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Just as your pulse is checked during a routine physical, free cash flow is used as an indicator of a company's health. It equals the cash brought in from operations minus the money needed to pay the bills. Think about leftover money in your checking account after you pay this month's bills.
Investors and analysts see this leftover money as a gauge of a company's ability to perform. It is available for transactions such as handing out dividends and working on new products.
Some argue free cash flow is wrongly overshadowed by the emphasis often placed on earnings. Earnings numbers can be manipulated and don't always tell the whole story -- and earnings don't mean much if there's nothing left over after a company pays its expenses. Even if you bring in a six-figure salary, but no money left after paying the bills, are you in great financial shape?
You don't have to be Einstein to figure out free cash flow. To calculate the number, subtract the company's expenditures and dividends from its operating cash flow.
If the free cash flow is written in red ink, it doesn't necessarily signal curtains. This is common for young companies looking to grow. It also could be a result of heavy investments, which in the long run could be worth a standing ovation.
Home / Markets / Industries / Technology
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Covast's Advanced B2B Capabilities To Be Delivered in Microsoft BizTalk Server
Comtex
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, July 9, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Covast today announced that its advanced B2B technology recently acquired by Microsoft Corp. will be delivered with the forthcoming release of BizTalk Server 2006 R3 and the Advanced B2B Pack. The advanced B2B capabilities provided in this pack include expanded support of vertical industry standards, advanced B2B metadata management, advanced B2B transports and a B2B operations monitor.
Current customers using BizTalk Server 2006 R2 and Covast's B2B solutions will have several migration options to BizTalk Server 2006 R3. These new capabilities in R3 and the Advanced B2B Pack will extend the mainstream B2B capabilities already in BizTalk Server 2006 R2. Covast clients who are not using BizTalk Server 2006 R2 have the option to remain on their Covast maintenance and support agreements until the Advanced B2B Pack is released. At that time, these organizations will have access to Covast's full suite of advanced B2B capabilities by licensing BizTalk Server 2006 R3.
Steven Martin, director of product management for the Connected Systems Division at Microsoft, comments: "Our goal is to make it easier for Microsoft's customers to connect to their customers and trading partners. The acquisition of Covast's technology is an important investment that expands our B2B portfolio by addressing additional complex B2B scenarios."
Highlights of the capabilities afforded by Covast's technology in Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R3 and the Advanced B2B Pack will include:
-- New standards for specific retail segments such as warehousing, grocery, energy, automotive and air freight;
-- B2B metadata management for EDI "super" interchanges, greater compatibility with SQL Server repository/Visual Studio (EDI Explorer) and new reporting capabilities;
-- Advanced B2B transports including new file adapters and transports and VAN connectivity;
-- B2B operations monitor that enables role-based viewing, end-to-end tracking/tracing and automatic archiving.
Daan Scheer, CEO of Covast, adds: "Whether you're on R2 or waiting for R3, Microsoft BizTalk Server customers will soon have access to a new set of advanced B2B capabilities. This is very important to those companies that operate in highly-complex B2B environments. Instead of piecing together different B2B software, their needs will be met by a single solution."
For more information on Covast's advanced B2B capabilities, please visit www.covast.com .
About Covast
Covast, a leading provider of business-to-business integration solutions, is revolutionizing supply chain integration through the world's first B2B integration appliance -- the Covast BBot. Requiring only a local area network with internet connection, BBot automatically enables integration between the complex B2B systems of large supply chain hubs and their smaller customers and suppliers. The result is improved visibility, compliance, efficiency and accuracy for every supply chain. Covast is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. Covast maintains its European headquarters in the Netherlands and its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta. For more information, visit http://www.covast.com .
Media Contact: Hannah Bower hannah@bower-communications.com 404.371.3989
Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Covast Corp.
http://www.covast.com
Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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