StrikeIron Expands Marketplace Through Acquisition of DesertSoft's Web Services DivisionAcquisition extends StrikeIron's leadership in Web services commercializationResearch Triangle Park, NC - June 13, 2006 – StrikeIron Inc., provider of the Web Services Marketplace, today announced the acquisition of DesertSoft's Web Services operating unit. As part of the acquisition StrikeIron will add DesertSoft's ecommerce, CRM and online procurement Web Services to its growing marketplace. The combined company will serve as the leading source of external, XML-based Web services on the Internet. "Web services and Software as a Service (SaaS) models are gaining popularity as complementary participants in the software landscape. We're beginning to see the emergence of service-based eco-systems like StrikeIron's Web Services Marketplace that extend the reach of third-party service to partners, customers and developers," said Sandra Rogers, Program Director for SOA, Web Services and Integration Research, IDC. "These communities reflect a model where organizations can locate and access services in a consistent manner across a variety of available services." As part of the acquisition StrikeIron will allow DesertSoft's customers to take advantage of the StrikeIron Marketplace features, including:
"StrikeIron's investment in DesertSoft means that our customers will benefit from StrikeIron's expanded capabilities and services to users of Web Services, " said Scott Elder, CEO of DesertSoft. "StrikeIron's sophisticated, yet easy-to-use Commerce platform creates a reliable and trusted solution for anyone wanting to work with live data in their applications. StrikeIron is uniquely equipped to ensure continued growth and success for our customers." The DesertSoft Web services will add to the strong position StrikeIron has created in the commercial Web services industry. DesertSoft is one of the leading providers of Web Service solutions for e-tailers, online procurement, e-marketplaces, and traditional brick-and-mortar companies. Their Web services will be added to StrikeIron's growing Web Service Marketplace where developers, publishers and ISVs come to create new and enhanced applications using live data and functionality. DesertSoft's Web services include Address Verification, Phone Intelligence, Email Verification and Phone Number Validation. "We've focused on the creation of added value and reduction of IT complexity from the utilization of external Web services as a core business. The addition of DesertSoft strengthens StrikeIron's role in the commercial Web services eco-system and marks the beginning of consolidation toward a single marketplace in this rapidly growing industry," said Bob Brauer, President and CEO of StrikeIron. "We look forward to helping DesertSoft customers take advantage of the services that StrikeIron offers." About DesertSoftDesertSoft is a leading provider of Web Service solutions for e-tailers, online procurement, e-marketplaces, and traditional brick-and-mortar companies. Their solutions address the unique challenges faced by companies looking to initiate or expand their e-commerce initiatives in the complex and rapidly changing Internet business climate. DesertSoft helps companies turn innovative business models into successfully negotiated e-commerce sites. About StrikeIronStrikeIron is a leader in the commercialization of Web Services, providing the world's largest library of externally available plug-and-play Web services. Built on top of a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use Web Services Commerce Platform, the Marketplace serves as a place for providers and consumers of XML-based Web services to publish, subscribe to, and build applications and Web sites using a diverse set of Web services. Enabling a business model for the Programmable Web, the core technology provides self-service publishing and consumption of Web services, micro-transactions and usage-based billing, software infrastructure, multiple productivity tools, seamless integration for both individual customers and software technology partners, and a consistency of usage from multiple Web services across multiple vendors. The Aurora Funds, Inc. and NC IDEA provided funding for StrikeIron after recognizing the significant opportunity to invest in a technology firm leading innovation of the Programmable Web and Web 2.0. For more information, visit www.strikeiron.com
|