IBM opens up UDDI
IBM has delivered to the open source community its UDDI4J technology - Java-based code that makes it possible for developers to more easily build applications that can populate UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration) registries with business data, as well as search those registries for potential partners.
The significance of making the code available to open source, according to IBM officials, is that it enables developers to experiment with it and further enhance its usability. A coalition of vendors and consultants have been working on the UDDI business directory, which is intended to be an XML-based holding tank for what businesses do, the services they offer and how they interface with their computing systems.www.uddi.comIndustry plans for Online advertising standard The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA), the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Internet Industry Association have united to develop a system of comparable advertising metrics for the domestic Internet industry.
The three industry groups plan to create a simplified standard for comparing figures within three months in an attempt to curb growing cynicism in the advertising market over the effectiveness of advertising online.
General manager of the AANA Sara Morton-Stone said many companies advertising online are baffled by the loosely defined terms of "hits" and "page impressions", and even more confused by the lack of definition in other metrics such as "unique host", "ad impression" and "ad click".
The eventual aim of the project is to provide better accountability for the online ad spend and restore confidence in its effectiveness.
Five million FrontPages
Microsoft's Web site creation and management tool FrontPage has surpassed five million users worldwide, with more than 40 per cent user growth in the last year.
Daniel Beck, product marketing manager for Microsoft business tools, said the sales performance in Australia is in line with its global performance.
"We wouldn't have been able to achieve this kind of success without our channel partners," he said. "The success can be put down to the reseller's willingness to demonstrate the product to the user, show them how it has the familiar Office look and feel, and prove it is easy to use."
Beck said the product is sold through both retail outlets, such as Harvey Norman, and larger channel groups like Data#3 and Powerlan.
