BMC Software announced the acquisition of KMXperts. KMXperts product functionality will enable customers to achieve their Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and Business Service Management (BSM) goals with robust knowledge management integrated within BMC Software service management solutions.

M-Tech Information Technology announced a partnership with GTSI, a government information technology solutions aggregator, to provide government agencies with HSPD-12-compliant identity management solutions. In addition, GTSI state and local customers can purchase three of M-Tech's popular enterprise identity management products - P-Synch for password management, ID-Synch for user provisioning, and ID-Certify for access management - from GTSI's U.S. Communities contract.

IEX Corporation announced a partnership with Symmetrics Business Intelligence Solutions. Under the agreement, IEX will resell Symmetrics custom reporting services.

Horizon Wimba announced that it has acquired the assets of Silicon Chalk, the Vancouver-based company that creates software which, from within a class, broadcasts an instructor's prepared notes and lecture materials to local and remote students.

Large business enterprises are struggling to manage the security vulnerabilities associated with a mobile and remote workforce, according to a new national and independent research study conducted by SupportSoft. And the risks may be even greater for financial institutions, which faced an estimated 34 million targeted security attacks in the first half of this year alone.

A survey released by Socketware, makers of Accucast e-mail marketing solutions, at their annual Client Conference revealed that 68 percent of IT and e-mail marketers are concerned with e-mail deliverability issues, underscoring the business value of an effective e-mail marketing tool. Of the nine topics referenced, respondents identified e-mail filters (92 percent) and/or ISP blocking (76 percent) as their top concerns. Survey results also showed that companies have increased e-mail marketing campaigns over the past year (84 percent).

Surado Solutions announced the release of Surado CRM 5.0. Surado CRM 5.0 includes many improvements from an updated and more simplified user interface to the addition of powerful new functionality such as Interactive Workflow and integration with Microsoft Project Management-all value-adds to Surado CRM's already rich feature set included in the core suite.

smartFOCUS has sold the Intelligent Marketing solutions to M and M Sports following a brief but intensive sales engagement. smartFOCUS are supplying M and M with a complete Enterprise Marketing Management software solution that will deliver analysis, profiling, campaigning and reporting capability across the marketing and buying teams.

Nortel expanded its relationship with Microsoft through integrated technology solutions designed to help simplify the way businesses communicate around the world. The latest cooperative initiative between the two companies will provide collaborative capabilities for businesses through integration of Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 and Office Live Communication Server with Nortel's open, SIP-based communications solution.

BT has moved the hosting of its broadband customer self-help software to the Austin, Texas headquarters of Motive. BT selected the company to host its Motive-based management solution, which is used to support BT's residential and small business offerings, to relieve the burden of managing infrastructure changes and upgrades.

  "OUR TAKE" (more)

8/31/05 - In Conclusion . . . Hunters and Farmers It would be very shortsighted of me to think that this is the last time I will write on the role of hunters and farmers. However, let me use the end of the month to express sincere gratitude for the collective knowledge, experience and perspective of our many readers.   You have been so kind to share your thoughts on hunters and farmers and I know that your wisdom has been of great help to many of your fellow readers. I'm just glad to help facilitate this exchange of information and strategy.   So as we turn the page to September, I'll add some additional comments on outsourcing to continue a previous discussion thread but I also challenge you to ask new questions. Tell me what is on your mind and I'll see if we can find the expertise to help.   Gary Lemke, Publisher (Share your thoughts)