Channel News

By Nick Wakeman

QueryObject Systems Corp. of Roslyn Heights, N.Y., signed AmerInd Inc. of Alexandria, Va., as its first reseller for the federal government market.

With the agreement, the companies also closed their first deal involving a Defense Department agency.


QueryObject makes software that converts source data for use in an Internet analysis environment. Federal agencies can use the software to analyze data and then distribute the data over the Internet.

"We believe the QueryObject solution is ideally suited to government applications," said Bill Martinous, project director for AmerInd. "The ability to efficiently analyze the very large volumes of data generated by government systems, and to effectively make the results of that analysis available over the Internet, is a key component of efficient, open government."

VeriSign Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., will provide digital certificate and real-time validation services as part of AT&T Corp.'s team that won the General Services Administration's $100 million Access Certificates for Electronic Services contract.

The program will allow U.S. citizens to acquire a digital certificate to conduct online business with government agencies, such as applying for grants and loans and accessing benefits.
Compaq Computer Corp. of Houston and Red Hat Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., expanded their partnership so that Compaq will provide call center support for users of Red Hat's Linux operating system. Linux is an open-source software used to run servers and other applications.

Under the deal, Compaq and Red Hat will identify operating system changes and updates free to the open-source community.

"This agreement combines Compaq's hardware and networking expertise and Red Hat's superior development expertise in open-source software solutions," said Bob Young, chairman and chief executive of Red Hat. "At the same time, Compaq and its customers will be contributing to the growth and development of Linux-based operating systems under the open-source model."
Merisel Inc. of El Segundo, Calif., has signed a distribution agreement with Benchmark Tape Systems of Boulder, Colo. Benchmark makes tape backup and archive systems.Merisel is the first distributor to carry Benchmark products and will be targeting resellers, value-added resellers and systems integrators throughout the United States and Canada.

Technica Corp. of Dulles, Va., is packaging virtual private network technologies for government and commercial clients. The company is pulling the technologies together to pursue outsourcing opportunities, from the design stages through implementation and operation.

In the government market, the company is planning on selling through the General Services Administration schedule.