CHANNEL NEWS

Analytic software provider Informatica Corp., Palo Alto, Calif., is providing the U.S. Geological Survey with a data integration platform to extract and integrate data on water resources analysis.

The platform will help collect information from a wide array of back-end systems, extract relevant data and transform it into a common format, allowing the data to be placed in data warehousing applications for analysis.GTSI Corp., Chantilly, Va., won a three-year blanket purchase agreement worth up to $28 million to supply the Marine Corps with ruggedized notebook computers.

Under this new contract, GTSI will deliver Panasonic ToughBook ruggedized notebooks and accessories. GTSI will work with the Marines and Panasonic to customize the appearance of some units and enhance Panasonic warranty support for field service.Computer Associates International Inc., Islandia, N.Y., introduced a Web-based service desk solution, called the Unicenter Service Desk, which automates support work flow and enables the remote
management of support processes. Web and personal digital assistant interfaces give remote technicians complete real-time access to tracking mechanisms and operational statistics. The solution also manages service-level agreement commitments.VCON Ltd., Herzliya, Israel, an Internet protocol-based videoconferencing solutions provider, has restructured its Virginia office to better focus on the U.S. federal market, appointing Jim Hallihan as director of federal sales.

VCON systems are used by the Federal Aviation Administration's New England air traffic service information resource management center, and by the Louisiana Department of Social Services for cutting travel costs for training sessions.

VCON's desktop videoconferencing systems, which can work with data rates from 64 kilobits to 1.5 megabits per second, features an architecture that minimizes jitter by unique packet management techniques.Electronic Data Systems Corp., Plano Texas, has completed its $950 million acquisition of Structural Dynamics Research Corp., which produces Internet-enabled collaborative management software.

Computer Sciences Corp., El Segundo, Calif., awarded middleware provider SeeBeyond Corp., Monrovia, Calif., a seven-year subcontract to help CSC support NASA's Integrated Financial Management Program.

Engineering solution provider Anteon Corp., Fairfax, Va., signed a reseller agreement to offer Burlingame, Calif.-based Allot Communications Inc.'s NetEnforcer policy-based network management tool to federal governments worldwide.

GTSI Corp. signed a strategic partnership with professional services firm Allied Group Ltd., Glastonbury, Conn., to expand GTSI's offerings in enterprise management, performance management, information security, high-end Unix systems and storage.

Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif., launched eAgent, a new channel initiative, to allow favored channel partners to place individual transaction orders. This enables them to maintain complete control of the customer accounts while freeing financial resources.