FileNet and MicroAge join hands

Not a company to let grass grow under its feet, last month FileNet (Costa Mesa, CA,

http://www.filenet.com) announced that MicroAge (Tempe, AZ, http://www.microage.com), a Fortune 500 company and a global technology services firm, will distribute its FileNet Ensemble workflow software product.

With the relationship with MicroAge, FileNet, stung by poor first-quarter financials, has acquired a powerful new channel to bring its workflow software to market. Ensemble is an E-mail-based software application for managing time-consuming routine or daily business tasks and to enhance collaboration and information sharing in work processes. Its primary aim is to improve productivity.

MicroAge, which provides distributed computing solutions and ISO-9001-certified multivendor integration services to large organizations and computer sellers worldwide, will make Ensemble available to its resellers through its Image Choice company that provides value-added backroom services to assist VARs focusing on imaging and workflow technology.

Microsoft (Redmond, WA, http://www.microsoft.com) has bought into the deal as well. "With its strong focus on Microsoft Exchange solutions, the MicroAge and FileNet alliance can help Microsoft solution providers address customer requirements," according to Greg Lobdell, Microsoft's group product manager, messaging and Internet services.