| February 5, 2010
Aussie pioneer sold abroad
Neller Software, an Adelaide-based developer that has been producing HR and related systems since 1976, has been acquired by NorthgateArinso, a multinational provider of HR systems that is headed by Mike Ettling, who at one time headed Unisys in Australia. The transaction includes Neller's Preceda software and the Neller Employer Services business, which provides outsourced payroll services (www.neller.com.au).
In the wake of the transaction David Page, previously managing director of Neller, will become responsible for NorthgateArinso's Australia/New Zealand business.
Darcy Lalonde, Asia/Pacific president of Northgate-Arinso, said the opportunity to acquire Neller was too good to miss because "the company's credentials are second to none and they are very well recognised and respected.
"Together the combined entity will provide the most comprehensive and advanced suite of HR technology, outsourcing, and consulting options available on the Australian and New Zealand markets," Lalonde added. www.northgatearinso.com
Pronto in bed with US tax expert
Australian developer Pronto Software has formed an alliance with US Web-based sales tax automation systems provider Avalara (www.avalara.com). Under the terms of the deal Pronto will integrate Avalara's AvaTax service with its own products to enable customers to manage sales tax calculation, compliance, and exemption management, explained David Jackman, managing director of Pronto.
"Our clients will now have lightning speed, fully accurate tax calculations at their fingertips. The process will be fully automated, which will drive greater efficiencies throughout their operations."
Jackman also noted that Pronto recently ramped up its North American operations by appointing several new VARs in Canada and the US. The agreement with Avalara expands the North American offering, Jackman claimed. www.pronto-software.com
Developers link systems for loans
Sandstone Technology (www.sandstone.com.au), an Australian developer of loan origination and banking solutions, has agreed to open its systems up to interoperate with those of Newcastle-based Synergetic Services. "This agreement effectively means that Synergetic and Sandstone, by allowing their systems to seamlessly talk to each other, can collaboratively enable customers at the point of sale, such as market sites, to electronically submit applications to financial institutions and receive a response in real time," explained Andrew Meakin, chairman of Synergetic Services.
"Loan applications initiated in Synergetic's Synergy product are seamlessly transferred to Sandstone's system for fast tracking through to settlement in the lender's back office. Both systems operate in a real time environment." www.synserv.com.au
Digislide eyes telco opportunities
Adelaide-based projection technology developer Digislide has entered an alliance with Australian telco Voicetek and training services provider Workright Group. Luceille Outhred, CEO of Digislide, noted that Voicetek is developing a premium directory assistance service. She added that the three companies will investigate a range of commercial relationships, including product bundling for domestic and international markets. "There are considerable strategic synergies," she said. www.digislide.com.au
GoConnect seeks three-way merger
Communications company GoConnect has agreed to a three-way merger involving Cashmere Media, which operates a music news service, and artist management company PLW Entertainment. If the merger is consummated it will create the largest independent entertainment company in Australia, claimed Richard Li, chairman of GoConnect.
"GoConnect's technologies GoTrek and mVision, as well as its existing multimedia online properties, will form the foundation for international multimedia broadcasting for content and programs produced by PLW and Undercover, as well as Soundcheck.com.au, initially for Australia and China, before expansion into further territories," Li added. www.goconnect.com.au
Powerlan takeover bid withdrawn
Alpha Growth International (Australia) has withdrawn a hostile bid for ICT products and services provider Powerlan (Rust Report, Jan 15, p4).
Jon Newbery, CEO of Powerlan, welcomed the decision, claiming Alpha's proposal had been "uncertain and highly conditional" in nature. www.powerlan.com.au
NewSat pumps up new satellite
With one eye very firmly focused on the Federal Government's national broadband network, NewSat has released details of a new satellite, Jabiru-1, it plans to launch in 2012. While Richard Green, chairman of NewSat, was able to release some details, most information will remain undisclosed until a complete strategy statement is released sometime before the end of the current financial year.
Green did say that Jabiru-1 will cover Australia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. "It will leverage NewSat's global coverage of 75 per cent of the world," Green claimed. www.newsat.com
Online trader trips over watchdog
Commonwealth Securities (CommSec) has made an enforceable undertaking to the Australian Communications and Media Authority over spam messages. The agreement came after the ACMA investigated complaints that CommSec had continued to send commercial messages to customers who had withdrawn their consent. In addition, CommSec's e‑mail campaigns did not include options to unsubscribe. www.acma.gov.au
Ideas joins green lobby group
Ideas International, an Australian provider of comparative information about enterprise IT infrastructure, has been accepted as a member of The Green Grid, a body that promotes energy efficiency in data centres and business computing systems.
The move was made because Ideas wanted to collaborate with other organisations to help with data centre efficiency and energy cost savings, claimed Stephen Bowhill, CEO of Ideas. "Ideas is committed to providing innovative tools that assist enterprises in modelling and analysing IT infrastructure and can help companies meet their sustainability, efficiency, environmental, and cost reduction programs." www.ideasinternational.com
TrackITOnline targets desktop
Australian software distributor TrackITOnline has extended the range of products it handles by entering agreements with desktop virtualisation specialist Kaviza and desktop assessment analyst Liquidware Labs.
Kaviza is the developer of the VDI-in-a-box 2.0 virtual desktop solution, while Liquidware provides the Stratusphere and ProfileUnity solutions that enable organisations to plan, migrate, and manage desktop infrastructure, explained Philip Lancaster, director of TrackITOnline. www.trackitonline.com
* Melbourne-based "boutique" IT services provider The MasterMind Group has agreed to set up an extended reseller network to deliver IT service management and software licence and asset management solutions from US company iET Solutions. www.tmg100.com
* Simms International has been appointed a Dell distribution partner for SMBs in New Zealand. Simms opened its operation there last month. www.simmsnz.co.nz
* MapData Sciences has released a QuickMap developer toolkit to help with the creation of location-based applications. The JavaScript APIs provide access to more than 20 categories and 52,000 sets of locations, such as fast food outlets or ATMs. In the development phase QuickMap is free from transaction charges, but live applications attract an annual fee plus monthly transaction charges. www.mapds.com
* Internet telephony company engin has launched a hosted phone system for small businesses that is claimed to offer the features and functionality of a premise-based PBX system. Jack McKeon, engin's head of business sales, said the system is easy to install and maintain, with a Web portal providing a simple way to handle software upgrades. www.engin.com.au
* Objective has raised its sights on the public sector market with the release of community and collaboration solutions uCreate, uEngage, and ePetitions. www.objective.com
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