E-Vue will integrate tools from several front-office software vendors, along with other data sources, so companies can see all their customer interactions in a single place. The product creates a virtual data warehouse, so that all relevant data is visible at once.

E-speak, an HP middleware technology, and Extensible Markup Language interfaces make the links possible. Acxiom Corp. will provide the technology to ensure a company has a single view of its customers and can fill in any missing marketing information; tools from Evoke Software Inc. will clean the data; and WhoWhatWhere Inc. will provide the tools to gather customer data.

The move isn't HP's first in the CRM market; last year the vendor entered into relationships with Or-acle, BroadVision, and other vendors to offer fully integrated CRM software and hardware packages. Chris Fletcher, an Aberdeen Group analyst, says HP is addressing a real need, and that the hardware vendor is especially good at linking to legacy data sources. But he's skeptical about HP's ability to build and sell customer-centric software, especially since HP hasn't yet illustrated a clear CRM vision.

E-Vue is slated to ship in the fall, starting at $500,000.