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---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Wednesday, December 08, 1999, 1:49 PM -0500
From: Faulkner Information Services <flash@faulkner.com>
To: ???
Subject: Faulkner Systems Flash - 12/08/99 - (Part 1 of 2)

                               TOP OF THE NEWS

	 The Department of Justice and 19 states reportedly will file specific
charges against Microsoft under federal antitrust law. The charges include
two violations of Section Two of the Sherman Act, for the illegal protection
and extension of the company's monopoly on operating systems, and a third
violation for Microsoft's business practices. Additionally, the states are
expected to file charges under state laws.

Agreements/Joint Ventures 
	 American Management Systems allied with Ariba to offer e-commerce products
and services for government-to-business transactions. AMS will market,
resell, and provide services for Ariba's e-commerce line. AMS will also
launch a Web-based commerce site designed to facilitate transactions between
government customers and business suppliers.
	 Bull and Electronic Data Systems launched Civita, an innovative joint
venture aimed at streamlining local government in the UK by 2008 to provide
citizen-centric community services. Civita plans to utilize various means of
communications such as the telephone, the Internet, the smart cards,
interactive television and direct dialog in order to provide information
	 Computer Associates and Fudan Grand Horizon Information Technology
partnered to create a joint venture, "Guanghua-CA," an application service
provider which will provide CA's applications over the Internet to small-
and mid-sized companies in China.
	 Dell reported plans to install the Linux operating system on a line of
high-end computer servers. Dell also said Red Hat will provide customers
service and technical support.
	 Hewlett-Packard (HP) agreed to supply technology, consulting, financing,
and HP Critical Systems Support for Internet start-up Colorstamps, whose
search engine features a cost-per-click through model for advertisers and a
click-through cash rewards model for customers. 
	 Hewlett-Packard and Getronics expanded their existing relationship to
	 offer a complete package of IT management components and support by
combining HP OpenView IT enterprise-management offerings with Getronics'
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consulting services. 
	 Also, HP reported that it will integrate its HP OpenView suite of
enterprise-management offerings with MagicWatch system-management services,
Siemens' medical Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS). The
combined offerings are intended to provide advanced system management for
PACS for the healthcare field. 
	 HP also agreed to a deal with Amazon.com wherein HP will provide the
systems for Amazon.com's Web infrastructure. Amazon.com's Consumer
Electronics store will also increase its selection of HP offerings.
	 IBM and Sprint PCS reported plans to jointly develop and test a variety of
wireless business applications and services for the mobile workforce. The
services will be designed to enable business people to use the Sprint PCS
Wireless Web to send and receive corporate email and access schedules,
contacts and personalized corporate business applications in "real time" on
Sprint PCS Internet-ready phones. 
	 IBM also formed an agreement with Extricity Software to deliver
Internet-based business-to-business integration software worldwide. IBM will
resell and market Extricity AllianceSeries B2B e-commerce software. 
	 In addition, with NTT Communications, and Tivoli Systems, IBM agreed to
form a computer network partnership targeting corporate customers in Japan.
Starting in April 2000, the companies will provide services ranging from the
installation of computer networks and software to network management.
	 Inktomi agreed to integrate its Search and Directory Engines into SAP's
mySAP.com Marketplace, thereby creating research and navigational offerings
for the enterprise portal market. 
	 Inktomi also reported that e-commerce Web site operator Verio will
integrate Inktomi's Traffic Server network cache platform into Verio's
content distribution service to accelerate Web download response time. The
integration is also expected to lower bandwidth costs, as Web content will
be stored closer to the user. 
	 In addition, Inktomi formed a strategic alliance with Enron Communications
to integrate Inktomi's Traffic Server cache platform into the Enron
Intelligent Network. The resulting product is intended to provide scalable
management of high-volume network traffic while offering bandwidth capacity
for broadband e-business functions and content distribution.
	 Lotus and Nokia agreed to jointly build and deploy WAP offerings that will
run on Lotus Domino, thereby extending corporate intranets to remote users.
	 NEC and Hitachi agreed to form a joint venture DRAM company to be called
"NEC-Hitachi Memory". Operations are slated to begin from April 2000. The
company will have an initial paid-in capital of 500 million Yen, which is
planned to be increased to 2 billion Yen and is to be contributed equally by
the two partners.
	 PricewaterhouseCoopers formed a partnership with XUMA, a maker of custom
built e-commerce systems. The companies agreed to cooperate to offer
software and services targeted at helping customers quickly implement
e-commerce operations.
	 Following Intel's acquisition of subsidiary DSP Communications (DSPC),
Intel and DSPC extended DSPC's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) ASIC
patent license agreement with QUALCOMM. The pact is a cross-licensing deal
for DSPC and Qualcomm to produce and sell CDMA ASICs under each other's
patents. SAP and IBM formed an agreement to bundle SAP's business management
software with IBM's DB2 data base, thereby making the data base available
for non-IBM platforms. SAP also agreed to make IBM's DB2 its preferred
platform. Sun Microsystems formed an agreement with Chase Manhattan, First
	 Union, and Wells Fargo, to develop a common Internet billing-payment
system for customers of the three banks.
	 Yahoo reported that Yahoo Germany and Deutsche Bank 24 teamed up to offer
personal banking services to Yahoo! Germany users and Deutsche Bank 24
customers. The companies will launch a free, bank account information
service, as well as a co-branded credit card.

Applications Software 
	 Allaire introduced HomeSite 4.5, the latest version of its HTML editing
tool. New features include collapsible code, split window editing, function
insight, and a scriptable site deployment system.
	 Fujitsu introduced TeamWARE Office 5.3 for Linux, a groupware offering,
based on the Linux platform, that is designed to meet the intranet needs of
small and medium-sized companies.
	 Fujitsu Computers introduced its Corema EXPRESS CRM offering for marketing
professionals. Based on Microsoft technology, the tool is designed to enable
marketers to target potential customers by evaluating their purchasing
habits. Inprise introduced a Solaris edition of its JBuilder 3 Enterprise
	 visual development tool for the Java 2 platform. It includes support for
Inprise's upcoming Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition.
	 Intel and RealNetworks unveiled RealPresenter with Intel Presentation
Software, which combines RealNetwork's media delivery system with Intel's
business communications offerings. The product is designed to provide
streaming of presentations to workgroups (and to the whole enterprise and
the Internet, if utilized with RealServer.
	 Intel and CSI agreed to partner in developing CSI's Choiceseat interactive
sports technology. The companies will jointly develop offerings that will
enhance delivery of interactive sports data, such as real time statistics
and personalized replays, to PCs built into stadium seats.
	 Interleaf's e-content company division reported the integration of
Microsoft's PowerPoint presentation software as an authoring tool within
enterprise content management offering, BladeRunner. This will extend
BladeRunner's authoring capabilities by allowing users to generate XML
content from data stored in PowerPoint.
	 Microsoft reported that an updated version of Internet Explorer, IE 5.5,
	 is available for download at its Web site. The updated version features
improved CSS, DHTML, vertical text, and a new print preview that speeds the
printing of content from the Web.
	 SGI introduced OpenGL Vizserver, an offering that uses the Onyx2
visualization workstation as a graphics server to allow viewing and
manipulation of large data sets from a desktop system at any organizational
location. The design is chiefly targeted at clients with scientific data
visualization needs. 
	 SGI also introduced its High-Definition Graphics-to-Video-Out (HD GVO)
offering for the Onyx2 visual computing platform. The new product delivers
real-time digital high-definition output, enabling broadcasters to produce
HDTV graphics for virtual sets and real-time character generation.
	 In addition, SGI introduced a Linux version of its IRIS Performer 2.3
real-time rendering toolkit, which supports the OpenGL graphics library. It
will operate on future IA-32 and IA-64 architecture-based systems, in
addition to present Intel Pentium systems.
	 The Sun-Netscape Alliance introduced the iPlanet TradingXpert 3.5
application designed to help companies build trading communities that
leverage their current technology investments. The Alliance also reported
that it is embedding technologies from Receipt.com and Edifecs Commerce into
the iPlanet commerce exchange applications.
	 Sybase introduced its modeling tool, Powerdesigner 7.0, which features an
integrated object-focused design layer to simplify the delivery of
distributed applications. 
	 Sybase also reported an Early Adopter release of its Enterprise Portal
	 (EP) offering, code-named OpenDoor. It is designed to facilitate Web
content management and personalization via development tools derived from an
integration of current business software and data bases.
	 Xerox's Chrystal Software introduced a Java-based end-to-end publishing
application that will enable users to work with XML and SGML offerings in
Sun Microsystem's Solaris environments.
	 Xerox's Chrystal Software introduced an offering, Eclipse, that utilizes
user search criteria and previously entered profile data to deliver only
information that might be of interest to the user.

Chip Technology News 
	 Advanced Micro Devices increased the frequency on its Athlon processor,
introducing a x86-compatible Athlon that runs at a speed of 750MHz. Built
using AMD's aluminum 0.18-micron manufacturing process, the Athlon exceeds
the speed of the Pentium III chip, which runs at 733 MHz. 	AMD also
introduced its 533MHz K6-2 processor, which is based on its 0.25-micron
five-layer-process technology. It also features 3DNow! Technology designed
for improved visuals in 3D graphics and multimedia applications. 
	 In addition, AMD introduced four versions of its K6 2E embedded
	 processors. The 350MHz and 333MHz standard power processors run at a
standard 2.2-volt core voltage. The 333MHz and 300MHz low-power processors
run at a reduced core voltage of 1.9 volts.
	 Dell briefly suspended manufacture and shipment of its Pentium III-based
systems, pending additional lab testing. Intel reported that a small
percentage of the new series of Pentium III chips have a bug that interferes
with the boot-up process of a PC.
	 IBM unveiled a 40 gigabit per second communications chip based on a
combination of a new 0.18-micron silicon-germanium (SiGe) technology and
IBM's copper interconnect process.
	 Intel rolled out a chipset that uses Direct RDRAM memory technology and
	 AGP 4x Graphics capabilities to enhance the speed, memory, and graphics
potential of Pentium III processor-based PCs. 
	 Intel also reported that it has begun shipping prototype computers based
	 on the new Itanium processor to hardware and software manufacturers for
debugging. SGI enhanced the memory storage capacity of its Octane visual
	 workstations with the introduction of 2GB DIMMS (dual inline memory
modules). System memory can be expanded up to a maximum of 8GB,
facilitating performance for 3D applications.
	 Texas Instruments unveiled a new line of supervisory circuits designed to
draw only 14 micro-amps while monitoring core voltages as low as 1.2
Volts(V) and supply voltages as low as 1.08 V. The processors, which also
offer an integrated watchdog and manual reset function, make possible the
addition of new options for portable and handheld devices. 
	 TI also introduced new lines of DC-DC converters and DC power controllers
intended to improve the management of DC power in handheld products. The new
devices are designed to boost system performance while reducing board space
and number of components needed in DSP and microprocessor applications.

Data Warehousing 
	 SAS Institute reported plans to release two more products into the
	 business intelligence market, designed to handle data collection and data
mining. The products are expected to be available early next year, and
tentatively carry the names Web Hound and Web Mining.

Electronic Commerce 
	 Hyperion successfully tested the beta version of Hyperion Essbase OLAP
Server 6. Hyperion Essbase 6 permits the deployment of new classes of
analytic applications in areas such as e-Business, Customer Relationship
Management (CRM), Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), and Supply Chain
analytics. Beta testing was conducted at Consumers Energy, Mentor Graphics,
Sea-Land Service, and other sites.
	 Lawson Software plans to enter the customer-relationship management
software arena with a sales-force automation application early next year. A
suite of CRM applications will follow. Lawson Insight II Customer
Relationship Management will include a customer-tracking application with a
graphical interface.
	 Salesforce.com introduced a customer resource management service in the
form of a Web site that handles front-office functions. The company, funded
by Oracle's Larry Ellison and others, aims to serve companies with 10 to 200
salespeople. Features of its service, available for a monthly fee, include
account management, contact management, opportunity management, forecasting,
and reports.
	 SAS Institute unveiled the Churn Management Solution for
Telecommunications, designed to help telecommunications companies reduce
customer defection. It is the first offering from SAS Institute's CRM
Knowledge Solution Series (CKSS). The product helps companies predict which
customers are likely to leave so that they can take appropriate action.

Financial News 
	 For fiscal 1999, Hewlett-Packard reported that net revenue from continuing
operations rose 7 percent to $42.4 billion. Net income from continuing
operations was $3.1 billion, an increase of 16 percent from $2.7 billion in
fiscal 1998. Diluted net earnings per share were $2.97, up 18 percent from
the $2.52 earned last year.
	 For the first half of fiscal 1999, Hitachi
~HT~http://www.hitachi.co.jp/~ht~ reported net sales of 3,802,999 million
yen or $35,542 million, compared to 3,897,163 million yen or $28,868 million
of the prior year period. Net earnings were 3448 million yen or $32 million,
compared to a net loss of 142,228 million yen or $1054 million. Basic
earnings per share were 1.03 yen or $0.01 versus basic loss per share of
42.61 yen or $0.32. Improved results, in spite of negative effects from the
stronger yen, were attributed to recovery in the memory chip and LCD
divisions.

Internet
	 In conjunction with management consulting subsidiary A.T. Kearney, EDS
launched a business unit concentrating on online auctions. Unlike sites such
as eBay, which focus on smaller consumer transactions, EDS' site will focus
on multi-million dollar transactions between businesses. EDS began offering
auction services early in 1999.
	 Excite@Home reported that the @Home service is available through Compaq.
Compaq's high-speed Internet services Web site is designed to help customers
learn about the @Home service, check to see if the service is available in
their neighborhood, sign up, and arrange for an installation. Consumers also
can purchase Compaq Presario PCs with network cards for a connection to the
@Home service.
	 Yahoo introduced Spamguard, a feature for Yahoo Mail that is expected to
reduce the intrusion of unsolicited commercial e-mail. Spamguard is designed
to automatically detect spam and direct it to a separate folder.

Legal News 
	 Representatives of Microsoft and the Justice Department met again to
discuss possible settlement of the government antitrust suit against the
software giant, on the same day the Justice Department and 19 states filed
papers charging Microsoft with abuse of its monopoly power. The two-track
strategy is designed to assure that if the two sides cannot negotiate a
settlement, the trial will proceed.

Mergers/Acquisitions 
	 AOL acquired Tegic Communications in a move designed to support its "AOL
Anywhere" strategy for mobile phones and other devices.
	 CSC acquired ECS Integrated Technology Solutions, a consulting firm
	 focused on Oracle applications. ECS has 80 employees and $18.5 million in
yearly revenues.
	 Ernst & Young disclosed that it is in talks with Cap Gemini about selling
its consulting business. The move would be aimed at avoiding potential
conflicts of interest raised by being an auditor and investor in customers.
The same pressure is leading other big five firms, such as KPMG, to consider
selling their consulting units or taking the units public.
	 Affinity Internet Holdings acquired ICL's GamesZone. The games service
	 will operate within the wholly owned subsidiary EGO Maniacs.net,
Affinity's online games company.
	 Informix and Ardent Software reached a definitive agreement to combine
their operations in a transaction valued, on a fully diluted basis, at
approximately $880 million. The agreement, already approved unanimously by
the Boards of Directors of both companies, calls for 3.5 shares of Informix
common stock to be exchanged for each outstanding Ardent share.
Faulkner Information Service
Flash Account
flash@faulkner.com
114 Cooper Center
Pennsauken, N.J. 08109
(609) 662 2070
http://www.faulkner.com



---------- End Forwarded Message ----------



Missy Harvey
Computer Science Librarian
Engineering & Science Library
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA  15213

http://www.library.cmu.edu/usr/missy/

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