Alumni group picks Affinity Engines

The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan selected California-based Affinity Engines Inc. to create an inCircle online social network for the association's 108,000 members. The network, designed to link UM graduates, will provide a secure community where young alumni can stay connected to the university. InCircle is a secure private network that requires identity verification for access. It is a combination of chat rooms, message boards and other modes of Internet communication. The Alumni Association is offering the service free to members who pay the association's $55 annual dues. Recent graduates are eligible to receive a free year of membership.

AZO releases site survey tool

Kalamazoo-based AZO Technologies Inc. released a site survey tool meant to provide users with the most comprehensive description of their 802.11 wireless networks. VisiWave Site Survey uses advanced location tracking technology and combines that with high powered data visualization and reporting capabilities to create a complete wireless LAN site surveying solution. The software and hardware based product collects radio wave characteristics, keeps track of where the characteristics occurred, and creates informative coverage maps of the area being surveyed.

Clarity Tech gets defense contract

Troy-based Clarity Technologies Inc. received a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop technologies designed to improve the quality and performance of voice-based communications. The contract was given through the Defense Department's Small Business Innovative Research program. Clarity plans to work with IC Tech as part of the deal.

Cybernet sells OpenSkies platform

Detroit-based Cybernet Systems has sold its OpenSkies platform to Georeality Pty. Ltd. of Australia. Georeality is an environmental software developer specializing in geographical information systems, mapping and virtual reality techniques. Its management products will use OpenSkies to develop a network for intelligently routing dynamic data between distributed network servers.

Cybernet originally developed OpenSkies for use by the U.S. military before licensing it for commercial use. It has been used in solar system educational software and a massive multiplayer online game from Tesseraction Games.

Computer Builders Warehouse opens Puerto Rico store

Warren-based retailer Computer Builders Warehouse announced it has opened a franchise store in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The store is the eighth franchise for the company, and its first outside of the continental United States.

The company plans on offering retail service, an in-store lab, on-site service, and in-store educational courses.

Hyatt Regency Dearborn to be wired for Wi-Fi

The Hyatt Regency Dearborn is to receive T-Mobile wireless broadband service by early 2005. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.Hyatt's goal is to have all 122 of its hotels hooked up in one year.

Monroe County ups e-government offerings

Plante & Moran PLLC launched several new online services for the Monroe County Clerk's Office Web site. The launch signals the first step in an ongoing e-government project. New services include ordering birth certificates, purchasing voter lists and searching for "Doing Business As" certificates.

Before the redesign, it was necessary to visit in person to do business with the office.

Got a local news story? Let us know about it. Send your local news to dan@computeruser.com.