Innovative software introduced new technology that bridges the gap between print catalogs and e-commerce. It allows consumers to view interactive catalogs on a CD or DVD using a built-in, familiar Web browser and shopping cart that does not require an Internet connection or server. X-Rom, eCatalogBuilders’ e-commerce product, was designed for direct mail e-commerce marketing, complimenting print catalogs and online Web sites. eCatalogs can be exported from the vendor’s existing print catalog files or created from scratch. Pages may also be generated “on the fly” from a database. X-Rom functions either as a stand-alone eCatalog, or interlinks with an online Web site. www.eCatalogBuilders.com
Category: Content technology news (Page 543 of 641)
Curated information technology news for content technology, computing, and digital experience professionals. News items are edited to remove hype, unhelpful jargon, iffy statements, and quotes, to create a short summary — mostly limited to 200 words — of the important facts with a link back to a useful source for more information. News items are published using the date of the original source here and in our weekly email newsletter.
We focus on product news, but also include selected company news such as mergers and acquisitions and meaningful partnerships. All news items are edited by one of our analysts under the NewsShark byline. See our Editorial Policy.
Note that we also publish news on X/Twitter. Follow us @gilbane
HotOffice Technologies announced that its subscription-based intranet service is now also available for free. Designed to improve the way teams communicate and collaborate, HotOffice offers both a subscription-based and free Web-based teamware service with identical features, allowing any team member to connect via a private intranet with colleagues and clients from any Internet connection. With free document and contact management, free email, free calendaring, and other tools, the HotOffice service helps teams maximize productivity with improved communications and real-time collaboration. The free version, is supported by ads. The rates for the subscription service are $12.95 per person, per month for up to 20 people, $11.95 per person, per month to 50 people and $9.95 per person, per month for 50 or more people. www.hotoffice.com.
CrossWorlds Software, Inc., announced product support for XML. Concurrently, the company announced its membership and support for RosettaNet, an independent consortium dedicated to developing and deploying industry standards for enabling eBusiness interoperability. With its XML-compliant eBusiness product, development tools and infrastructure, CrossWorlds will enable companies to conduct eBusiness transactions in RosettaNet formats. This announcement further demonstrates CrossWorlds’ capabilities in providing a robust eBusiness integration solution. CrossWorlds is offering an XML Connector, a pre-defined and extensible cross-application interface designed specifically for handling XML-based messages. The Connector allows for the integration of XML data to multiple legacy and packaged front-office, back-office and supply chain applications including Baan, Clarify, Manugistics, Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, Siebel, Trilogy and Vantive via CrossWorlds hub-and-spoke architecture. The XML Connector is tightly integrated with CrossWorlds’ business process modeling capabilities and Collaboration modules. As part of its support of RosettaNet, CrossWorlds’ architecture complements the RosettaNet standards by providing a real-time integration environment for trading partners through automatic answer-back, cross-referencing and persistent transaction services. As a result, trading partners can avoid manual tasks such as transaction voiding if an order acknowledgment is not received after a specified number of hours. www.crossworlds.com
E-Sync Networks, Inc. announced that a beta version of TotalChain, its new end-to-end web supply chain solution, would be available for testing in February. The company also confirmed that the product would be available commercially during the second quarter of this year. TotalChain will enable companies to collaborate over the Internet with their business partners, suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers, by facilitating the secure exchange of information among disparate systems. For example, a manufacturer’s material resource planning system will be able to transparently communicate with a supplier’s planning system in a seamless and integrated manner. E-Sync Networks will initially focus on two vertical markets, insurance and distribution. www.e-syncnet.com
Infodata Systems Inc. announced it has entered into a letter of intent with Redknife, an emerging Silicon Valley e-commerce services company, to develop and implement a comprehensive systems infrastructure for processing and exchanging business transactions over the web. The system will be powered by Infodata’s “E-hub” XML-based application framework technology. Infodata’s e-commerce initiatives, such as Redknife, complement its earlier investment in Buckaroo.com, a privately held B2B e-commerce company that is based in Mt. View, California and is creating efficient markets for products and services. Infodata is a minority seed stage investor in Buckaroo.com along with a number of individuals that are leaders in the Internet industry. www.infodata.com
Sterling Commerce, Inc. announced the availability of Edifecs’ SpecBuilder as a value-added optional component for its GENTRAN business process integration offering. Using GENTRAN and SpecBuilder, corporations can set up E-business relationships that support the integration of business information in XML, EDI, and other proprietary business formats. Companies can now define a partner relationship and export the guidelines via the Web to their entire E-business communities for rapid deployment. www.sterlingcommerce.com, www.edifecs.com.
Inso Corporation announced that it has sold its PDM Division for approximately $12 million in cash and net assumption of liabilities. The transaction is in the form of a stock purchase by Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC) of outstand-ing stock of Inso’s subsidiaries, Sherpa Systems Corporation and Inso France Development. The sale was completed on January 5, 2000 and should result in a transaction loss to Inso estimated at approximately $3 million in the fourth fiscal quarter. In addition, a compensation charge of approximately $1.7 million will be recorded in the fourth fiscal quarter for the cost of option vesting or cancellation for certain PDM Division employees. www.inso.com
OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, welcomed Scott McGrath to its staff in a newly-created position, Member Services Manager. In his new role, McGrath will have responsibility for activity coordination and communication for the more than 130 members of the non-profit international consortium dedicated to XML interoperability. McGrath brings to OASIS more than 10 years experience developing customer service systems and staff, most recently with the world’s second largest member organization, the American Automobile Association. As senior liaison between members, all AAA business units and suppliers/contractors, McGrath served as ombudsman, mediator and conflict resolution expert, supervised mediation and quality measurement staff, executive service call center, and correspondence staff and developed quality tracking, measurement, reporting/organizational learning systems. McGrath also brings a wealth of experience in developing database-driven business systems and service quality assessment/manage

