ODMG Goes for Java
The Object Database Management Group (ODMG, Burnsville, Minn.) announced a Working Group to develop an object database specification for Java. JavaSoft engineer Rick Cattell is chair of ODMG and leads the Java Working Group, which includes all of the ODMG's voting members and several of its reviewer members. In draft form right now, the binding for Java will be implemented by the following principles: transparent persistence, persistence by reachability, multiple implementations, and a full ODMG object model. ODMG binding to Java will become Chapter 7 of the ODMG 2.0 Specification, which is scheduled for publication in 1997. The ODMG also plans to publish the draft and final versions of the binding to Java on its Web site at http://www.odmg.org. Contact the Object Database Management Group, 612-953-7250 or fax 612-397-7146.
The Name Game Continues
In a move to show its commitment to the enterprise business intelligence market, Crystal Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Seagate Technology Inc. (maker of Crystal Reports and Crystal Info; headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), announced that it is changing its name to Seagate Software Inc.'s Information Management Group (IMG). As part of Seagate Software, the Information Management Group will target the business intelligence market, expanding its range of industry-standard query and reporting tools to provide complete, scalable business intelligence offerings through in-house development, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions. Contact Seagate Software Inc. IMG, 800-877-2340, 604-681-3435, or fax 604-681-2934; http://www.crystalinc.com.
Cash for Visigenic
ODBC giant Visigenic Software Inc. (San Mateo, Calif.) received a major cash infusion as Cisco, Netscape Communications, and Platinum Technology Inc. entered into a stock purchase agreement, valued at up to $8 million, with the company. The extra funds are slated to help Visigenic complete its acquisition of PostModern Computing, which was announced last April, and continue its development in the Internet, Intranet, and enterprise network market. The terms of the arrangement vary depending on who's doing the talking: Visigenic CEO Roger Sippl describes the companies as "corporate investors," Netscape's Senior VP of Technology Marc Andreessen labeled the arrangement "support," Cisco Systems" CTO Ed Kozel called it an "equity investment," and Platinum COO Paul Humenansky described it as a "strategic partnership." Contact Visigenic Software Inc., 415-286-1900 or fax 415-286-2464; http://www.visigenic.com.
How Much is that Doggy in the Window
Borland International Inc. (Scotts Valley, Calif.) plans to acquire Open Environment in an agreement valued at approximately $64 million. The company has entered into a definitive merger agreement pending the approval of Open Environment shareholders. The agreement is expected to complete near the end of the third quarter of this year. Based in Boston, Open Environment is a provider of scalable, multi-tier client/server products used by Global 1000 corporations. Borland hopes that the acquisition will give it a competitive edge in the enterprise client/server application development arena by combining Open Environment's distributed computing solution with its RAD tools. Contact Borland International Inc., 800-233-2444, 408-431-1000, or fax 408-431-4122; http://www.borland.com.
Changing of the Guard
Daniel F. Gillis has been named president of Software AG of North America Inc., a Software AG subsidiary headquartered in Reston, Va. Gillis succeeds Michael J. King, who had served as president of Software AG of North America since 1989. Gillis joined Software AG in January 1995 as senior VP of federal sales; prior to this appointment he was executive vice president at Falcon Microsystems (Landover, Md.), a technology provider to the federal government that was acquired by GTSI in 1995. Contact Software AG of North America Inc., 800-423-2227, 703-860-5050, or fax 703-391-6975; http://www.sagus.com.
Bill Who?
Larry Ellison continued his onslaught against the Microsoft Empire with a major press event announcing NT Profile Number 1, a set of architecturally neutral standards and specifications for developing network computing devices. Joining Ellison were initial sponsors Apple Computer Chairman and CEO Gil Amelio, IBM's Senior VP and Group Executive John Thompson, Netscape's VP of Technology Mark Andreesen (who was quick to point out that he wore shoes for the occasion), and Sun's Executive VP and President of SunSoft Janpieter Scheerder.
The Bill bashing began almost immediately when the audience was welcomed with the words, "Welcome to the anti-Microsoft coalition." More than announcing the establishment of standards, Ellison and the others were perpetuating their Utopian image of a networked world and pervasive connectivity. Perhaps the most grandiose of the speeches was Ellison's, which compared the NC's universality to that of the telephone or television. He also predicted that everything - from U.S. mail to education to commerce and even to culture - will be transformed because of network computing. Whether he can pull this off remains to be seen. Is the NC fated to fail like so many sci-fi gizmos from '50s TV shows, or will the average American parents soon use email to let the kids know dinner's ready? Drop me a line and tell me what you think (cparkes@mfi.com). Contact Oracle Corp., 800-633-0596, 415-506-7000, or fax 415-506-7200; http://www.oracle.com.
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