SAP has acquired a former unit of Digital in Germany. CEC Karlsruhe, a research centre staffed by 20 employees was bought by SAP, with most likely to keep their jobs. Financial details were not revealed, but SAP said that the deal was part of Compaq's plans to consolidate the Digital business. CEC Karlsruhe developed interactive kiosk systems, video archives and Internet commerce software. But there are likely to be further job losses at DEC Germany, amounting to around 800 in all. ® Terry Shannon is editor of US subscription based newsletter Shannon knows DEC