ACM TechNews - Wednesday, February 16, 2000

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ACM TechNews
Volume 2, Number 19
Date: February 16, 2000
Site Sponsored by Gateway (http://www.gateway.com)

Top Stories for Wednesday, February 16, 2000:
http://www.acm.org/technews/current/homepage.html

"Counterattack to Curb Hackers"
"Microsoft May Agree to Some Restrictions"
"Internet Firms Neglect Logistics, Study Concludes"
"UCITA Passes Virginia Legislature"
"Web Security, Privacy Are Goals of CIA Effort"
"Looking for a New Life in Linux"
"Corning to Buy NetOptix in Stock Deal"
"XML Puts Tag on Communications"
"Improve Internet Security or Face the Music"
"IT Proceeds With Caution"
"Deciding Factors"
"'International' in Internet Closes U.S. Lead"
"An Eagle Eye on Customers"
"Europe Surges Onto the Net"
"APS/ERP Integration: The World Is Flat"
"Enterprises Opening Up to Wireless Networks"
"Web 'Bots' Enhance Self-Serve Experience"

******************* News Stories ***********************

"Counterattack to Curb Hackers"
President Clinton met with Internet executives yesterday in a
hastily-called meeting designed to address technology-security
issues in the wake of the "denial of service" attacks launched
last week against major commercial Web sites.  Clinton said that . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item1

"Microsoft May Agree to Some Restrictions"
As Microsoft and the government prepare to deliver closing
arguments in the antitrust trial next week, the software giant
has softened its earlier stance in the settlement talks,
suggesting that it might consider some "common sense" . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item2

"Internet Firms Neglect Logistics, Study Concludes"
Many e-commerce companies are not providing adequate delivery and
customer service, and logistical issues will determine the
success or failure of online firms as the volume of online
transactions rises, according to the DHL Global E-Commerce Report . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item3

"UCITA Passes Virginia Legislature"
Virginia State Del. Joe T. May (R) says the Uniform Computer
Information Transactions Act (UCITA) will likely become a state
law on July 1 of next year.  The Virginia Senate gave its
unanimous approval to the act yesterday, and now UCITA awaits . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item4

"Web Security, Privacy Are Goals of CIA Effort"
The Central Intelligence Agency recently announced that its new
venture capital fund In-Q-Tel has contracted with Science
Applications International Corp. (SAIC) to develop computer
security software for the agency.  The $3 million project will . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item5

"Looking for a New Life in Linux"
Corel last week announced plans to acquire Inprise/Borland that
will combine the productivity applications of the former with the
software development tools of the latter.  With the merger,
valued at $1.07 billion, Corel seeks to significantly expand its . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item6

"Corning to Buy NetOptix in Stock Deal"
Corning has formed a $2.15 billion stock agreement to purchase
NetOptix, a manufacturer of advanced fiber-optic equipment.
NetOptix provides "thin-film filters," which divide light into a
range of colors in fiber-optic systems.  Such technology has . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item7

"XML Puts Tag on Communications"
By providing a common vocabulary for Internet transactions, XML
may be the key to simplifying e-business.  Though it is still in
development, XML is already being adopted by industries eager to
ramp up their e-business activities.  Sabre airline reservation . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item8

"Improve Internet Security or Face the Music"
The FBI recently announced that it would search worldwide for
whoever launched the spate of denial-of-service attacks on major
commercial Web sites last week.  Although analysts admit that the
attacks were not severe in terms of stolen data or damaged . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item9

"IT Proceeds With Caution"
Most IT managers will eventually migrate to Microsoft's Windows
2000, but are carefully considering the issues involved before
adopting the OS.  A large majority of enterprises use Windows as
a main platform for the desktop, Web servers, and application . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item10

"Deciding Factors"
There is no clear winner in the battle between Windows and Unix
for market space, leaving companies to evaluate the operating
systems based on enterprise needs and priorities.  Before
choosing between Windows and one of the variants of Unix--IBM's . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item11

"'International' in Internet Closes U.S. Lead"
The Internet is expanding worldwide, and companies should develop
their Web sites and e-commerce initiatives with a global audience
in mind rather than focusing only on the U.S. market.  Internet
access will be higher in Europe than in the U.S. by 2003, and . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item12

"An Eagle Eye on Customers"
A new industry is emerging for customer management software,
which helps companies understand their customers in order to
provide better service and retain customers.  Customer management
software encompasses a broad range of products, from traditional . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item13

"Europe Surges Onto the Net"
European Internet use and e-commerce spending will increase
remarkably by 2003, predicts Forrester Research, driven by heavy
interest in Germany and the United Kingdom, which are expected to
move past early leaders in Scandinavian countries.  Within three . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item14

"APS/ERP Integration: The World Is Flat"
Advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software arose from an
erroneous assumption in enterprise resource planning (ERP)
programs that all materials are needed on the same starting date.
APS was created in 1992 to indicate the dates when various . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item15

"Enterprises Opening Up to Wireless Networks"
Wireless LANs (WLANs) have experienced a booming market largely
due to increased demand for wireless network access for laptops.
To offer increased mobility, WLANs operate via NICs, access
points, and outdoor bridges.  Prior to 1999, three data delivery . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item16

"Web 'Bots' Enhance Self-Serve Experience"
E-businesses can improve customer service while saving money by
using "bots," or autonomous agents, to find answers to customer
queries rather than hiring employees to do it, says Daniel Sapir,
COO of bot maker Artificial Life.  One Web site using bots is . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0216w.html#item17


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