Lotus makes 'Rnext' beta available

Lotus last week released the first public beta-test version of its next-generation Notes client, Domino server and Domino Designer, under the code-name Rnext. Notes client highlights include roaming user and multi-user features, security agents and enhancements to calendaring/scheduling and replication. The Domino server includes new monitoring tools, Web administration, policy-based management for users and servers, server access controls and deeper integration with IBM's WebSphere. Company officials say the beta cycle would likely extend beyond the end of this year, with final availability not announced. The beta-test version is available at http://notes.net/rnext.

Economy taking toll on H-1B visas

A soured economic climate has created a drastic change in the country's recruitment of foreign technology talent. As a result, this could mark the first year in recent times that the U.S. does not butt heads against its cap on H-1B foreign worker visas. During the past three years, the ceiling on H-1B visas has more than doubled as firms and industry groups pushed the government to use foreign workers as a way to solve the technology labor crisis in the U.S. Some industry observers think the U.S. will fall short of its quota this year, which sparked debate in the technology sector. "I doubt we will hit the 195,000 mark this year," says Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), a leading advocate of raising the limits. Miller says the reduction in H-1B visas proves the ITAA's argument that the increase in work permits was designed to solve a shortage in skilled technology talent, and not a way to recruit cheap workers from abroad.

HIPAA products on tap from Entrust

Entrust Technologies, which makes public-key infrastructure software and Web-access products, last week formed a new company called Entrust HealthCentric to design products and provide services that comply with the federal government's e-commerce, privacy and security regulations as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The HIPAA regulations, issued in January by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the outgoing Clinton administration, were to have gone into effect at the end of February. But the new HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson suspended them pending a review. Much of the healthcare industry has objected to the HIPAA regulations, and changes are anticipated before final rules are released this week.

BSDi sells OS to Wind River

Berkeley Software Design (BSDi) announced last week that it is selling the company's BSD operating systems to Wind River, an embedded Linux vendor. BSDi markets operating systems developed at the University of California at Berkeley. BSD/OS and FreeBSD are full-function, Portable Operating System Interface-compatible, Unix-like operating systems for Intel machines. Wind River will also support FreeBSD, a collaborative open source development effort.

Cisco exec appointed to tech post

President George W. Bush last week named Bruce Mehlman, telecommunications policy counsel in Cisco's Washington office, assistant secretary of commerce for technology policy. In that post, Mehlman, who has represented Cisco's views on regulatory issues before the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies, will play an influential role in setting the government's technology course.

Open source Apache gets makeover

The beta-test version of Apachee Web server 2.0 was completed last week, marking the availability of what is seen as the first major reworking of the popular software. The upgrade is expected to make the software more accessible to users unfamiliar with it and to integrate better with other platforms. The beta-test version is available at www.apache.org. The update includes enhanced customization and usability features and will offer better speed, according to those who have worked on the beta-test version. Its adherents contend that Apache software sits on at least half of all Web servers.

Check Point begins load testing

Check Point announced it has begun working with vendors that make load-testing tools to ensure products can simulate peak-load capacity in the Check Point VPN-1 product and report the findings to the Check Point management console. The effort, called the OPSEC Load Testing Initiative, has gained interest from Antara.net, Envive, Exodus Performance Labs (formerly KeyLabs), FiveNine Solutions, Holistix, Mercury Interactive, Precise Software and Quest Software.

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