HP Strengthens Thin Client Computing Offering with Acquisition of Neoware Inc.

HP today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to purchase Neoware Inc. (Nasdaq: NWRE), a provider of thin client computing and virtualization solutions, at a price of $16.25 per share, or an enterprise value (net of existing cash) of approximately $214 million on a fully diluted basis.

The acquisition is part of HP's strategy to expand in growth markets and further its leadership in personal computing. Acquiring Neoware is intended to accelerate the growth of HP's thin client business by boosting its Linux software, client virtualization and customization capabilities, expanding its regional sales footprint and broadening its hardware portfolio.

"Our objective is to become the preferred brand of thin clients and software for virtualized client computing," said Kevin Frost, vice president, Business Desktops, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Thin clients are an important component in today's overall computing strategy and play a critical role in HP's virtualization strategy. Acquiring Neoware confirms our commitment to thin client computing and client virtualization solutions."

Thin clients provide reduced maintenance costs, minimal application updates and a higher level of security compared to other desk-based computing products. The solid-state devices connect over a network to a server where all processing and storage takes place.

The transaction will combine the respective strengths of each company: Neoware's Linux-based thin client solutions and software with HP's thin clients based on Microsoft Windows® XPe and Windows CE and its virtualized client solutions, such as blade PCs, blade workstations, virtual desktop infrastructure and server-based computing. HP plans to leverage the acquisition to remain an industry leader in reducing its environmental footprint through reduced noise, power and packaging versus desktop PCs.

"Acquiring our company will further strengthen HP's PC business as it extends its portfolio of remote client solutions and delivers secure, low-cost access to centralized personal computing," said Klaus Besier, president and chief executive officer, Neoware Inc. "We are proud to be joining HP, where together we will continue to promote the shift to virtualized client computing."

Following completion of the transaction, HP plans to integrate Neoware into the Business Desktop Unit of HP's Personal Systems Group.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Neoware stockholders will receive $16.25 for each share of Neoware stock that they hold at the closing of the merger. The acquisition is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of Neoware's stockholders. HP expects the closing to occur in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2007.

Media conference call

HP and Neoware plan to conduct a joint audio conference call today at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT with media and analysts to discuss HP's intent to acquire Neoware.

The call will be hosted by Kevin Frost, vice president of Business Desktops in the Personal Systems Group at HP, and Klaus Besier, president and chief executive officer, Neoware Inc.

Dial-in phone number: +1 866 825 1692

Passcode: 45109820

About Neoware

Neoware Inc. (Nasdaq: NWRE) is a global provider of thin client computing solutions that allow organizations to cut costs by centralizing desktop management, alleviating threats of security breaches and reducing energy consumption. Forward-thinking companies enable their desktop virtualization strategies with Neoware's desktop, laptop and software offerings. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., Neoware has offices in Europe and Asia.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $97.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

HP to Acquire Opsware Inc.

HP today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Opsware Inc. (Nasdaq: OPSW), a market-leading data center automation software company, through a cash tender offer for $14.25 per share, or an enterprise value (net of existing cash and debt) of approximately $1.6 billion on a fully diluted basis.

Upon closing, the acquisition will enhance HP's portfolio of Business Technology Optimization (BTO) software. Combining Opsware's solutions with HP's enterprise IT management software will deliver a comprehensive and fully integrated solution for IT automation. Opsware is the latest in a series of strategic software acquisitions, including Mercury Interactive and Peregrine Systems, which expands HP's leadership in BTO.

"The acquisition of Opsware is intended to enable HP Software to help our customers resolve one of their critical pain points: controlling the increasing complexity and cost of managing the data center," said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP. "We expect Opsware's outstanding team will help us drive leadership across our BTO offerings."

Opsware Chief Executive Officer Ben Horowitz said, "We are about to see one of the biggest application and infrastructure build-outs in history. The addition of Opsware to the HP Software portfolio will make HP the obvious choice for powering the next generation of data centers to come."

The acquisition of Opsware is intended to extend HP Software's capabilities to automate the entire data center – from initial provisioning of servers, networks and storage devices to managing ongoing changes and compliance requirements – with integrated process automation, removing the latency inherent in today's IT environments.

"Following last year's acquisition of Mercury Interactive, the addition of Opsware is expected to enhance HP's standing as one of the world's leading software companies and drive profitable growth for HP," said Ann Livermore, executive vice president, Technology Solutions Group, HP. "With this strategic acquisition, I believe customers will see HP as the clear vendor of choice to help them transform how they manage and automate IT to drive better business outcomes."

Following the close of the transaction, Opsware will become part of the HP Software business. At that time, HP also expects to appoint Ben Horowitz to lead the Business Technology Optimization organization reporting to Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, HP Software.

The acquisition will be conducted by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Opsware, followed by a merger of Opsware with an HP subsidiary. The tender offer is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before the end of HP's fourth fiscal quarter of 2007.

IBM Completes Acquisition of Watchfire

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that on July 20, 2007, it completed the acquisition of Watchfire Corporation, a privately held security and compliance testing software company based in Waltham, Massachusetts.



IBM announced a definitive agreement to acquire Watchfire, a leading provider of web application vulnerability assessment and compliance solutions, on June 6, 2007, to help customers guard against online security attacks and compliance breaches.

The acquisition extends the IBM Governance and Risk Management strategy by broadening security and compliance management capabilities in the software development lifecycle. Successfully managing IT governance and risk management as a lifecycle is critical as businesses today are facing increasing globalization, staggering regulatory complexity and an ever-evolving security threat landscape.

Watchfire helps customers manage web application security and web content quality and compliance to help ensure the business integrity of their online businesses. The combination of Watchfire and IBM will help customers integrate web application security and compliance management early on and throughout the software development process -- effectively allowing them to define, test and track the compliance of their applications with security, legal and corporate guidelines.

"For the past 11 years, Watchfire has provided customers with innovative and effective web application security software to help minimize exposure to personal information, customer records and corporate intellectual property," said Dr. Danny Sabbah, general manager, IBM Rational software. "Watchfire technology incorporated into the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform will help our customers address online security and compliance management requirements early in the software development process -- before their applications go live."

IBM is integrating its Rational software quality management solutions with Watchfire's security and compliance testing services to enhance and simplify the web application development process. With the ability to create applications with protective measures against attacks, infringement, and violations of compliance standards, customers will be able to deliver better products to market faster while reducing costs and improving efficiency in the application development process. As part of the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform, Watchfire also complements existing IBM Tivoli identity, access and compliance management software offerings and IBM Internet Security Systems by extending security and compliance testing as an integrated element of the application development lifecycle.

"Watchfire has long been committed to helping customers avoid online security breaches," said Peter McKay, vice president, Watchfire, IBM Rational software and former CEO of Watchfire Corporation. "With the Watchfire technology fully integrated into the Rational portfolio, our customers will be able to guard against online attacks long before they happen. By integrating Watchfire technology early in the software development process, IBM will help customers deliver more secure and compliant applications to the market."

In addition to Watchfire, IBM has added several governance and risk management capabilities through recent acquisitions in its Global Technology Services and Software Group divisions, including Internet Security Systems, Consul, FileNet and Micromuse.

For more information, visit www.ibm.com/rational

IBM to Acquire DataMirror to Deliver Real-Time Information on Demand

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and DataMirror Corporation (TSX: DMC) today announced an agreement for IBM to acquire DataMirror based in Markham, Ontario. Under the Arrangement Agreement, IBM will acquire all of the outstanding DataMirror common shares at a price of C$27.00 per common share payable in cash, amounting to total consideration of approximately C$170 million (approximately $161 million USD).

DataMirror is a provider of technology that identifies and captures data that has been added, updated or deleted and allows the changed data to be delivered in real time to processes, applications and databases, ensuring that continuous, accurate and trusted information is available for decision-making.

"Organizations need the ability to capture and use information in real-time to help them make better business decisions, better serve their customers and increase operational efficiencies," said Ambuj Goyal, general manager, IBM Information Management. "The combination of DataMirror technology and IBM information management software will help customers bring real-time data analysis closer to actual business processes, allowing them to be more competitive and to generate more value from their information."

"IBM's global reach and industry leading integration solutions will rapidly expand the impact of DataMirror software," said Nigel Stokes, chief executive officer and founder, DataMirror. "This transaction represents a validation of the hard work of the DataMirror team over the last ten years, and an opportunity for our customers to continue to leverage our unique solutions."

The acquisition of DataMirror will further IBM's cross-company Information on Demand business initiative, aimed at capturing the growing market opportunity for enabling customers to use information as a competitive and strategic business asset. IBM's strategy is to provide customers with the data they need -- when they need it -- to help them quickly respond to changing market demands, rapidly identify new business opportunities, and improve business results.

For example, with DataMirror technology, a retailer can incorporate information from point of sale systems into a data warehouse in real-time and automatically trigger important business decisions and events, such as replenishing low stock based on current sales and inventory figures. Likewise, a telecommunications company's billing system information can be integrated into customer resource management systems for a near real-time view of customers.

Following completion of the acquisition, IBM intends to:

Integrate DataMirror with IBM's Information Management Software unit led by General Manager Ambuj Goyal.
Employ DataMirror software to support IBM Information Server, IBM's first-of-a-kind information integration platform, making it easier for clients to apply real-time data integration techniques from a single platform across their businesses.
Utilize DataMirror technology to bring heterogeneous real time change data capture to clients.

DataMirror has approximately 220 employees and more than 2,200 customers including Debenhams, FedEx Ground, First American Bank, Priority Health, Tiffany & Co., and Union Pacific Railroad.

The acquisition is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. It is anticipated to close in the third calendar quarter of 2007.

The desire by businesses to access, manage and deliver information more efficiently is driving rapid change in the information technology marketplace. Companies grappling with business demands are striving to capture and integrate information in a more seamless, real-time fashion across their enterprises. The combination of IBM and DataMirror allows both sets of customers to utilize DataMirror's industry leading data-change event capture technology together with the industry's most powerful information integration platform, IBM Information Server, delivering more value to customers by allowing information integration to be driven at the speed of business.

About IBM

For more information about IBM, go to http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/

About DataMirror

DataMirror, a leading provider of real-time data integration and data protection solutions, improves the integrity and reliability of information across all of the systems that create and store data. DataMirror's flexible and innovative integration solutions allow customers to easily and continuously detect, translate, and communicate all information changes throughout the enterprise. DataMirror helps customers make better decisions by providing access to the continuous, accurate information they need to take timely action and move forward faster. More than 2,200 companies have gained tangible competitive advantage from DataMirror software. DataMirror is headquartered in Markham, Canada, and has offices around the globe. For more information, visit www.datamirror.com

Information About the Transaction

This transaction reflects significant value for DataMirror shareholders, representing a premium of 19.42 percent over the twenty-day volume weighted average trading price of C$22.61 for DataMirror common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Arrangement Agreement has been reviewed by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of DataMirror and has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of DataMirror following the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee. The Board of Directors of DataMirror unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote in favour of the transaction. PageMill Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to DataMirror, and the Special Committee and the Board of Directors have received an opinion from Orion Securities Inc. that the consideration offered under the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to DataMirror shareholders. The fairness opinion of Orion Securities Inc. will be included in the meeting materials to be sent to DataMirror shareholders. Holders of 2,543,669 DataMirror common shares, representing approximately 40.3% of DataMirror's outstanding common shares, have agreed to vote in favour of the transaction.

The transaction will be carried out by way of a statutory plan of arrangement. Subject to court approval, the transaction must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by DataMirror shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders expected to be held on or about August 24, 2007. Closing is subject to certain other conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Arrangement Agreement, management information circular, and other meeting materials when they become available at www.sedar.com.

IBM and APC Partner to Create Energy Efficient Green Data Center for Bryant University

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has implemented the IBM Scalable Modular Data Center at Bryant University, in order to meet the school's technology requirements of its growing enrollment while simultaneously being energy conscious by implementing a "green data center." The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center is a cost saving, energy efficient solution that was rapidly deployed as a pre-engineered data center, using IBM Global Services' capabilities, coupled with APC's InfraStruXure® data center architecture.

In addition to these services, Bryant replaced their Sun Microsystems hardware infrastructure with IBM Power processor-based BladeCenter servers running Linux and IBM virtualization software technology, driving higher utilization rates and helping save energy costs. These technologies are part of Project Big Green, a plan which IBM recently announced to help clients sharply reduce data center energy consumption.

Founded in 1863, Smithfield, R.I.-based Bryant University has a history of excellence and innovation, both academically and technologically. The university prides itself on being wired with "one port per pillow" in each of its dorm rooms, but as the university was growing, its three data centers were not able to handle enterprise information technology (IT) for either communication or computing. After years of working with both IBM and APC, Bryant University learned about their alliance and turned to them to create this new solution.

"In the past 10 years, Bryant University has added 144,000 square feet of new facilities and has experienced a 300 percent rise in applications," said Arthur Gloster, CIO of Bryant University. "We were not properly set up to handle this growth and it was time for Bryant University to make a cost-saving and energy efficient change. The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution allows us to concentrate on continuing to provide the student body, faculty and staff with the tools necessary to succeed."

The Scalable Modular Data Center service product is available from IBM's Site and Facilities Services business unit. IBM's data center design and build experience and services expertise are utilized to bring the solution to clients. Scalable Modular Data Center services include data center strategy, data center design, server and storage integration, relocation planning, project management, infrastructure equipment sourcing, installation services and management, data center testing and start-up management. The entire solution can be implemented in eight to 12 weeks and is 15 percent less expensive than traditional data center builds.

"IBM's long history and expertise with data center implementations enabled us to create a solution to save energy and ensure efficient server performance for Bryant University," said Steven Sams, vice president of IBM Global Site and Facilities Services. "IT departments won't be as concerned with growing energy costs when selecting the IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution, which provides an efficient, reliable and secure data center."

The IBM Scalable Modular Data Center solution uses the APC InfraStruXure design, which integrates power, cooling, rack, management, services and security, allowing for selection of standardized components to create a solution through modular configurations. By using standardized components, the architecture easily scales to meet the evolving needs of the university.

"Bryant University is the beneficiary of what happens when two leading companies combine to create the best of both worlds," said Dave Johnson, senior vice president and chief sales officer at APC-MGE. "IBM and APC have created an energy efficient solution that addresses Bryant's current and future IT needs. By adopting a scalable, modular approach to building its new data center, the university also realized increased speed in system design and deployment. This enabled the university to move quickly from design to commissioning the system."

About Bryant University

More information about Bryant University is available at www.bryant.edu

About IBM

More information about IBM Site and Facilities Services and IBM Scalable Modular Data Center is available at www.ibm.com/services/siteandfacilities, and more information about IBM's Project Big Green and efforts around the green data center is available at www.ibm.com/press/greendatacenter.

About APC-MGE

APC and MGE UPS Systems recently combined to form a $3 billion (EUR 2.4 billion) Critical Power & Cooling Services business unit of Schneider Electric. Together, APC and MGE offer the industry's most comprehensive product and solution range for critical IT and process applications in industrial, enterprise, small and medium business and home environments. APC and MGE solutions include uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), precision cooling units, racks, and design and management software, including APC's InfraStruXure architecture the industry's only integrated power, cooling, and management solution. Backed by the industry's broadest service organization and an industry leading R&D investment, the combined company's 12,000 employees help customers confront today's unprecedented power, cooling and management challenges. Schneider Electric, with 112,000 employees and operations in 190 countries, had 2006 annual sales of $18 billion (EUR 13.7 billion). For more information on APC and MGE, please visit www.apc-mge.com. All trademarks are the property of their owners.

Merck Names Peter Kellogg as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Merck & Co., Inc. announced that Peter N. Kellogg has been named Merck's executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 14, 2007. He is currently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Biogen Idec Inc.

Mr. Kellogg will oversee Merck's worldwide financial organization, investor relations, corporate development and licensing. He also will be responsible for leading the Company's relationships with AstraZeneca and DuPont. Mr. Kellogg will report directly to Richard T. Clark, Merck's chairman, president and chief executive officer, and will succeed Judy C. Lewent, who is retiring from Merck.

"In every aspect of our business - from the discovery, manufacture and sale of medicines, to our internal supporting operations and systems - we look to the chief financial officer for business leadership and financial discipline to ensure that we have the necessary financial flexibility to execute our strategies. This is critical to our ability to deliver value to our shareholders and to the patients, payers, and health care community," said Mr. Clark.

"We conducted a comprehensive search for the right person and considered a number of excellent candidates both inside and outside of Merck," Mr. Clark continued. "Our objective was to find an individual with exemplary financial experience and a proven track record. And, we looked for a person with the right values and the kind of personal leadership attributes that are required for the important responsibilities that come with this position. Peter Kellogg has all of the credentials, experience, and qualities that we were seeking."

"This is an outstanding opportunity to work with Merck's very talented management team, Board of Directors and Dick Clark as they transform Merck's business and better position the Company for the future. I am excited about the plan they have in place and my role, along with others, in achieving it," Mr. Kellogg said. "I'm pleased to be able to join a financial organization that is known throughout the industry and the business community as one deeply committed to excellence and the highest standards."

As executive vice president and chief financial officer at Biogen Idec Inc., a position he held since 2004, Mr. Kellogg was responsible for the company's worldwide finance function. A member of the Executive Committee at Biogen Idec, he provided strong leadership in long-range planning, business development, and merger and acquisition processes. While in this role, he had key responsibility for investor relationships, and was accountable for Board review of financial performance, long-range plans, and all Board Finance and Audit Committee activities.

Prior to that position, Mr. Kellogg held the same position at Biogen, Inc. - which merged with IDEC Pharmaceuticals in 2003. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kellogg was with PepsiCo Inc., where he held senior financial and general management roles, including senior vice president of PepsiCo E-Commerce, and senior vice president and chief financial officer of Frito Lay International. Mr. Kellogg was also a senior partner at both Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc., and Arthur Andersen and Co., two respected consulting firms.

Mr. Kellogg holds an MBA in Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com

Amazon.com and Microsoft Team Up to Help Indie Filmmakers Jump Into HD DVD

Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. today announced the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project, designed to lower the barriers to entry for filmmakers to produce and distribute movies in the HD DVD format through the innovative manufacturing-on-demand technology of CustomFlix, a part of an Amazon group of companies. Jointly sponsored by Amazon and Microsoft, the project will provide free authoring and setup services for up to 1,000 selected indie titles.

“This collaboration with Microsoft is a great opportunity for independent filmmakers to reach Amazon customers with their films via the HD DVD format,” said Peter Faricy, vice president of music and movies at Amazon.com. “By working together with Microsoft and leveraging the proven CustomFlix DVD on Demand model, we can lower the barriers to entry for independent filmmakers and dramatically increase the selection we offer our customers.”

The project will be spearheaded by CustomFlix, which will bring as many as 1,000 feature-length independent films to Amazon customers using the CustomFlix DVD on Demand technology, which produces and ships DVDs only as they are ordered. This model greatly improves the cost structure for independent filmmakers by eliminating the need for costly inventory.

“From a technical standpoint, we found that the HD DVD format fits our business model perfectly,” said Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CustomFlix. “With retail shelf space at a premium, our model eliminates the risk of carrying inventory and immediately expands the number of great HD DVD titles available to consumers.”

“Programs like this one from Amazon lower barriers to entry for independent artists and provide audiences with increased access to high-quality, high-definition content,” said Christian Vesper, senior vice president of programming, acquisitions and scheduling for Sundance Channel.

Sundance Channel will be reviewing the high-definition features for potential broadcast on the network as well as making its own HD original eco-series, “Big Ideas for a Small Planet,” available for purchase through Amazon’s HD DVD program.

“Amazon’s participation in this project will be a major benefit to independent filmmakers wanting to break into the high-definition market segment,” said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president for the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft. “The use of Microsoft® technology and authoring expertise will ensure that all the HD DVD titles offered by Amazon have impeccable quality, thanks to the VC-1 codec and innovative interactive scenarios with HDi™.”

Amazon.com offers a broad and growing selection of HD televisions, players and DVDs through its HD DVD store at http://www.amazon.com/hddvd. Filmmakers interested in submitting their HD DVD work for consideration as part of the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project can go to http://www.customflix.com/hddvdindies

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.

About CustomFlix

CustomFlix, a member of the Amazon.com group of companies, is the leader in manufacture on demand services for independent and enterprise media content owners. CustomFlix was founded in 2002 with the mission of profitably connecting content owners to a worldwide audience. Today, CustomFlix offers professional digitization into the Future-Proof Archive service, as well as inventory-free physical media distribution via both CD and DVD on Demand and video downloads through Amazon Unbox.

IBM Brings Collaboration and Search Together to Enhance Enterprise Information Access

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today introduced enhanced enterprise search software designed to allow users to quickly and securely search intranet portals, databases, public Web sites and file systems to obtain results highly-relevant to their individual needs.

The new version of IBM's OmniFind Enterprise Edition search software provides a single interface for enterprise search, discovery and analysis for IBM Lotus Domino environments. The new software also delivers an unprecedented view into the rich content that can be exposed when the Lotus software platform is mined from a seamless enterprise search interface. Also announced today are new security and search capabilities for WebSphere clients.

By providing full-text indexing and search of Domino databases, users can find and access information stored in IBM Lotus Document Manager, IBM Lotus Quickr and in IBM Lotus QuickPlace documents, as well as other enterprise information from applications, repositories and shared files from across an organization. New Web 2.0 features in the OmniFind Enterprise Edition administrative console make it easy to customize the search application and preview changes immediately.

With extensive server-side support for Lotus Domino, the new software enhances search and sharing of business-critical information like collaborative documents, presentations, specifications and other files, improving productivity and knowledge sharing. OmniFind Enterprise Edition also provides an ideal foundation for enterprise search and text analytics strategies for organizations that need to easily access all their information.

CB&I, a global engineering, procurement and construction company specializing in large-scale, turnkey projects, relies on IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition to manage the challenge of sharing knowledge and expertise of the company's 13,000 employees spread across 60 locations. With information stored in more than 50 project-specific databases along with myriad other sources -- customer account and contact applications, document distribution and project control systems, Lotus Domino files and even local file servers in each office -- employees can now use a single search interface to access project-related information, knowledge and specialized expertise spread across the enterprise.

"With OmniFind software, we can now provide our staff with fast access to documents that they might not have even known existed," said John Shaull, senior technical analyst, CB&I. "Employees have told us that this is making their jobs easier, which, in turn, is increasing staff productivity and efficiency. The OmniFind implementation beat our expectations and was in place well ahead of schedule. Additionally, the administration and maintenance of the software is much easier than we had anticipated."

IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition delivers rich indexing of all Lotus Domino fields including attachments, as well as fielded search. It also understands the structure of Lotus Notes databases and comes with pre-built support for Lotus Quickr, Lotus QuickPlace and Domino.Doc databases, Windows SharePoint Services and Microsoft Exchange as well as the ability to crawl IBM Workplace Web Content Management.

Additionally, the software provides scalable and secure enterprise search directly from within IBM WebSphere Portal. This provides WebSphere Portal clients the ability to scale to millions of documents and provides secure search of non-Web enterprise content sources. It also allows WebSphere Portal clients to conduct searches through the familiar WebSphere Search Center portlet or the OmniFind portlet directly through WebSphere Portal using native security.

OmniFind Enterprise Edition has the ability to bring conceptual understanding to keyword search through semantic interpretation and can also serve as a platform for text analytics applications. Using the advanced information extraction capabilities through the Unstructured Information Management Architecture (UIMA), an open source framework for building advanced search and text analytics applications, OmniFind Enterprise Edition enables users to search for facts and concepts within the underlying content. It also includes a sample text analytics configuration to detect phone numbers, URLs and e-mail addresses included together with a matching synonym dictionary.

The new version of IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition optimized for Lotus Domino and WebSphere Portal supports Lotus Domino on Linux, Windows, and System i platforms. It comes with pre-built crawlers for WebSphere Portal Document Manager, WebSphere Portal Web pages and Workplace Web Content Management. The software is currently available from IBM and IBM Business Partners.

For more information visit: http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/enterprise-search/omnifind-enterprise/