Companies sign distribution, software development pact BOSTON — Communicator will be delivering financial news from Dow Jones Newswires through its Hub IM messaging, collaboration and identity management product, thanks to a new distribution and software development agreement between the two companies.Under the deal, due to be announced Monday, news content from different Dow Jones offerings will be integrated with Hub IM and customers will be able to decide to which news services they would like to subscribe. Hub IM is a hosted, managed, service available through a browser version or as a small application download.With the addition of the Dow Jones content, users will be able to access breaking news, instant message, or participate in forums, or permission-based chat rooms, in one application. Hub IM also integrates with corporate directories and can use companies’ business rules to manage access. The integrated service will offer content from Dow Jones’ News Service, Capital Markets Report, Economic Report, Corporate Filings Alert and Energy Service. Additionally, a new Dow Jones NewsPlus offering, featuring top 100 stories, will also be available.The service is aimed at financial industry customers on both the buy- and sell-sides of the markets, but the companies hope to tailor services for specific sectors.“Over the long term we have no reason to believe that we couldn’t have a Hub IM service for the pharmaceutical or auto industries since we cover those markets,” said Joe Laurenzano, director of partners and alliances at Dow Jones Newswires. In addition to the content distribution agreement, the companies have also entered into a software development agreement that will allow them to design specific applications for customers depending on the content and capabilities they require.“This way we offer customers flexibility in terms of news and form factor,” said Scott Lichtman, head of marketing for White Plains, New York, Communicator. “We think there will be demand anywhere where people need critical and timely news.”The browser version of the integrated service will be available Monday and the Windows client version will be available in May, Communicator said. Pricing depends on the news and capabilities required, the companies said. Software DevelopmentSmall and Medium Business