Category: Content technology news (Page 276 of 625)

IBM and Ascential Software Corporation announced the two companies have entered into a definitive agreement for IBM to acquire the equity of Ascential Software in an all cash transaction at a price of approximately $1.1 billion or $18.50 per share. The acquisition is subject to Ascential Software shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2005. The acquisition complements IBM’s information integration business, a key part of the company’s information management efforts and a unit that produced triple-digit growth in 2004. Ascential Software’s ability to gather, move and enhance the quality of large amounts of data complements IBM’s WebSphere Information Integrator product portfolio. WebSphere Information Integrator software enables customers to centrally manage and access data that is stored across a variety of structured and unstructured sources, from IBM and non-IBM vendors. IBM will: establish Ascential Software’s operations as a business unit within IBM’s Information Management software division; incorporate Ascential Software technology and solutions into IBM’s Information Management and Software Group offerings; and market and sell Ascential Software products through IBM’s and Ascential Software’s worldwide sales channels and Business Partners. www.ibm.com, www.ascential.com

Ektron Inc. announced the release of DMS400, a document management system that supports the requirements of mid-market and enterprise-level organizations. With DMS400 knowledge workers can collaborate on projects, as well as search and access documents, images, multimedia and other information assets within a process-driven Web-based solution. Ektron DMS400 enables organizations to streamline processes for creating, editing publishing and sharing documents and other assets while providing organizations with real-time monitoring of information to address accountability and auditing issues associated with managing these files. Because it’s tightly integrated with Microsoft technologies, individuals can create and manage Microsoft Office files, and a wide range of additional file types including PDF’s, images, and audio and videos files. It also enables users to collaborate on projects and search and access documents via the Web. Ektron DMS400 is currently available as an add-on to the Ektron CMS product line. Pricing begins at $11,400 USD for a 10-seat CMS-DMS bundle and $46,000 USD for an enterprise bundle (unlimited users). DMS400 will be available as a stand-alone product in May. www.ektron.com

ebrary announced that several new collections specifically for government and military libraries are now available through the ebrary Dynamic Content Platform (DCP). ebrary’s DCP is a hosted content delivery service that combines software with full-text books, reports, and other authoritative content from STM, academic, and professional publishers. The new collections include Business, Management & Leadership, Computers, Technology & Engineering, International Relations & Military Affairs, Government Affairs, and Science & Environmental Studies. Additionally, ebrary announced that it is seeking pilot customers for its new, server-based technology, which will ship in Q3 2005. Code named “Isaac,” this technology will change how PDF content can be distributed, shared, and managed from behind an institution’s firewall. Both the ebrary DCP and Isaac include the ebrary Reader and InfoTools. The ebrary Reader optimizes page-by-page delivery of PDF documents. InfoTools links search queries to multiple online databases, as well as information on the Web. www.ebrary.com

Fast Search & Transfer (FAST) unveiled FAST mSearch, a mobile search solution to collectively integrate content such as music, games, ring tones, and images with highly relevant content from the mobile Web, providing users with an optimized and more personal search experience on their mobile devices. FAST mSearch, the latest Search Derivative Application (SDA) to leverage the FAST Enterprise Search Platform (FAST ESP), enables carriers to provide integration of their own content with relevant results from content providers and the Mobile Web. FAST mSearch allows revenue opportunities for carriers and content providers by powering a number of business models, such as personalized local search, targeted mobile commerce and advertising services, and multimedia search. www.fastsearch.com

OASIS announced that its members have approved the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) version 2.0 as an OASIS Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification. SAML v2.0 enables the secure exchange of authentication, attribute, and authorization information between disparate security domains, making vendor-independent Web single sign-on and secure e-business transactions possible. Version 2.0 adds key functions to create and manage federated networks that combine and appropriately share pre-existing repositories of identity information. SAML leverages core Web services standards including XML, SOAP, Transport Layer Security (TLS), XML Signature (XMLSIG), and XML Encryption (XMLENC). Over 27 member organizations globally participate in this ongoing work, including representatives of AOL, BEA Systems, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Computer Associates, Entrust, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Neustar, Nokia, Novell, Oracle, RSA Security, SAP, and Sun Microsystems. Participation remains open to all. OASIS hosts an open mail list for public comment and the saml-dev mailing list for exchanging information on implementing the standard. www.oasis-open.org

The Gilbane Report’s Bill Trippe addresses XML integration in “Technical Integration of Taxonomies”. Save the date: March 18 at 2:00 PM EST. Fourth in a series of webinars presented by Earley & Associates. For information or registration

Metadot Corporation announced the availability of the Metadot Portal Server Business Edition. With subscriptions starting at $2,000 per year for varying levels of customer support, the Metadot Business Edition enables individuals to easily create and maintain extranets, intranets, corporate Web sites, project and community portals. The Metadot Business Edition user interface is browser-based, enabling authorized content editors to update Web pages from any location. Anyone who can type can create Web pages and edit content, which eliminates the need to call the IT department to correct typos or add information to a page. The application allows users to manage files, calendars, to-do lists, online forums, documents, online discussions, database queries, customer surveys and newsletter mailing lists from a Web interface. The Metadot Business Edition also includes login support, where Metadot engineers can log in to a customer’s system and fix problems. Annual subscription fees for the Metadot Business Edition start at $2,000, which includes the Metadot Portal Server, installation support, software updates, professional customer support, access to Metadots online training center and optional managed hosting. The Metadot Portal Server runs on Linux, Apache, MySQL and Perl, although it also runs in commercial environments such as Sun Solaris, Microsoft Windows, Oracle and more. www.metadot.com

Microsoft Corp. announced that it will acquire Groove Networks Inc. The addition of Groove products to the lineup of Microsoft Office System products, servers and services builds on the capabilities of Microsoft’s current collaboration products. The acquisition also brings to Microsoft founder Ray Ozzie, a creator of IBM Corp.’s Lotus Notes. Ozzie will assume the role of chief technical officer, reporting to Bill Gates, with responsibility for influencing corporate-wide communication and collaboration offerings and associated platform infrastructure. Ozzie also will continue his work with the Groove team, which will be part of Microsoft’s Information Worker Group. Groove has worked closely with Microsoft for nearly five years. After the deal is completed, the nearly 200-person Groove organization will continue to operate from its Beverly, Mass., headquarters as part of Microsoft’s Information Worker Group. The acquisition is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2005. Groove will continue to operate as a separate company until regulatory requirements have been met and the acquisition is finalized. A free trial edition of Groove Virtual Office is available. www.groove.net, www.microsoft.com