Chris Kanaracus

The SAP subsidiary is launching a full-blown data management suite combining master data management, data quality and data integration tools in a single platform

The on-demand CRM vendor's push into social collaboration takes aim at IBM Lotus Notes and Microsoft SharePoint. Chatter has profiles, status updates, document sharing, and integration with Facebook, Twitter and Google Buzz

John Schwarz, seen by some as a potential future CEO, is out of the company. Earlier in the week, CEO Leo Apotheker resigned. Analysts comment on why Schwarz called it quits

AmberPoint

Salesforce.com is broadening the range of its Force.com cloud development platform with a new visual tool set for designing business processes. Visual Process Designer is aimed at the point-and-click crowd.

The move follows Informatica's acquisition of Initiate's rival Siperian. Vendors have been moving to add MDM capabilities to their lineups and IBM

Oracle has won a battle regarding the way damages can be calculated in its intellectual property lawsuit against SAP, according to a ruling filed Jan. 28 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Oracle will be able to pursue damages based on 'hypothetical' software licenses.

Code-named 12Sprints, the tool has distinct echoes of Google Wave -- but SAP is framing it as a counterpart, not a competitor.