The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has issued XML Schema as a W3C Candidate Recommendation. Advancement of the document to Candidate Recommendation is an invitation to the Web development community at large to make implementations of XML Schema and provide technical feedback. Simply defined, XML Schemas define shared markup vocabularies and allow machines to carry out rules made by people. They provide a means for defining the structure, content and semantics of XML documents. The XML Schema specification consists of three parts. One part defines a set of simple datatypes, which can be associated with XML element types and attributes; this allows XML software to do a better job of managing dates, numbers, and other special forms of information. The second part of the specification proposes methods for describing the structure and constraining the contents of XML documents, and defines the rules governing schema-validation of documents. The third part is a primer, which explains what schemas are, how they differ from DTDs, and how someone builds a schema. By bringing datatypes to XML, XML Schema increases XML’s power and utility to the developers of electronic commerce systems, database authors and anyone interested in using and manipulating large volumes of data on the Web. By providing better integration with XML Namespaces, it makes it easier than it has ever been to define the elements and attributes in a namespace, and to validate documents which use multiple namespaces defined by different schemas. XML Schema introduces new levels of flexibility that may accelerate the adoption of XML for significant industrial use. For example, a schema author can build a schema that borrows from a previous schema, but overrides it where new unique features are needed. XML Schema also provides a way for users of e-commerce systems to choose which XML Schema they use to validate elements in a given namespace, thus providing better assurance in e-commerce transactions and greater security against unauthorized changes to validation rules. The working group members include: Academia Sinica; ArborText, Inc; Bootstrap Alliance and LSU; Calico Commerce; Commerce One; Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA); DevelopMentor; Distributed Systems Technology Centre (DSTC Pty Ltd); Graphic Communications Association; Health Level Seven; Hewlett Packard Company; IBM; Informix; Intel; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Lexica LLC; Lotus Development Corporation; Microsoft Corporation; Microstar; MITRE; NCR; Oracle Corp.; Progress Software; SAP AG; Software AG; Sun Microsystems; TIBCO Software; University of Edinburgh; webMethods, Inc; Xerox; and XMLSolutions. www.w3.org
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worldweb.net Inc. announced the launch of the beta version of its next-generation content management software, Expressroom I/O v2.0. Expressroom I/O is a 100%, Java-based, content management software system. It provides users with the control, flexibility, and power needed to produce, manage, and administer the most sophisticated enterprise Web sites with minimal technical experience. Managers of information are easily able to contribute, approve, and post content to their Web sites without the need of a webmaster or programmer. The newest version of the software, Expressroom I/O v2.0, promotes collaboration by providing advanced workflow tools that enable users to coordinate on the review and approval process of all Web site assets. Users can easily manage their content — whether it is created in Expressroom I/O, or imported from external sources, such as Word or Quark, syndication services, live news feeds, or legacy databases — and deliver it to multiple sources including Web pages and wireless devices. Expressroom I/O v2.0 is extensible and J2EE-compliant, giving developers the flexibility needed to integrate a complete content management solution in an e-Business platform. Among other enhancements for content management, worldweb.net has integrated state-based workflow into Expressroom I/O v2.0. Business professionals easily control how content is routed, edited, approved and published, eliminating the need for programmers to control workflow processes. Now, users can work in a graphical interface to develop workflow patterns, rather than using complicated scripting. The template-based content management solution supports versioning and roll-back technology. In addition, a reporting feature allows for e-mail notification of progress or status reports, which can be sent to a user’s cell phone or pager. Expressroom I/O v2.0 will be available at the end of the fourth quarter of 2000. The client applications run on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0 SP5 or higher, Red Hat, Linux, and Solaris. Supported servers include Windows NT 4.0 SP5, Windows 2000, Red Hat Linux 6.2, Debian Linux, and Solaris 8. Expressroom I/O v2.0 works with various Web and Application server environments, including IBM Websphere; IIS with Resin on NT; Resin on NT, Solaris, or Linux; ATG Dynamo; BEA Web Logic; Resin with Apache on Linux; Apache with Jserv. www.worldweb.net
Hewlett-Packard Company and Bluestone Software, Inc. announced the companies have reached a definitive agreement under which HP will acquire Bluestone in a stock-for-stock strategic transaction. Bluestone’s software will become the integrating platform for HP’s current software offerings and will serve as the core of HP’s next-generation software strategy by leveraging the combined platform’s advanced XML, e-services and mobile technology capabilities. Bluestone’s standards-based J2EE and XML application server technology, along with their Java transaction service, will form the core of HP’s middleware offering. With this solution, customers will be able to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage J2EE and XML applications and services across the enterprise, across trading community partners, and across interactions and transactions with customers using mobile appliances and devices. HP Consulting will develop a set of implementation and integration services in support of Bluestone’s technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Bluestone shareowners will receive 0.2433 pre-split shares of HP common stock for each share of Bluestone common stock. The completion of the transaction is subject to closing conditions and the approval of Bluestone shareowners. Upon completion of the transaction, Bluestone will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HP. www.bluestone.com, www.hp.com
Eprise Corporation announced Version 3 of Eprise Participant Server. Eprise moves beyond tactical content management approaches focused solely on the efficiency of Web operations to offer Strategic Content Management solutions. Strategic Content Management is a comprehensive approach using software and services to help businesses efficiently plan, implement, measure, and enhance corporate Web sites that deliver significant value to the site audiences and the business. The key technical component of Strategic Content Management is Eprise Participant Server. This software application enables business users to manage not just traditional content, but also business rules, approval processes, and user interaction. The result is that implementation and ongoing change of Eprise-managed sites is easier than with products that rely on technical scripts and configuration files for similar functions. The latest release adds several capabilities including: an enhanced user interface that includes a robust visual editing capability for browser users; expanded templating options to improve manageability and performance; and enterprise level scalability enhancements including global content distribution capabilities. Eprise Participant Server Version 3 will be available next month for Windows 2000, Windows NT, and Solaris operating systems. The typical customer engagement for software and services starts at approximately $150,000. www.eprise.com
Mondeca is launching its Topic Navigator software solution. The Dynamic Content Navigation program provides users with better methods to access and manage Internet-based data. This is possible as a result of Mondeca’s unique content structure as a topic network, and intuitive access to content via spatial navigation tools. No additional programming is required to use the software, and users experience no delays in accessing information. Topic Navigator features template-based content organization, content editing, powerful browsing tools, and is based on an open architecture using as XML, Topic Maps, Java, and EJB. Traditionally, companies have had few choices for intelligent web navigation. Typically, users are restricted to linear page-by-page views of information or random searches when clicking on embedded links that may lead to other web sites or dead-end searches. Neither process is intuitive or efficient. Poorly designed links, hierarchical structures, and multiple searches with no guarantee of end results are all common experiences using today’s Internet options for obtaining information. Topic Navigator is scalable, flexible, and secure. In addition, Mondeca software can be integrated with e-commerce tools to direct users towards products in internal or external e-commerce catalogs as they browse the knowledge base. Immediately available, prices for a single license begin at $20,000, with training, consulting, and maintenance extra. www.mondeca.com
Interwoven, Inc. announced definitive agreements to acquire two privately-held companies, Metacode Technologies and Ajuba Solutions. Metacode is a developer of content tagging and taxonomy technology. Ajuba is a developer of XML solutions. Under the terms of the agreements, an aggregate value of approximately $150 million in Interwoven common stock and stock options will be exchanged for the capital stock and stock options of Metacode and approximately $31 million in Interwoven common stock and stock options will be exchanged for the capital stock and stock options of Ajuba. Along with the content analytics technology acquired earlier this year from Neonyoyo, the Metacode technology will play a key role in providing the intelligence necessary for next-generation content management. The Metacode technology will enhance how customers use Interwoven solutions to create a compelling and relevant Web experience. By automatically including metadata based on customer-specific or industry-specific taxonomies, content can be readily shared and repurposed across multiple Web properties and B2B exchanges. The Ajuba team will be assimilated into Interwoven’s existing technical staff. The Ajuba product line will be discontinued. www.interwoven.com
POET Software announced the latest releases of its turn-key eCatalog management software solutions for suppliers, ASPs and eMarketplaces. POET’s eCatalog Suite – Supplier Resident Edition (eCS-SR) and eCatalog Suite – Service Provider Edition (eCS-SP) introduce several new features that provide enhanced pricing management, platform and database support, as well as simplified administration for ASPs and eMarketplaces. POET’s flexible pricing management features provide customers with several customization options to reflect the diverse requirements of both suppliers and buyers. With contract pricing, users can create buyer-specific pricing for groups of products or on a product-by-product basis. With volume discounts or tier pricing, suppliers can define different prices based upon item quantity. In addition to custom pricing, users can also employ a calculation-based pricing method, incorporating discounts based on percentages or fixed amounts in relation to list prices. POET added new database and platform support, giving ASPs and eMarketmakers the option to run eCS-SR and eCS-SP using the POET object database or Oracle’s 8.0 or 8i on Solaris, Windows NT and Windows 2000 platforms. The latest versions of eCatalog Suite-Supplier Resident Edition and eCatalog Suite-Service Provider Edition are now available. Pricing for the supplier edition starts at $60,000. Pricing for the service provider edition starts at $175,000. www.poet.com
The new Business Integration Server (BIS) from Seeburger is a middleware module that maintains processes and accounts for all business and process transactions based on a customizable workflow rule set. With a graphical drag-and-drop definition of business processes, any data interchange requirement on Windows NT, UNIX and IBM AS/400 can be implemented quickly. BIS fully supports Java, XML, and existing business system technologies, including B2B eCommerce requirements: shopping, auctions, marketplaces, eProcurement and works with EDIFACT and ERP management systems. The Business Integration Server also works with ebXML, cXML, XML EDI, BizTalk and Rosettanet. Additionally, it supports classical EDI transaction formats, including EDIFACT, X.12, ODETTE or VDA. BIS has connectors to all known ERP systems, including: SAP R/3, SAP R/2, Baan, Oracle, BRAIN, infor, J.D.Edwards and Baurer. In FrontOffice, BIS works with Siebel, Intershop, Openshop and Brokat. Even legacy and proprietary systems are supported. The Seeburger middleware supports unique XML DTDs and other custom interfaces. www.seeburger.com
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