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---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2000, 2:19 PM -0400
From: Faulkner Mail Server <mailserver@faulknerinfo.com>
To: ???
Subject: Faulkner's Systems Flash 04/26/00 - (Part 1 of 2)

Top of the News

	 The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce submitted its report on
Internet tax issues to Congress. The commission returned a two-thirds
majority vote stressing that Congress protect consumer privacy on the
Internet; make permanent a standstill on international tariffs on
e-commerce; and address the "Digital Divide" issue, permitting all Americans
to participate in the Internet economy. The report also suggested repeal of
the Federal three-percent tax on telephone services; a tax cut of $5 billion
annually for American consumers; a permanent ban on states' or localities'
taxation on Internet access charges; extension of the current Internet tax
moratorium on multiple and discriminatory taxation targeted at the Internet;
and clarification of nexus standards to make fair the obligation of
businesses to collect and remit state and local taxes on remote transactions
over the Internet.

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Alliances/Joint Ventures 
	 Aether Systems, a provider of wireless data technology, and Research in
Motion (RIM) inked a three-year deal. Aether agreed to pay RIM for software
licensing fees and handhelds. In addition, Aether will host RIM's BlackBerry
wireless e-mail offering, while RIM will market Aether's software and
services to its customers.
	 Compaq and RSA Security teamed to offer MultiPrime cryptography to
	 wireless developers. MultiPrime uses three or more prime factors and
parallelism to provide performance with smaller mathematical operations.
Both Compaq and RSA Security plan to incorporate the technology into their
products.  Compaq also formed an alliance with StorageNetworks for the
	 development of services to e-businesses. StorageNetworks will implement
Compaq's storage technology in its Global Data Storage Network, and the
companies will work together to market data storage products.
	 Corel and Polywell are working together to bundle Corel's Linux OS and
WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux with any one of Polywell's multi-boot
Linux, Windows 98, NT, or 2000 systems. 
	 Corel is also working with CTL through which CTL will offer a dual boot
computer system bundled with Corel's Linux OS, WordPerfect Office 2000 for
Linux, and Windows 98.
	  Crucial, a division of Micron launched its Crucial.Link Channel eStore to
offer memory upgrades through Buy.com. Buy.com will utilize Crucial's
Web-based tools to provide its customers the opportunity to purchase Crucial
memory upgrade products.
	  Excite@Home partnered with Rhythms NetConnections to offer DSL-based
Internet service. Rhythms agreed to invest $15 million in Excite@Home
subsidiary @Home Solutions as part of the deal.
	 Hewlett-Packard and Alventive formed an alliance to build and deliver
Design-To-Order offerings for B2B customers involved in discrete
manufacturing. The products will be delivered through the Alventive Online
Design Community portal.
	 IBM and the Noble Group signed a memorandum of understanding to create an
online marketplace for raw materials trading, RawMart.com. 
	 IBM and Genuity also formed an agreement through which Genuity will offer
IBM's WebSphere Commerce suite bundled with Genuity's web hosting on a Cisco
Powered Network.
	 IBM Global Services inked a deal to help Scoot.com market its services
across Europe. IBM Global Services agreed to offer Web hosting and IT
support to Scoot customers. It will provide Scoot with a turnkey platform
for hosting Web applications.
	 Informix made an equity investment in Computerized Thermal Imaging, which
uses Informix's data base for its medical imaging systems.
	 Inprise/Borland and Hitachi signed an amendment to an existing licensing
agreement for CORBA and Java Development Technology. The companies' research
and development laboratories will work together on Inprise/Borland's
VisiBrokerO product line and Hitachi will continue to license
Inprise/Borland's VisiBroker CORBA object request broker and Inprise's Java
development technology for inclusion in Hitachi's CORBA technology products.
	 IT Securities, a joint venture between Fujitsu and Nikko Securities
debuted. IT Securities is a Japanese-language service targeted primarily at
@nifty subscribers that will assist customers with asset information .
	 National Semiconductor and Internet Appliance Network teamed up to provide
products to the information appliance market. The first product to result
from the alliance is the WebPlayer by VirginConnect, based on the National
Geode WebPad reference platform.
	 Network Solutions picked America Online to host the first two new
	 top-level domain servers for the registrar. The servers will provide
search functions for top level domains including .com, .net. and.org. AOL
beat out 20 other ISPs for the task.

Applications Software 
	 Bull introduced version 5.2 of its OpenMaster secure e-infrastructure
software. The principal enhancements to OpenMaster 5.2 are OpenMaster Report
and Network Governor.
	 Inprise/Borland introduced the Borland MIDAS 3, middleware technology and
components for building Delphi and C++ Builder Internet applications. MIDAS
3 was enhanced to support XML and Dynamic HTML, and includes modified
licensing for small businesses.

Application Service Providers 
	 Computer Associates reported that its Interbiz unit will spin off to
function as an ASP, offering hosted versions of its e-business software. The
spin off is scheduled for the summer of 2000. Interbiz also launched
BizWorks, a product designed to integrate the company's ERP, supply chain
management, and banking applications while providing data analysis
functions. HP struck a deal with ASP CoreHarbor to collaborate on marketing
	 activities for the application host. In addition, CoreHarbor agreed to
use hardware and operating platforms from HP in its data centers.
	 Application service provider USi struck a deal with AT&T to jointly market
and provide application hosting services. AT&T became the preferred network
provider for USi, offering frame relay, ATM, and IP services.

Broadband/Cable Networking 
	 Excite@Home struck a partnership with Rhythms Netconnections, which
	 becomes the first provider of residential, DSL-based Excite@Home service.
Rhythms agreed to invest $15 million in Excite@Home affiliate @Home
Solutions. The deal expands Excite@Home's US footprint by roughly 15.3
million homes while expanding its global footprint by approximately 87.3
million homes.

Chip Technology News 
	 AMD introduced the Mobile AMD-K6 III+ and Mobile AMD-K6-2+ processor
families with speeds up to 500 MHz. Features include high-speed on chip L2
cache, PowerNow battery saving technology, and an enhanced implementation of
3DNow instruction set with DSP instructions.
	 IBM introduced the Travelstar 32GH notebook computer hard disk drives. The
32 GB drive is designed to have the capacity to hold up to hold up to eight
DVD movies.
	 Intel debuted its 0.18-micron Advanced+ Boot Block flash memory. The chip
is designed to minimize the risk of cloning and other types of fraud in
digital mobile phones and Internet appliances. 
	 Intel also debuted its mobile Pentium III with SpeedStep technology at 700
MHz, and its mobile Celeron processor at 550 MHz.
	 SGI introduced InfiniteReality3 graphics engine for the Onyx2
	 visualization workstation. IR3 is designed for applications in the
modeling and simulation, oil and gas, manufacturing, and entertainment
markets.

Data Base Management Systems 
	 IBM introduced DB2 Universal Data Base Version 7. Enhancements include: an
integrated, in-memory relational data base technology designed to speed up
text search for Web applications; XML integration to facilitate data
interchange in support of B2B applications; integrated, scalable warehousing
and data analysis features for fast and easy deployment of business
intelligence offerings; integrated support for spatial data, enabling
companies to visually tie customers or operations to location; and
industry-standard SQL Stored Procedure Language for developing applications.
IBM also reported expansion of its $1 billion commitment to B2B and Data
Management in areas such as product development, new hiring programs, and
marketing campaigns.

Electronic Document Management 
	 Canon released the DC-4050 Digital Document Recorder, a compact desktop
system designed to digitally scan up to 39 documents per minute and allow
data storage on CD-Rs via a built-in CD-Recorder or on a company's network
for global access. In addition to Canon's Smart Filing auto-indexing
functions, it features standard Ethernet connectivity and support for
Windows 95/98/NT, enabling it to serve as a high-speed network scanner.
	 Kodak Document Imaging introduced Document Scanner 9520 and Document
Scanner 7520, new high-volume models, available in Productivity Pack and
Speed Pack configurations. They incorporate Perfect Page Scanning
technology, which features full grayscale, Adaptive Threshold Processing,
Contour Tracing, and a series of image quality algorithms to reduce the need
to re-scan. 
	 Kodak also unveiled its Digital Science Color Scanner 4500 series,
	 designed to provide users with a range of color scanning choices,
including one system with duplex color scanning and pre-scan imprinting.
Another new mid-volume production document scanner, the Digital Science
Scanner 3520, incorporates bi-tonal scanning, a built in front-end document
imprinter, and advanced image processing, such as auto deskew and auto
cropping. Xerox introduced the WorkCentre Pro 215 Digital Printer/Copier, a
platen-based, laser printer/copier with automatic two-sided printing and
copying, an automatic document feeder, and PCL printing capability as
standard features. It is designed to print and copy at 15 ppm and it can
operate without a PC. 
	 Xerox also unveiled four small office/ home office products. WorkCentre
490cx Color Inkjet All-in-One features stand-alone faxing, color copying,
and, when connected to a PC, 10 ppm black and 5 ppm color printing.
WorkCentre 390 Laser All-in-One offers text and image reproduction at 600 x
600 dpi as well as 300 x 600 dpi color scanning. WorkCentre XD130f Digital
Copier/Printer copies at 13 cpm, prints at 8 ppm, and offers a 30-sheet
automatic document feeder. WorkCentre XD125f Digital Copier/Printer copies
at 12 cpm and prints at 8 ppm with 600 x 600 dpi resolution.

Electronic Business 
	 AmeriSource Health, Cardinal Health, Fisher Scientific International,
McKesson HBOC, and Owens & Minor, five of the largest US health
distributors, reported plans to form a Web-based healthcare product
information exchange to streamline procurement of pharmaceutical,
medical-surgical, and other laboratory products and services. The founders,
who expect to invest more than $100 million, will serve as directors of the
hub, which will be an independent company with its own management team.
	 Andersen Consulting and Syncra Systems partnered to provide supply chain
software and services to companies in the consumer products and packaged
goods industry. Andersen agreed to contribute its consulting services, while
Syncra is contributing its Web-based supply chain automation technology.
	 Aspect Communications introduced Aspect eBusiness Architect, a visual
development environment incorporated in the Aspect Customer Relationship
Portal 2000. It is designed to use palettes of graphical, drag-and-drop
business step objects for client/server, data base, Web, e-mail, and voice
applications to create eFlows for encapsulations of business logic. Aspect
also reported that the PaylinXPayment Engine will be included as the Aspect
Portal's payment offering.
	 Baan reported the integration of its BaanERP software component,
BaanProject, with the Microsoft Project 2000 project planning and scheduling
application. The integration is intended to facilitate exchange of
information between the desktop and the project manufacturing environments
by allowing users to pass data such as budget line details, charge element
lines, calendars, and schedules between the two applications.
	 Baltimore Technologies and Unisys reported a global strategic partnership,
whereby the companies will jointly promote and deliver information security
offerings for the e-business market. Unisys' worldwide sales force will
market Baltimore's UniCERT Options PKI offerings and Baltimore will train
and certify up to fifty senior architects from Unisys in North America,
Europe, and Asia.
	 Commerce One reported that a group of 14 energy and petrochemical
companies, including BP Amoco and Royal Dutch/Shell Group, plans to launch
an independent procurement exchange based on the Commerce One Portal
Solution. The exchange is planned for the development of technologies to
reduce inefficiencies in procurement, supply chain management, and capacity
utilization.
	 Computer Associates shipped its Jasmine ii data base. Jasmine ii is
designed to function with the company's Neugent neural network technology to
form a platform for developing e-business systems.
	 EDS CoNext and Ariba agreed to expand their jointly operated online
exchanges into the Canadian market. The launch was slated for mid-2000.
	 HAHT Software reported that it joined Ariba Supplier Link and will offer
its HAHT Sellside Exchange and HAHT Sellside Links for the suppliers
participating on the Ariba B2B platform. The packaged HAHT offering,
combined with Ariba Commerce Services, is intended to provide suppliers with
a single, Web-based point of access and integration with buyers and
e-marketplaces worldwide by facilitating integration with complex systems
such as SAP R/3 and other enterprise systems.
	 IBP, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, Gold Kist, Farmland Industries,
	 Cargill and its red meat business, Excel, signed a letter of intent to
create an online B2B marketplace for meat and poultry products, services,
and information. The initial capitalization for the company is $20 million.
Each of the investing companies will have a seat on the board of directors.
	 Interactive Intelligence reported plans to release a new version of its
Enterprise Interaction Center (EIC) that will more than double its current
capacity. It is designed to allow a single Windows NT or Windows 2000 server
running EIC to handle contact centers with up to 400 agents as well as
enterprises and e-businesses with up to 1000 employees. The latest version
of EIC adds support for new H.100 voice processing boards from Aculab.
	 Latitude Communications introduced MeetingPlace 2000, the next-generation
of its enterprise e-conferencing platform. Expanded capabilities include
enterprise support for converged voice and data networks, integration with
Cisco CallManager, data conferencing features, and new e-conferencing portal
functionality.
	 The new Enterprise Networks Group being spun off from Lucent Technologies
reported initiatives to provide next-generation systems and offerings for
personalized eBusiness communication. 
	 The Enterprise Networks Group also announced it is working with Andersen
Consulting, eLoyalty and PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop, sell, and
integrate enterprise-wide eBusiness offerings. 
	 In addition, the Enterprise Networks Group introduced its eCommunication
model, which is intended to simplify the construction, integration, and
convergence of multiple intelligent networks and multimedia applications.
The company also said it plans to establish a consortium of technology
leaders to participate in defining and developing software components of the
model, set up an eBusiness interoperability lab, and expand its existing ISV
program to include software developers wanting to write applications for the
model.
	 Merrill Lynch and HSBC reported a 50-50 partnership to create a global
online banking and investment services firm. The founders together will
provide up to $1 billion in start-up capital for the new company, to be
initially co-branded Merrill Lynch HSBC. It will be headquartered in London
and will be launched later this year in the UK, with branches in Australia,
Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and other parts of the world to follow.
	 Metamor and iManage inked a deal to jointly to develop and offer
business-to-business collaboration services and technology. The joint
offerings combine Metamor's consulting and integration services with
iManage's project publishing software and business collaboration tools.
	  Nortel Networks reported plans to integrate its Clarify eBusiness
Applications products with Blue Pumpkin Software's workforce management
offerings with the intent of facilitating enterprise management of customer
contact center resources through a combination of traditional and Web-based
interaction channels.
	 Oracle struck a deal to integrate its iStore and TeleSales applications
with Engage's AdManager and ProfileServer. The integrated offering will
offer CRM functions coupled with customer profiling and ad management
capabilities. In addition, Engage's knowledge servers are scheduled to be
migrated to Oracle8i. 
	 Oracle also released its Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) product.
APS is designed to optimize supply chain functions. Oracle targets the
product to online exchange participants and other Web-based business
operators. Pivotal formed a strategic marketing alliance with webPLAN to
	 develop an offering combining e-selling, e-business relationship
management, and e-supply chain management for the manufacturing industry.
The application will blend features from Pivotal eRelationship 2000 and
Pivotal Intelligent eSelling 2000 and webPLAN CeO e-business software.
	 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) allied with Informatica to together create,
sell, and support decision support offerings to business-to-business
e-commerce companies. The offerings include both software and services. PwC
acquired a $30 million equity stake in Informatica in exchange for
intellectual property rights to some of the company's software, particularly
its supply chain management software. 
	 PricewaterhouseCoopers also formed a partnership with Ventro Life Sciences
to develop and implement electronic procurement offerings targeted to the
life sciences markets in Europe and the US. The offerings are scheduled to
enable buyers and suppliers of R&D and laboratory materials to link
electronically across multiple platforms.
	 SAP introduced an open online forum through http://www.sap.com/miniapps/
for the distribution of MiniApps developed by customers, partners, and SAP
for the mySAP.com Workplace. The community will enable users to share best
business practices and download ready-to-go MiniApps, small auxiliary apps
that provide added functionality such as display of pertinent company
information, latest sales figures, business alerts, travel expense
accounting, and competitive data.
	 SAS Institute and Engage Technologies reported an agreement, whereby SAS
will integrate and sell the Engage ProfileServer with the SAS Solution for
e-Intelligence. The move is intended to enable marketers to develop online
messages targeted at appropriate audiences via real-time personalization and
customer-centric analysis.
	 Siebel Systems released eBusiness 2000, which features an expanded suite
	 of Siebel .COM applications, including the new Siebel Personalization
2000 for customizing customer service, expanded eBusiness Application
Integration, new Siebel Wireless software, new Siebel Voice, and extended
functionality for the Siebel Sales, Marketing, Service, Call Center, Field
Service, and eConfigurator applications.
	 Unisys agreed to integrate Aspect Customer Relationship Portal into its
	 own customer interaction offerings. The combined product is designed to
enable customers to access a single customer management system through the
Web, telephone, or e-mail.
	 USE Credit Union introduced Wireless Internet Banking, a service designed
to afford access to account balances and histories, verification of deposits
and check clearances, and funds transfer between accounts via a Web-enabled
wireless phone equipped with a Web browser.
	 Volkswagen signed a letter of understanding with B2B e-commerce allies
	 IBM, i2 Technologies, and Ariba for a strategic partnership to build a
global digital marketplace. The hub is planned to allow Volkswagen to
improve its global supply chain and process flow by facilitating its
procurement of manufacturing parts, tools, and office equipment via the
Internet.



---------- 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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