Cathleen Moore

A slew of IM (instant messaging) tools debuted this week, boasting advanced security and administration features deemed necessary for corporate acceptance.

Singing a different tune in the crowded market for enterprise portals, Citrix Systems introduced a portal access server designed to deploy quickly and without a team of service consultants.

Tibco Software Inc. plans to roll out a new business process management platform designed to automate the integration of Web services into business processes.

Plumtree Software plans to take the wraps off a new version of its portal platform featuring expanded Web services capabilities and a unified code base for Windows and Java.

IBM and Siebel Systems rolled out a handful of portlets that provide access to Siebel Employee Relationship Management applications through the IBM WebSphere Portal.

On Tuesday Microsoft Corp. plans to detail a major overhaul to its Systems Management Server, featuring improved support for remote systems, integration with Active Directory, and planned support for Windows CE devices.

From a humble start in the late

From a humble start in the late '90s, enterprise portal technology has hit its stride in recent years, giving companies a powerful toolkit to aggregate disparate applications, back-end systems, services, and content into a personalized window. In addition, portal technology combined with Web services promises a one-two punch for business process and system integration.