Wireless Project teams with Turtlehut.com

Chris Christensen, the founder of the Detroit Wireless Project, has partnered with Turtlehut.com founders Jim Mitte and Jeremy Towne to form TurtleTechs, an IT services company. TurtleTechs offers small-to-medium sized businesses service contracts that offer initial assessment, ongoing support and maintenance, and IT consultation. More information about TurtleTechs can be found at www.turtletechs.com.

Cygnus Systems, Tria Group team up

Cygnus Systems Inc., a business tech provider in Taylor, has entered into a partnership with Cleveland-based Tria Group L.L.C. Alex Burkulas, president and CEO of Cygnus, said that the partnership allows the companies to offer each other's services to clients. Cygnus offers technical infrastructure development, while Tria Group provides application development and support.

Under the partnership, Cygnus will employee a Michigan-based salesperson who will be responsible for increasing Tria sales in the state and also offer expanded services to Cygnus clients.

Covansys gains voter system contract

Farmington Hills-based Covansys Corp. has been awarded a $2.8 million contract by the Rhode Island secretary of state to install a central voter-registration system. Boston-based PCC Technology Group was jointly awarded the contract with Covanys. The system is expected to be fully installed by October. The system will help Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns meet the mandate set forth by the Help America Vote Act. The act requires all states to install a centralized and interactive statewide voter-registration system defined, maintained and administered at the state level.

Awecomm to provide Web hosting for Automation Alley

Southfield-based Awecomm Technologies has won a one-year contract to provide Pontiac-based Automation Alley with Web hosting and consulting services.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

EDS signs deal with DaimlerChrysler

Plano, Texas-based EDS Corp. said last Wednesday that DaimlerChrysler AG has awarded the company a multiyear information-technology contract. Terms of the deal were not released. EDS, which employs about 8,000 in Southeast Michigan, will manage the migration of servers and service to a consolidated location for DaimlerChrysler's Michigan operations.

Cybernet gets Defense Department contract

Ann Arbor-based Cybernet Systems Corp. has been awarded a $720,000 contract from the U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program.

Cybernet will work to help develop a Virtual Systems Integration Lab for the U.S. Army. Once completed, the VSIL will enable the military to design, prototype and simulate electronic systems for military vehicles in a virtual environment.

Ann Arbor tech firm announces expansion

Online Technologies Corp.an Ann Arbor-based company that offers Internet infrastructure and consulting, announced it will open a new data center in the city that will more than quadruple its capacity. The center will take up the third story of the City Center building in downtown Ann Arbor and gives the company an additional 5,000 square feet. OTC moved its headquarters to the building at the beginning of this year.

Wolverine Venture Fund to invest in Mobius Microsystems

The University of Michigan Business School said Monday that its Wolverine Venture Fund plans to invest $50,000 in Ann Arbor-based Mobius Microsystems.

Mobius sells patented intellectual property to microchip makers. The funding is part of a $1 million round of investing for Mobius. It also marks the Wolverine Venture Fund's five-year anniversary in supporting startup ventures. Including Mobius, the fund has made 19 investments in 11 companies and invested a total of $1.3 million in companies nationwide since its 1998 inception.

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