Integrator Insider

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Defense Gives Leasing a Boost:

A $50 million defense contract will be open only to companies with leasing on their General Services Administration schedules, which should push even more companies to add leasing offerings. So far only 21 companies offer leasing through GSA. The Defense Department Office of Health Affairs plans to lease maintenance solutions for the Military Health Services System through GSA blanket purchase agreements. Awards are expected in December.

Companies Team on Education Package:

Bay Networks Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.; Bell Atlantic Corp., Philadelphia; Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, N.J., have introduced a suite of Internet services designed for state school systems. Called EduGate, the offering bundles several services to provide Internet solutions to schools at a price below $12,200, the companies said Oct. 22. Lucent is the primary distributor. PSINet will provide Internet access, Bay Networks will provide connectivity hardware and Bell Atlantic will provide switched multimegabit data service.

AMS Strengthens FileNet Partnership:

American Management Systems Inc., Fairfax, Va., has bolstered its partnership with FileNet to better serve global customers. AMS has become FileNet's first Global ValueNet Partner, the company said. AMS implements work flow applications based on Costa Mesa, Calif.-based FileNet's integrated document management software solutions. AMS has installed more than 100 FileNet-based solutions.

Tally Systems Acquires Baranof Software:

Tally Systems Corp., Hanover, N.H., bought Baranof Software, Watertown, Mass., to strengthen its electronic messaging management solutions. Tally said it will combine Baranof's Check products with Tally Systems' Veranda Enterprise Messaging Reporter. With the acquisition, Tally Systems will be in a position to exploit the convergence of desktop asset management and messaging management as organizations become more concerned with keeping end users productive, the company said. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Unisys, Syntel Align for Outsourcing Opportunities:

Unisys Corp., Blue Bell, Pa., and Syntel Inc., Troy, Mich., formed a partnership to expand outsourcing capabilities such as application management, development and maintenance. Unisys will use Syntel's capabilities in application development and management to augment Unisys' suite of value-added data center and systems support, business process outsourcing and Internet technology solutions.

-Nick Wakeman