IT Bits

Calpine Corp. has agreed to purchase a corporate-wide license for PI System products and services from OSI Software Inc., a manufacturer of real-time plant information management systems. The PI System runs on multiple platforms, and Calpine will run PI on Microsoft Windows NT at all their operating facilities. PI will provide plant data to application servers, which will enable users across the enterprise to access operations data and to analyze generating plant technical and economic performance.

CMS Energy Corp.'s energy performance contracting unit, CMS Viron Energy Services, has developed and introduced UtilityVision, a proprietary Web-based energy data analysis systems that enables facility managers to track energy usage with the click of a mouse. UtilityVision is part of an array of products and services offered by CMS, including commodity supply, risk management and energy saving products.

PowerLine Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of PowerTrust.com, has signed a letter of intent to market broadband powerline communication products in North America. Under this agreement, PowerLine will partner with North American utility companies to create an open flexible system for a range of telecommunication services over power line grids. Main applications of powerline communication products include Internet access, telephony and automatic meter readings.

The search box technology that drives five-year-old Portland-based Utilitywarehouse.com allows users to search for specific products on the Web site and contact sellers directly, which enables subscribing sellers to use the database to house unlimited amounts of equipment without having to pay commissions on sold goods. The beginning of this year will bring a new feature to Utilitywarehouse.com: Similar to Napster, the site will automatically upload user equipment files without user intervention.

GE Smallworld, a supplier of network solutions, has launched the GE Smallworld Network Inventory Server, formerly known as "Connect.it." The server addresses the operation support system needs of communications customers by providing integration between GE Smallworld and other applications. The network inventory server gives open access to the data held within GE Smallworld's flagship applications-Physical Network Manager and Logical Network Manager.

iMedeon Inc., a provider of wireless web applications for mobile workforce management, has completed its second round of venture financing totaling $15.5 million. The financing was co-led by GE Equity, a GE Capital company, and an affiliate of Enron North America; and includes funding from Aether Systems and GE Power Systems. iMedeon's existing investor, Insight Capital Partners, also contributed to this round.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Ontario Power Generation have announced a 10-year, billion-dollar outsourcing agreement to launch a joint venture to deliver full information technology services. The joint venture, to be launched in February and named New Horizon System Services, will be owned 51 percent by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Canada and 49 percent by Ontario Power Generation. It will initially perform infrastructure management, application development, application support and maintenance, network management, data center operations and help desk support in areas such as commercial systems, work management, finance, human resources and supply chain.