Industry Briefs
:: NEWS
SUPPORTING OPEN SOURCE. IBM has donated eLearning software code and expertise
to the Sakai Project. Developed exclusively for Sakai, the donated code enables the tracking of
learning content and help support universities that adopt IBM’s collaboration and learning environment. IBM has also teamed
up with Kuali Financial System founding partner rSmart to support Kuali as a commercial
affiliate, providing development and customer support for Kuali software.
TEST ZONE. Digital media software
provider Sonic Solutions has launched Roxio Labs, a site where consumers can try
a variety of software, including early public betas of new Roxio applications, utilities, product components previously available
only as part of a suite, and a mix of third-party applications. Based on consumer feedback, Roxio Labs will further develop
the products for broad distribution.
POCKET PC PILOT. Cingular Wireless has been selected
as the exclusive wireless WAN provider for Wake Forest University’s (NC) mobile computing wireless technology initiative.
The school is deploying up to 500 Cingular 8125 Pocket PCs to students, faculty, and staff in the pilot program. Students
will be able to download their class schedules from the campus portal into the device’s calendar; an application then
ensures that the device’s phone d'esn’t ring during class.
:: M&A, ETC.
IMPROVED HR TOOLS. Enterprise vendor
Datatel and Novusolutions, a provider of internet-based ERP tools, have
announced a partnership to offer university HR departments an online product to recruit and track job applicants. Novusolutions’
NovusHR online application-tracking-and-acceptance tool will combine with Datatel’s Colleague ERP solution to
reduce processing time for applicants and improve information flow for hiring managers and search committees.
WLAN TEAM-UP. ERP infrastructure provider Aruba Networks and network management software
company AirWave Wireless are partnering to migrate legacy access points to next-generation centralized
WLANs. The integration will allow enterprises that have a distributed WLAN architecture an easy
migration path to Aruba’s Mobile Edge, a centralized WLAN architecture that enables enterprise mobility
across the LAN, WAN, and internet.
UNITED FOR COMMUNICATIONS. Nortel and Microsoft have announced a strategic alliance based on a shared
vision for unified communications. The goal: a people-centric solution of rich, intuitive, and seamless
communications across e-mail, IM, voice, data, video, and conferencing.
:: PEOPLE
TO CMS WATCH: Regli takes helm at analyst firm.
REGLI JOINS CMS WATCH. CMS Watch, an analyst firm that provides vendor-neutral
evaluations of content management, records management, enterprise portals, and enterprise search
technologies, has appointed Theresa Regli as principal. Previously, Regli was director of content management
with the technology consulting firm Molecular.
IN MEMORIAM.
The education technology community was saddened to hear that H. Russell Griffith, chairman of the
board, president, and CEO of Datatel, passed away August 7. Vernon Hollidge, the company’s senior VP
of finance and administration, has been named interim CEO. “We have lost a dynamic leader and an
amazing human being,” says Hollidge. “Russ was my friend for nearly 50 years, my mentor, and the most
ethical businessperson I have known. All in the Datatel community will greatly miss him.”