From Center for market intelligence
Software, Computers, & Services
Feature Reports
Security in the Ether
MIT Technology Review, January/February 2010
Information technology's next grand challenge will be to secure the cloud--and prove we can trust it.
Apple’s Game Changer, Downloading Now
The New York Times, December 5, 2009
Thanks in large part to the iPhone, introduced in 2007, and the App Store, which opened its doors last year, smartphones have become the Swiss Army knives of the digital age.
Back to the Future
Newsweek, November 10, 2009
Apple is innovating like its old self once again. But can the company avoid repeating the mistakes that forced it to play catch-up in the '90s?
Software That Fixes Itself
MIT technology Review, October 29, 2009
When a potentially harmful vulnerability is discovered in a piece of software, it takes nearly a month on average for human engineers to come up with a fix and to push the fix out to affected systems, according to a report issued by security company Symantec in 2006. The researchers, who collaborated with a startup called Determina on the work, hope that the new software, called ClearView, will speed this process up, making software significantly more resilient against failure or attack.
Inside the App Economy
BusinessWeek, October 22, 2009
It's easy to shrug off the kooky world of apps. The bite-size software programs people load onto their mobile phones or tap into on the Web seem mostly to be silly games and pointless novelties. But look past the beer-drinking apps and flatulence programs and you'll see something significant taking shape: a bustling app economy that's creating new fortunes for entrepreneurs and changing the way business gets done.
Digital Frontiers: New Technologies in Spain
MIT Technology Review, 2009
Spain’s Telefónica has grown to become one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. In addition to its focus on communications networks, it also develops technologies for health and education. The company is one of many Spanish success stories in the rapidly growing field of information technology and communication, as communications reach ever more distant corners of the world and innovations in computers, phones, and satellites facilitate an increasingly fast information flow.
An Exploration of Technology Diffusion
Harvard Business School, NBER, Federal Reserve Bank 2009
The authors have attempted to measure the spread of technology, and discovered it's not just our imagination: newer tech is being adopted faster, and appears to account for some of the differences in GDP growth.
Bad Apple?
Fortune, August 5, 2009
Apple’s control issues have been a key ingredient in its success. CEO Steve Jobs is fond of pointing out that Apple’s hands-on approach to crafting both hardware and software has led to such breakthrough products as the Mac, the iPod and the iPhone – and it's fair to say the attention to detail hasn’t hurt Apple's marketing, either.
Lately, though, Apple’s domineering ways have drawn even more attention than usual.
Google, Apple: Two Mobile Software Visions
BusinessWeek, July 22, 2009
Smartphone apps should be browsed, not downloaded, a Google exec says. Apple and others beg to differ.
Will IBM and Google Keep the Tech Rally Going?
Fortune, July 16th, 2009
On The Kudlow Report on CNBC, Jon Fortt discusses whether the tech rally still has legs.
IBM's Strategic Focus Beats the Tech Slump
BusinessWeek, July 16, 2009
While offering little hope for a tech industry rebound, IBM proved better suited than rivals such as HP and Dell to cope with the world downturn.
Google vs. Microsoft: What You Need to Know
Wired, July 13, 2009
In less than a week, Google announced an operating system to compete with Windows, while Microsoft announced that Office 10 will include free, online versions of its four most popular software programs — a shot at Google’s suite of web-based office applications. And not more than a month and a half ago, Microsoft unveiled its new search engine Bing which it hopes will steal market share from Google and finally make it real money online. From the news of it, it’s a full-blown tech battle, complete with behind-the-scenes machinations to sic government regulators on each other.
Tech Is Too Cheap to Meter: It's Time to Manage for Abundance, Not Scarcity
Wired, June 22, 2009
When scarce resources become abundant, smart people treat them differently, exploiting them rather than conserving them. It feels wrong, but done right it can change the world.
Mobile Apps' Brush with Greatness
BusinessWeek, June 4, 2009
The success of iPhone app Brushes demonstrates the huge potential of selling software applications for wireless devices.
08 Piracy Study
Business Software Alliance, May 2009
Working together, governments, software companies, and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) are making progress in stopping the illegal theft and use of PC software products. But piracy remains a serious problem in all countries, and the challenge is greatest in the world’s fastest growing markets. The rate of personal computer software piracy dropped in 2008 in about half (57) of the 110 countries studied, however, the worldwide PC software piracy rate rose for the second year in a row, from 38 percent to 41 percent.
How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read and Write
Wall Street Journal, April 20, 2009
There is great promise and opportunity in the digital-books revolution. The question is: Will we recognize the book itself when that revolution has run its course?
2009 Data Breach Investigations Report
Verizon Business RISK Team, April 15, 2009
2008 will likely be remembered as a tumultuous year for corporations and consumers alike. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt seized global financial markets; corporate giants toppled with alarming regularity; and many who previously lived in abundance found providing for just the essentials to be difficult. Among the headlines of economic woes came reports of some of the largest data breaches in history. These events served as a reminder that, in addition to our markets, the safety and security of our information could not be assumed either.
Apple Closes First Quarter without Jobs at Helm
MarketWatch, April 13, 2009
When Apple Inc. delivers its next earnings report later this month, it will mark a milestone of sorts: the company's first reporting period without Steve Jobs, its co-founder and chief executive.
Microsoft Security Intelligence Report volume 6 (July through December 2008)
Microsoft, April 8, 2009
Volume 6 of the SIR focuses on the second half of 2008 (from July - December) and builds upon the data published in the previously released volumes of the SIR. Using data derived from hundreds of millions of computers worldwide, and some of the busiest online services on the Internet, this report provides an in-depth perspective on trends in software vulnerability disclosures as well as trends in the malicious and potentially unwanted software landscape, and an update on trends in software vulnerability exploits.
Business Intelligence Software's Time Is Now
BusinessWeek, March 2, 2009
The recession is fostering interest in BI software, which helps companies analyze the data they collect for new cost-cutting or sales opportunities.
MessageLabs Intelligence February 2009: The 'Search' for Recession Spam, Trojans Leave Fake Vapour Trails and Cutwail Plays Cupid
MessageLabs, February 2009
This report provides the latest threat trends for February 2009 regarding the ongoing fight against viruses, spam and other unwelcome content.
Software: Lean and Green
BusinessWeek, February 8, 2009
Software vendors are competing for shrinking IT budgets by touting products that can save energy, save money, and save the environment.
A High-Tech Agenda for President Obama
CIO, January 20, 2009
On Tuesday Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States, during a scary economic meltdown and at a time when America questions its role in the world and its self-perception as a champion for good and progress. Among his many agenda items as president is one for technology. His incoming administration has signaled it sees technology both as an enabler of the change it seeks for the U.S. and as a worthwhile investment in its own right
Steve's Leave: What Does It Really Mean?
Fortune, January 16, 2009
Now the world's eyes are on Cook, from competitors like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft to Apple's legendary legions of loyal customers. In mid-January, Jobs finally acknowledged what Apple watchers have feared for months: Five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he's not completely well. As a result, Jobs is taking a six-month medical leave of absence from Apple.
Clouds Looming for Server Software Vendors
BusinessWeek, December 9, 2008
Cloud computing challenges server software vendors to create new pricing models. The first step is to divorce software from hardware.
Cost-Conscious Companies Turn to Open-Source Software
BusinessWeek, December 1, 2008
As the recession puts pressure on tech spending, many companies are turning to open-source software to handle more IT tasks.
Jacking into the Brain--Is the Brain the Ultimate Computer Interface?
Scientific American, November 2008
Unraveling the neural code is one of the most imposing challenges in neuroscience—and, to misappropriate Freud, would likely pave a royal road to an understanding of consciousness. Theorists have advanced many differing ideas to explain how the billions of neurons and trillions of synapses that connect them can ping meaningful messages to one another.
There's Nothing Easy about Letting Apple into the Enterprise
ComputerWorld, November 6, 2008
While Apple will likely infiltrate more corporate environments -- thanks to the enthusiasm it has generated in the consumer market and the enterprise-friendly features added to the Mac and iPhone -- that doesn't mean it will be easy. Even Mac veterans say Apple doesn't always act like other technology partners and that doing what it takes to mix Apple into the environment takes time and research.
Information Technology's Move to Green
Data Storage Today, November 6, 2008
Companies that rely heavily on computer servers are turning to some high-tech strategies to battle the growing hunger such servers have for electrical power Relevant Products/Services and to deal with the massive amounts of heat they generate. Among those strategies, IT departments are buying sophisticated servers that each can operate as and do the work of dozens of "virtual servers." The machines use kinetic energy Relevant Products/Services from a spinning flywheel as a backup power supply, eliminating the need for banks of batteries.
The Case for e-Discovery
Government Computer News, October 27, 2008
Government agencies can no longer remain unaware of the legal implications of their new technologies. In 2006, laws were enacted that clarify how agencies and other organizations should handle electronic documents. No longer could an agency’s legal counsel throw up his or her hands in confusion when asked about information that existed only on a server somewhere.
Creating the Cumulus
The Economist, October 23, 2008
Software will be transformed into a combination of services.
Let It Rise
The Economist, October 23, 2008
The rise of the cloud is more than just another platform shift that gets geeks excited. It will undoubtedly transform the information technology industry, but it will also profoundly change the way people work and companies operate. It will allow digital technology to penetrate every nook and cranny of the economy and of society, creating some tricky political problems along the way.
Enterprise Social Media Changes the Face of Business
CIO Today, October 1, 2008
Public services such as LinkedIn make it easy to filter skill sets of people in a social network and to find people who may be appropriate to approach. It also enables, through LinkedIn Answers, people to ask questions to a general community that can be answered by people with expertise in a topic, and the answers are available for future access.
Inside Chrome: The Secret Project to Crush IE and Remake the Web
Wired Magazine, September 2, 2008
When Microsoft's Internet Explorer and the codebase at the heart of Firefox were originally conceived, browsing was less complex. Now, however, functions that previously could be performed only on the desktop — email, spreadsheets, database management — are increasingly handled online. In the coming era of cloud computing, the Web will be much more than just a means of delivering content — it will be a platform in its own right. The problem with revamping existing browsers to accommodate this concept is that they have developed an ecology of add-on extensions (toolbars, RSS readers, etc.) that would be hopelessly disrupted by a radical upgrade. "As a Firefox developer, you love to innovate, but you're always worried that it means in the next version all the extensions will be broken," Fisher says. "And indeed, that's what happens." The conclusion was obvious: Only by building its own software could Google bring the browser into the cloud age and potentially trigger a spiral of innovation not seen since Microsoft and Netscape one-upped each other almost monthly.
Cloud Computing's Perfect Storm?
MIT Technology Review, August 7, 2008
Last week, Intel, Yahoo, HP, and an international trio of research institutions announced a joint cloud-computing research initiative. The ambitious six-site project is aimed at developing an Internet-based computer infrastructure stable enough to host companies' most critical data-processing tasks. The project also holds an unusual promise for advances in fields as diverse as climate change modeling and molecular biology. The new array of six linked data centers, one operated by each project sponsor, will be one of the largest experiments to date focusing on cloud computing.
Investing in the IT That Makes a Competitive Difference
Harvard Business Review, July-August 2008
Studies of corporate performance reveal a growing link between certain kinds of technology investments and intensifying competitiveness.
Microsoft without Gates
Fortune, June 20, 2008
On July 1, Bill Gates officially retires from daily duties at the software giant. He's leaving in order to begin a second life as a full-time philanthropist and to explore his dizzying range of intellectual interests. But his departure raises some obvious and very large questions about the future of Microsoft: Can the now $60 billion behemoth keep finding new ways to grow? Will Ballmer and his lieutenants be able to successfully adapt their products to an increasingly web-driven world? In short, does the company have what it takes to thrive without its iconic founder at the helm?
2008 Data Breach Investigations Report
Verizon Business Risk Team, June 2008
Data breaches. You’ve gleaned all you can from the headlines; now you have access to information directly from the investigator’s casebook. The 2008 Data Breach Investigations Report draws from over 500 forensic engagements handled by the Verizon Business Investigative Response team over a four-year period. Tens of thousands of data points weave together the stories and statistics from compromise victims around the world.
U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology
Rand Corporation, June 11, 2008
Is the United States in danger of losing its competitive edge in science and technology (S&T)? This concern has been raised repeatedly since the end of the Cold War, most recently in a wave of reports in the mid-2000s suggesting that globalization and the growing strength of other nations in S&T, coupled with inadequate U.S. investments in research and education, threaten the United States’ position of leadership in S&T. Galama and Hosek examine these claims and contrast them with relevant data, including trends in research and development investment; information on the size, composition, and pay of the U.S. science and engineering workforce; and domestic and international education statistics.
Gates-Ballmer Clash Shaped Microsoft's Coming Handover
Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2008
One of the most successful business partnerships in history was coming unraveled. It was early 2000, and Bill Gates had relinquished the chief executive's job at Microsoft Corp. to Steve Ballmer -- for the first time taking a back seat to his college pal and right-hand man of 20 years. Mr. Ballmer got the title. But Mr. Gates retained the power, triggering a yearlong struggle between the two men that until now has remained largely under wraps.
Microsoft's Ballmer on Yahoo and the Future
Washington Post, June 5, 2008
In an animated discussion with Washington Post editors and reporters yesterday, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer offered his far-ranging views of upcoming changes in technology and the media.
Flexibility Keeps Midmarket Firms on Top
CIO Insight, May 12, 2008
Big companies are not the only ones that are moving increasingly to implement new Web technologies. Small and midsize businesses are rapidly deploying advanced tools like AJAX, Web 2.0 and rich Internet applications, according to CIO Insight’s 2008 Emerging Technologies Survey. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Just as in our past studies, a significant number of midmarket CIOs describe their companies as early adopters of leading-edge technologies. That’s a benefit of being smaller: There’s less red tape to deal with when pursuing and justifying investments in emerging technologies.
The Mac in the Gray Flannel Suit: More Office Workers Infatuated with iPods and iPhones Are Demanding Macs. Is Business Ready? Is Apple?
BusinessWeek, May 2008
In the March quarter, Mac sales blew away all forecasts, soaring 51% over the previous year, or more than three times the rate for the personal-computer industry. Throw in the iPod and iPhone, and Apple's total sales have surged from $5.2 billion in fiscal 2002 to $24 billion last year. Its share price has risen 2,300% over the past five years, giving the company a market capitalization, at $154 billion, that tops those of tech giants Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Intel.
Enterprise Software Customer Survey 2008
McKinsey & Company, April 29, 2008
This year’s survey of more than 850 enterprise software customers by McKinsey & Co in collaboration with the SandHill Group and the Software and Interop conferences showed increasing acceptance of subscription and on-demand models but more surprisingly, a high portion (74 percent) of enterprise customers favorably disposed to adopting SaaS platforms.
Reveal
Council on Competitiveness and USC-ISI Broad Study of Desktop Technical Computing End Users and HPC, April 2008
This first-ever broad industry survey examines why companies have not made the switch from desktop PCs and workstations to more powerful high performance computers, given their proven competitive benefits. Lack of talent, cost issues and a need for application software are difficult hurdles to overcome. Most of the firms revealed they have important problems they can not solve on their desktop systems. The survey implications are sobering: critical U.S. supply chains and the leadership of many U.S. industries may be at risk if more companies do not embrace modeling and simulation with HPC.
Reflect
Council on Competitiveness and USC-ISI Broad Study of Desktop Technical Computing End Users and HPC, April 2008
This study benchmarks the findings from Reveal against a group of “desktop–only” and entry level HPC users within a focused industrial sector. It confirms that even with customer requirements and/or a competitive threat, desktop-only firms still need assistance in overcoming the cost, talent and software barriers impeding HPC adoption. The important role of partnerships – with university and national laboratory HPC centers and with vendor/service organizations – is reiterated.
Why Tech Stocks Have a Glorious Future
Fortune, March 27, 2008
While we may seem to be living in grim economic times, tech companies are facing a future that is anything but grim - something that is salutary to recall when we read the daily headlines about financial turmoil and economic uncertainty. If you take the global view - and what technology company doesn't? - there really isn't much uncertainty. While things could slow down for a year or two, there is nowhere to go but up - way up.
Competing for Talent: A Survey of Talent Trends in Technology and Telecommunications
Deloitte, March 2008
The Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) industry practice, in conjunction with the Talent practice, surveyed more than 150 technology and telecommunications companies in North America to understand their most significant talent issues and what they are doing to address them. The survey found that the majority of technology and telecommunications companies continue to rely on financial incentives and other traditional approaches for attracting and retaining talent. These techniques are outmoded and will not address long-term problems. The survey also concludes that companies in the industry are starting to take steps in the right direction, but most have a long way to go to meet the diverse needs of employees today.
Being Human: Human Computer Interaction in the Year 2020
Microsoft Research, March 2008
This report is the result of a forum. It is not a record of the papers presented or discussions held, but a distillation, an attempt to capture the spirit of what concerned and excited the participants, looking ahead to 2020. It describes how the world around us has changed and continues to change, and how the design of computers is helping to create a new socio-digital landscape. It explains how the field of HCI can contribute to making this landscape one that reflects the values we hold as well as provide opportunities for the expression of diversity in those values. Being human is not simply a label; it is about a set of aspirations.
Quarterly Report PandaLabs: January-March 2008
This report takes a look at some of the most interesting events this quarter, explores the quarter's most significant vulnerabilities and presents the quarter's malware figures.
Roadmap to Digital Transformation: Implications for Intelligence
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, March 11, 2008
ITIF President Robert Atkinson’s presentation to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence outlining the intelligence implications of our increasingly digital economy and society.
Information Technology Budget: Overview and Update
Office of Management & Budget, February 2008
The President’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget provides nearly $71 billion in funding for information technology (IT) investments, approximately a 6.8 percent increase over the FY 2008 President’s Budget. “This IT amount is consistent with the President’s commitment to balance the budget, while protecting the homeland and winning the Global War on Terror (GWOT),” said Karen Evans, Administrator, E-Government and Information Technology. “The budget reflects the investments necessary to improve service delivery and to secure and protect government information while maximizing and spending taxpayer dollars wisely.”
MessageLabs Intelligence February 2008
MessageLabs, February 2008
MessageLabs saw a surge in spam originating from Google Gmail accounts at the end of February. This is evidence that spammers have developed methods to create large numbers of Gmail accounts, which likely requires circumventing CAPTCHAS (Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart). CAPTCHAs are designed to defend against automated sign-up tools used by spammers by requiring the user to enter the letters to validate that a human is requesting the account.
2008 Annual Google Communications Intelligence Report
Google, February 2008
At the end of 2007, Google conducted an annual online survey of messaging professionals. Providing insight into the major communications trends in the past year as well as the pressing issues and concerns for the coming one, this survey is the result of 575 global interviews with CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs in large, multinational enterprises as well as small organizations. This report summarizes the key findings of the survey, including detailed statistical analysis of the key trends in business communications in 2007 and how these trends translate into priorities for business communications professionals in the year ahead.
Microsoft Pledges Fail to Move the EU
BusinessWeek Online, February 21, 2008
European regulators issued a swift verdict on Microsoft's latest attempt to show it plays well with others: We've heard it all before.
Microsoft on Feb. 21 announced on a series of steps to help competitors' products interact with its own, part of a larger effort to assuage concerns that the world's largest software maker is engaged in anticompetitive behavior.
Microsoft Opens APIs, Protocols as EU Demands
CIO Today, February 21, 2008
CEO Steve Ballmer set out principles for providing more information on Microsoft's high-volume products and opening connections. Microsoft's about-face on openness was in response to demands by the European Court of First Instance. Microsoft said it will open trade secrets and agree to "reasonable" royalties for patent licenses.
The SIIA’s Report on Software & Information
Analyst Views, January 31, 2008
In its most recent report, Software and Information: Driving the Global Knowledge Economy, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) aimed “to collect and disseminate objective data about the economic contribution of the software and information industries to the U.S. and world economies,” and to, “provide the most accurate measurement of the substantial impact” of those industries. While the case the SIIA makes is strong (the software and information industries do add significant value to the domestic and world economies and they are chief drivers of innovation and increased productivity), it must be kept in mind that the SIIA is “the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry.”
IT Security Threat Summary for H2 2007: Bulk Amounts of Malware, Storm, Apple, and Databases
F-Secure, January 2008
What previously took twenty years to accumulate — was now accumulated in just one year. At the start of 2007 — our number of malware detections equaled a quarter-million. At the end of 2007, the estimates are to be equal to half-a-million. There was a great deal of volume seen during 2007. Malware authors are producing variants in bulk. Genuine innovation appears to be on the decline and is currently being replaced with volume and mass-produced kit malware. But while new techniques weren't developed — the existing techniques were refined and adapted for much greater effectiveness. There are some very dangerous faces in the big crowd.
MySQL: Sun's Billion-Dollar Baby
PC World, January 17, 2008
Sun put its money where its mouth is Wednesday, with the announcement that it would buy open source database vendor MySQL for a whopping $1 billion. If the price tag set tongues wagging, however, it was no more tantalizing than the question that immediately sprung to the minds of IT managers everywhere: Now that Sun owns MySQL, what on earth does it plan to do with it?
Global IP Traffic Forecast and Methodology, 2006–2011
Cisco Systems, January 14, 2008
After a brief mid-decade slowdown, IP traffic will nearly double every two years through 2011. Total IP traffic will nearly quadruple in the four-year period from 2007 to 2011. Driven by high-definition video and high-speed broadband penetration, consumer IP traffic will bolster the overall IP growth rate so that it sustains a fairly steady growth rate through 2011, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46 percent and nearly quadrupling the monthly traffic run rate from 2007 to 2011.
Application Security Trends Report: Q4 2007
Cenzic, January 2008
2007 was certainly an eventful year. And, not just for election primaries. In 2007, we saw a number of creative and lethal attacks - not just in election debates. Web site hacking continued to gain momentum as hackers had a field day exploiting vulnerabilities across all geographies and across different types of Web applications.
When Google Grows Up
Forbes, January 11, 2008
For those who haven't been paying attention, it's time to stop thinking of Google as just a search engine. Web ventures like Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Blogger and YouTube might not generate much revenue compared with Google's mammoth search business, but they're not mere side projects. In fact, argues Nicholas Carr, the former editor of the Harvard Business Review and author of the new book The Big Switch, those Web applications are signs of a fundamental change, a shift from the desktop to the Web that could redefine computing--and Google's business model.
Can Macs Conquer the Enterprise? The Time Is Ripe ...
ComputerWorld, January 10, 2008
The company is the undefeated king of cool in the consumer electronics and home computer markets. It is rapidly gaining yardage in the broader personal computing market and is experiencing a resurgence of popularity in traditional Macintosh niches such as education, marketing and creative departments. With all of this momentum, you'd think that the Mac might be ready for a come-from-behind win in the enterprise. But on that field of play, Apple remains 1st and 10 at its own 10-yard line.
The Global State of Information Security 2007
CIO, CSO, and Price Waterhouse Coopers, December 2007
Organizations worldwide are investing in infrastructure but lagging in implementation, measurement and review of security and privacy policies according to the 5th annual Global State of Information Security Survey 2007. According to the survey, the majority of organisations now have a CSO or CISO in place (60% in 2007 vs. 43% in 2006), as well as an overall information strategy (57% in 2007 vs. 37% in 2006), and results show the majority are also heavily invested in technology safeguards such as network firewalls (88%), data backup (82%), user passwords (80%), and spyware (80%). However, the investment of time in practical measures remains low.
Tech in 2008: Steady, Solid Growth
MarketWatch, December 17, 2004
While the credit crisis is no doubt weighing heavily on tech investors' minds, they can probably take comfort in one fact: Information technology is so deeply entrenched in today's world, that any pain will likely be brief. Indeed, while the tech sector got caught in the ebbs and flows of the broader market in 2007, analysts and investors say, many segments of the industry are poised for steady growth in 2008.
All Eyes on Apple
Fast Company, December 1, 2007
This promises to be a joyous holiday season for Steve Jobs and the incandescent Apple. Over the past year, the company's numbers have been stunning: Sales are up 24%, earnings up 75%, margins topping 30%, stock price up 146%. The popularity of the iPod and its snazzy young cousin, the iPhone, has lifted other Apple products, helping boost market share in personal computers in the United States from 2% a few years ago to 8% this past quarter, with Apple leapfrogging Gateway to take third place behind Dell and Hewlett-Packard.
Oracle Results Seen on Solid Footing, Aided by Deals
MarketWatch, November 19, 2007
Oracle Corp. has a shot at silencing some critics of its $20 billion acquisition spree, as the database and business-software company looks poised to post 19% growth in quarterly sales when it issues its latest financial results after Tuesday's closing bell.
Boosting European Prosperity Through the Widespread Use of ICT
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, November 2007
This brief discusses why higher productivity is critical for the future of Europe; examines the relationship between ICT and productivity in the United States and Europe; describes the impact of ICT on European economies; and lays out fi ve key policy principles for attaining digital prosperity.
Apple's Halo
Analyst Views, October 25, 2007
It may be that the visual definition of Apple at the moment is the iPhone or perhaps the new iPod Touch, gadgets with touchscreens, but Apple is at its core a computer company. And while the company's other products have taken the spotlight, Apple's core business is doing more than well. According to reports, sales of the Apple Macintosh are growing at more than two-and-a-half times the rate of the PC industry as a whole.
BEA Rejects $6.7 Billion Oracle Offer, Rival Bids Seen
Reuters, October 12, 2007
Business software maker BEA Systems Inc. rejected a $6.7 billion takeover bid from Oracle Corp. on Friday, throwing the company into play by saying the unsolicited offer was too low. Shares rose 38 percent, above a five-year high, and activist investor Carl Icahn, BEA's biggest shareholder and a vocal critic of management, said he was pleased by Oracle's offer but called for higher bids. Shares of BEA, which makes software that helps other programs interact, rose to $18.82, nearly $2 above Oracle's $17 offer that was made on October 9 but not disclosed until Friday.
The EU Slaps Microsoft
Analyst Views, October 4, 2007
A blow to Microsoft usually garners a wide round of applause. However, the upholding of an earlier antitrust verdict against Microsoft by the European Union's (EU) second-highest court, handed out on September 17, has instead raised questions and skepticism. Many feel the premise that such legal action was called for in order to encourage competition and innovation is false and that the decision will embolden the court to go after other technology companies.
Improving Application Deployments: How An Application Delivery Architecture Can Help Businesses Overcome Deployment Challenges
Forrester Consulting on behalf of F5 Networks, August 7, 2007
Today’s businesses must operate in a drastically changing environment. Forrester is seeing firms challenged to efficiently handle difficult compliance requirements like SOX, HIPAA, and mandatory disclosure laws; increase the number of constituencies that have access to applications and data (including contracts, suppliers, vendors, business partners, and mobile employees); and leverage IT to provide competitive advantage. However, we have found that most companies are not well equipped to reorient IT as a critical driver of top line success while removing bottom line costs.
SaaS: Growing Up
Analyst Views, July 12, 2007
As familiarity and confidence in the Web grows within the enterprise some are looking back to the technology and business models of earlier times on the Web. This reinvestigation is leading to new growth for the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. A SaaS model is defined by Business Communications Review as follows: “Customers access SaaS applications and data via the Web and essentially rent the application from the SaaS provider on a per-user or per-month basis. The SaaS provider is responsible for delivering, securing and managing the application, data and underlying infrastructure.”
Microsoft
Analyst Views Weekly, May 11, 2007
When Microsoft reported its earnings last month it drew some surprises; Vista, the company's new operating system, is selling well. Until the announcement, most of the news about Vista, and Microsoft in general, reported its problems and predicted its negative impact. It seems that in this Microsoft has had the last laugh. But as with any empire, there is a dark side. Microsoft trails its online rivals Google and Yahoo! and is well aware that it needs to make some headway in this area. Its need to do so was evidenced by recent talks between Microsoft and Yahoo! Talks were over quickly, but the fact remains that while Microsoft may keep moving ahead, its work is cut out.
Apple
Analyst Views Weekly, May 3, 2007
A lot is happening with Apple right now; the New York Times put it succinctly, "After nearly three decades, Apple is finally being taken seriously not just by the true believers, but by just about everybody." But Apple is not perfect; the release of Apple TV was delayed, and with resources needed for the iPhone, Leopard the company's latest offering in operating systems, will be delayed as well. While product delays are common in the industry Apple has been able, for the most part, to avoid them; but some are now saying that two in a row may be indicative of deeper troubles. In its new endeavors even success can be a risk. As InformationWeek puts it, "It remains to be seen whether Apple will be able to keep pace with the growing popularity of its products. If the iPhone is successful, for example, Apple will have to get the additional resources it needs to manage another successful product line."
Microsoft's Patent Problem
Analyst Views Weekly, March 8, 2007
Two weeks ago a U.S. federal jury in San Diego California found Microsoft guilty of infringing on two patents held by equipment manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent; the verdict brings with it damages of $1.52 billion. Some see this as Microsoft finally getting what it deserves, however, many more, thinking about the precedent that could be set are expressing their concern and raising questions about the efficacy of the patent system. At this point, nothing is written in stone, Microsoft plans on appealing. This Analyst Views Weekly includes links to relevant articles and reports.
