Quick Takes update from October 2002

eDial AudioPresenter 3.0
Using eDial's AudioPresenter 3.0, conference calls and Web presentations won't cost more than a long-distance phone call. AudioPresenter complies with industry-standard browsers, requires no downloads, plug-ins or additional software installation, and offers an intuitive interface for scheduling calls, inviting attendees to calls, placing and controlling calls and delivering Web presentations. Presenters control access and whether presentations will be stored or deleted. For security, AudioPresenter sits behind the corporate firewall. This 2U device includes AC power, Ethernet and T1/PRI or VoIP (voice over IP) connections. Starts at $28,000. eDial, (866) 99-eDial, (866) 993-3425. www.edial.com

Advanced Systems Concepts ActiveBatch 4
Advanced Systems Concepts has improved its ActiveBatch job scheduling, monitoring and managing software with version 4. Open-source users will appreciate ActiveBatch's additional support for Unix platforms. Other pluses include real-time views of all jobs, more flexible scheduling, better failover capabilities and enhanced reporting options. ActiveBatch includes an ODBC-compliant database if required. Starts at $495. Advanced Systems Concepts, (800) 229-2724, (201) 798-6400, Ext. 181. www.ActiveBatch.com

Advanced Reality Presence-AR
Advanced Reality's Presence-AR Adapter now has real-time collaboration abilities in Microsoft's SharePoint Portal Server. The Presence-AR Adapter for Excel 1.3 lets authorized users initiate a secure peer-to-peer collaboration session regarding a selected Excel document. Advanced Reality also is developing SharePoint Portal Server-enabled adapters for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word. For more information on the Presence-AR Adapter, see "Presence-AR Adapter Lets Disparate Applications Work Collaboratively". Starts at $5,000 for 25 licenses. Advanced Reality, (713) 526-4860. www.advancedreality.com

Crystal Decisions Crystal Reports 9
Crystal Decisions has enhanced its Reports tool with version 9, designed for Java, Microsoft .Net and .com development environments. Users can create, share and alter reports via this scalable application server and flexible SDK (software-development kit). New features include access to reports through wireless devices, portals and Microsoft Windows Office documents. Starts at $195. Crystal Decisions, (800) 877-2340. www.crystaldecisions.com