Technology for Small Business

Cloud computing has been a trend that many businesses find useful in dealing with infrastructure costs, flexibility and security issues. There is a wide reange of cloud computing services, from backup to daily bookkeeping to CRM systems, for example. The internet is the basis for cloud computing and the growing availability of high speed connections has enhanced its advantages. Small business is a major beneficiary, but big business is also plugging into cloud computing in a big way. Technology for Small Business

Video Demand Spearheads 802.11n Wi-Fi At Colleges -- Wireless -- InformationWeek

The 802.11n standard is gaining ground in universities and will in other arenas as well to accomodate the rising demand for video and its need for high bandwidth. Video is already a growing phenomenon for communicating news and events and is growing as a means of communication between people, giving reports, presentations, etc.. Video Demand Spearheads 802.11n Wi-Fi At Colleges -- Wireless -- InformationWeek

Intel, Yahoo unveil joint effort to link Web, TV

Convergence is one of the oldest attributes of the e-Business era. But there is a new wave of convergence coming down that will change almost every piece of technology we use and perhaps result in the elimination of what we presently see as personal computers. A recent announcement by Intel and Yahoo to link the Web with TVs is a part of that trend. If successful, their effort will make television a part of the web and much more interactive than ever before. Couch potatoes may become a thing of the past. Intel, Yahoo unveil joint effort to link Web, TV

More people get news from web than TV or print - Times Online

Just over a quarter of Americans (27 %) read a paper newspaper last year. Those who read newspaper content which includes newspaper websites, dropped to about 34%, down from 40%. Cable news bulletins remain a bit higher and weekly news magazines stayed largely constant. More young people (under 25) don't seem to read any news at all. More people get news from web than TV or print - Times Online

File-sharing Networks Return with Legitimate Ways to Share Music -- and Make Money - Knowledge@Wharton

P2P file sharing sites have been famously operating in the music business for years. Initially, they simply stole music and made it available, but various court rulings have made that illegal and most of the large operators in that area have closed down or converted to legal activities. However, numerous P2P sites still exist and many are trying to find a business model that enables them to continue to function and even make money. It's been difficult but some are making some headway with it. One of the issues for example is that P2P theoretically means participants willingly share all their music. However, experience has shown that while many are eager to obtain free music, fewer are willing to share it - the "freeriders". So perhaps it they are paid, they will. This means the music needs to be sold or some other revenue needs to be found to fund the payments. This article from Wharton outlines the progress that is being made with issues like this. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm;jsessionid=a83081ecae696c475e34?articleid=2025

VCs Hope to See Wi-Fi Everywhere

WiFi has been a growth phenomenon for a few years now in the PC/laptop world. Now it is poised to venture into television, cars, home appliances and other areas. We have long anticipated the connection of home appliances, such as refrigerators, to the internet. WiFi may be the means for this to happen. VCs Hope to See Wi-Fi Everywhere

SEC Advice Ahead for Web-posting Results - E-Commerce - CFO.com

The SEC has been encouraging companies to take a better approach to disclosing financial information on their websites. it paved the way by making it possible for websites to be the sole vehicle of disclosure, recognizing the obsolesence of paper reports. Most public companies have been using the web for disclosure, but most have not made effective use of technology in doing so. Instead, they have used the sites as compendiums of the paper reports, thus effectively carrying forward the paper paradigm into this powerful new technology. While unfortunate, it is normal behaviour when a new technology is new. The old paradigm is carried forward until the users come to understand the possibilities of the new technology. Now that the websites have been recognized as the primary vehicle, companies should begin to realize the benefits of showing their financial stories in a more interactive and transparent way. SEC Advice Ahead for Web-posting Results - E-Commerce - CFO.com

Kiva - Loans that change lives

Microloans are known as a good way to help fledgling businesses in the developing world. The experience is that many of them require funding that by Webtern Standards is extremely low. So perhaps it was inevitable that a venture be started up on the Web to facilitate such loans. Kiva.com is just such a venture. On the site you can loan as little as $25 to a specific person with an idea for a new or expanded business. It's a wonderful idea that has become extremely popular. Check it out. Kiva - Loans that change lives

reportonbusiness.com: The wired world goes airborne

Delta has announced WiFi availability on its flights. It's inevitable that this be the norm, but the Canadian Regulatory System is slow to respond. It'll take a little longer as a result, but will happen. reportonbusiness.com: The wired world goes airborne

Technology Review: A Google Killer Stumbles

Cuil (pronounced "cool") had a rough launch on Monday. Besides the breakdowns and strange results, the new search engine also has a way of attaching pictures to the entries listed after a search, pictures that have nothing to do with the result itself. One prominent academic, who does a lot of presentations, when searching on his name, came up with a number of entries about him accompanied by a man dressed only in a loin cloth. These pictures obviously had nothing to do with him and were pictures that he had never seen before and never used in any of his work. Needless to say, he was somewhat flustered. Cuil is not cool. At best, it has a way to go. Technology Review: A Google Killer Stumbles

Technology Review: Does Google Need Digg?

Amid rumours that Google might buy Digg to ramp up its news service, there seems to be some concensus that Google news could use some improvement, although an acquisition may not be the way to do it. Technology Review: Does Google Need Digg?

Free Preview - WSJ.com

A new search engine better than Google? Cuil Inc thinks so. This group of ex-Google employees has launched a new browser that thye say searches more sites and searches them better. Maybe worth a look? Free Preview - WSJ.com

PC World - Business Center: Collaboration Under SOA: The Human Aspects

SOA as a tool to streamline organizational processes is well entrenched. Web 2.0 and all it implies with collaboration is working its way into all aspects of corporate oprganizations. In this chapter from their book, the authors describe how Collaborative SOA works and how it benefits a company. PC World - Business Center: Collaboration Under SOA: The Human Aspects

Global data roaming costs sink iPhone 3G use for enterprises

International data roaming charges are causing some companies to delay their adoption of the 3G iPhone. The charges are very high, with one executive racking up $5,000 in data roaming charges during a two week stay in Italy. The charges apply to any smartphone and most carriers. I recently spent a week in Italy and another week in the Netherlands and the UK. I racked up over $1,000 in data roaming charges during the two week period mostly from routine email received on my Blackberry. That won't happen again. Next time, I'll make sure my Blackberry email is turned off and use my laptop./GDT Global data roaming costs sink iPhone 3G use for enterprises

reportonbusiness.com: Wireless license sale sets stage for cheaper services

Help is on the way for Canada's harried cell phone users. Several new entrants into the field emerged from the sale of spectrum just completed. The industry is badly in need of competition and this should help. Consumers can expect lower prices and better services as well as a stronger move into the mobile intrnet - perhaps even one that the average person can afford. reportonbusiness.com: Wireless license sale sets stage for cheaper services

One of the greatest challenges of the information age is distraction. The inability of people o concentrate on a particular task until it is completed. This is a phenomenon that hasn't been addressed and that badly needs attention. Think of it. An employee gets an assignment to write a short article on a new product, such as the iPhone. The writer goes to the internet for information and the browser defaults to the home page. Right away, there is a news item about a riot in a nearby city. After glancing through this item, the writer notices the latest story about Brad and Angelina. By this time the poor employee has forgotten why s/he went to the internet in the first place. This kind of thing happens all the time and exemplifies the difficulty of concentrating on the job at hand. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Productivity is suffering greatly and, more importantly, the mental health of people is likely to suffer as well. Check out this article on the subject. Stoooopid .... why the Google generation isn’t as smart as it thinks - Times Online

Coke Exploits Collaboration Technology To Keep Brand Relevant -- Collaboration -- InformationWeek

Coca-Cola Company has been struggling a bit with profits and productivity, so they've been taking some initiatives which are classic to the information age. They have been streamlining their supply chain with technologies and techniques like project management, business intelligence, ERP and SOA. They've also thrown in a product loyality site that has attracted large numbers of people. Whether it works in the long term remains to be seen, but it should at least help, and it certainly makes a good case study on how to use technology to improve productivity and profits and reduce costs. Coke Exploits Collaboration Technology To Keep Brand Relevant -- Collaboration -- InformationWeek

Furor over text message fiasco prompts Ottawa's intervention

If anyone had any doubt that Canada's oligarchic system in the cell phone industry doesn't work for consumers, it was erased last week when Bell and Telus announced that they would charge for incoming text messages. Having to pay for something you didn't order and don't necessarily want amounts to some kind of robbery. They also slipped in a less publicized charge for roaming text messages. Roaming charges, especially data roaming charges, are another favourite way for the industry to gouge its customers. We need strong government intervention in the industry until it can be transformed into a competitive free enterprise economy. Furor over text message fiasco prompts Ottawa's intervention

Catching the Next Wave of Innovation

In this interview with Accenture, Vint Cerf, Internet pioneer talks about the future of innovation on the Internet. He points out, among other things, that the potential of the internet for interactivity has hardly been touched. That this is where much of the future innovation will take place. It's consistent with Web II, but goes beyond that. Catching the Next Wave of Innovation

E-Commerce News: E-Commerce: Online Businesses: Recession-Proof or Just Lucky?

It seems that e-commerce is still growing, despite the downturn in conventional business. Although the field is unlikely to be recession proof, nevertheless it may be consumers are staying home more and buying from there. In any event, Businesses in the eCommerce space may be shielded from a recession for a while. E-Commerce News: E-Commerce: Online Businesses: Recession-Proof or Just Lucky?