Compuware, meanwhile, is set to release the 5.1 versions of its QACenter and CARS (Compuware Application Reliability Solution) products for application quality. QACenter offers quality assurance while CARS serves as a superset of QACenter that adds workflow and professional services.

Enterprise-level quality management is a key theme of the company's announcement. Version 5.1 of the products features more in-depth, Web-enabled test management. This allows quality assurance professionals distributed in different locations to access a single Web interface, said Mark Eshelby, Compuware Quality Solutions product manager. Specifically, the Web interface now supports development and management of testing assets.

CARS 5.1 has been integrated with the Compuware Changepoint IT governance solution. A subset of Changepoint capabilities for request management, knowledge management, and reporting are featured in CARS 5.1.

"The biggest highlight is the integration [with] some of the Changepoint technology," said analyst Carey Schwaber, of Forrester Research. "They did a really nice job of pulling in some of the broader reporting and dashboard capabilities into CARS."

The improved Web interface in the two products also is critical, according to Schwaber. "That helps distributed teams have access to the same assets, which is increasingly important," said Schwaber.