Essay guidelines focus of Merit site

New York-based Merit Software, a publisher of educational software, launched a new free instructional Web site, www.howtowriteanessay.com.

www.howtowriteanessay.com helps students better comprehend the mechanics and components involved in writing an essay. Each step explains, in detail, the essay writing process.

Merit Software's line of free educational "How To" Web sites also includes: www.howtowriteaparagraph. com and www. howtowriteabusinessletter.com.

Comtech gains broadband contract

Melville-based Comtech Telecommunications Corp. obtained a $2.3 million contract for solid state, broadband, high-power amplifiers from an international customer who was not identified.

Comtech said the order was placed through its Comtech PST Corp. subsidiary.

Comtech said the amplifiers will be used for electromagnetic interference, but didn't elaborate further on the uses.

CBL expands Brazil laboratory

Armonk-based CBL Data Recovery Technologies Inc. expanded its laboratory facilities in Curitiba, Brazil to meet the increasing data recovery needs of the region.

CBL is an international provider of computer data recovery services.

The growth of CBL's Brazilian operations follows on the heels of the company's recent expansion in San Diego, California and Singapore, as well as the opening of a data recovery lab in Japan.

Lipman gains order for terminals

Syosset-based Lipman Electronic Engineering Ltd. has received a $2.5 million order from United Bank Card for point-of-sale computer terminals.

Lipman plans to fill the order by the first quarter of 2005.

Eagle, Solution Strategists merger cancelled

New York-based Eagle Consulting Group Inc. and Solution Strategists said their planned merger has been called off. A mutual decision was reached between the principals of both organizations, who have instead opted for a strategic alliance relationship.

Both companies provide business management software solutions for small and midsized businesses.

CMP Media parent to delist ADRs

United Business Media, the parent of Manhasset-based technology trade publisher CMP Media, will voluntarily delist its American Depositary Receipts from the Nasdaq National Market.

The London-based company, which also operates PR Newswire and the NOP World market research company, said maintaining the thinly-traded ADRs was too costly.

The company said most U.S. shareholders have opted to trade UBM shares on the London Stock Exchange.

The company said it planned to stop trading the ADRs on March 22, 2005.

ADRs are issued by a U.S. bank and represent a bundle of shares of a foreign corporation that are held in custody overseas.

Comverse provides service in Faroe Islands

Woodbury-based Comverse Technology Inc. signed a deal to provide services to Faroese Telecom, which operates in the Faroe Islands, northwest of Scotland and between Iceland and Norway.

Comverse will supply its Total Communications systems, including prepaid billings, missed call notifications and a suite of other services, to the telecom.

Netsmart signs software contracts

Great River-based Netsmart Technologies Inc. won five contracts with North Carolina agencies worth a total of $1.1 million, the company announced.

Netsmart's Creative Socio-Medics Corp. subsidiary signed one-year contracts with Guilford Mental Health, Wilson-Greene and Roanoke-Chowan Mental Health, Southeastern Regional Mental Health, Port Human Services Methadone Treatment and Life Inc.

Netsmart is a provider of health and human services software.

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