Inprise has said it will launch the new version of its InterBase database management system as open source software. The company will release the source code for Version 6 of its SQL database for Linux, Windows NT and Solaris at an unspecified date early this year. The Scotts Valley, California, firm will continue to sell and support InterBase 5.6 through normal channels.
Inprise: http://www.inprise.com
Acta, a Palo Alto, vendor of add-ons for SAP's R/3 enterprise resource planning systems, has shipped a US$75,000 software module called Customer Billing eCache. The module provides a way to share business data between e-commerce servers and back-end SAP systems.
Acta: http://www.acta.com
Axent Technologies has unveiled the PowerVPN, an IP Security (IPSec) virtual private network server that runs on Windows NT and can be used as a secure, remote server or as part of Axent's Raptor firewall. PowerVPN, which ships with free IPSec client software, supports the IETF's Internet Key Exchange protocol.
The PowerVPN Server and the firewall-based PowerVPN, set to ship this quarter, cost $2,000 separately or $2,500 for both.
Axent: http://www.axent.com
CheckFree Holdings has announced it will acquire BlueGill Technologies, a maker of Internet billing applications, in a stock swap valued at approximately $250 million. The deal will bring CheckFree new customers in South America and Europe, including Barclay's Bank and Cable & Wireless. CheckFree offers bill-payment processing and other services.