Adobe Systems Incorporated has unveiled its new line of server-based products and solutions designed to automate document-intensive processes that companies rely on to run their businesses. Aimed at closing the gap between enterprise systems and traditional documents--such as forms, contracts, customized reports, and invoices--the new Adobe network publishing solutions focus on improving document generation, collaboration, and process management throughout the enterprise. The Adobe network publishing solutions address the document-intensive processes found in financial institutions, government agencies, manufacturing, and other regulated industries. The products, professional services, and support that make up these solutions integrate enterprise applications with the flow of documents throughout an organization. The Adobe Document Server is designed to let customers dynamically assemble customized Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files singularly or in volume from a variety of data sources including eXtensible Markup Language (XML) content. The new Adobe Document Server for Reader Extensions uses Acrobat Reader to provide a universal way for businesses and government agencies to interact directly with customers, partners, and citizens. It enables organizations to securely capture information by allowing individuals to fill in, save, and submit electronic forms online using a new release of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 5.1. These new server products are in addition to Adobe's existing family of server solutions, including the Adobe Form Server, Adobe Workflow Server, and Adobe Central Output Server.

(http://www.adobe.com)

The subscription rate for Variety.com, previously priced almost 80% less than a print subscription to Daily Variety, has been increased to match that of the print edition of the entertainment industry trade paper. Previously $59, an annual subscription to Variety.com, which offers all the content from Daily Variety plus additional features, is now priced at $259, the exact same price as a daily print subscription. Print subscribers receive access to the online edition at no extra charge. The site also offers monthly subscriptions for $24.95 and a "daypass" for $3.95.  When it launched, Variety.com offered much of its content for free, as its competitor HollywoodReporter.com still does. Last year it begin charging $59 for  online-only access, however.

(http://www.variety.com)

Banta Integrated Media, a provider of content management and ebusiness software and services, has announced new enhancements to its Bmedia enterprise-class digital content management software platform. Based on industry demand and customer feedback, Banta Integrated Media added several new features to Bmedia 3.1 specifically designed for catalogers, publishers, and marketers. The Bmedia content management platform is designed to allow employees and partners to quickly and easily collaborate, create, proof, and publish information through Web, print, and other channels. New administrative tools are intended to simplify the management and maintenance of corporate security, permissions, and access models. A straightforward administrative interface makes it easy to set up complex publishing routines. Thumbnails and previews are automatically created upon check-in of QuarkXPress documents, providing users with visual validation of spreads and layouts. Whiteboarding has been enhanced to enable users to "pour" whiteboards into open QuarkXPress documents to automate page composition and preserve and reuse static elements. Text Tagger--user-defined tag names can be applied to pass style information to QuarkXPress and Web documents; Hierarchical Keywords--organizations can manage keyword libraries by category, topic, or other groups; Attributed Reporting--users can capture attribute information about selected assets, creating a reusable file for viewing, printing, and Web display; and OPI Support in ContentCache.

(http://www.banta-im.com)

Fast Search & Transfer (FAST) has announced that FAST Data Search will power Freeserve's Freeserve.com with linguistics support, classification, and categorization in a single search solution. FAST Data Search's scalability enables large, enterprise companies such as Freeserve to keep up with the content collected in their data sources. FAST Data Search hopes to solve search and information management needs for Freeserve by providing them with a flexible, core search and information retrieval solution that captures structured and unstructured data in a variety of formats. With its scalable and modular configuration, FAST Data Search delivers solutions for customers who want to increase the speed and performance of searches, successfully complete transactions at a lower cost, and generate additional revenues. From smaller installations to more demanding cases, FAST Data Search is designed to supply a complete information retrieval solution. With advanced linguistic technologies, support for over 225 file formats and 49 languages, and categorization and dynamic result clustering, FAST Data Search quickly connects users to the information they seek.

(http://www.alltheweb.com), (http://www.fastsearch.com), (http://www.freeserve.com)

Dialog, a Thomson business and a provider of online-based information services and integrated information solutions, has announced an expanded roster of content channels available through its DialogPRO (Predictable Research Online) online service, the company's first product designed exclusively for small businesses worldwide. The updated version of the Web-based service also features additional options for flat-fee subscriptions. Four new content channels are now available through DialogPRO: biotech, competitive intelligence, consulting, and defense. Two other content channels, advertising and news, were available with the initial release of DialogPRO in February 2002. Subscription tiers are available within each content channel. The three tiers, "Primary," "Plus," and "Premier," vary by the number and type of information sources available. All DialogPRO subscribers may also search for and then retrieve articles and reports from information sources not included in their subscription tier on a transactional basis. The price for a selected document is displayed onscreen before the user makes a final determination to buy it. Additional enhancements to DialogPRO will be announced in 2003, including expanded content channel options that leverage the content resources of Dialog and other Thomson businesses. DialogPRO is modeled after WestlawPRO, a packaged pricing option for small law firms offered by West, also a Thomson business. DialogPRO is available only to small businesses, as determined by revenue size. The revenue threshold varies by country.

(http://www.dialog.com), (http://www.thomson.com)

ContentGuard, Inc., a provider of Digital Rights Language (DRL) technology and Contents Works, Inc., an epublishing service in Japan, announced a strategic alliance designed to provide interoperable DRM capabilities within Contents Works' digital publishing services in Japan.   Under the terms of the agreement, Contents Works and ContentGuard will collaborate to deploy eXtensible rights Markup Language (XrML) into the authoring and conversion workflows already supported by Contents Works' tools and services. The licensing arrangement is intended to allow Contents Works to incorporate ContentGuard's DRM technologies and underlying patents into its BookPark and other content services to provide full DRM support and enable a new level of electronic delivery capability in Japan.

(http://www.contentguard.com)

LexisNexis has announced many additions to its roster of business intelligence sources. The company has added nearly a dozen financial and investor news and analysis providers including CBS MarketWatch and seven Kiplinger Washington Editors newsletters; a dozen sources of corporate information and statistics on executives, financials, brands, products and consumer trends; and nearly 50 industry trade publications and directories.

In addition to CBS Marketwatch and the newsletters of Kiplinger Washington Editors, new LexisNexis financial and investor news and analysis providers include EFinancialNews.com for coverage of European investment banking, fund management, and securities; and the Fair Disclosure Wire of eMediaMillWorks, which gives transcripts of analyst financial discussions with corporate executives.

Corporate information on executives and company financials is now available from new LexisNexis providers: idEXEC, Integra Information Industry Reports, Gale Group Company Briefs, Media General Financial Services, Gale Taft Directories (also known as Foundation Reporter), and Investors Responsibility Resource Center. LexisNexis also supplies information on corporate brands via the Gale Group's Brands and Their Companies; on product developments via Product News Network; and on consumer trends via four Edimax USA monthly publications.

Industry trade publications for business executives include CFO.com and CIO.com. Government, policy and defense content providers now include Congressional Quarterly (for non-government LexisNexis subscribers only), Jane's Defense Weekly, and Defense & Foreign Affairs Daily. LexisNexis has added several dozen trade publications covering energy, utilities, and the environment. Medical and healthcare resources recently added include two Cahners monthly magazines, Drug Discovery & Development and Genomics & Proteomics; and three reference manuals: Mosby Medical Drug Reference, Taber's Medical Dictionary, and The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).

(http://www.lexisnexis.com)

Neoteris, a provider of instant virtual extranet (IVE) products, has announced a targeted development and marketing initiative to assist state and local governments with their secure access needs. Through this effort, Neoteris aims to help governments increase operational efficiency as well as aid in compliance with federal and state information security statues and eGovernment initiatives. As the public demand for secure access increases, Neoteris' IVE products are intended to offer an alternative to expensive and complex virtual private networks (VPNs) and custom extranets. With Neoteris products, authorized users can securely access applications and information remotely from any Internet-enabled computing device with a Web browser. In the case of government, authorized users can include government employees, contractors, private citizens, or other government agencies. Because Neoteris grants access at the application layer, rather than the network layer, network resources are not vulnerable to traditional network attacks. The Neoteris IVE also supports granular access controls to the URL or file level, so only those with a legitimate authorized need to access resources can do so. Neoteris' IVE products allow government IT officials to cost-effectively provision instant, secure access to specified network applications and private information. The Neoteris products reduce the cost, complexity, and security risks associated with traditional access technologies such as VPNs and custom extranets. The IVE requires neither client device software deployments, nor changes to existing LAN infrastructure, thus reducing deployment.  

(http://www.neoteris.com)