Apptus Theca
June 24, 2010
Quite a few search and content processing companies describe themselves as “leading”. The headline “Europe’s Leading Search Technology Company Apptus, Offers a Safe Passage for All Users of Fast on Linux and Unix to Apptus’ Search Platform Theca” caught my attention. The byline was Stockholm, which is definitely a technology center. Microsoft has a large presence. The content management company EPiServer and the smart content processing vendor Silobreaker have roots in the Stockholms skärgård. Microsoft has a significant presence as well. Apptus lit up my radar on one of my visits to Scandinavia. The company was positioned to me as an eCommerce integrator focusing on directory implementations and retail.
The news item, reported on Yahoo so it may become a 404 in a heartbeat, made several interesting points.
First, the news release informed me that Apptus is “Europe’s leading search technology company.” A bit deeper in the news release was this qualifier, “Europe’s leading developer of search and content enrichment services for online directories.” This statement matched my understanding of the the company’s focus. Too bad the headline says one thing which I did not believe and the first paragraph said another thing which seemed to match what I knew about the company. Ah, 20-somethings. Such a delight are they.
Second, Microsoft’s dumping the Linux/Unix Fast Search & Transfer ESP has spawned a competitor. Although the news release does not tell me, I heard that Apptus is using open source search technology and going after the orphaned Fast ESP Linux/Unix users. This makes sense, and the idea that an outfit with expertise in search implementation, tuning, and integration is a good one in my opinion.
Third, Apptus is one of the higher profile outfits taking advantage of Microsoft’s decision to expand its business and give open source search a boost. Keep in mind that Apptus has customers in 18 countries and counts among its clients Yell.com and World Color Press (formerly Quebecor), among others.
In my opinion, what I see happening is a fracturing of an already mixed up and fluid segment of the software industry. I assume that my two or three readers will disagree, but here’s my working hypothesis:
- Microsoft’s dumping of Fast Linux/Unix is giving additional impetus to Lucene/Solr. Vendors of proprietary search and content processing solutions may find that Microsoft has unwittingly created an unexpected consequence. It is too soon to tell if Microsoft knows about what I can call the “Apptus effect”. I will have to sit back and watch.
- SharePoint centric search vendors may find the open source search providers capturing more customers. SharePoint centric vendors, therefore, may face some tough choices; for example, put resources into fighting the Apptus-style plays, focus only on SharePoint and abandon the Linux/Unix market, or go all in and support Microsoft and Linux/Unix.
- The search and content processing vendors who want to offer platforms will have to step up their marketing. Microsoft and Google are platform companies, and it will be increasingly difficult to get attention for very good, but less well known options.
- Specialty search vendors will be forced to focus even more sharply on point solutions. This means that crazy marketing lingo aside, some companies will have to pick a sector like customer support and, in the words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, “make it work”. The days of morphing from business intelligence, semantics, eDiscovery, and appliances may meet with greater skepticism. Customers with problems will want a best of breed solution and the Heinz 57 varieties creature may be a turn off.
- Cloud search solutions may become more desirable. I had a conversation yesterday and pointed out that SAS Teragram offered a cloud solution before the cloud had become the buzzword du jour. Companies like Blossom.com have proved to me that hosted search works like a champ and shaves money and time off search and retrieval.
To sum up, the Apptus announcements strikes me as a big deal. Aside from my stumbling over the Apptus news release headline, there’s a message in the Apptus news item. Who is listening? Search vendors facing financial pressure may want to perk up their ears.
Stephen E Arnold, June 24,2010
Freebie
Fly.com, Flight Search
May 28, 2010
Short honk: A happy quack to the reader who alerted me to Fly.com. I ran several queries and found the service speedy, delivering results on a par with those I routinely use for my travels. I noticed that discount airlines such as Southwest did not appear in the results for my test queries. I use Southwest to travel from Louisville to Chicago Midway and to Baltimore’s BWI airport. I added Fly.com to my bookmark manager, but I still have to knit together Southwest trips with other carriers’ service to get the lowest fares.
Stephen E Arnold, May 28, 2010
Freebie
Filtering Travel Data Big Business
May 2, 2010
Sites like TripAdvisor have been in business for awhile, but some smaller players like open standard Kayak.com are gaining ground reports “Game-Changer for 2009: Trip Planning Web Sites”. From professionally-written sites like TripWolf recommendation-providing Uptake.com, social search and “mountains of data” are being integrated to create personalized user experiences for your travel choices. There’s also Triporati, which profiles users and crawls the other big travel sites for recommendations. Many of these sites include their own social network-style interactions, or use Facebook Connect. Businesses need to realize that these sites are going to “actively redefine customer expectations” and consequently get their hotel or airline bubbled to the top.
Samuel Hartman, May 2, 2010
Note: Post not sponsored.
Travel Search Report
May 1, 2010
With rumors of Google getting “interested” in travel as a content space, I noted this summary of a report from Epiphany Solutions. The information provides some detail about the sample’s travel search actions. From what I can tell, the sample is mostly focused on the UK market. Nevertheless, there are some useful data in “Thomas Cook and the Travel Sector.”
I noted that the company with the highest “organic visibility”, which I think means content, does not have the most magnetism. On the surface, the data caused me to ask myself, “Hmm. Maybe the efficacy of keyword advertising is losing some pull?”
Next, the companies with the most links were not automatically at the top of the league table. The question I posed my internal interlocutor was, “So maybe this link stuff is slipping?”
The information on the Web page is useful and I tucked it in my Google and Travel folder. A happy quack to the Epiphany folks. I wonder is this is a Jonathan Edwards’ style outfit? Insight in the glen and all that.
Stephen E Arnold, May 1, 2010
Unsponsored post.
Google and Travel
April 28, 2010
For a number of years, Google has processed a query like SFO LGA at a city pair. One of the results is a table that allows one click access to travel reservations. Well, not exactly one click as you will see when you try the query. Close enough. The story that Google had an interest in acquiring a travel plumbing company called ITA. You can get the scoop in “Google Rumor Puts Focus on ITA.” My take on this alleged deal was, “Got it.”
When I read the Gerson Lehrman Group’s “Travel Game Changer – What Does Google’s Potential acquisition of ITA Mean?” I realized the gap between my “got it” and the GLG analyst’s view; that is, Google buys ITA and gets some nifty plumbing.
I certainly appreciate the ITA plumbing, but my “got it” considered these factors:
- ITA is a keystone company; that is, it supports a number of related entities and their operations. Google’s getting into satellite imagery pivoted on a similar keystone type of deal.
- ITA has credibility; that is, ITA translates to “travel” in some potentially desirable market segments.
- ITA has engineers; that is, these engineers bring domain knowledge and skills to the Google.
What happens in this type of deal is that Google’s disruptive potential is increased. Just as the satellite imagery deal caused some excitement at Microsoft when it took place, the ITA deal may have similar impact. This type of deal is not a deal based exclusively on technology, no matter how impressive. Google has some technology that can perform somewhat similar functions. The ITA technology may, like the dMark technology, be Google-ized over time if the deal actually takes place.
I find the GLG analysis interesting, but I am not sure it positions the deal in the Googley world. I did like the embedded “hire me” ad. (Not quite Google grade but an interesting touch in an “objective” informational post in my opinion.)
Stephen E Arnold, April 28, 2010
Unsponsored post.
Autonomy and Kainos Tie Up
April 26, 2010
Autonomy announced Evolve. You can read the full story on the Autonomy Web site in the article “Autonomy and Kainos Launch Next Generation Electronic Document Management Solution for Hospitals.” The key feature of the new health-centric system include:
- Automated compliance and information governance
- Security components that comply with regulatory guidelines and the needs of authorized users
- A single, centralized view of information from patient records
Autonomy embeds its search solution in these vertical systems. What’s interesting is that Autonomy is selling solutions, not standalone search. Does this mark a change in Autonomy’s approach to the market or a broader shift in the search and content processing sector? With Autonomy back on the acquisition hunt, which way will Autonomy go? Back office like Brainware? Duplicative services like OpenText? Maybe ERP or CRM?
Stephen E Arnold, April 26, 2010
Unsponsored post.
Endeca Files OfficeFurniture.com under Sold
March 8, 2010
I learned that OfficeFurniture.com has rolled out its Web site powered by the Endeca system. You can read the story in “OfficeFurniture.com Introduces Endeca Search and Navigation Technology with Newly Redesigned Website.”
The site features point and click refinement, recommended products, and sort options. My test queries rendered within a couple of seconds. When I selected “View all matching file cabinets”, the system generated a single long page with pictures and links to additional information. I had a Bing Image moment when I first encountered this feature. The long pages are a bit of a hassle on my netbook, which has a wimpy graphics card and minimal RAM. That’s not Endeca’s issue, however. Overall performance was good.
For me the most interesting comment in the write up was:
“OfficeFurniture.com are experts in their market and have a deep understanding of the factors most important to each customer as they seek the right furniture for their specific office environment,” said Rob Swint, global lead, B2B eCommerce and distribution at Endeca. “By continuing their advancements in overall web presence, they are allowing customers unprecedented ability to search and evaluate their product lines, while improving sales effectiveness by better matching customers to the right product for their needs. The result is a better user experience for both customer and business.”
The positioning of Endeca struck me as squarely in the eCommerce sector. Congratulations to the Endeca team on this big win.
Stephen E Arnold, March 6, 2010
No one paid me to write this news item. I will report non payment to the Department of Commerce, an agency on top of all things commercial.
Search Engine Convera Drifts Off
February 16, 2010
The journey was a long one, beginning with scanning marketing brochures in the 1990s has filed for a certificate of dissolution. I think this means that Convera has moved from the search engine death watch to the list which contains Delphes, Entopia, and other firms.
Convera splash page on February 15, 2010
You can read the official statement for a few more days on the PRNewswire site. The title of the announcement is / was, “Convera Corporation Files Certificate of Dissolution, Trading of Common Stock to Cease after February 8, 2010 Payment Date Set.” I am no attorney so maybe my lay understanding of “dissolution” is flawed, and Convera under another name will come roaring back. For the purposes of this round up of my thoughts, I am going to assume that Convera is comatose. I hope it bounces back with one of those miracles of search science. I am crossing my wings, even thought each has a dusting of snow this morning. Harrod’s Creek has become a mid south version of Nord Kap.
For me, the key passage in the write up was:
Convera Corporation announced today that it filed its Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State on February 8, 2010, in accordance with its previously announced plan of complete dissolution and liquidation. As a result of such filing, the company has closed its stock transfer books and will discontinue recording transfers of its common stock, except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. Accordingly, and as previously announced, trading of the company’s stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market will cease after the close of business on February 8, 2010.
My Overflight search archive suggested that Excalibur Technologies was around in the 1980s. The founder was Jim Dowe, who was interested in neural networks. The notion of pattern matching was a good one. The technology has been successfully exploited by a number of vendors ranging from Autonomy to Verity. Brainware’s approach to search owes a tip of its Prince Heinrich hat to the early content snow plowing at Excalibur. Excalibur used most of the buzzwords and catchphrases that bedevil me today, including “semantic technology.”
Sample of a category search on the Retrieval Ware system. The idea is that you would click a category.
One of my former Booz, Allen & Hamilton colleagues made some dough by selling his ConQuest Software search-related technology to Excalibur Technologies. The reason was that the original Excalibur search system did not work too well. Excalibur, according to my Overflight archive, described itself as “leading provider of knowledge and media asset management solutions.”
Online Pricing: Disruption Is the Game
February 8, 2010
It’s Monday morning. The Super Bowl is over, but the world football ecosystem is unfazed. The same cannot be said of for-fee content. I want to point out two seemingly unrelated developments and link them to one of the keystones of doing business in an online, Web-centric world. I am working on a couple of oh-so-secret write ups, and I will make oblique references to research findings by the goslings here in Harrod’s Creek that will be more widely known in the spring.
When world’s collide. The boundary is the exciting spot in my opinion. Image source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2008/01/080112152249-large.jpg
First, consider the plight of Google Books. Suddenly the Department of Justice is showing some moxie. That’s a good thing, but I think the reality of derailing Google Books is like to have some interesting repercussions going forward. For now, the big story is that Google Books has become the poster child of Google being Google. You can get the received wisdom in the UK newspaper The Telegraph and its write up “Justice Department Cr5iticises Google Books Settlement.” The glee is evident to me in this write up, but perhaps I am jaded and worn down by the approach certain publications take to Google. The company is essentially the first examples of what will be a growing line up of firms that use technology to alter business processes. I will be talking about this in my NFAIS speech on March 1, 2010. I am the luncheon speaker, and I think some of those in the room will get indigestion. The reason is that Google comes from a domain that people within 20 years of my age of 65 don’t fully understand. The Telegraph doesn’t get it either, and I think this passage highlights that generational divide:
The ruling is a blow to Google and authors’ groups who had supported the search giant’s ambitious plan to create a vast online library of digitised books. The controversial Google Book Search project attracted fierce criticism from authors, who believed their rights were being eroded, while winning praise from other quarters for helping to widen access to classic, rare or useful works of literature.
Too bad the writer, a real journalist, omitted the word “goodie”. My hunch is that since national libraries have not shown any interest in creating digital collections, students and researchers will be doing their work the way John Milton and Andrew Marvell did. Great for those who have the time, money, and cursive writing skills. Not so great for those who need to sift through lots of content quickly. With library budgets shrinking and librarians forced to decide which books to keep, which to store, and which to trash, I think the failure of national libraries is evident. Google made a Googley and somewhat immature attempt to step into the breach and look what has resulted? A bureaucratic, legal eagle snarl. Books are an intellectual resource and I keep asking, “If not Google who?” Reed Elsevier? The British government? The National Library of China? A consortium of publishers? The answer is, in my opinion, now clear, “No one.” Maybe Google will keep going with this project. Hard to tell. Life might be easier to shift gears, go directly to authors, and cut specific deals for their future work. In a decade or so, end of problem. Also, end of traditional publishing. If Google actually talked to me, I would offer this advice, “Go for it, dudes.”
Autonomy and Precise Team Up
January 24, 2010
Autonomy continues to sniff trends and move before other players in the enterprise search and content processing space. I saw a short announcement on Sharecast (a service with more weird pop ups than most Web sites I visit) that said:
Search software firm Autonomy is teaming up with UK-based media intelligence outfit Precise to develop and market next-generation media intelligence services to the public relations and communications sectors.
Autonomy is well known to readers of this Web log. Precise may not be. Here’s a quick run down on that outfit:
- The company is in the “media intelligence” business. This is somewhat similar to the old style Bacon’s clipping service put on steroids.
- The company has more than 5,000 customers and a big chunk of them are in the financial services and information sector. The idea is that media monitoring provides open source information that Precise converts into intelligence about what a company will or may do. This is the enterprise version of government intelligence agency operations.
- The chief information officer comes from the real time information side of the business. (This suggests to me that Autonomy is deep into the real time content processing spaghetti.)
- The company’s description of its services sounds almost Googley: “Our Media Portal allows our clients to view and evaluate the impact of coverage from every media source – print, broadcast, online. In addition they can access forward planning data at the touch of a button.”
My take on this is that Autonomy will be nosing into other real time information sectors as well. Some of the incumbents may find that Autonomy’s marketing and its corporate clout will push them out of their comfortable positions. Who will be affected by Autonomy if it moves in this direction? That’s a good question.
Stephen E Arnold, January 24, 2010
A freebie. No one paid me to write about this tie up. I suppose I shall report this sad fact to MARAD, an outfit that knows about brown water tie ups.
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