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Date: Thursday, July 27, 2000, 2:57 PM -0400
From: Faulkner Information Services <mailserver@faulknerinfo.com>
To: ???
Subject: Faulkner's Systems Flash 07/27/00 - (Part 1 of 2)





Systems &Technology Flash




Publication Date: 07/26/00


Preview
Systems &Technology Flash is a biweekly news summary covering computer
systems and software, and vendors. This flash covers the period July 14,
2000 to July 26, 2000. 


Top of the News
Talks between Sun Microsystems and Intel Corp., aimed towards combining
Sun's Solaris operating system and Intel's upcoming Itanium chip, have
reached a stalemate. Intel claimed that Sun was not showing a commitment
towards designing a version of Solaris to run on Intel's developing chip,
and Sun's spokesman stated that the plans were not a high priority for the
company. In related news, Intel and Macromedia formed an alliance to
incorporate Intel's 3D graphics technology into Macromedia's Shockwave
Player. The company reported that the combination will enhance the
next-generation quality interactive games, online shopping, and next
generation entertainment services.


Mergers/Acquisitions
Cisco Systems inked an agreement to acquire privately held Netiverse, a
provider of content acceleration technology that enhances networking
devices, strengthening Cisco's content networking services. Cisco will
exchange $210 million for all outstanding shares and options of Netiverse.

Hemera bought GraphicCorp, a division of Corel, and Corel's collection of
premium and stock digital photographic images. As part of the deal, Corel
obtained a 23 percent equity interest in Hemera. The companies also report
that they agreed to allow Corel the licensed right to use and distribute
the image content in its products and online services.

National Semiconductor bought Vivid Semiconductor, a flat-panel display
company. National reports that the acquisition will further the company's
development of silicon products for the flat-panel display market and
provide the capability to run high voltage designs on its standard CMOS
processes at its manufacturing facility in South Portland, Maine. 

NetCom, a Swedish carrier, placed a $3.11-billion bid on the table for
Societe Europeene de Communications. NetCom will hand over one share of its
Class A and B common stock in exchange for 11.5 shares of Societe's
equivalent stock. If the bid is accepted, NetCom will gain operations in
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, France,
Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. 

Proxim acquired privately held Farallon Communications, developer of
plug-and-play networking products. Through this acquisition, Proxim will
broaden its offerings for the home networking, small business, and
education markets by adding Macintosh-compatible wireless connectivity and
other broadband networking products, strengthening Proxim's position in the
market. Proxim purchased Farallon for 121,654 shares of Proxim's common
stock worth approximately $10 million and $4 million in cash.


Alliances/Joint Ventures
ADC signed a global framework agreement with Compaq, covering the service
assurance elements of the Singularit.e suite of OSS products. The agreement
will enable Compaq to offer products and services including network
performance management, service level agreement tools, and network
performance management for carrier-class IP services.

Allaire formed a strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems to formally
license Sun's J2EE technology. Currently, Allaire is using the J2EE
technology in its java-based application server, JRun 3.0.

Andersen Consulting and DataMirror reached an agreement to use DataMirror's
Transformation Server software to provide data integration and
synchronization for Andersen's Global Data Delivery Project. The project
will be employed towards Andersen member firms' Mainframe, Oracle, and NT
SQL Server platforms. The total value of the Andersen Consulting-DataMirror
arrangement over the life of the contract period will exceed $2.5 million
CDN. Also, Anderson Consulting and Jenzabar reached an agreement to use
Anderson's eCommerce infrastructure to support Jenzabar's portal of
services for college students. 

Apogee Networks and Computer Sciences Corporation formed a global marketing
alliance to market Apogee's NetCountant Platform and Services to Enterprise
Clients. CSC will utilize Apogee's NetCountant as an oustourced service to
its global customer base. 

Broadbase Software and BEA Systems formed a strategic alliance to integrate
Broadbase's analytic and marketing automation applications with BEA
WebLogic Commerce Server and BEA WebLogic Personalization Server. Both
companies will then jointly market the product sets. 

Also, BEA Systems and NEC will ally to combine BEA's E-Commerce Services
Division with NEC's systems integration expertise to deliver a B2B
e-commerce service to the Japanese market. BEA will expand the agreement by
providing the BEA WebLogic Server and other products for NEC's e-business
initiative, iBestSolutions. BEA Systems also formed an alliance with TANTAU
Software to enable e-businesses to extend wired e-commerce services for
mobile device users. 

NetReality entered into a technology partnership with BMC Software to
integrate NetReality's WiseWan service with BMC's PATROL product line. The
combined service will optimize network performance for business-critical
applications by leveraging the combination of WiseWan's data collecting and
traffic shaping capabilities for WANs and PATROL's application management
and monitoring expertise. 

Compaq and CMGI announced a new joint venture that will provide web-based
products and services for a variety of vertical employee groups. The new
company, Freeup, will place information and tools into specific subject
areas designed to simplify procedures and increase productivity. The
company's web site, Freeup.com, will launch later this year. 

Computer Sciences Corporation and international logistics company, Dachser
GmbH, established a joint venture offering IT Logistics to the European
market. Called eChainlogistics, the new company will offer logistic
services in the supply-chain-management environment to industry and trade. 

Corel struck a deal with Andara Technologies, a provider of PCs, notebooks,
and peripherals. The agreement consists of Corel's LINUX OS OEM,
WorldPerfect, and Office 2000 for Linux OEM bundled with Andara's mid-range
PCs and workstations. 

EDS reported a plan to invest $100 million to DigitalThink to develop the
latter's E-Learning sales and service. In an unrelated agreement, EDS
agreed to purchase $50 million of DigitalThink products over the next five
years for its employees. 

Fujitsu and Microsoft formed an alliance to establish a Fujitsu Integration
Centre for Windows 2000. The Centre is designed to build and test e-service
solutions with the combination of networked hardware and software. 

IBM and BackWeb Technologies agreed to a three-year alliance to develop CRM
applications, targeting the telecommunications and financial services
industries. The firms will integrate BackWeb Foundation software with
WebSphere studio tools and Visual Age for Java to enable developers to
push-enable Web sites, portals, and applications. In addition, BackWeb will
build offerings on IBM's DB2 Universal Database and RS/6000, AIX, and
Netfinity servers as preferred middleware and hardware platforms. 

Talks between Sun Microsystems and Intel Corp., aimed towards combining
Sun's Solaris operating system and Intel's upcoming Itanium chip, have
reached a stalemate. Intel claimed that Sun wasn't showing a commitment
towards designing a version of Solaris to run on Intel's developing chip,
and Sun's spokesman stated that the plans were not a high priority for the
company. In related news, Intel and Macromedia formed an alliance to
incorporate Intel's Internet 3D graphics technology into Macromedia's
Shockwave Player. The company reported that the combination will enhance
the next-generation quality interactive games, online shopping, and next
generation entertainment services. 

Itochu Techno-Science Corporation reported an agreement to provide the
SnapTrack SmartServer-enabled wireless location platforms to Japanese
users. 

Microsoft Corp. and KPMG extended their six-month-old Microsoft.Dot.com
service to include Dot.Ramp. The service will combine KPMG's consulting
services on the Microsoft.Net platform. 

KPNQwest and Inktomi formed an alliance to expand capabilities for content
distributions and streaming media to KPNQwests pan-European IP network. The
companies' report that the integration of Inktomi's Network Products into
KPNQwest's network is designed to improve the access and delivery of
content. 

Lightspeed Systems and MicroAge Technology Services reported a partnership
to deliver management services to clients using Windows networks. 

Lucent, Fujitsu, and NTT Communicationware will supply an experimental IP
core network system for NTT DoCoMo's mobile communications development
plans. DoCoMo will use the system to evaluate an all-IP core network for
use in mobile communications. The trial system includes Fujitsu's EA1000 IP
router platform for IP core networks and mobile IP platform for managing
voice and data mobility using IP technology. It also uses Lucent's
Softswitch-based call agent platform and APX 8000 multi-service access
switch. NTT Communicationware will provide service applications. 

marchFIRST has selected WebTrends Corporation's Enterprise Reporting Server
as its standard Web visitor for the marchFIRST HostOne iFrame Partner
Program. WebTrends Enterprise Reporting Server will provide eBusiness
Intelligence reporting to marchFIRST HostOne clients, using a browser-based
interface to allow managers throughout client organizations to view and
administer real-time Web traffic analysis and reporting on Sun Solaris, Red
Hat Linux and Microsoft Windows NT/2000. 

Micromuse inked an agreement with Internetwork Integration (INT2) to resell
its Netcool suite applications. INT2 will implement the Netcool suite to
enable a managed network monitoring service for turnkey, outsourced
development and integration of a network, system, and software
infrastructure. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers's Unifi Network will combine with Standard &Poor's
Retirement Services to provide personalized information, education and
advice via the Internet participants whose retirement plans are
administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Unifi Network. A
PricewaterhouseCoopers also formed an alliance with the Saratoga Institute,
a company specializing in quantitative measurement of human capital, formed
a strategic alliance to combine Unifi's human resource capabilities with
Saratoga's human capital capabilities. Under the agreement, Unifi's clients
will have access to industry as well as company-specific human capital
statistics. 

Rare Medium and Sun Microsystems will combine efforts towards developing
e-business by using Sun hardware, iPlanet software and the Solaris
Operating Environment. The plans include the iForce iIntegrator program,
which is geared towards e-commerce and application development. 

Rolls-Royce agreed on July 6, 2000 to a contract with EDS worth $2.1
billion. EDS will render global information technology, E-business, and
consulting services. 

Telefonica and Microsoft signed a joint services contract under which
Telefonica will use Microsoft software designed for call centers, wireless
telephony, and Internet services. In exchange, Microsoft will gain access
to fixed and wireless telephony services and call centers in countries
serviced by the Spanish telco. The two also will jointly develop
applications and technologies for clients. 

Open Systems Solutions formed a partnership with StorageTek to combine its
in-house data storage specialists with StorageTek's in data storage systems
to create a superpower in the industry. OSSI's partnership with StorageTek
will provide a basis for investing in strong data storage services. 

Overland Data reported that StorageTek is licensing Overland's Variable
Rate Randomizer (VR2) technology. Overland's StorageTek will integrate
Overland's VR2 technology into StorageTek's 9840 tape drive technology,
both access-centric and capacity-centric versions. 

Symantec entered a general distribution agreement with Legend Digital China
to strengthen its mark in China. The agreement states that as the
authorized distributor of Symantec's software products in China, Legend
Digital China will strengthen Symantec's sales channels and establish
technological support and training centers. 

Unisys and Exult formed a strategic alliance in the human resource and
information technology departments. Exult will provide human resource,
process development strategies to Unisys's consulting and transaction
departments while Unisys will provide its information technology services
to maintain and support Exult's clients. 

Usinternetworking, Inc. will offer Latitude Communications, Inc.'s
MeetingPlace real-time e-conferencing software as a part of its Enterprise
Messaging and Collaboration service offering. The agreement adds
MeetingPlace as a component of Usi's standard suite of collaboration tools,
integrating with the Microsoft Exchange platform. 

Webraska Mobile Technologies has been selected by Airtel to provide
navigation services to Airtel Conect@ WAP portal subscribers. The service
will include traffic information, proximity, and navigation service.


Electronic Business
E-business offerings developer ACOM Solutions and software developer Open
Systems formed an alliance to assist Open Systems customers in streamlining
their payments processes using conventional printed MICR checks, ACH direct
deposits, or F-EDI transactions. ACOM will also contribute its Paragon
EDI/XML e-commerce offering, as well as EZPrint/400, a forms offering
designed to enable users to eliminate preprinted mult-part forms and
convert all or part of their back-office operations to electronic forms
that reside on the computer as templates until needed. 

Andersen Consulting and antfactory reported intentions to develop
e-business with major corporations in Europe. This venture will combine
antfactory's investment experience and Andersen Consulting's network of
Dot-Com Launch Centers. 

Ariba agreed with Epylon, a provider of e-business applications for
education and government institutions, to collaborate on the development of
an integrated platform for public sector procurement. Andersen Consulting
also agreed to contribute procurement software and services tailored for
the public sector for the platform, which will be based on Epylon's
e-business offerings and Ariba's B2B Commerce Platform. 

Avaya introduced CRM Agent Access, a package of computer telephony
integration-enabled applications available in three configurations. The
basic edition delivers "screen pop," for viewing account data upon call
arrival, and "soft phone," for telephone capabilities through the computer
screen. To these capabilities, the expanded edition adds task automation
features. The routing edition affords businesses an added layer of
intelligence for determining which resources best address customer needs. 

Enterprise communications offerings provider Brooktrout Software and
wireless software developer RTS Wireless introduced an application designed
to allow subscribers of Internet services to listen to their e-mail using
digital mobile phones. The e-mail reader, which will be offered to
enterprises and ISPs, was developed with Show N Tel, Brooktrout Software's
Windows NT-based rapid application development environment for
communication offerings that integrate phones, PCs, and the Internet. 

Computer Sciences Corporation released eMHC, a tool used to enable a
web-based system of healthplan transactions. The company reports users can
access their personal, password-protected profile, and obtain information
on eligibility, benefit information, referral processing, referral inquiry,
status inquiry, and member maintenance. 

Flooz.com reported that it is licensing speech recognition technology from
NetByTel to enable e-commerce transactions via voice telephone calls.
Flooz, which offers online gift certificates, will license NetByTel's
telephone e-business platform, NetByTel Connected, to allow customers to
shop on the Web without an Internet connection.  

Forecross rolled out the L2X SmartXML Suite, a package of programs and
services intended to offer legacy- to- Web information transfer without
middleware. Comprising modules designed for application to mainframe CICS
programs, data file exchanges, reports, and batch programs, SmartXML
eliminates the need for middleware by delivering XML data exchange
functionality directly into mainframe applications. 

An alliance of IBM, Ariba, and i2 Technologies was selected to build the
WorldWide Retail Exchange, an online marketplace for retail merchant
suppliers. Participants in the new exchange, including Kmart, Target, and
CVS, have combined yearly sales of approximately $454 billion. 

iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions reported that Hewlett-Packard licensed and
shipped the iPlanet Directory Server bundled with the HP-UX operating
environment. Inclusion of iPlanet Directory Server for use on every HP-UX
11 system is intended to promote directory services as a strategic
component of Internet business offerings. 

Lawson Software added 30 new performance indicators to its Workforce
Analytics e-service, bringing to 70 the total number of indicators offered.
Indicators provide enterprise human resources metrics covering
organizational effectiveness, benefits, separations, compensation, and
staffing; they include a set of standard ratios such as time to fill, cost
per hire, accession rate, retention rate, add rate, replacement rate, time
to start, and offer acceptance rate. 

NEC, Sumitomo, Hewlett-Packard, and Ariba established a joint venture
company that will provide a horizontal e-marketplace. The new company, to
launch in November 2000, will provide stationary, office supplies, books,
and ASP services on its Internet site. 

Oracle reported its selection to be a technology partner for Aeroxchange, a
proposed B2B e-commerce exchange for the airline industry. Oracle will
supply technology and a hosting platform to provide the new hub with online
auctioning, reverse auctioning, contract and spot buying capabilities, as
well as collaborative supply chain planning functionality designed to
facilitate capacity and demand planning for participating suppliers. 

Novell unveiled DirXML, integration software that enables new business
services to migrate to e-Business. DirXML utilizes the NDS eDirectory by
allowing first-time companies to fully integrate business processes and
existing applications across the enterprise. DirXML combines an XML and
DirXML cross-platform and cross-network information exchange, centralizing
a company's e-business processes and delivering a unified global network. 

Oracle reported its selection to be a technology partner for Aeroxchange, a
proposed B2B e-commerce exchange for the airline industry. Oracle will
supply technology and a hosting platform to provide the new hub with online
auctioning, reverse auctioning, contract and spot buying capabilities, as
well as collaborative supply chain planning functionality designed to
facilitate capacity and demand planning for participating suppliers. 

Peakstone reported that it is working with BEA Systems to deliver Internet
services to ASPs and eCommerce businesses. Peakstone will integrate its
eAssurance services with BEA WebLogic Server to provide eCommerce
infrastructure and applications that includes 24x7 Web site service. In
related news, BEA Systems launched the BEA WebLogic Process Integrator, a
process integration and workflow engine that handles e-business process
management. The Process Integrator runs on the BEA WebLogic Server and
provides a J2EE standards-based service with seamless e-process support for
integrating business partners, managing enterprise workflows, and
assembling Java components. 

RioLabs introduced Proximal Version 1.8, the latest release of its B2B
supplier enablement suite. Featuring new support for two-way EDI
transactions, the offering is intended to allow users to integrate EDI
inventory transactions, purchase orders, and pricing with Commerce One and
Ariba exchanges, among others. The tool is also designed to support global
and domestic standards recommended by ebXML, Rosetta, and CommerceNet. 

SAP AG and Telecom Italia reached an agreement, whereby Telecom Italia's
Internet unit Wireline and SAP will supply small and medium-sized
enterprises with advanced tools to manage both their internal processes and
external relationships with customers and suppliers. SAP and Wireline will
provide customers pre-configured IT offerings in the form of templates. The
offerings will be hosted by Wireline and will be based on templates
developed by SAP and partners under SAP Italy's "mybusinessSolution"
initiative, an Italian version of the SAP AG "Ready to Go" package. 

SAS Institute unveiled JMP Statistical Discovery Software Version 4, an
intuitive statistical software package built for Macintosh and intended to
tailor designs based upon users' descriptions of manufacturing problems,
such as interactions, factors, budget constraints, and goals. It offers
speed on G4 in calculating iterative clustering on large data tables, which
SAS claims to be at least three times faster than on a 500 MHz
Windows-based processor. There's also AppleScript support for sending JMP
Scripting Language (JSL) to JMP, as well as use of Apple's Speech
functionality via JSL. 

CRM software provider SEDONA released Intarsia, an eCRM offering designed
to provide personalized customer interactions for small- to mid-sized banks
and financial services organizations. In addition to selling Intarsia,
SEDONA will offer the product to customers as an application service
requiring only a browser and an Internet connection. Users may access
Intarsia via wireless devices, such as laptops and handheld PCs. Intarsia
also offers a new portal front-end allowing complete personalization of the
system. 

VerticalNet reported establishment of a joint venture firm with Softbank
E-Commerce. Kabushiki Kaisha, headquartered in Tokyo, will launch versions
of VerticalNet trading communities for Japanese B2B organizations. The
communities will offer features such as localized editorial content and
community services tailored to meet the needs of Japanese businesses. 

Visa USA, Cisco, and Sun Microsystems reported plans to collaborate on Visa
DirectExchange, a private financial payment network based upon Sun's
computing platform and Cisco's intelligent routing technologies. The
network is intended to enable processing of all US-issued Visa credit and
debit cards at a volume of 10,000 messages per second with capabilities for
exponential growth to more than 100 billion annual transactions.  Should
you have any questions, concerns or problems with your flash, please
contact us at: mailto:flash@faulkner.com 

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