President's Corner

Niku for Legal 5.0 Released

NIKU CORP. has announced the release of Niku for Legal 5.0, the latest version of its software that helps users create turnkey, hosted, secure Intranets or Extranets for law firms and corporate legal departments.

The browser-based ASP (application service provider) can be accessed through all popular browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator.

The upgrade enables users to work collaboratively via the Internet, explains Niku. It features Microsoft Corp.'s SQL Server 7.0 as its new "back end" architecture, replacing Microsoft's Access software, which was used in prior editions.

The new version also includes a revised user interface, as well as new security enhancements, reports the company, based in Redwood City, Calif.

Niku for Legal 5.0 also adds compatibility with Microsoft's Outlook, allowing legal professionals to upload and download calendar events.

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Litigation Support

iBlaze Adds Web Functions

SAN FRANCISCO's Summation Legal Technologies Inc. has introduced Summation iBlaze, an upgrade of the company's Summation Blaze litigation support software.

It adds Internet functions, which allows lawyers to manage transcripts (including real-time processing), evidentiary documents and process other documents, says the company.

Lawyers can search Internet-based document repositories, such as Microsoft Access and SQL Server 7.0 databases, and can download summaries and document images for offline searching and review.

A new interface mimics the familiar Windows Explorer, and a "Chain of Evidence" function allows users to create links between full-text documents and other evidence, it says.

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Industry News

New Alliances Announced

* Pitney Bowes' iSend Online Document Delivery Service will be integrated into iManage Inc.'s info-Commerce system, they report.

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* CourtLink/JusticeLink will integrate MarketSpan Inc.'s products, (including CaseStream, a database of federal civil and criminal court records) into its Internet services suite.

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* DocumentForum.com and casecentral.com have agreed to a strategic partnership, to expand DocumentForum's real-time offerings to legal departments.

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* CompuLaw has signed an exclusive integration agreement with Elite Information Systems, to provide court rules for Elite's case management system.

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Voice Recognition

Voice Xpress Upgrades to 5.0

LERNOUT & Hauspie, of Burlington, Mass., says its latest upgrade of its popular voice recognition software adds enhancements to make the product more intuitive.

L&H Voice Xpress 5.0 includes improved accuracy, as well as support for e-mail, Internet browsing, and chat applications, reports the company.

It now offers Nothing But Speech (NBS) technology, a filter that eliminates "ummm" and "ahhh" sounds made during typical dictation sessions.

A new "L&H RealSpeak" text-to-speech engine allows users to have text read back by a "human-sounding" voice, it notes.

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Breaking News

Law.com Buys RealLegal.com

* Law.com, (a sister company of American Lawyer Media Inc.) has just acquired realLegal.com (neé PubNETics), which recently rolled its electronic transcript service into an application services provider. Terms were not announced; the companies will retain identities and operations. For more information circle no. 371.

* Just launched: Practicing Law Institute Online, with 32-Web based CLE programs, accredited in 17 states (so far).

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