SGI goes to Market

Silicon Graphics (SGI) will bundle Open Market's (OMKT) security software with SGI's WebForce line of Web commerce servers, the two companies announced today.

Open Market, which specializes in high-end software for Web commerce, also will offer its Internet commerce software, OM-Transact, for Irix, SGI's brand of Unix.

SGI is the second hardware vendor to sign up for Open Market's security software. Open Market has an unannounced deal with Sequent Computer Systems, which is incorporating SecureLink into its commerce servers.

The agreement broadens SGI software offerings by giving customers an Open Market option in addition to Web server software from Netscape Communications, which SGI has been marketing for more than a year. SGI's WebForce offering includes both hardware and software for Web serving and authoring.

Open Market's security software lets a business add an online store to its Web site by linking the site to a service bureau that runs Open Market's OM-Transact transaction software. The service bureaus, which Open Market calls "commerce service providers," can handle orders, online customer service, security, authentication, payments, secure transaction processing, and other functions.

Among the vendors offering such service bureaus, which Open Market calls "commerce service providers," are BBN and First Union Bank. MCI Communications is setting up a similar service.

"Bundling with Silicon Graphics gives Open Market additional leverage into key markets such as service providers, entertainment and media companies," Open Market president and CEO Gary Eichorn said in a statement.

Open Market has signed similar deals with software tool vendors Informix, Powersoft, SoftQuad, Saqqara, InContext Systems, and Sysdeco.