Gale introduces virtual reference database

Farmington Hills-based Gale announced a new program that integrates e-reference books in a database interface. Gale Virtual Reference Library will offer libraries the opportunity to select from an initial collection of more than 50 reference sources--encyclopedias, almanacs, and series--to create a customized, completely integrated online information service.

Each library customizes Gale Virtual Reference Library to fit its needs, selecting from what will be a fast-growing selection of titles to serve children's, academic's and general audience needs. Gale manages the library's collection, showing patrons only the titles it has purchased, which can be linked from the library's OPAC through MARC records.

Netarx installing IP phones at Lansing Community College

Internet telephone company Netarx of Bingham Farms has announced it is nearing completion of the largest deployment of Internet-protocol phones in Michigan.

The company has brought the number of IP phones at Lansing Community College up to 1,200. The college awarded the $800,000 contract to Netarx last December, and the company started installation in January.

The phones send information through a converged network rather than through conventional telephone wires.

Netarx estimated that the new phone system will save the school about $1.5 million in the next year.

Fry develops online catalog for Brookstone

Ann Arbor-based Fry Inc. has developed the online catalog for Brookstone Inc. and its Gardeners Eden line of products.

Brookstone operates more than 260 retail stores as well as three Gardeners Eden stores in the northeastern United States.

Compuware updates development tool

Detroit-based Compuware Corp. released its new DevPartner Studio 7.1 Professional Edition.

The software package is designed to allow developers to build more reliable, high-performance applications and components for the Microsoft .Net framework and for Windows.The package costs $1,495 per seat.

Eview Redesigns Ford Web site

Ford Motor Land Development Corp. has redesigned it Web site to expand access to Ford Land property information, including specifications, floor plans and photos.

The site was reworked to provide accurate and more current information.

The site, designed and developed by Northville-based Eview 360, provides general information about Ford Land and offers availability reports and property profiles for its Fairlane community.

HealthMedia gets $500,000 grant

Ann Arbor-based HealthMedia Inc. has received a $500,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Health e-Technologies Initiative.

HealthMedia provides health-promotion and disease-management services through the Web.

The foundation's initiative is a national program designed to foster advancement of interactive technologies to improve health behavior and disease management.

The grant will be used to study tailored online weight management in cooperation with the Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute.

Arbortext expands into Latin America

Ann Arbor-based Arbortext Inc. expanded into Latin America with a new reseller agreement.

Under the agreement, EMC International Group will resell Arbortext's desktop-publishing software from its offices in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

Arbortext said the agreement marks the company's first reseller for the region.

EMC will provide sales and support for Arbortext software.

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