SynchroNet, Clarksons Join in On-Line Slot-Capacity Service SynchroNet Marine, Inc., a provider of container-interchange services, has teamed up with Clarksons PLC to offer on-line trading of container freight and vessel slot capacity. Called Global Slot Network Ltd. (GSN), the new venture will be based in London, with additional offices in Asia and the U.S. The self-service platform will allow participants to trade capacity and cargo opportunities, on current and forward bases. GSN will provide a neutral site in a secure environment, the partners said. Open to multiple carriers, shippers and forwarders, the exchange was designed specifically for incremental cargo and capacity opportunities, including the trading of ad hoc slots among carriers and between deepsea carriers, shortsea carriers and leasing companies. In addition to the trading platform, the site will provide registered users with research and data related to the container industry. The platform is currently undergoing testing and enhancement in consultation with an industry panel. It will be ready for open registration, at no cost to participants, beginning in early September at www.globalslotnetwork.com. Live trading should commence as soon as November. Clarksons is a provider of shipping and freight services, including a shipping hedge fund and research department. http://www.synchronetmarine.com/
SAS Unveils New Reseller Program for Its B.I. Applications SAS, a vendor of business intelligence (B.I.) software, has introduced a new channel-partner program for value-added resellers, system integrators and independent software vendors of SAS products in the Americas. The group will deliver B.I. applications to small and medium-sized businesses. It will be headed by Miles Mahoney, who has built partner-channel programs for Borland Software, Business Objects and Crystal Decisions. The unit draws on an established infrastructure which includes dedicated partner-development teams, internal channel sales teams and systems engineers. It will focus on the SAS Enterprise Intelligence Platform, incorporating B.I., data integration and advanced analytics. Value-added resellers of SAS software include Aviana Global Technologies, Claraview, Comsys, Creative Computing, Mainline Information Systems, Qualex and ThotWave. SAS is also utilizing existing partnerships, with major companies such as HP and IBM, to expand the program. http://www.sas.com/
GlobalWare Launches Web Store for Resellers of RIM Products GlobalWare Solutions, Inc. (GWS), a provider of electronic commerce, fulfillment and reverse logistics services to the telecommunications industry, has launched a reseller Web store offering the complete line of accessories from Research In Motion. RIM is the maker of the popular BlackBerry handheld device; the new site will include more than 90 sanctioned products from the company. It is located at www.thinkblackberry.com. Resellers will be able to purchase BlackBerry accessory products globally through GWS's RIM product line inventory located in U.S., Netherlands, Singapore, Malaysia, China and India logistics facilities. Customers can select from extensive packaging options, by choosing product either with the BlackBerry look and feel, or with third-party configurations. RIM and GWS are also collaborating on www.shopblackberry.com, RIM's official BlackBerry retail Web store. http://www.globalwaresolutions.com/
Labelmaster Offers Packages With Info on Dangerous Goods Labelmaster, a manufacturer of compliance products related to the movement of dangerous goods, has created a series of compliance packages. The move combines the company's A.I.R. Shipper, Air International Regulations for Shippers of Dangerous Goods, Early 49 CFR, 49 CFR Government, RegStick (a USB flash drive), and the online Compliance Network service tool. Also included in the packages are tabs, a ruler and a travel mug. The combination packages range in price from $149 (without Compliance Network) to $259 (including Compliance Network). Compliance Network provides centralized access to domestic, air, ground, water and international air regulations with the click of a mouse. The 2007 edition of A.I.R. Shipper contains important regulatory revisions by the International Civil Aviation Organization. http://www.labelmaster.com/
WebMethods Enhances Metadata Management With Cerebra Deal WebMethods, Inc., a provider of business integration and optimization software, is now offering semantic metadata management technology. The addition comes from webMethods' recent acquisition of Cerebra, Inc. Semantic information enhances the understanding of metadata by providing additional context to its meaning and usage, such as the interrelationships between assets. Users acquire a clear understanding of operational dependencies, as well as the anticipated impact of proposed changes. Cerebra's technology automatically captures and defines those relationships, and sets up rules to govern and categorize metadata. The capability minimizes the need for manual maintenance of metadata, webMethods said. The acquired technology will be embedded within future editions of webMethods Fabric, the vendor's flagship product suite, which combines business integration and process management within a service-oriented architecture. http://webmethods.com/
Transplace Wins Certification as SmartWay Transport Partner Transplace, Inc., a vendor of logistics software and transportation management, has been certified as a member of the SmartWay Transport Partnership. In voluntary cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry, the group of carriers was formed to boost energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Transplace said it will utilize the partnership to improve its environmental practices and learn of other partners' environmental preservation methods. SmartWay Transport establishes incentives for improvements in fuel efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. By 2012, the initiative aims to reduce between 33m and 66m metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions, each year. At the same time, members of the initiative believe, their efforts will result in fuel savings of up to 150m barrels of oil annually. http://www.transplace.com/
Agentek, Cingular, Symbol Ally to Aid Field-Service Groups Field-service organizations have a new turnkey offering to enhance productivity and customer service, as the result of an alliance between Agentek, Inc., Cingular Wireless and Symbol Technologies. Agentek is a provider of mobile field force automation and communications products. The subscription-based service from the three partners is made up of Agentek's suite of applications, Cingular's nationwide EDGE wireless data network, and Symbol's MC70 rugged Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA). It includes joint marketing, collaborative selling, and software and services integration. The deal targets service organizations in such areas as OEM aftermarket, information technology, medical equipment, third-party services, telecommunications, cable, transportation and logistics, and utilities. According to the partners, the offering allows companies better to communicate with employees in the field, and route them for assignments that will yield higher levels of productivity and service delivery. http://agentek.com/
New Transport Group From Insight Targets Used-Auto Remarket Insight Network Transportation (INT) is the name of a new automobile transportation subsidiary of Insight Network Logistics. The unit was formed to provide multimodal vehicle-transportation services to the used automobile and remarketing industries. The company is targeting auto remarketers, private fleet owners, rental companies and major holders of used-auto portfolios. INT is intended to give customers greater control and visibility of the logistics process, from their desktops or wireless PDA devices. Insight Network Logistics claims extensive access to rail and truck resources throughout North America, as well as electronic links with automotive transporters and service providers via its VinVision software. VinVision is a Web-native application that was developed exclusively for vehicle distribution. Insight is a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Pacific Corp. http://www.insightnl.com/
AirBridge Cargo Signs Interline Deal With Continental Airlines Russia's AirBridge Cargo (ABC) has signed an interline agreement with Continental Airlines. The deal gives each partner access to the other's market. Continental has previously expressed its desire to enter the Russian market, while AirBridge is counting on the Houston, TX-based airline to supply a key link into its network, especially for the movement of oil and gas equipment from Texas to Sakhalin Island off the coast of Russia. ABC operates two IL-76 freighters a week from its hub in Krasnoyarsk in support of Sakhalin's oil and gas industry; it has now opened its own office on the island to manage services and future development. At the same time, ABC has appointed Platinum Air Cargo as its general sales agent in Houston, Dallas and Washington, while Heavy-weight Express will represent the carrier in New York and Chicago. The new agreements will help ABC to expand its presence in the U.S. ahead of the anticipated launch of its own Boeing 747 freighter services in 2007. ABC also has an interline agreement with El Al Cargo in New York, on the North Atlantic route to Europe. http://www.airbridgecargo.com/
Scenic, Optricity Collaborate on Supply-Chain Technology Scenic Technology Corp. has forged a partnership with Optricity Corp. to collaborate on new technologies to aid in supply-chain management. Scenic is a provider of supply-chain execution software as a service, while Optricity develops optimization engines. Scenic's sce-Star suite consists of multiple business applications and connectivity tools for the management of warehouses and distribution centers. The addition of Optricity's slotting and optimization capabilities will enhance Scenic's offering and help companies to integrate their supply chains, the partners said. Optricity uses Juncture Optimization to solve supply-chain problems that are not addressed by such mainstream systems as warehouse management software, transportation management software and enterprise resource planning applications. Its engines optimize least-cost approaches based on the competing goals and constraints of multiple functions. http://www.scenictechnology.com/
