Google Uses the Salesforce

Nice meeting you!

Salesforce.com shares jump as it turns in a loss
Register - Aug 18, 2006
is delivering the promise of on-demand services to nearly 25,000 customers with more than 500,000 subscribers around the world today. The comment was presumably a dig at Microsoft's CRM software and Oracle's Siebel venture. The firm netted 57,000 new subscibers to its services in the quarter, up 63 per cent on the Q2 2005 total. ® Track this type of story as a. Related storiesSalesforce.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/18/salesforce_q2_2006/

Google Uses the Salesforce
Motley Fool - Aug 23, 2006
After a free 30-day trial, Salesforce customers can pay $300 a month to continue the service, which manages paid-search campaigns while also tracking potential leads. With nearly 25,000 corporate clients and more than half a million subscribers to its hosted applications, Salesforce -- which provides online services for employees to track customer leads, accounts, marketing campaigns -- is no slouch. If successful, Salesforce. com's service has many implications.
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2006/mft06082302.htm?ref=foolwatch

Critical Flaw Found in IE Patch
PC World - Aug 23, 2006
Patched browsers would crash when using Web-based versions of several applications, including PeopleSoft, Siebel, and Sage CRM. Web sites that used HTTP 1. 1 compression to speed up the downloading of images could also cause the browser to fail. These issues are described on.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126879-c,browserbugs/article.html

TechWeek: Shorts Drive the August Rally
thestreet.com - Aug 19, 2006
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) , Salesforce. com (CRM) and BEA Systems (BEAS) delivered stronger-than-expected earnings, while Dell (DELL) found new ways to scare customers and investors. And when Microsoft (MSFT) figured out that its "modified Dutch auction had flopped," it changed the timing on the buyback offer. All of this gave the market a solid bounce, with the Nasdaq, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and the Goldman Sachs Software Index all on the rise. To be sure, the solid earnings reports were an important driver this week. But interviews with money managers and equity strategists suggest that the rally wasn't all that solid. One big factor: short covering.
http://www.thestreet.com/p/pf/newsanalysis/techsoftware/10304744.html

Salesforce.com buys into Google AdWords | CNET News.com
CNET News.com - Aug 21, 2006
is trying to get information from Google AdWords to knowing who the customer is can be kind of a difficult thing," Benioff said. "You tend to lose the link between CRM (customer relationship management) and Google ads. caro -->


Now on News.
http://news.com.com/Salesforce.com+buys+into+Google+AdWords/2100-1014_3-6108046.html

SAP: Tapped for Bigger Things
BusinessWeek - Aug 22, 2006
In 2004, SAP furthered its commitment to ESA by announcing a three-year road map through which it expects to deliver increasingly service-oriented solutions to the market annually, until the entire portfolio of the company's solutions is based on ESA by 2007. Recent product introductions have included SAP CRM on-demand (February, 2006) and mySAP ERP 2005 (May, 2006). THREE GROWTH DRIVERS. We think that a key driver of SAP's recent growth has been the company's notable progress in selling its products to SMB customers. In its recent June-quarter release, the company reported that 30% of its software revenues over the trailing four quarters came from the midmarket... Finally, we have a favorable view of SAP's ability and willingness to collaborate and partner with other technology companies, large and small. A recent example of this is the May, 2006, introduction of Duet software for Microsoft Office and SAP, launched and jointly developed with Microsoft (MSFT). This product brings SAP's ERP data into the workflow of a broader base of users by incorporating Microsoft's ubiquitous Office as a user interface. We expect the primary appeal of Duet to be for the SAP ERP-installed base, with the potential to raise ERP users by four times within its current client base, according to the company. We view these efforts favorably as a less risky, and potentially much cheaper, way to grow its business.
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/aug2006/pi20060822_581271.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_investing

See you later.

Google on the Inside [Fool.com] April 20, 2006

How do you do?

Cisco updates joint CRM system with Microsoft
InfoWorld - Apr 25, 2006
The software creates automatic screen pop ups with caller information, provides click-to-dial capability, captures call information and creates customer records. It delivers these features on a PC through integration with Cisco IP (Internet Protocol) phones. The latest version, Unified CRM Connector 3. 0, is integrated with the recently announced Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3... It expects to deploy version 3. 0 later this year or in the first half of next year, said Dominic Roberts, vice president of information services. GreenStone started using Microsoft Dynamics CRM a few years ago to bring together customer data from several different platforms, Roberts said. The result has been better customer service, because employees have more information at hand: for example, what each customer has bought and what promotions they have already been offered. The extension of CRM Connector to Cisco IP phones will be a major benefit of the new version, Roberts said. "They don't like it when 10 windows pop up in their face when they're looking at a CRM screen," Roberts said. "They would love to have two screens.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/04/25/77731_HNciscocrm_1.html

Google on the Inside [Fool.com] April 20, 2006
Motley Fool - Apr 20, 2006
Given the enormous amount of corporate data on intranets, corporate search looks like yet another multibillion-dollar market opportunity for Google. Microsoft is a selection of the Inside Value newsletter service. Check out our entire suite of newsletters by clicking.
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2006/mft06042019.htm

"Software As a Service" Hits Sweet Spot
BusinessWeek - Apr 13, 2006
He claims businesses will ultimately benefit from trends developing in the consumer space. "We have to show what's possible and we need to show people how they can move away from these old client-server companies," Benioff told silicon. The ease of implementation which on-demand vendors tout will also be the factor which keeps them honest and competitive, said Qualys' Courtot -- because if it's easy to switch on, then it's just as easy to switch over... Courtot said this contrasts starkly with the large enterprise software vendors. "Once they've got you, they'll milk you," he said. Evan Goldberg, chairman, founder and CTO of CRM vendor NetSuite, is another relying on software as a service hitting the big time. com he believes all applications will eventually be accessed online. "I have a very big vision of where software as a service can go," said Goldberg, adding his vision is for the industry as a whole -- way outside just the areas in which.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2006/gb20060413_756585.htm?campaign_id=search

Salesforce.com moves spark M&A FUD
Inquirer - Apr 14, 2006
Salesforce can hardly complain ifit is closely watched given that it has pursued one of the most regimented PR campaigns in living history and that itis probably the hottest thing in enterprise IT today. On the one hand, he's always ready to paint Microsoft as a laggard in software-as a-service. On the other hand he, likemany others, would like to replay the way Bill Gates built his money-magnet platform. The success of Microsoft's Windows ecosystem was built in part on its excellent relationships with smaller ISVs. Corel, Micrografx and a ton of others rode on that gravy train and, early on at least, Microsoft resisted thetemptation to throw its money at market domination in every sector. Even the success of the Office stack was based on minor acquisitions and organic development... Even the success of the Office stack was based on minor acquisitions and organic development. Microsoft built abetter mousetrap while Novell, WordPerfect, Borland, Aston-Tate, Lotus, SPC and the rest overreached or just gotstrategy plain wrong. Salesforce's plan is to make AppExchange its OS-like platform for ISVs to add in functionality that complementsSalesforce's core salesforce automation and CRM strengths. The question at least some of these ISVs will be asking iswhether this is because Salesforce doesn't want to step on partners' toes or because it just hasn't yet had the time tosteamroller over them. For that reason alone, the purchase of Sendia, an AppExchange partner, might alarm others on AppExchange concernedabout having an erstwhile friend turn competitor. Or have them dreaming of a big pay day - perhaps both. In his ZDNet blog, Phil Wainewright looks at areas for potential Salesforce suitors.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31011

Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Apr 21, 2006
Guidance for the second quarter of a 3-cent
to 7-cent profit and revenue of $359 million to $367
million was also in line with analyst expectations. One
positive from the report was the company's announcement
that it will begin building chips for the Xbox 360 video-
game console in 2007 through a direct relationship with
Microsoft. In the past, Chartered dealt with IBM when
building parts for Microsoft, and cutting out the middle
man should boost Chartered's margins going forward. We
believe shares could be worth more than $15 in 2006 as
utilization rates continue to increase and gross margins
approach peak 2000 levels of 30% from 11% now. For
instance, the stock was recently changing hands at just
seven times 2007 earnings-per-share (EPS) analyst
estimates vs. an industry average of 21. We maintain our
One rating... We believe valuation of 3. 5 times 2006 analyst
revenue estimates vs. 11 times for competitor
Salesforce.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/archives/200604211657.html

Google's Corporate Makeover - Forbes.com
Forbes - Apr 18, 2006
Google's move to open up its enterprise offering to big software developers is parallel to moves the company has made with other products, like giving outsiders the ability to create "mash-ups" with their software and Google Maps. The company said it will also allow smaller players to create add-ons for the enterprise line. They're already showing off some examples, such as the ability to search and display someone's Microsoft Exchange contact information within the Google interface, and even inviting a co-worker to a meeting without leaving your Web browser. "Search to me is really the next big move to get people access to all the information--not just the documents, but the data--in the enterprise context," says Robert Ashe, chief executive of Cognos, whose business software data will now be accessible through OneBox. Google hopes its new partnerships, which were first reported Tuesday by Business 2. 0, will help boost its share in the enterprise search and information access market which research firm Gartner estimates will hit almost $370 million worldwide this year. Gartner analyst Whit Andrews estimates that Google accounted for between 10% and 20% of new search licenses sold last year, amid competition from business-software giants Microsoft (nyse:.
http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinfrastructure/2006/04/18/google-enterprise-search_cx_df_0418google.html

Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Apr 13, 2006
Now let's take a look at the portfolio and some of the
moves we made this week. One quick note: Ones are stocks we would buy now, while
Twos are stocks we would buy only on a pullback from
current levels. And as a reminder:
-- A Game Breaker is going to change the landscape of an
industry, as Intel, Microsoft and Wal-Mart did in their
sectors. Investors can make big money in these stocks by
getting in before the crowd. -- Inflection Point stocks have a broken business model
that's on the mend but has yet to be recognized by the
market. Investors who recognize a turnaround early can
pocket strong returns. -- Stealth Stocks are often unknown names to the general
public, but can be hugely profitable investments,
especially when they score well in the Alpha component of
our proprietary rating system.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/archives/200604131656.html

See you.

In the software crusher

How's things?

Microsoft CRM hits the spot
InfoWorld - Feb 27, 2006
BorckFebruary 27, 2006 I’ve unlocked and loaded Microsoft’s recently refreshed customer relationship management solution, Dynamics CRM 3. 0 Professional, and the preliminary results are quite good. The improvements run broad and deep. Microsoft leapfrogged Version 2, going from a now-dated 2003 debut release to a “Version 3” product that is markedly more mature and usable. Not that Dynamics CRM is teeming with innovation -- at least not by today’s CRM standards -- but current Microsoft customers clinging to the hope of a worthy upgrade will not be disappointed.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/02/27/75533_09PPpreview_1.html

In the software crusher
BBC News - Feb 24, 2006
The big players in the multi-billion dollar market for CRM software have taken note and launched their own on-demand products. Siebel - now owned by Oracle - started offering online CRM services two years ago, while the global market leader in enterprise software, Germany's SAP, announced its own on-demand product at the beginning of February. Microsoft wants a slice of the action too, with the roll-out of its CRM 3. 0 application and tests of its new on-demand "Microsoft Office Live" product. Mr Benioff, for his part, speaks of defensive moves by traditional software giants who worry that Salesforce. com might put "their entire business model.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/business/4735944.stm

PC World - Test Versions of New Windows Live Services Arrive
PC World - Feb 28, 2006
Microsoft introduced its plan to offer hosted services under the Windows Live moniker last fall. Recommend this story?.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124893,00.asp

Apple's Latest Audio Offensive
BusinessWeek - Mar 1, 2006
Ever since Jobs began talking about turning the Mac into "the hub of the digital lifestyle" in 2001, analysts have been waiting for Apple to employ its techno-stylings to revamp the decades-old entertainment center. Who better to enable consumers to listen to music without racks of CDs, view photos without keeping dust-collecting photo albums, or watch movies (be they the home, or Hollywood variety) without VCR tapes, DVDs and the requisite herd of remote controls?Apple has indeed stepped lightly, even as Microsoft (MSFT) and partners dumped gazillions into creating products designed to do many of the same tasks. But Apple's latest devices leave no doubt whether Apple is on the attack -- or that the immediate target is home audio. For all the hoopla over the iPod and iTunes in the past four years, it's almost all been focused on how to listen to music through mediocre PC speakers or via earbuds -- but not in PC-less rooms of the house. ONE SYSTEM, MANY ROOMS. Now, that's changing.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2006/tc20060229_550598.htm

Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Feb 24, 2006
Now let's take a look at the portfolio and some of the
moves we made this week. One quick note: Ones are stocks we would buy now, while
Twos are stocks we would buy only on a pullback from
current levels. And as a reminder:
-- A Game Breaker is going to change the landscape of an
industry, as Intel, Microsoft and Wal-Mart did in their
sectors. Investors can make big money in these stocks by
getting in before the crowd. -- Inflection Point stocks have a broken business model
that's on the mend but has yet to be recognized by the
market. Investors who recognize a turnaround early can
pocket strong returns. -- Stealth Stocks are often unknown names to the general
public, but can be hugely profitable investments,
especially when they score well in the Alpha component of
our proprietary rating system... We
believe the company is on track to deliver 40% to 50%
sales bookings growth in 2006 vs. 29% sales bookings
growth in the fourth quarter. RightNow is a small player
in the burgeoning on-demand CRM software space, and we
believe the stock will trade closer to $20 a share in
2006. Based on this belief, we are moving RightNow to a
One and believe subscribers who do not have a position in
the stock should considering buying it here. We will not
add any shares unless they fall below $15, given our 30%
gain.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/archives/200602241803.html

See you.