TWO EVENT MANAGEMENT software companies have merged — Bellevue, Wash.-based Peopleware, with a strong U.S. customer base, and Brisbane, Australia-based Amlink Technologies, with clients in 46 other countries.

Peopleware is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Amlink. Trevor Gardiner, Amlink's founder and managing director, says the company will operate under both brand names and will support both event management products: Peopleware Pro and Amlink Events Pro. However, the new company expects to have a merged product on the market by June 2006. Peopleware customers can transition (at no charge) to Amlink's product line now, or wait to upgrade to the combined product.

Gardiner points to Amlink's global customers, such as AstraZeneca International and Reed Exhibitions, who will benefit from access to North American support. Gardiner says the Bellevue office is adding seven new positions, bringing the staff there to 20.

Gardiner also expects clients to benefit from Amlink's increased development budget. He says the registration system will soon expand how it accepts registration information. Instead of just online registrations, the system will integrate with an Access database, for example, a plus for companies operating in parts of the world where Internet access is still unreliable.