CyberElves joins Certus

By ADAM GIFFORD

SGB Investments, the owner of systems integrator and application developer Certus Consulting, has called a truce in the Microsoft versus Java war by acquiring parts of the CyberElves business.

The CyberElves staff and Certus developers with Microsoft skills have been spun out into a new Auckland company, Sybrel, specialising in Microsoft-based solutions and services.

Certus will concentrate on Java development and IBM technologies such as Lotus Notes, Domino and WebSphere.

Certus general manager Penny White said the split left the original company with about 20 staff, mostly in Wellington, servicing clients such as AMP, TranzRail, Fonterra divisions New Zealand Milk and New Zealand Milk Products, and Government departments.

"The Wellington staff in particular were all diehard Java fans and did not want to go down the Microsoft path, so this gives us the chance to focus on that work," she said. "When our customers do need those Microsoft skills, we will be able to work with our partner, Sybrel.

"Microsoft's new licensing structure has also been an issue with some clients. They want options and they are wary of Microsoft."

Sybrel managing director Peter Radich said the company would tie in with Onyx and Plumtree, which it represented here.

Onyx is a Microsoft-based customer relationship management system. Plumtree is a portal product that competes with the IBM WebSphere Portal.

CyberElves was set up to take advantage of the time difference between New Zealand and overseas markets. Most of its clients are in the United States and Europe. It was badly affected by the post-September 11 downturn, and most of its overseas offices were closed.

CyberElves managing director Phil Carden said Sybrel had bought the Asia Pacific trading rights to the CyberElves brand, as well as its New Zealand assets.

He said CyberElves would continue to focus on North American clients.