Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Macromedia...making a comeback? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cleo who wrote (2505)	7/29/1999 4:40:00 PM
From: kendall harmon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2675

MACR-still researching and getting more excited. CEO comments are very very positive. Earnings growth for full year of 50% he calls "base plan," so it could be more than that. The pact with Lotus is a key way "to expand" the "pathware market." MACROMEDIA AND LOTUS DEVELOPMENT ENTER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP To Bring Web-based Learning Into The Mainstream IBM's Lotus to Purchase Macromedia Pathware Business; Companies to Jointly Develop, Market and Distribute Technologies for Web-based Learning SAN FRANCISCO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Macromedia Inc. (Nasdaq: MACR) and IBM's Lotus Development Corp. today announced an agreement that will expand the market for Web-based learning and create the industry's most comprehensive online teaching and learning solutions. The new offerings will give businesses, schools and other organizations a simple means of creating, delivering, tracking and managing Web-based training and coursework. Under the agreement, Lotus will purchase the Macromedia Pathware business and distribute certain other of Macromedia's authoring software for Web-based learning. Pathware is Macromedia's market-leading learning management system. The Macromedia group that develops and markets Pathware will become part of Lotus' Distributed Learning Business Group, which develops and markets Lotus LearningSpace, the company's Web-based distributed learning platform. Macromedia will continue to ship, sell and support Pathware until a transition to the Lotus Distributed Learning Division is completed. Lotus will then sell and support Pathware as a stand-alone product. Lotus will also distribute Macromedia's industry-leading Authorware, Director, Attain Objects for Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Flash authoring products. In addition, Lotus will license Macromedia's Shockwave, Flash and Authorware player technology for use with Lotus and IBM products. "Ongoing organizational learning is an essential aspect of eBusiness, and the Internet has emerged as a powerful tool for professional training and development," said Lotus President and CEO Jeff Papows. "Until now customers have been unable to get a cohesive, best-of-breed software and services solution. Lotus is moving aggressively to address this need with comprehensive, high quality offerings for both learners and content developers. This product acquisition and our partnership with Macromedia mark a turning point in the development of the distributed learning industry. Now, it will become much easier for organizations to address the learning needs of their workers, students, customers and partners, and to find the global vendor leadership they are seeking for this critical business requirement." "This strategic relationship is great for our customers and Macromedia shareholders," said Rob Burgess, chairman and CEO of Macromedia. "Adding broad solution sets and global services capabilities from IBM and Lotus will enhance our customers' ability to implement mission-critical, on-line learning solutions. In addition, this major new distribution agreement will greatly expand use of our authoring solutions in the enterprise and create clear business opportunities for the many content developers using Macromedia authoring products." The acquisition will unite two leading technologies, Lotus LearningSpace and Macromedia Pathware in a single unified platform. Pathware has quickly become the leading platform for managing, tracking and reporting Web-based, self-directed learning. Pathware brings compliance with AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-based training Committee) standards to LearningSpace and immediate compatibility with a wide range of existing content that has been developed for on-line delivery. Pathware is a primary component used in mission critical learning for some of the most recognized names in business, such as Federal Express, Compaq, Intel, Pacific Bell, Sprint PCS and United Airlines. Lotus recently introduced LearningSpace Anytime 3.0, the first product to provide flexibility for courseware delivery, including collaborative learning anytime and anywhere, and live instructor-led 'virtual classrooms' on the Web. The strength of the LearningSpace software platform has led to its adoption by major universities and such leading companies as Siemens Corporation, AstraZeneca (formerly Astra Pharmaceuticals), American Express, and online business education pioneer, UNext.com.