Stories by Ellen Messmer

  • XML consolidation begins in earnest

    Industry consolidation among software vendors pioneering the use of XML is continuing apace in the US, with WebMethods flagging its intention to buy Active Software and Vignette announcing it would acquire OnDisplay.

  • Startup hosting supply-chain apps

    Startup Viquity is making its debut with a hosted supply-chain application that relies on format-neutral XML to let manufacturers share sales forecasts and place orders directly into a supplier's back-end system.

  • CenterBeam, Network Associates team up

    CenterBeam, a systems integrator that installs and remotely manages Windows-based office LANs for small to mid-sized businesses, is teaming with Network Associates to provide a hosted security service for its customers.

  • FBI starts to track hack attacks

    The FBI says it is investigating the string of attacks that knocked out several e-commerce and news Websites in the past few days, but warns the investigation may take time as law enforcement agents gather high-tech evidence.

  • HP readies more portals for supply-chain info

    Hewlett-Packard last week nailed a few more boards into its e-services platform strategy by announcing plans to build two Internet portals where trading partners can meet online to share critical business data.

  • EC vendors back new XML initiative

    About three dozen e-commerce vendors, from old-line electronic data interchange software firms to up-and-coming electronic catalogue suppliers, are backing an effort to standardise Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements for online purchases. Spearheaded by online catalogue hotshot Ariba Technologies, the first draft of Commerce XML (cXML) is due next month. The new specification will define the shape of purchase orders, order acknowledgements and other core business documents.

  • Web site monitor checks security

    Avesta Technologies is ready to begin shipping an upgraded version of its Web site monitoring tool that caters to companies running World Wide Web servers for electronic commerce and other extranet applications. The company's new software, IPnetWatcher 1.2, can now check on how well Web site security applications, such as those based on digital certificates or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 3.0, are working.

  • Network Associates combine antivirus packages

    Network Associates this week will unveil a grand plan to integrate its antivirus offerings. By the end of this month, the vendor intends to ship corporate desktop software called VirusScan 4.0 Enterprise Edition. The new software will combine Dr. Solomon's virus-detection and cleaning technology with McAfee's hostile applet detection.

  • New idea could help filter content

    In this age of viruses and sexual harassment lawsuits, content-filtering software plays a crucial protective role. But just try to get it to work with your firewall or gateway. Getting it to do so could soon become much easier. A proposed set of APIs would let virus checkers and Web-filtering software run on any gateway or firewall supporting the Common Content Inspection API (CCIA).