual behaviors and clickstream patterns for more effective marketing campaigns. www.netgen.com
Netscape Communications announced the availability of Netscape 6 Preview Release 2 via free download from www.netscape.com/download. Preview Release 2 includes: “Themes” allow users to change the look of the browser by applying different combinations of design elements or “skins;” Netscape WebMail access directly from Netscape 6 Mail combines the Netscape Mail application with the flexibility and connectivity of WebMail; A new strong-crypto protected Password Manager builds on the privacy and security offerings of Cookie Manager and offers users the convenience of streamlining and protected Password use across the Internet; and New My Sidebar features, including My Sidebar Central and My Sidebar Directory, as well as additional partnerships. Netscape 6 also features additional support for International users. Netscape Preview Release 2 is also available today in Japanese. German and French language versions will become available within 30 days. All releases allow users to easily switch language user interfaces, buttons and menus, and regional settings through a Language/Region Selector. Netscape 6 will also automatically detect character sets so users will automatically be able to view foreign language sites without being prompted to choose the appropriate character. In addition, international users can now access their existing US-based WebMail accounts through their localized browser. www.netscape.com
EXTOL, Inc., announced the availability of the EXTOL Integrator Release 5.0 for AS/400 and Windows NT. The highlights of Release 5.0 are XML transformation, a new Web browser-based user interface developed in Java, Enhanced Formula Processing, and Internet Commerce security. The flagship feature of Release 5.0 is XML transformation, which takes standard EDI element IDs and converts them to XML tags. EXTOL creates and uses the XML style sheets that accompany the incoming documents, allowing any user to look at the data in a very readable format. An XML document can be processed as data, attached to e-mail, or sent as a fax. Release 5.0 introduces a new user interface for EXTOL Integrator 400 and EXTOL Integrator NT, reflecting the general industry trend towards Web browser-based user interfaces. Another key feature of Release 5.0 is Enhanced Formula Processing, which allows a user-defined formula (arithmetic or logical) to be applied to both inbound and outbound operations, reducing the need for external programming to process transactions. The EXTOL Integrator now ships with pre-written samples and many options for creating additional routines. Release 5.0 of the EXTOL Integrator includes support for EXTOL’s Internet Commerce, a separately licensed product. This upgrade is a simple and automatic process. All existing trading partner definitions, transaction maps, and application file sets remain intact, without change. Any version of the EXTOL Integrator from Release 3.3 and higher may be upgraded to Release 5.0 in a single step. www.extol.com
Vertical Computer Systems Inc. announced the official beta release of two of its MLE (Markup Language Executive) Solutions Suite products: the XML Catalog Enabler Agent and the XML Database Agent. The XML Catalog Enabler Agent is directed toward B2B e-commerce applications, and the XML Database Agent is directed mainly toward internal operations of organizations. Both products enable advanced interoperability in B2B, B2G and B2C e-commerce. They are server-based tools that allow data to be fetched from an SQL relational database via http. Both work on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Linux. The XML Catalog Enabler Agent will enable vendors to enter the e-procurement business quickly via XML. The general availability for these two products is scheduled for Sept. 30, 2000. www.vcsy.com
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