How's it going?
Microsoft Finally Reissues Botched IE Patch
PC World - Aug 24, 2006
The reissued patch is important because it "fully resolves" a serious security bug Microsoft introduced with. Microsoft acknowledges that there were problems with its update soon after it was issued. Web sites that used HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) 1... Microsoft acknowledges that there were problems with its update soon after it was issued. Web sites that used HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) 1. 1 compression to speed up the downloading of images could cause the browser to fail, and users of Web-based applications such as PeopleSoft, Siebel, and Sage CRM had problems with the software. The issue does not affect users of Microsoft's latest Service Pack 2 version of Windows XP, but users of Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 and Windows XP Service Pack 1 are affected, Microsoft says. Coming Through Auto Update Last week, Microsoft released a "hotfix" download that addressed these problems, but the software vendor also decided to take the unusual step of announcing that it would rerelease the entire update (called MS06-042). This would ensure that subscribers to Microsoft's automatic update services would receive the fixed patch. That update had been slated for release on August 22, but it was ultimately delayed because of an "issue discovered in final testing," Microsoft says.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/126917-1/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws
Tech Watch: Dramatic drop in demand for hi-tech workers
Jerusalem Post - Sep 5, 2006
Information Technology services provider Matrix IT has bought Effect CRM for NIS 10 million, Matrix said Monday. The acquisition will give Herzliya-based Matrix entry into the CRM (customer relations management) market. Effect CRM, also located in Herzliya, will operate as a Matrix subsidiary specializing in customer relations management based on its Microsoft CRM systems. Effect CRM is a strategic partner of Microsoft in the CRM arena. It implements projects using Microsoft's 3. 0 Dynamics platform, developing products and solutions around it. Following the acquisition, Effect CRM will operate under the same management.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154526005972&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Solutions Not Tools Provide Competitive Edge
CNET News.com - Aug 29, 2006
It is merely a set of virtual tools. They have a plan to monetize any hosted application suite through advertising and mining the data for aggregate trend data. The first reason should be enough to keep any smart business person away. The second reason, in light of recent AOL revelations, should be enough to make you run!Todays small businesses are looking for solutions that help them compete more effectively in local as well as global markets. They can not afford to be hobbled by inferior applications that offer little more than virtualized versions of non-integrated 1980s-vintage shareware... It is merely a set of virtual tools. They have a plan to monetize any hosted application suite through advertising and mining the data for aggregate trend data. The first reason should be enough to keep any smart business person away. The second reason, in light of recent AOL revelations, should be enough to make you run!Todays small businesses are looking for solutions that help them compete more effectively in local as well as global markets. They can not afford to be hobbled by inferior applications that offer little more than virtualized versions of non-integrated 1980s-vintage shareware.
http://news.com.com/5208-12_3-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=20633&messageID=178857&start=-1
Google Goes for the Suite Spot
BusinessWeek - Aug 28, 2006
-->In recent months, there has been much speculation about how Google (GOOG) could attack Microsoft's (MSFT) highly profitable Office franchise, as the search giant has experimented with its own versions of word processing, spreadsheet, and other software programs. Now, Google is firing a direct shot at Microsoft Office by introducing a free, integrated suite of personal productivity applications.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060828_390534.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
Oracle: Most Fusion development still to come
InfoWorld - Aug 25, 2006
"We're leveraging the best ideas in E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft and Siebel CRM," Wookey said. "We're integrating a bit of yours, mine and ours. " For instance, on the CRM side, Oracle is using Siebel as a starting point, while using PeopleSoft technology as its initial discussion focus for work on new user interfaces. The development teams involved in Fusion are a balanced mix of talents from different applications, including staff from smaller purchases such as transportation management software vendor Global Logistics Technologies, he said. Oracle is currently busy determining the best approach to deliver the functionality it believes users will want to see in Fusion. Next year, the vendor will focus on carrying out the engineering work to put those capabilities in place, Wookey said. While SAP will continue to be Oracle's primary competition for the next few years, Wookey sees Microsoft more of a potential threat over the long term... Oracle is currently busy determining the best approach to deliver the functionality it believes users will want to see in Fusion. Next year, the vendor will focus on carrying out the engineering work to put those capabilities in place, Wookey said. While SAP will continue to be Oracle's primary competition for the next few years, Wookey sees Microsoft more of a potential threat over the long term. The only three companies he believes have a viable middleware platform going forward are Oracle, Microsoft and IBM. So, given the important of middleware to enterprise applications, does he think that IBM might re-enter the applications market it quit in 1999? "I don't know," Wookey said. "We ask them that question all the time and they say, 'No'.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/08/25/HNfusiondevelopment_1.html
Mozilla Goes Mainstream
BusinessWeek - Aug 30, 2006
Today the number has grown to more than 65,000. Firefox has not only managed to wrest 10% of the browser market from Microsoft (MSFT) in about two years, it zoomed past other browser upstarts Opera and Apple's (AAPL) Safari, which together have less than 3% share. Even Microsoft can't ignore Firefox. Earlier this month a team of Mozilla developers was invited to Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash. , to noodle over how Firefox could work better with Microsoft's Vista operating system. But as Mozilla prepares for the October release of the next version of Firefox, the group is facing its biggest challenge yet: Going mainstream. Firefox's share of the market, however impressive, has been flat after rapid growth in 2004 and 2005.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060830_824598.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
RightNow strengthens CRM hosting for blue-chips
VNUNet.com - Sep 6, 2006
“Software as a service is not just for small andmedium-sized businesses anymore, it’s growing up in the enterprise. ”Analytics capabilities have also been enhanced with historical trending andcustomisable dashboards and home pages; and pre-developed templates for verticalsolutions and job roles are available. RightNow’s architecture has also been revamped to integrate with MicrosoftOutlook. “We were finding over 90 percent of our customers were using Outlook soit just made sense,” said Mittelstaedt. A subsequent release, due next year and codenamed Emerald, will integratesalesforce automation and workflow capabilities collected with RightNow’spurchase of Salesnet earlier this year. The RightNow release comes as CRM spending is growing, partly as buyersreplace and upgrade first-generation systems. Gartner research suggests EuropeanCRM revenues grew almost 10 percent in 2005, spurred on by the boom insubscription-based online software... “We were finding over 90 percent of our customers were using Outlook soit just made sense,” said Mittelstaedt. A subsequent release, due next year and codenamed Emerald, will integratesalesforce automation and workflow capabilities collected with RightNow’spurchase of Salesnet earlier this year. The RightNow release comes as CRM spending is growing, partly as buyersreplace and upgrade first-generation systems. Gartner research suggests EuropeanCRM revenues grew almost 10 percent in 2005, spurred on by the boom insubscription-based online software.
http://www.vnunet.com/itweek/news/2163693/rightnow-strengthens-crm
Meet the iTunes Wannabes
BusinessWeek - Sep 5, 2006
The company has sold more than 50 million iPods around the world and except in the case of MySpace, songs downloaded through non-iTunes players won't work on the iPod. Until a new player compatible with these services gains popularity, it is unlikely that massive numbers will switch their music buying habits, says Mulligan. Microsoft (MSFT) plans to mount a challenge by the end of 2006 with its Zune media player. However, it is unlikely to take a big bite out of iPod sales, Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research, wrote in a recent research note. For starters, the Toshiba-made device is too similar to a Toshiba's Gigabeat and includes wannabe iPod components such as a fake clickwheel, Wu noted. Wu described the device as "underwhelming," citing specs filed with the Federal Communications Commission. Zune is more likely to cannibalize sales from other companies, such as Creative Technologies (CREAF) and Sony (SNE), which use Microsoft hardware in their media players.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2006/tc20060905_083985.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
Hiwire's High-Wire Act
BusinessWeek - Aug 29, 2006
In April, Modeo also said it will deploy in top 30 markets in 2007. The company hasn't provided any news updates on its business since April, however. Nonetheless, Modeo has some powerful allies: It's part of the Mobile DTV Alliance, which includes representatives from Intel (INTC), Microsoft, Motorola (MOT), Nokia (NOK), Texas Instruments (TXN), and Sony Ericsson. In August, Alcatel (ALA) and Samsung Telecommunications America joined the alliance. Hiwire is in the midst of discussions to join the alliance as well, though, says Wills. Should all else fail, Hiwire has a back-up. It's preparing a trial of a wireless broadband network in Phoenix.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060829_420214.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology
Take care.
