DataChannel Inc has acquired a company called Electronic Data Foundry (EDF) Inc, ostensibly for its enterprise information portal (EIP) business. EDF is a consultancy specializing in the implementation of extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), hypertext markup language (HTML), document style semantics and specification language (DSSSL) and hypermedia/time-based structuring language (HyTime). The big selling point of this mouthful of acronyms is their openness; they appeal to enterprises who want to keep their information systems safe from vendor lock-in.
If an enterprise data management strategy is implemented using open standards, a company will be insulated from closed, proprietary systems which hamper interoperability, explained VP of DataChannel professional services Carla Corkern. Corkern is a former vice president for Isogen International, which DataChannel bought back in April 1999 to bolster its professional services. DataChannel hasn’t disclosed the terms of the Isogen or EDF acquisitions. EDF will continue to operate from its Iowa headquarters, becoming a regional office for DataChannel’s Professional Services Division. Founder Eric Freese will report to Corkern as his company is integrated with her group.
