With some functional similarities to the online data base jointly announced by IBM, Microsoft, and Ariba earlier this month, the Red Hat Network will serve as a central warehouse where developers can register information on their hardware and software systems, enabling other developers to better pursue joint projects.

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Rival online grocers, such as the late Webvan in California, which went for an elaborate and expensive central-warehouse system, found they could not make it pay.

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Instead, Travelocity consulted its data warehouse, a central repository for all the significant transaction and customer data that the site collects.

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They operate warehouse clubs in Central America and the Caribbean.

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