Bellevue, WA. April 20, 1999.
DataChannel Inc., the leading XML enterprise solutions provider, and ISOGEN International Corp., a leading XML and SGML professional services provider in the structured information market, announced today the merger of the two companies. The combined company, which will assume the name DataChannel, provides a uniquely comprehensive set of XML solutions for the enterprise, making it the largest, enterprise XML solutions provider. The merger allows DataChannel to further unleash the power of Enterprise Information Portals by extending the DataChannel XML Framework while delivering the benefits of formal standards to a larger market.
"The Enterprise Information Portal market in the year 2000 and beyond needs comprehensive enterprise class solutions, not point products," stated Dave Pool, CEO, DataChannel. "ISOGEN's unparalleled expertise in applying International Standards organizations to complex structured information problems fortifies our XML consulting, training and software development offerings for the enterprise." Pool continued, "In addition to now having a professional services arm that can provide solutions that meet the exact needs of the customer, we have also increased our capacity to support our consulting and integration partners who are using our XML technologies."
ISOGEN International offers standards-based design, integration, and implementation services using its XML expertise to develop next-generation enterprise IT solutions. Each engagement is further enhanced through the extensive training program developed and offered by ISOGEN. By combining vendor-neutral services with DataChannel's premiere product portfolio, customers are ensured to receive a solution that is best suited for their needs. ISOGEN's service offerings will enhance the DataChannel XML Framework by creating a "customized" enterprise solution using both DataChannel's XML products as well as "best-of-breed" offerings from other selected vendors.
To unleash the power of Enterprise Information Portals, many companies are considering a new architecture that increases competitive advantage, with greater customer personalization and retention. Additionally, this new architecture lowers the cost of computing and improves time to market. Simply stated, enterprises are "Webifying" their Intranets. Extensible Markup Language, XML, is the enabling technology of this new architecture. DataChannel's XML Framework, is a comprehensive portfolio of solutions software and professional services for the Enterprise Information Portal marketplace. These include information management and XML developer tools solution software; training; architecture and design services; integration and implementation services; and extensive maintenance and support. The merging of ISOGEN International with DataChannel extends the professional services component for XML Framework.
"To be competitive, enterprises must improve their IT infrastructure to extend their mission-critical information to the Internet and beyond," said Carla Corkern, President of Dallas-based ISOGEN. "Our professional services team has developed industry-leading expertise in the design and implementation of these infrastructure requirements." Continued Corkern, "By adding this expertise to DataChannel's leading product technology, we are now extremely well-positioned to rapidly deploy these solutions with ongoing support, maintenance, and product innovation for our customers."
ISOGEN International will remain in Dallas where it is strategically located to easily service the new company's combined user base. George Kondrach, Chairman of ISOGEN will become General Manager, and Carla Corkern, President, will become Vice-President of the DataChannel ISOGEN International Professional Services organization.
The combined entity brings together the greatest minds in the XML community and the ISO standards community. These skills include leading W3C architects:
Norbert Mikula, DataChannel, Chief Technical Officer and CTO of OASIS (an XML standards group),
Eliot Kimber, ISOGEN Chief Architect and Co-Editor of ISO/IEC10744 (HyTime), and
Paul Prescod, ISOGEN Co-Author of The XML Handbook.
In addition, DataChannel capabilities will enhance XML Framework to now include:
A comprehensive suite of training modules starting with XML basics and XML in the enterprise, and extending to Next Generation XML Architectures,
Advanced Design & Architecture services designed to optimize a company's computing enterprise using XML and other Internet standards, and
Implementation Services through ISOGEN's advanced structured data transformation and re-design practice, enabling e-commerce data transactions while preserving a company's existing IT infrastructure.
Overview of XML Framework
DataChannel's XML Framework provides a series of offerings to unleash the power of Enterprise Information Portals. Offerings include XML blueprint, architectural design services, solutions software, tools and technologies, training and support and professional services. The solution software product RIO combines the power of an XML-driven database engine with real-time TIBCO notification working with Netscape's Communicator or Microsoft Exchange. DataChannel solution software simplifies the process of delivering critical information to the right people at the right time through the instant distribution of organized content including external newsfeeds such as NewsEdge; search engines such as Yahoo!, Excite, InfoSeek, and Lycos; relational databases from companies such as Informix Software, Sybase, and Oracle; Enterprise applications, such as SAP, PeopleSoft, and Baan; and enterprise corporate data from companies such as Wall Data and IBM - all within a customizable employee desktop environment.
About DataChannel
DataChannel Inc., founded in 1996, is a privately held company. DataChannel is an Enterprise Solutions company offering XML-based, Information Management solutions and services. DataChannel's offerings unleash the power of Enterprise Information Portals, which facilitate the way companies share information with employees, vendors, customers and consumers across Intranets, Extranets and the Internet. These solutions are offered through DataChannel's XML Framework, an extensive portfolio of software and services designed to capitalize on the Information Economy through the use of the Extensible Markup Language (XML). It includes DataChannel RIO, an Enterprise Information Portal solution connecting users of the portal to relevant information sources.
DataChannel simplifies the process of delivering critical information to the right people at the right time.
About Isogen
ISOGEN International Corporation was founded in 1994. It has established three key lines of business:
Full-service consulting, system design, and systems-integration group,
Training, which employ results-oriented learning techniques in core XML/SGML technologies as well as specific product training courses, and
Software Integration, which configures, integrates, and supports qualified third party software products. Companies around the world have re-architected and improved their computing infrastructure with ISOGEN International expert solutions.
NB. All trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective holders in the United States and/or other countries.
For more information, contact:
Sunny Lauritzen
DataChannel, Inc.
Tel: +1 425.974.4109
Email: sunny@datachannel.com