OpenSpan Aims to Bring Mainframe Qualities to Desktop Integration
by Alex Woodie

For all the flack that green-screen applications get for being difficult to use, powerful macro tools and well-defined APIs make it relatively easy to access mainframe processes and data through 5250 and 3270 terminal emulators. But when the tables are turned and fat-client Windows apps are asked to open up and share, the DLLs and executables get cold feet. OpenSpan is trying to change that with an integration tool it claims can create on-demand APIs for any Windows app, and include them in cross-platform business process automation projects. READ MORE >

DB2 Web Query Updates to Ship in August
by Alex Woodie

The new DB2 Web Query enhancements--including an adapter that provides "occasional" access to the SQL Server database from the i OS business intelligence tool, and the capability to access and update DB2 Web Query reports from within Excel--won't ship until August, IBM announced recently. The new capabilities were originally expected to be available by the end of June, back when the announcements were first made with Information Builders in February, but the timeline has apparently slipped. READ MORE >

Quadrant's IntelliChief Gets Integration Hooks to JDA's MMS
by Alex Woodie

Retailers that rely on JDA Software Group's i OS-based Merchandise Management System (MMS) will have an easier time integrating the application with Quadrant Software's IntelliChief content management system and working to eliminate paper-based processes as a result of integration work between JDA and Quadrant, the companies announced last week. READ MORE >

SugarCRM Updated with Version 5.5 Beta
by Alex Woodie

System i shops are among the companies being encouraged to take a look at the beta of SugarCRM version 5.5, a new release of the open source customer relationship management software unveiled last week by SugarCRM. Better collaboration among team members is a central theme of new features in the release, which is expected to become generally available sometime during summer. READ MORE >