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| ECMgt.com: November 2001 Volume 3, Issue 11 - New Dimensions for Growth and Evolution |
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ECMgt.com:
November 2001 Volume 3, Issue 11 - New
Dimensions for Growth and Evolution
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Subject: November 2001 ECMgt.com:
New Dimensions for Growth and Evolution
ECMgt.com brought to you by ECnow.com
Your Link to Worldwide E-Commerce Developments
November 1, 2001 *4,300 subscribers*
Volume 3, Issue 11
ECMgt.com Online: http://ECMgt.com
View this Issue Online: http://ecmgt.com/Nov2001
Print this Issue: http://ecmgt.com/Nov2001/full.issue.for.printing.htm
Thank you for your comments, suggestions and responses to our survey question. We will not be posting a survey question this month; however, if you have any comments, email us ecmgtsurvey@hotmail.com. We currently have over 4,300 subscribers. If you like what you read, please let your friends, clients and co-workers know about our free newsletter.
New Dimensions for Growth and Evolution
Management Perspective
by Mitchell Levy, Author, E-Volve-or-Die.com
As today's leaders make decisions about tomorrow's growth, there are many factors at work in this new environment that will make a huge impact. Technologies such as wireless and portable computing will provide more ways to access the Internet, and will require companies to provide content accordingly. The world marketplace means greater demand for products and services, and companies need to figure out how to build businesses across geographic boundaries. We are faced with the prospect of much more growth over the next few years. Whether it happens slowly or quickly, we all need to be armed with the lessons we have learned so far to be better prepared to meet all the challenges of the brave new world.
Our
Changing World:
In the wake of the recent events, businesses recognize
the enormity of change and challenge we are facing. We are observing that the
world is getting smaller, and the critical importance of understanding the economic,
geopolitical, and historical components of building an integrated world economy.
While external forces seem to be wrenching us all at once, we see continued opportunities
for growth and prosperity, especially in an uncertain world. In this issue,
we will review why we are optimistic.
Networked economies are all about integration; technical, legal, and logistic; and connecting the components of increasingly complex value chains. Pulling together the continents of North America, Europe, Asia, and the rapidly emerging networked economies of Latin America, Indonesia, and the Middle East will be a challenge. With shrinking IT budgets and growing needs for integration, we will have to do more with less. But motivation is high, and a review of our growing world shows that the continued growth of e-business is assured.
Asia: After two decades of weakening economic and political control, China is emerging as a leader in the East. Output has quadrupled over 20 years, and China now has the world's second largest GDP, 4.5 trillion dollars, almost half that of the United States. In 2003 China will have an estimated 300,000,000 users of mobile email enabled devices. One fourth of China's population, equal in total number to the US populace, is less than 14 years old, and by 2010 will become participants in the global economy. Wireless networks and mobile devices, including digital payments with smart cards; will be significant in consumer retail markets. Opportunities for business development and infrastructure to support an estimated 10 trillion dollar economy in 2010 are staggering.
Europe: While many countries in Europe have mirrored the United States in Internet user patterns, businesses have been much slower to adopt the integrated supply and value chain technologies prevalent in the US. Two populations of technology adoption clearly exist, with a 5 trillion-dollar economy in the European Union needing tighter integration. Network and process infrastructure demands have outpaced financial investment, and as the global economy recovers, Europe will be a strong market for technology growth and expansion. Currency, language, and legal and access issues are being addressed, and the juxtaposition of Europe to both Asian and American markets is a key strategic driver.
India - The fifth largest world economy, India has grown to a population of over one billion, with a third of the populace under 14 years of age. India's problems with poverty and illiteracy are widely known, but half the country is literate and has access to the new economy. India's GDP of 2.2 trillion dollars does not accurately reflect their position in the global economy; there are more programmers in India than in the U.S., a number that will grow three-fold over the next 10 years. As an educated youth force with technical aptitude matures, India will represent the world's largest pool of outsourced IT labor. In an era of distributed computing and opportunities for networked knowledge workers, India can become a tier one economy by 2010.
Africa - The opportunity of Africa, the largest continent in the world, remains elusive as decades of famine, civil unrest, the ending of the cold war and geopolitics affect over 800 million people. Africa represents 13% of the world's population but only 2% of GDP. Networked health care will be critical, e-learning and access to global media are essential.
North America - Including Canada and the United States, North America represents one third of global GDP. Over 80% of US small business are anticipated to have Internet transaction strategies by 2005, which translates to an additional 5 million connections to large suppliers engaged in B2B commerce. The economic impact of 3 trillion dollars in goods and services moving through integrated systems soon will launch a second wave of IT growth. The "tech wreck" of 2000-2001 is but a minor glitch in the global B2B rush as the world's most technology driven economy will lead in process-driven growth as well.
Central and South America - The second largest continent represents only 4% of world GDP, but it's full of small businesses with infrastructure and e-business needs. Like U.S. small business, Latin America will accelerate as wireless business networking and process integration becomes affordable. International trade represents a significant percentage of GDP in Brazil- the ninth largest economy- and significant manufacturing infrastructure resides in Latin America for large multi-national firms.
The Middle East - Nations with small populations never the less represent large economies in terms of energy, agriculture, and populations of skilled and talented engineers. Recent events would suggest that conflict is counter to business, but a better paradigm is to recognize that business always strengthens and fosters stronger and longer-lasting relations. The impetus to diversify from energy will lead many of the region nations to more rapidly adopt technologies of e-business integration and with it more stable global trade.
There is a strong correlation between Internet user adoption and per-capita GDP, which is really a reflection of technology penetration. An increasingly connected world in which one-third of the globe is networked puts demands on business infrastructure. What percentage of business will be online? Much of B2B growth will be driven by the end-user pull of over a billion new Web-enabled consumers. Given the above, strong e-business growth is anticipated for China, India, South Korea, Russia, parts of Europe and the Middle East. To make this happen, there are key drivers in technology and process infrastructure.
Trends and
Dimensions for Growth:
Portable computing, mobile data, instant messaging
and mobile commerce will push Internet devices to amazing numbers in just a few
short years. Wireless computing may grow by 630% to 1.7 billion devices by 2005
(Accenture) - with no distinction between e-commerce and m-commerce. Portable
devices will be the predominant mode of connection by 2003, when there will be
300 million mobile devices in China (eMarketer)
Global and multi-lingual content is rapidly changing the complexion of the Internet. Today 20% of Web content is non-English; a number that will grow to over 50% by 2005 as the number of Internet users increases to over a billion, with most of the growth occurring in Europe and Asia. This is a sign of success for global e-business, but it creates demands for document repurposing, publishing formats built on XML, and delivery to multiple device types.
The world marketplace place for commerce is rapidly growing. Over twenty five percent of global GDP results from international trade, estimated to be roughly 10 trillion dollars. This number will grow even more in developing economies, especially China and India, and swell as technology firms require global markets to support economic development.
Growth over the next few years will continue to be exponential. Over 80% of small business will have Internet connections by 2005, and America is bell-weather for the rest of the world. As big B2B matures in the enterprise and SME markets, continuity of process to small B2B and eventual touch points to B2C is needed to "wire the world".
Building business processes across geographical boundaries will be a major challenge and foundation and infrastructure will need to be developed to support flexible process. Multi-lingual formats, multi-currency payments, letters of credit, duty and export controls add complexity that domestic B2B initiatives have not had to grapple with.
Business documents need to be standardized - which means a fresh look at EDI, process integration across the supply and value chain, and merging accounting, purchasing, and logistical application formats across B2B. The elusive goal of Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) grows even more complex when we add the dimension of geography.
Marketplace and procurement portals will rebuild, after learning the lessons of process integration, buyer-supplier visibility, and most of all - liquidity. Marketplace failures will become lessons learned as more effective business models are designed and deployed
Secure email, new messaging and document formats, and digital signatures will merge as a front line for all business document based process, creating a more streamlined front end for purchasing and other Web enabled EDI activities.
The issues of computer viruses has reached epidemic proportions, causes billions of dollars in damage and lost productivity, and is totally unacceptable. Legislation must be written and enforced that addresses the intentional and malevolent nature of these crimes.
What lessons have we learned?
Over-building
in 1999 - 2000 hurt a lot of companies. Exodus and Excite@Home were two prime
examples. In building an e-business community, balance sheets matter, and extended
debt can create fatal situations when anticipated revenues don't materialize.
Standards matter. Wrangling over Java, XML, and communications protocols is constructive within standards bodies and in initial development, but not deployment. Battles seen with Microsoft, Sun, Netscape and others aren't productive in the long haul.
Analysts can be wrong. The coming predictions of 2500 e-marketplaces, B2Bi and universal Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) never materialized; they represent development goals, not lofty growth. Measured investment in process might have been better than over-investment in technologies that didn't have true market-driven needs.
We're in it for the long haul. Wiring the world and building a digital climate for global e-business requires foundation infrastructure, universal connectivity and globally integrated process. This won't happen overnight, but the trends are clear. That's why we're so bullish on continued growth - and wiring the world for global e-business.
References:
About Mitchell Levy
Mitchell
Levy, is President and CEO of ECnow.com (http://ecnow.com),
a training business service provider helping companies transition its employees,
partners and customers to the Internet age through off-the-shelf and customized
on-line and on-ground training. He is the author of E-Volve-or-Die.com, Executive
Producer of ECMgt.com, an on-line E-Commerce Management (ECM) e-zine, Chair of
comdex.biz at Comdex Fall and Chicago and the Founder and Program Coordinator
of the premier San Jose State E-Commerce Management Certificate Program (http://ecmtraining.com/sjsu).
Mitchell is a popular speaker, lecturing on ECM issues throughout the U.S. and
around the world.
I
hope you enjoy this eZine.
See you in cyberspace,
Mitchell
Levy
Executive Producer, ECMgt.com <http://ECMgt.com>
President, ECnow.com <http://ecnow.com>
Founder and Coordinator, SJSU-PD ECM Certificate Program <http://ecmtraining.com/sjsu>
To subscribe to ECMgt.com, please visit http://www.ECMgt.com or send e-mail to VMS3.Subscribe@ecnow.com?subject=ecmgt.Nov2001+subscribe
 NOTE: Our executive producer, Mitchell Levy, is the chair of the business transformation and Internet Integration tracks at comdex.biz at Comdex Fall 2001. Learn more here: http://www.key3media.com/comdex/fall2001/education/comdexbiz/index.html. Please let him know if you are planning on attending. As an ECMgt.com subscriber, we will give you a 50% discount off your registration cost. You MUST use FSPA as your priority code when registering. All registrants of the comdex.biz conference will get a free copy of my book E-Volve-or-Die.com. Please visit www.comdex.com/fall to learn more about COMDEX Fall 2001, the various different conferences and tutorials, who will be exhibiting and of course to register! |
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Delano Technology Corporation is a provider of interaction-based e-business solutions
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Collaborative
Commerce: Automating and Integrating Trading Partner Relationships
By Steve
Rabin, Chief Technology Officer
eB2B Commerce, Inc.
When it comes to trading partner collaboration it doesn't matter what the question is because the answer is always … Your Supply Chain. Achieving lower costs, shorter lead times, higher accuracy and greater information flow requires that supply chains evolve towards more and more integration. In fact, the mythical and ideally balanced supply chain operates as a single organism delivering value to the customer by integrating processes and removing barriers between functions and companies.
It is well known that buyers and suppliers have high hopes for utilizing the Internet to streamline trading partner relationships. The opportunity to improve operational coordination, increase execution efficiencies, reduce costs and maintain a high level of customer service is very compelling. While the benefits of collaboration are often touted the processes and procedures required for success are a little less clear. As a rule, enterprises have difficulties managing and balancing internal supply chain processes and associated communications. When one considers the added complexity of extending these processes and communications to trading partners it is not surprising that things get a bit murky.
Unlike driving from San Francisco to Oakland, California (a 20-minute trip) there is neither a straight-forward roadmap or bridge that defines how trading partners should collaborate. In addition, the integration and technology (software, hardware and infrastructure) required to support these extra-enterprise initiatives do not come in shrink wrapped, one-size-fits-all packages. Trading communities have different requirements and individual trading partners have different technology and business needs. These needs often differ for each specific trading relationship.
In order to be successful, trading partner relationships must be managed across the entire order management transaction lifecycle: requisition-order-fulfillment-settlement, or "req to check". While managing and supporting the exchange of lifecycle documents is not new, it has become more of an issue as the constant push towards automation and operational efficiencies accelerates. Existing and newer technologies, trading paradigms and business models have evolved that help solve these issues efficiently.
Rather than a revolutionary approach to trading partner collaboration it is best to build on existing best practices. What specific processes and associated information need be shared? How often will this occur, what is the technology infrastructure and who is accountable? Developing, agreeing to and then implementing a joint plan with each trading partner is critical to the long-term success of any collaborative scheme.
Trading partner collaboration activities significantly reduce the barriers of communication, time and distance. This electronic tightening of the supply chain has garnered much attention because automated interactions provide the ability to exchange and act upon business documents. EDI (the father of all electronic business interactions) the method most currently used to support collaborative activities and has proven to yield numerous benefits, which have been documented over the past twenty years:
1) Reduced paperwork and improve transaction efficiency
2) Improved control of inventories/suppliers
3) Accuracy of data and documents
4) Improved customer relationships
5) Shared resources/risks
6) Reduced costs as compared to manual trading interactions
While EDI helped automate the largest trading partners in a supply chain community it never fulfilled the promise of true collaboration, especially among small and medium sized enterprise (SME's). This meant that the investment in front and back-end systems, through EDI integration, could never be fully leveraged or the benefits fully realized. Migrating the concepts embodied by EDI to the Internet provides a simple way to increase the number of collaborative participants because the technology and cost barriers to entry are minimized.
Since collaborative networking infrastructures, software solutions, standards and technologies are in their infancy it is important to understand the keys to successful Internet based collaboration. EDI will continue to be a strong player but other complementary alternatives need be considered as well. In fact EDI, over time, will morph with XML based schemas and solutions to represent an optimal way of exchanging both planning information (i.e. forecasts), operational documents (i.e. PO, ASN) and the underlying data.
Integration, automation and collaboration are the keys to improving communication between trading partners regardless of their technological sophistication and IT infrastructure (both software and hardware).
Integration insures that all electronic transactions interface seamlessly with existing internal applications, EDI or other collaborative facilities. The format of the transactions, scheduling delivery and interface to back-end systems (i.e. ERP, POS) must be defined and agreed to across each specific trading relationship. This leverages existing system investments while eliminating costly and inefficient manual processes and/or system re-engineering efforts.
Automation uses the technology of the Internet to provide each trading partner with the means to receive and view plans/orders, send turnaround documents and manage each phase of the order management transaction lifecycle. This includes, for example, forecasts, replenishment information, purchase orders, acknowledgements, invoices, advance ship notifications, bar code labels and remittance advice. Automation services are geared to each specific partner segment from small to large regardless of any individual trading partners level of technical sophistication. This leveling of the playing field insures that all participants can communicate most efficiently and effectively to the benefit of all.
Collaboration provides the functionality for buyers and sellers to access and utilize the information that is being communicated. This is, of course, more than a technology issue because it involves how enterprises will utilize this information for the benefit of both parties. For example, dynamic demand activity and sell through reports are required if suppliers are to have the latest information on which to base production, sourcing and shipment schedules.
Achieving the bottom line benefits and efficiencies associated with seamless partner communication can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Regardless of the method selected it is critical that the choice be based on a robust, extensible standard that supports the needs of the business and its trading partner community. It is equally important that the technology solution be flexible enough to support all key trading partners, large and small.
Internet based EDI automation is one example already described that meets the above criteria. It provides for integration, automation and collaboration across a trading community. It is based on an extensible standard and can support the technical/business needs of its users. eB2B Commerce (http://www.eb2b.com) is an example of a firm that provides an Internet based EDI Trading Network for both industry groups and firms of all sizes.
While the utilization and expansion of EDI will continue other methodologies and standards are also gaining attention. Two of these are CPRF (http://www.cpfr.org) and SCOR (http://www.supply-chain.org).
CPFR - collaborative planning, forecast and replenishment - is a standard developed over the past ten years to help retailers and their suppliers communicate more effectively throughout the demand planning and replenishment process. SCOR - Supply Chain Operational Reference model - is a standard that has also been developed over time to define the processes around the plan-source-make-deliver-return cycle. CPFR and SCOR have similar goals to improve logistics performance at a reduced cost, reduce or balance inventory, improve information accuracy, optimize fill rates and minimize administrative overhead. As with EDI, this is accomplished by the integration/automation/collaboration of trading partner data in a system that supports a rich lexicon and offers alternative technical implementations. Syncra Systems (http://www.syncra.com) is an example of a firm that offers a CPFR certified solution. Many supply chain vendors support the SCOR initiative and process models.
Regardless of the collaborative model used the transactional requirements between buyers and suppliers remain relatively constant. This is one of the reasons it makes sense to look at the map types described by the EDI transaction set. Whether this is pre-order, order time or post order there are specifically defined transactions, being utilized by thousands of trading partners, across the order management lifecycle. In fact one of the reasons many of the earlier XML based collaborative solutions (and their underlying schemas) were not successful was because they were not robust enough as business-to- business documents.
The years of experience and utilization represented by EDI should not be taken lightly. Newer XML schemas (ebXML for example) are now learning this lesson by ensuring the problems solved and data exchanged by EDI are taken into account in these standards. Fundamental business requirements between buyers and suppliers have not changed very much. It is the means of implementing trading partner exchanges that are evolving.
Business documents, in the form of transactions, that are initiated and turned-around to complete a trade come in may forms. For example, the trading relationship, type of product (e.g. hazardous or not), location of partners (i.e. international trade) and business requirements all contribute to the complexity and number of required interactions.
A simple exchange between buyer and supplier can easily include the following:
| Buyer | Supplier |
| inventory inquiry
(EDI 846) PO
(EDI 850) |
inventory advice (EDI 846)
|
Building a sustainable transaction flow is the key to achieving a state of efficient flow between the various collaborative participants. Event-based business supply and demand decisions can only be identified based on the quality and quantity of the information provided. The biggest barrier to this transaction liquidity is the difficulty of getting trading partners connected and ready to exchange documents. Problems tend to fall into two categories - partner acquisition and activation. Partner acquisition problems occur if an enterprise is unable to get key partners to connect and participate. Causes include a weak value proposition, unnecessary complexity (technical or operational) and cost issues. In effect, the enterprise cannot offer a partner a compelling reason to bear the time and expense of integration and participation. Remember that both sides of the trading equation must benefit from the collaboration. Partner activation problems include frustrated partners, complex implementation requirements, technical inconsistencies and cost issues. In effect, the enterprise cannot offer a partner a reasonable way of implementing the collaborative process and associated infrastructure; the key issues tend to be around integration and automation.
The best way to avoid these problems is to define a joint process and implementation plan, with executive sponsorship and management accountability, between trading partners. This plan should not be overly complex and should be based on the established business practices of each organization. The following is an example of such a plan:
Performance metrics and the ability to measure the success of the collaborative effort is key to the on-going project. While the metrics will differ by organization and trading partner the important issue is that the data be available for analysis. The following are examples of the types of metrics to consider:
a. forecast accuracy
b. delivery performance
c. fulfillment lead times
d. order fill accuracy
e. inventory reduction
f. cycle time
g. replenishment accuracy
h. customer service interactions
i. event visibility and notification improvement
Collaborative networks are intended to support the needs of both buyers and suppliers as they conduct business and collaborate with their trading partners. This is best accomplished by leveraging a buyers or suppliers existing infrastructure (both IT and business practices). The web-based solution must be transactionally mature and support the exchange of business documents across the order management lifecycle.
The ability to pro-actively and uniquely support the functional and transactional requirements of trading partners is the key to better customer service, operating efficiencies and cost reductions. Allowing buyers and sellers to customize the processes utilized during the requisition-order-fulfillment-payment cycle insures that orders and their fulfillment are communicated and executed accurately. Automated business event based interfaces to back-office systems (both planning and execution) supports the synchronized enterprise. Using industry standard communication methods and transaction semantics allows for both inter and intra company interactions.
In many ways the future of commerce will look like the past. That is, a key task will be finding the most efficient, cost-effective means of serving and collaborating with trading partners. The problems and opportunities discussed in this article are not new. In fact, over the years (and starting with EDI) issues involving automated partner communications has led to many advances in operational and planning efficiencies.
STEVEN RABIN is Chief Technology Officer at eB2B Commerce, a New York firm offering Internet commerce based transaction lifecycle and trading relationship management services and solutions. He specializes in emerging technologies in the areas of wireless/internet communications, object/component based development, transaction services, XML schemas and Internet enabled Enterprise architectures.
All reader comments are available at our bulletin board. Please go to http://venus.beseen.com/boardroom/s/26553 to read them your self or to post your own comments.
CONTENT - ECMGT.COM E-COMMERCE NEWS
E-STRATEGIES &
TRENDS
This section sponsored by ECnow.com, please visit them at http://www.ecnow.com
Online
Consumer Confidence Rising
After the horrendous attacks on September 11th,
consumers snapped shut their pocketbooks. To many, it seemed almost disrespectful
to the victims to go to the mall or log on to the Internet to purchase frivolities.
Web
Development Reigns
Programmers are increasing the time they spend developing
for the Internet and building Web services
AOL's
Global Strategy Looks Grim
AOL Time Warner's efforts to grow business
internationally are beginning to look as productive as growing rice in the desert.
Global
Governments Go Online
According to a recent "E-government" report from
World Markets Research Centre, conducted by Brown University, 28% of government
websites in North America offer online services.
VCs
Helped Create 7.6 Million Jobs Over 30 Years
VCs have helped launch U.S.
companies that created 7.6 million jobs while generating $1.3 trillion in total
revenue during past three decades.
Permission
is key to email marketing
A new report from Forrester advises email marketers
to provide relevant content in their messages, and to keep those messages short
and reasonably infrequent.
84M
in the US Will Plug Into Wireless Internet by 2005
Business Users Will
Lead Wireless Data Usage; Consumer Adoption Forecast to Take Off in 2003
In-Building
Wireless Infrastructure to Top $1B
The market for licensed in-building
wireless infrastructure in publicly used buildings and areas is growing at 20%
per year, and will exceed $1B for the period from 2002 through 2006.
Online
Usage in U.S Dips in September
The number of online users in the U.S.
fell slightly in September after climbing a bit in August.
Bad
news on tap from Japan's chipmakers
Japan's 5 major chip and electronics
conglomerates are set to unveil half-year results and fresh full-year earnings
forecasts over the next 2 weeks, with the market bracing for more bad news as
the global economy sags.
Tech
Start-Ups Spend More On Marketing
A new study has found that high-tech
B2B start-ups have increased their marketing spend, despite the economic downturn.
Web
Attacks Doubled In Last Year
Attacks on web servers doubled in 2001 compared
to 2000, and nearly 90 percent of companies surveyed have been infected with worms
or viruses, despite having anti-virus software installed
Lower
IT spending ahead
Worldwide spending on information technology is falling
and likely to move sharply lower next year amid a global economic downturn.
U.S.
e-commerce returning to pre-attack levels
In the five weeks following
the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, online shopping almost rebounded to
its pre-attack levels, although travel services continued to drag
Sifting
for gold in Net data
Cash hungry online companies are turning to Web analytics,
which organizes customer data collected through cookies and similar tools, to
pull in extra revenue as market research.
IT
Spend Up For Consumer Goods Firms
Over half of US consumer goods companies
are set to increase their IT budgets next year.
Outsourcing
Trends
A new study suggests that customers want multiple outsourcing partners--rather
than one--in order to choose best-in-class service providers.
New
Study Proves Financial Rewards of Customer Satisfaction
Analysis Shows
How Customer Retention and Referrals Dramatically Impact Earnings Growth and Shareholder
Value Over Time.
Wireless
Pricing Bytes
Will the Carriers Ever Make Money from Wireless Data?
Worldwide
IT Growth Slowed By N. American Dip In Road
Even before September, 2001
wasn't stacking up as one of the happier years in the IT industry
Banks
Benefit From Online Services
New research from Celent Communications has
found that cost savings are the major return on investment for banks that have
invested in online financial services offerings
Booming
Firewall Market
Cahners In-Stat finds that the September 11 attacks provided
a definite boost to the security industry and projects booming firewall revenues
through 2005.
E-PRODUCTS NEWS
IBM
Unveils New Power-Saving Chip
IBM on is set to unveil a low-power mobile
computer chip that it says consumes about a tenth as much power as its predecessors.
Microsoft
gives SQL Server more XML fluency
At it's Professional Developers Conference,
Microsoft quietly revealed an updated version of its SQLXML Web release add-on
for the SQL Server 2000 database.
Panasonic
debuts PianoDesk
Panasonic is coming out with the PianoDesk digital piano,
a full 88-key instrument that offers built-in technology for digital networking
and saves space by doubling as a desk.
Nokia's
New Wonder Phone
Nokia has introduced a new all-in-one cell phone that
does everything: Web, e-mail, FM radio, digital music and games. But guess what?
It's not coming to the United States any time soon.
Unisys
Gets Best Score on SAP Benchmark
Unisys posted the top result on the SAP
benchmark for SAP's own e-business application using the Unisys ES7000 server
with 32 Intel processors and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.
Sun
to launch low-end servers
Sun Microsystems Inc. said it would introduce
entry-level network computers with its newest microchip to take on commodity servers
running Microsoft Corp. Windows operating systems.
Two-Inch
Computer Spy Keeps Tabs On Taps
A Chandler, Arizona-based startup says
its KeyKatcher PC attachment a 2-inch-long plug can record 8 Kb to 64 Kb of keystroke
data without requiring software or using any computer resources.
Palm
launches new OS developer program
Snuggling up to its developers, Palm
Inc. announced a new two-level Palm OS developer program, a new certifying program
and online training courses.
Bell
Microproducts offers off-the-shelf E-Z SAN
Aiming to simplify small to
medium-size storage networking needs, Bell Microproducts announced the availability
of a pre-configured SAN product.
Four
That Rewrite the Handheld Book
There are two kinds of people in the world
those who need a handheld organizer and those who haven't realized they do yet.
Microsoft
finally opens curtain on Windows XP
Politicians, celebrities, IT executives,
and a gospel choir joined Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill
Gates in Times Square Thursday for a glitzy launch for Windows XP.
Sharp
launches ultra thin-and-light notebook
Sharp gave what it said was the
thinnest, lightest notebook in the world its Singapore launch.
Handspring
to unveil wireless handhelds
Delivering on promises to become more focused
on wireless communications, Handspring plans to announce devices that combine
a handheld organizer, a cell phone and Web browsing.
Dell
Sidesteps Made-To-Order Strategy with $599 PC
Dell, which made its name
by selling made-to-order computers directly to customers, took a small step away
from that strategy by selling a ready-made PC with a much lighter price tag.
Microsoft
Bolsters Windows XP With Phone Capability
Microsoft announced an update
to its new Windows XP instant messaging system. The update, released prior to
Windows XP's official October 25th selling date for the boxed version.
Sun
to bundle iPlanet application server with Solaris
Sun plans to bundle
the iPlanet Application Server with its flagship Solaris OS starting next year,
a move that could benefit some users but may also bring Sun into conflict with
at least one of its industry partners.
Digging
Deep Digitally
Researchers at Columbia University are building digital
tools to dig up facts about our past.
Security
flaw in Symantec's antivirus updater
The tool used to update the virus
definitions in Symantec Corp.'s antivirus products has a security hole that can
allow hostile code to be downloaded to PCs.
Red
Hat revamps Linux
Linux software leader Red Hat announced the availability
of version 7.2 of the open-source operating system
IBM
sued over hard drive quality
Michael Granito Jr. has filed a class action
lawsuit alleging that IBM's Deskstar 75GXP hard drive contains "a uniform defect
in the design" that causes the product to crash.
Hardware
flaws hang some Cisco firewalls
Hardware flaws in some Cisco Systems firewalls
for corporate central and branch offices have caused the systems to hang or shut
themselves down and forced Cisco to replace the affected boxes.
E-SERVICES NEWS
Convergys
Launches Integrated Customer Info Services
Convergys, a provider of integrated
billing and customer care services, has announced new customer service and tech
support programs designed specifically for e-service providers.
Expedia
swoops past fee cuts
For the second time, online travel agency Expedia
has managed to sidestep losing fees from airlines that say they have stopped paying
commissions on Internet fares.
Voice-Recognition
Abilities Added to New CRM System
CRM software vendor Aspect Communications
is adding voice-recognition technology to a customer self-service application
that lets users access account information or pay bills by telephone.
E-Mail
Meets Cellular
Sometimes phone lines are jammed, or it is too loud to
hear, or talking in public seems inappropriate.
Wireless
Internet Access Firm Mobilestar Suspending Work
MobileStar Network Corp.,
the wireless Internet access firm that was to hook up Starbucks stores, said it
has suspended operations and is considering a sale of the company or other options.
Agency.com
Angles for Traffic Analysis Business
The embattled interactive shop aims
to branch out into a new area -- one already dominated by well-known players.
Plumtree
plans to empower portal users
As a growing number of vendors prepare to
duke it out for supremacy in the hot market for corporate portals, vendors are
seeking to assure customers and partners of their long-term viability and financial
strength.
Priceline
launch in Asia may be delayed
The anticipated launch of the Priceline.com
online travel service in Asia by the end of the year may be delayed in the aftermath
of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US.
Oracle
extends support date for business applications
Responding to requests
from its business applications user group, Oracle Corp. said that it's extending
by six months the lifetime of its legacy suite of enterprise resource planning
applications.
Wireless
Networks Spreading to Local Areas
A wireless network linking computers
via radio waves is rapidly spreading to local areas in Japan that do not have
easy access to state-of-the-art broadband services.
There's
Money In The Air
ATMs near you may soon accept cash-withdrawal requests
via wireless devices.
First
Consumers Bank Expands Online Credit Card Account Access
All of the big
boys in the credit card business offer it: online access to customers' accounts.
Sun
Offers Factory Integration Services
The computer giant wants to deliver
customized systems spanning hardware, software, storage subsystems, racks, and
cabling. Toward that end, Sun has launched the Floor Tile Ready integration program.
Covad
Clawing Its Way Out Of Bankruptcy
Reduced monthly operating costs and
increased customer acquisition helped Covad Communications weather the third quarter
of 2001 and just might get them out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy trouble.
New
Service May Open Net As Promotional Avenue For Music
Internet media-delivery
company RealNetworks unveiled a new service designed to allow content owners to
distribute promotional samples of music on the Web.
Sega
to charge for online network
The online arm of Japanese game publisher
Sega said it would begin charging $9.95 a month as of Nov. 1 for unlimited access
to its online network for multiplayer video games.
Internet
access readied for commercial vehicles
In - Vehicle wireless services
will make a sharp turn to the business side when General Motors previews telematics
in-vehicle computer and Internet service
Oil
Services Giant Builds IT Arm
In the latest example of an oil services
company looking to IT as a profit center, Schlumberger Ltd.'s managed services
division will take over IT functions for Ecopetrol, Colombia's national oil company,
later this year.
Road
Runner: We Don't Do Windows (XP)
Windows XP, the highly anticipated and
over-hyped new operating system by Microsoft Corp. released, is already off to
a bad start with one member of the cable Internet industry.
How
Mcafee.Com Is Cashing In On Viruses
Viruses such as SirCam, Code Red,
and Nimda make most Web users cringe, but the breakouts mean dollar signs for
McAfee.com.
Energy
Firm Taps MAN Service
Calpine, has replaced the frame relay circuits that
connect three offices to one another and to the Internet with an Ethernet metropolitan
area network.
E-MARKETING
IAB
Releases Media Glossary
The document is a first step toward the group's
anticipated guidelines on ad measurement.
Excite@Home
turning away new customers
Financially troubled broadband provider Excite@Home
stopped accepting new subscribers, citing the bankrupt company's need to conserve
cash.
Labels
to Pay Royalties for Online Music
The world's major entertainment companies
agreed to pay royalties to music publishers and songwriters on songs sold over
the Internet.
Mobile
Messaging Could be Effective Tool for Marketers
However, companies and
consumers are reluctant to view wireless marketing projects favorably, after the
early hype about the medium.
Microsoft
sees big growth in Europe
Microsoft expects annual sales growth of 30
to 40 percent in the fast-growing market of Central and Eastern Europe in 2002.
Compaq
Awarded $2 Billion Postal Service Contract
Compaq Computer Corp. was awarded
a contract worth up to $2 billion to supply the U.S. Postal Service with information
technology products and services.
Sun
Aims at Microsoft With Price Cuts
Sun offers deals to customers switching
from Microsoft's Web software, amid security problems.
IBM
lands $47M laptop deal
IBM Australia announced it has won a contract worth
$47 million (A$92 million) to supply up to 40,000 notebooks to the Australian
government.
Intel
Saying Goodbye To IntelPlay
Santa Clara, Calif. based chip making giant
sticking to the basics and phasing out the division that made its digital cameras,
digital-audio players and toys.
Xbox
hits the road
Microsoft will kick off a 40-city tour on Nov. 1 to give
thousands of gamers across the United States their first taste of the Xbox game
console, which goes on sale two weeks later
Aether
Devices Walk D.C. Beat
Federal and local law enforcement agencies in the
Washington area have accepted 90 handheld devices from Aether Systems Inc. to
test the PocketBlue program for real-time wireless communication.
Yo
Quiero Xbox?
Microsoft unveils its online campaign for its new video gaming
system in partnership with Taco Bell.
eBay
extends to Singapore
Online auction giant eBay announced the launch of
eBay Singpore in an effort to enter new international markets.
Ad
Filters May Spring Leaks
Publishers have been promised a new weapon to
combat software that wipes advertisements off the Web, bringing a potential challenge
to ad-free surfing.
U.S.
File Swappers Swell By 500 Percent
Fueled by word of mouth and more than
a few young men, file-swapping alternatives to Napster have experienced user growth
of nearly 500 percent from March to August of this year
Oops,
Britney Spears Does it Again in AOL Deal
America Online will market the
ubiquitous pop princess across a slew of its online properties -- and will include
AOL software on Spears' newest album.
Google
mulls upscale subscriptions
Subscription versions of its popular search
engine could target academic and corporate clients,
Will
Internet Advertising Business Ever Recover?
A huge surge in traffic to
Internet news sites beginning with the Sept. 11 attacks on America showed once
again that the Web plays a big role along with television and newspapers in supplying
news.
SAIC,
SETA Win Defense Telecom Contracts
Science Applications International
Corp.and SETA Corp. have each been awarded contracts, cumulatively valued at $3
billion, to integrate military and agency telecommunications systems
B2B
Internet Startups Boost Marketing Efforts
But they're spending their budgets
on online direct marketing, rather than media.
Dell
CEO sees consumer demand driving sales up
Dell, Chief Executive Michael
Dell said he expects consumer demand for personal computers to drive the company's
sales higher in its fiscal fourth quarter.
---
SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS
This section sponsored
by - Sameday.com, please visit them at http://www.sameday.com
American
Airlines Deploys Wireless System To Monitor Cargo
American Airlines has
deployed a wireless supply chain monitoring system developed by WhereNet in a
pilot program at the carrier's Dallas-Fort Worth Airport in Texas.
New
Applications Aimed At Managing Complex Orders
Supply chain software vendors
i2 Technologies and Yantra are readying rollouts of order management tools aimed
at users with order fulfillment processes that rely on multiple suppliers.
GM
To Tap Covisint's Supply App
General Motors said it has begun using Fulfillment,
the supply chain management service offered by Covisint, the auto industry's e-marketplace.
Squeezing
Hungry Vendors
Vendors are hungry for deals and are eager to make them,
including through their reseller channel
ChemConnect
unveils new e-commerce negotiation tools and services
ChemConnect, a provider
of end-to-end e-commerce solution for buyers and sellers of chemicals and plastics,
has revealed a range of online negotiation tools and services on its Exchange
Floor
Ariba
CEO attempts to divorce B2B label
CEO Robert Calderoni says he envisions
Ariba software as a spending solution that gives financial officers a view of
a company's entire spending practices.
Summing
Up E-Marketplaces
Booz Allen & Hamilton, the international management
and technology consulting firm, has released a report entitled "B2B Benchmark:
The State of Electronic Exchanges."
3Com
Rallies Partners Against Cisco
After running from Goliath in recent years,
3Com is finally ready to compete against Cisco Systems--again. of alternative
gear from Cisco.
Supply
Chain Apps Target Complex Orders
Supply chain software vendors i2 Technologies
and Yantra are rolling out new order management tools aimed at users with order
fulfillment processes that rely on multiple business units or suppliers.
E2Open
Launches Standards Integration Service
Electronics exchange E2open kicked
off the E2open Process Directory, an online register companies can use to share
trading information.
Integrating
Trading Partners
It is well known that buyers and suppliers have high
hopes for utilizing the Internet to streamline trading partner relationships.
Collaboration
software optimizes supply-chain processes
In a down economy, everyone
is trying to figure out a way to be more efficient. That usually means examining
the supply-chain process to drive costs out of the business.
MultiMedia
B2B Content Syndication
Electronic publisher Swisscontent is working with
Day, swiss based content management developer to develop a news content syndication
service.
Auto
Aftermarket Gets Self-Service Oomph
Corcentric has announced plans to
introduce a Web-based customer service tool for aftermarket distributors that
can be integrated into a manufacturer's or distributor's CRM application...
I2
Returns To Supply-Chain Roots
I2 hopes its new upgrade will appeal to
current customers in manufacturing and attract new customers in the retail and
financial-services industries.
IT
helping companies track, manage Cipro stockpile
Rules-based IT systems
are helping managed care providers and pharmaceutical fulfillment operations track
and manage demand for the anthrax antibiotic Cipro, electronically flagging attempts
to hoard the drug.
Baan
Catches ASP Fever
Baan and OneNeck IT Services announced they have signed
an agreement to offer iBaan, which includes a CRM product, under an application
service provider model.
Internet,
Auto Industry Learning to Get Along
Nearly half of automobile dealerships
(48 percent) in the United States are using the Internet to purchase used vehicle
inventory.
Views
differ on whether B2B exchanges viable
Debate continues about the viability
of B2B exchanges-online hubs that connect manufacturers, suppliers and retailers
of virtually every product we wear, eat and drink.
German
railroad switches to Pegasus for in-house hotel reservations
German railway
Deutsche Bahn will use a system from Dallas-based Pegasus Solutions to make hotel
reservations for its employees who travel for business
Siebel
Moves Forward With ERM Strategy
Siebel Systems Inc. announced a host of
new partnerships designed to speed market acceptance of its employee relationship
management applications.
Web
App Helps Bell Helicopter Cut Proposal Time
Bell Helicopter has rolled
out a Web-based proposal management app in a bid to respond more quickly to requests
for information issued by overseas governments.
Goodyear
Takes Ironside to Europe
Order management for 7,500 dealers at world's
largest tire company
CONTENT, PORTALS & COMMUNITY
E-mail
has come a long way in 30 years
Thirty years ago, a simple message launched
a revolution in the history of human communications.
Anthrax
Scare Could Boost E-mail Use
Reluctantly, online direct marketers report
increased attention from clients.
The
Real Dot-Com History - Not For Sale
Some weeks back, a Webvan stock certificate
sold for US$500. The sale caused a minor stir, since the stock itself was worth
something like 14 cents at the time.
E-signatures
slow to gain ground
Corporations looking to implement electronic signature
networks face formidable challenges.
High-Tech
Pay Practices Under Review
ExecuComp Consulting Group has initiated a
program with an on-line tool with current and comparative stock and competitive
pay intelligence.
AOL,
Yahoo!, MSN Accept Voluntary Content Regulation
The ICRA hopes that participation
by the three leading content Web sites will induce other organizations to follow,
particularly in the area of pornography.
Small
search site finds profit
FindWhat.com, a small Internet search engine
that features paid listings, Monday reported strong sales and earnings growth
and increased its guidance for the future.
Air
Force Using BroadVision For Portal
BroadVision Inc. announced that the
U.S. Air Force was installing the company's software to power an information portal
for the agency.
FirstGov
Handles Millions of Web Hits After Attacks
Like a seismograph needle during
an earthquake, the activity on FirstGov, the General Services Administrationís
portal to government Web sites, posted a sharp spike during last monthís
terrorist attacks.
Home
videos star in online attack coverage
TV networks have long turned to
amateur video, a practice that was in full force after terrorist attacks last
month that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.
Pressure
and Problems Cloud E911 Prospects
The number of emergency calls made from
mobile phones is rising, the public's consciousness of cell phones in emergency
situations has been significantly elevated since September 11th.
Canadian
Bank Moves to Centralize Online Authentication
Fears about online fraud
are prompting Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to invest about $30 million in
a three-year project to install common user authentication software for its various
business units.
Interest
in Telecommuting Grows After the Attacks
For years employees have pleaded
for the chance to work at home, far away from traffic congestion and office politics,
with only moderate success.
Ford
cancels computer giveaway program
Ford Motor, in a sign of its changing
fortunes, said that it was canceling plans to equip all of its employees with
free personal computers and printers.
Havana
Online
In Cuba, black market Internet access makes it easier for prostitutes
to get connected than doctors.
Publicity
Machine Cranks up for AOL 7.0 Debut
With all the fanfare of the fall television
show debuts, AOL, is rolling out its latest version, AOL 7.0, just one day after
rival Microsoft debuted its new broadband services and one day before AOL's parent
company,
.movie
coming to a Web site near you
New.net, an Internet start-up aiming to
speed up the domain-name registration process, has released a new domain name
suffix, ending in .movie.
Anthrax
Scares Up More E-Mail Use
Be careful when opening any suspicious mail.
That was the warning even before the recent terrorist attacks only then the warnings
were about e-mail messages.
Clothing
Sales To Drive Strong E-tail Holiday
While recent spending estimates call
for e-commerce to grow, they also signal the end of the triple-digit expansion
the industry once enjoyed.
Major
League Plays 'Cache' On Web
As the postseason advances, Major League Baseball
is making a major push with online streaming technology, audio broadcasting, real-time
relay of game stats and other Web content.
Job
loss Figures Rival Worst Of '90-91 Recession
The number of Massachusetts
workers losing their jobs in October appears to be challenging the worst month
of the 1990-91 recession.
IT
companies unlikely to meet FY 2001 H-1B visa cap
INS is expected to release
statistics any day showing that U.S. business didn't gobble up all the H-1B visas
available to them in the fiscal year that ended
----
GOVERNANCE & GOING GLOBAL
U.S.
Green-Lights Nationwide Satellite Service Launch
A ruling by the FCC has
opened the door for mobile satellite communications provider COMSAT Mobile Communications
to launch nationwide service throughout the US.
Terror
Bill Clears Senate
There's no need to add additional privacy protections
to a anti - terrorism bill, say U.S. senators. The Senate votes 96-1 for the USA
Act.
House
members offer comprehensive privacy measure
A U.S. House committee offered
up a set of baseline privacy rules that companies would be required to follow
in both online and off-line transactions, a plan that drew mixed reviews from
those involved in the issue.
FCC
says long-distance access rules OK
Long distance telephone companies were
not entitled to refuse reasonable requests for service and subsequent charges
from smaller telephone companies.
Net
Security Beefed Up to Thwart Possible Cyberterrorism
Power providers,
phone companies and other firms that run the nation's infrastructure are quietly
stepping up Internet security to prepare for potential cyberterrorism.
Terror
Bill Limits Gambling, Too
The Financial Anti-Terrorism Act, approved by
a House committee, prohibits banks from accepting money that would be used for
online gambling.
FCC,
Bells Spar Over Rates Before High Court
Federal regulators squared off
against dominant local telephone companies before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing
over the formula for determining rates the bigger players charge rivals for access
to local networks.
China
replaces Web site barriers
China's lifting of blocks on the Web sites
of several foreign news organizations for a weekend Asia-Pacific summit attended
by President Bush proved temporary: They were back in place Monday.
FBI
Warns of 'Skyfall' Attack
The FBI issues a warning on its website that
more terrorist attacks may occur soon. The name of the file? 'Skyfall.'
U.S.
Raids Could Give More Pain to Indian IT Firms
India's once-booming software
sector, already screeching to a crawl due to the U.S. recession and the attacks
on New York and Washington, may be hit again by the U.S.-led air strikes on Afghanistan.
White
House Asks Companies For Help With New Government Computer Network
After
one day on the job, the president's cyberspace security adviser asked computer
companies to help design a new secure telecommunications network for government
use.
White
House seeking priority wireless access for military, emergency crews
The
Bush administration's new Cyberspace Security Advisor wants cellular carriers
to provide military and civilian leaders, as well as emergency crews, with priority
access to cellular networks.
Lobbyist
Expresses Concern Over Betting Ban Proponents
Casino lobbyist is worried
that an Internet gambling provision in a bill could serve as a vehicle to prohibit
Nevada sports books from taking bets on college sports.
The
End of E-Business as We Know It?
Not likely, experts say, but as the Internet
tax moratorium expires, a level playing field is created for the first time and
state and local governments will be freed to impose new taxes on dot coms.
U.S.
Plans New Cellular System
The White House plans to assign emergency crews
and government officials special access codes that will give them priority on
the nation's cellular system.
Auction
Of Defense Department Spectrum Delayed Until 2004
The federal government
has postponed any auction of Defense Department spectrum until 2004 and will study
other federal bands for commercial 3G use.
Agencies
Scrub Web Sites Of Sensitive Chemical Data
Some federal agencies have
been removing documents from Internet sites to keep them away from terrorists,
rekindling concerns that important information is being withheld from communities
at risk from hazardous chemicals.
MPAA,
RIAA Sue File-Sharers
It was only a matter of time for the commencement
of litigation some call "Napster: Part 2."
Patriot
Act puts privacy at risk
Civil rights advocates criticize the 'sweeping'
surveillance powers contained in the USA Patriot Act, which expands law enforcement
powers to track Net usage.
EU
Going The Extra Mile For Broadband
Ten months after the European Union
opened up the last mile of telephone lines to competition, Internet broadband
access is starting to take off in most member states.
Democrats
Propose an e-Congress
After the shut down of House of Representatives
for five days and congressional offices, the idea of convening Congress on the
Internet instead of on Capitol Hill is turning from impossible to intriguing
NextWave
Deal will be Difficult
The Federal Communications Commission chairman
said Tuesday it will be difficult for the government to settle its long court
fight with bankrupt NextWave over cellular service in large U.S. cities.
Hotels
Having Problems, Too
Chain hotels may find it easier than independent
or franchise hotels to do the kinds of security screens the FAA is considering
for the airlines.
PARTNERS & DEALS
Is
EMC a takeover target?
In an industry where executives like to name their
products Thunder, Lightning and Shark, competition has always been treacherous.
Red
Hat in Web software deal
Rackspace, a company that hosts Web sites for
small- and medium-sized businesses, has signed a partnership to use Red Hat's
e-commerce software,
Storage
worlds collide
Dominant Planets in the storage galaxy aligned when a partnership
deal saw EMC and Dell lock orbits and the gravitational pull intensifying between
storage allies Hitachi and Sun.
NBC
to Buy Spanish Network Telemundo
NBC announced that it is acquiring Telemundo
Communications Group Inc., the nation's second-largest Spanish-language television
broadcaster, in a deal valued at $2.7 billion.
HP
to challenge sale of Comdisco unit to SunGard
Hewlett-Packard Co. said
it plans to challenge Comdisco Inc.'s decision to sell its disaster recovery unit
to SunGard Data Systems, saying the deal would be anticompetitive.
Toshiba
may abandon memory chips
Toshiba President Tadashi Okamura said that the
company would consider withdrawing from or selling off its dynamic random access
memory (DRAM) chip business if talks to form a joint venture fail.
A
Bell Split?
Convinced of their failure to gain headway in local calling
markets, upstart telecom companies are pushing a radical plan: Split Verizon and
each of the other remnants of Ma Bell into two companies.
Users,
Analysts More Positive Regarding HP/Compaq Merger
Reaction from several
users and analysts at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is somewhat improved from five
weeks ago, when HP and Compaq announced their merger plans.
Qualcomm,
Airvana in high-speed deal
Qualcomm said it had signed a multimillion-dollar
license deal with Airvana, a maker of radio access network equipment, to develop
a high-speed data transmission equipment for cellular wireless services.
Musicmaker.com
Buys Stake in Liquid Audio
Musicmaker, a defunct Internet music company
formerly based in Reston, and other investors purchased a 6.3 percent stake in
Liquid Audio Inc. of Redwood City, Calif.
Yahoo!,
Sony Flesh Out Movie Marketing Details
As the Web portal reels from slipping
ad revenue, it aims to make good on its promise of "personalized and compelling"
campaigns for clients.
Compaq's
surprise partner
PC giant quietly subcontracts work to IBM as part of
$1B U.S. Postal Service contract.
EBay,
Half.com to Combine Faster
EBay and Half.com, will be combined more closely
and faster than originally expected, forcing Pennsylvania-based Half to lay off
13 percent of its work force.
RIAA,
Songwriters Clear Away Music-Subscription Hurdles
Trade associations representing
record companies and music publishers and songwriters said that they have reached
a licensing agreement that will open the floodgates on Internet music-subscription
services.
Phone
mergers unlikely
WorldCom said that due to regulatory hurdles, any merger
with a Baby Bell would be years away--if ever.
Comcast
Gets Real
Cable TV and broadband ISP seeks out a real-world marketing
presence and signs a deal with electronics chain store retailer Best Buy.
AOL
Signs Up 3 More Internet Providers to Use Cable System
AOL moving to meet
federal requirements, has lined up three more rival Internet service providers
to offer online services over its Time Warner cable system throughout the nation.
Compaq
"Takes Over" Yahoo! Home Page
In the latest example of the more-intrusive
advertising technology being deployed on the Internet, a Compaq iPAQ handheld
computer will whirl around over Yahoo!'s home page
Vordel
teams up with beTrusted to secure Web services
Betrusted, the e-security
business of PricewaterhouseCoopers, joined forces this week with security vendor
Vordel in an alliance designed to enable secure Web services within an enterprise.
NetRatings
buys Jupiter Media Metrix
NetRatings said it agreed to buy rival Internet
research firm Jupiter Media Metrix for $71.2 million, in a deal that more than
doubles its client base
Big
guns take control of Net2Phone
A consortium led by US telco IDT, which
includes AT&T and cable television company Liberty Media, has taken a majority
stake in Web telephony provider Net2Phone.
Nortel,
IBM join on call center and VoIP systems
In a move that one analyst described
as "a break" for Nortel, the networking company and IBM announced that they would
use and cross-market technologies for voice over IP phone systems and call
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Dream
of Clean Desktop Gets Messy
Having found that consumers like a clean screen,
Microsoft decided to give Windows XP an icon-free desktop. But most computer makers,
whom tech companies pay to strut their wares, will clutter it up anyway.
Yahoo!,
MSN Spar Over Traffic Figures
As advertising dollars continue remaining
elusive, two of the biggest players in online media MSN and Yahoo! are trading
veiled jabs over the accuracy of each other's claim to be the dominant portal.
British
ISP cuts off virus-spreading users
British Internet users who fail to
protect their machines against virulent computer viruses such as Nimda could have
their Internet connections suspended by their Internet service provider.
Yahoo!,
MSN Battle Over Traffic Figures
Besides having posted dismal earnings
for the third quarter, Sunnyvale, California-based Web portal Yahoo! may have
slipped behind rival MSN, a unit of Microsoft.
AT&T
Wireless pulls plug on fixed wireless
AT&T posted solid third-quarter
results, helped by an increase in subscribers and use, but said it will exit the
fixed wireless business in the fourth quarter and take a related pretax charge
of $1.3 billion.
Fiorina,
Capellas Hard-selling HP/Compaq Deal
Embattled CEOs Carly Fiorina of HP
and Michael Capellas of Compaq are still hard-selling the proposed stock-swap
merger between their two firms, a deal that has lost about $5 billion in value
since it was unveiled last month.
Verizon
Wireless Wins SMS Spam Case
Verizon Wireless emerged the victor from what
could be one of the country's first cases of wireless spamming.
.biz
back in business
NeuLevel, the company in charge of .biz name allocation,
clears a legal hurdle in its court case over the new Net address.
Judge
Bars Lottery for ".biz" Web Addresses
A Los Angeles judge has blocked
a lottery intended to pick the winners of contested ".biz" Internet addresses.
Arena
Set For AOL/MSN Video-on-Demand Brawl
The largest and second-largest ISPs
in the nation are working out and working up their broadband content and inventory
for the hearts and minds of video-on-demand users.
Applied
Materials starts VC fund
Applied Materials said that it's creating a VC
fund to invest in companies trying to develop alternative manufacturing methods
for semiconductors and optical communications components.
MS,
Prosecutors Set for Talks
Microsoft and the government, under pressure
from a judge to settle, make little progress despite two weeks of nonstop negotiations
and face the intervention of a mediator.
E*Trade
diversity helps in downturn
E*Trade's move to diversify its business looks
like it is paying off, but the company isn't in the clear just yet.
Fake
Internet Cipro Ads Spur Concern Among Government
A campaign is being launched
to keep unscrupulous online marketers from duping consumers seeking to get the
drug any way they can.
New
Yahoo Threat to Microsoft
Yahoo fired a volley at rival Microsoft by unveiling
downloadable software that allows users to replace an array of Microsoft operating
system and browser features with its own.
What
Webvan Could Have Learned from Tesco
Inspiration came to Louis H. Borders
back in 1997 when reportedly opening a package of Japanese spices and specialty
foods he had ordered from a catalog.
Hacker
Cracks Microsoft Anti-Piracy Software
A piece of software being distributed
anonymously online has successfully cracked part of Microsoft's anti-piracy technology,
the centerpiece of much of the giant's recent forays into the audio and video
world.
Flawed
Patch Pulled by Microsoft
After receiving reports of errors resulting
from the installation of a patch, Microsoft has pulled the patch to fix the problem.
Supreme
Court Rebuffs Microsoft Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear
Microsoft's appeal to overturn a lower court's ruling that the software behemoth
violated antitrust laws.
Intel
countersues Via over U.S. patents
Intel has escalated its legal war with
Via Technologies by filing a countersuit, alleging that Via infringes on U.S.
patents for processors.
Flooz,
'Currency' No Longer Good
Flooz customers collectively hold $12.9 million
in the redeemable currency but have no chance of turning their flooz certificates
into greenbacks
Treasury
Dept. Unit Notes Rise In ID Theft, Hacking
Identity theft and computer
intrusion continue to hit the nation's financial institutions at rising levels.
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| Accountant Fresh out of business school, the young man answered a want ad for an accountant. Now he was being interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a small business that he had started himself. "I need someone with an accounting degree," the man said. "But mainly, I'm looking for someone to do my worrying for me." "Excuse me?" the accountant said. "I worry about a lot of things," the man said. "But I don't want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back." "I see," the accountant said. "And how much does the job pay?" "I'll start you at eighty thousand." "Eighty thousand dollars!" the accountant exclaimed. "How can such a small business afford a sum like that?" "That," the owner said, "is your first worry." |
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Executive Producer, Mitchell Levy (mailto:VMS3.Executive.Producer@ecnow.com)
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