Openshark Announces the Formation of its Services Division

Openshark LF targets utility sectors to provide seamless document exchange

SAN JOSE, Calif., - Openshark, Inc. announced the formation of a new division that will offer communication services within and between the commercial and governmental sectors.

At the heart of these web-based services is MAI Messaging Agent, Openshark's patented file exchange and transcoding software platform. "Openshark Services focuses on opportunities to facilitates the exchange of a broad range of planning information, including technical documentation, associated with distributed collaboration," said Robert Meade, Director of Services for Openshark.

Government and industry regularly exchange information in a variety of planning exercises, at the federal, state, regional and local levels. Due to the proliferation of so many different and proprietary software systems in these organizations, communication is often paper-based, and, as a result, time consuming.

"Public works is a good example of the type of complex community that we are targeting for the introduction of Openshark Services," describes Mr. Meade.  "Over $20 billion is spent in the maintenance and rehabilitation of our local roads and local utility infrastructure every year. Due to communication barriers that organizational boundaries and disparate information systems produce, recently paved roads are excavated for belowground utility repair or replacement. When this does happen, poor or non-existent communication during project planning is typically the root cause."

Openshark is launching it first web-based service, called Lingua Franca (LF), to specifically reduce the cost of utility construction planning and generate significant cost savings through collaboration.

Openshark LF facilitates public works collaboration by electronically connecting regional infrastructure managers, early in the construction planning process, to facilitate the exchange of construction planning documentation. This system seamlessly translates complex documents into a 'platform independent' format that can be shared with any authorized participant. Openshark is targeting a nationwide opportunity for construction planning and coordination that is being created by continued utility infrastructure rehabilitation and new, aggressive pipeline safety legislation.

Mr. Meade joined Openshark early in 2003 to develop this opportunity. Mr. Meade has over 20 years experience in the utility industry, specifically in the development and implementation of new technologies for the improvement of business processes.  In addition to this experience, Mr. Meade was previously with Optima, Inc., a management sciences and software development firm that pioneered the development of Markov decision models for asset management; now in use worldwide for pavement and bridge management.