CRM News: Special Reports

Future of Search Promises Many New Developments, Ideas
March 11, 2005

The search engine industry is constantly evolving. It seems like every other week there is news of a new announcement -- the latest innovation in search that is sure to be copied within months, or a legal issue that threatens to change the landscape. Search has transitioned from a simplistic entry point to King Content to a more interactive arena.

Search Industry Facing Evolution
March 10, 2005

What will Google do next? How will Yahoo counter the move? And how will this impact MSN Search, Ask Jeeves and the scores of smaller players vying to get their share of the search engine revenue pie? Rumors abound about what will come next for major players in search. Some believe Google is preparing to launch a free Internet telephone service in the United Kingdom.

Experts Predict Where Search Will Go in 2005
March 09, 2005

What's the next search frontier? Will some new technology transform search as we know it? Will everything under the sun be searchable by the end of the year? Will the legal landscape set the industry back? It all depends on whom you ask. As the dust settled on the Search Engine Strategies Conference & Expo in New York last week, there was more speculation than ever about where the search engine industry will go this year.

How Much PC Does IT Really Need?
August 05, 2003

2003 was supposed to be the year of the PC upgrade -- but more than halfway through the year, a jump in PC sales is nowhere in sight. Fortunately, IT departments are likely to buck the overall enterprise trend. What sorts of computers are IT departments seeking?

Is WiFi About To Fly Sky-High?
August 02, 2003

Buzz about WiFi has swelled to a dull roar this year, with increasing numbers of hotels, airports and coffee shops providing "hot spots" for wireless connections. "WiFi is becoming ubiquitous," Meta Group program director Chris Kozup told the E-Commerce Times. Is this high-speed mobile networking technology poised to take off in an even bigger way?

The State of European E-Commerce
July 26, 2003

Recently, a new value-added tax (VAT) law was enacted to level the playing field between Europe-based and U.S.-based companies in the European e-commerce market. How will the new rules affect U.S.-based companies trying to establish or keep a foothold in the European e-commerce game?

Is Bargain-Basement Hardware Really a Bargain?
July 25, 2003

On paper, the allure of no-name PCs, or "white boxes," may seem almost irresistible. But if no-name hardware is such a bargain, why are so many businesses sticking with well-known OEMs, such as Dell and HP? Which types of organizations typically choose white boxes -- and when does it make sense for a company to consider doing so?

Macromedia Flash - The Bottom Line
July 24, 2003

Macromedia Flash technology garnered a shaky reputation at the height of dot-com mania, when it was often associated with Web site splash pages that effectively barred users from accessing a site's useful content. But things have changed. How did Flash transcend its less-than-auspicious beginnings to become an appealing and useful technology?

E-Commerce Record Breakers
July 21, 2003

All hail King Harry. When Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released, Amazon.com shipped out more than a million copies, making it the largest one-day distribution of a single item in e-commerce history. What are some other notable e-commerce milestones?

Will Apple Make the Enterprise Leap with Panther?
July 17, 2003

Apple's new Panther Server offering, slated to launch before year's end, may put it on a level with Unix, Linux and Windows Server -- at least in technical terms. Will Panther Server also help the company gain much-needed mind share?

Probing the IT Skills Shortage
July 15, 2003

Despite scaled-back staffing levels and widespread hiring freezes in the past few years, there is still sometimes a shortage of qualified candidates to fill certain IT jobs, even when money is budgeted for hiring. What skills are in demand -- and are hundreds of thousands of IT jobs really going unfilled?

Behind the Scenes with SAP
July 14, 2003

SAP is not complaining about its No. 1 rank in the overall enterprise software space. However, SAP spokesperson Laurie Doyle Kelly told CRM Buyer that although the company is pleased with its standing, it never takes its eyes off the competition.

Best Free Utilities for Small Business PCs
July 11, 2003

It is virtually impossible, even in today's buyer's market, to get something for nothing when it comes to enterprise software. On the other hand, PC utilities -- small programs that perform specific tasks -- can be a great alternative in some cases, allowing small businesses to stretch their IT dollars. Which PC utilities are worth installing?

How Deep Does the HP-Microsoft Partnership Go?
July 08, 2003

For many years, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard have collaborated to make their products work together. On the surface, it seems that the two companies' symbiosis runs deep and greatly benefits both parties. The real question is, how will the relationship weather such hurdles as the ascent of Linux?

The Fine Art of Password Protection
July 07, 2003

Passwords are both the universal language for network navigation and the weakest link in network security. However, any enterprise, large or small, can take steps to minimize risk without resorting to cutting-edge and costly technologies like biometrics. What are the most important things a CIO or IT administrator can do to tighten password security?

Has SCO Killed UnitedLinux?
July 01, 2003

Since UnitedLinux was first previewed last November, it has not made many headlines. Meanwhile, SCO, one of the original "core four" UnitedLinux consortium members, has sued IBM for billions of dollars and is now on many open-source advocates' most-wanted list. Is UnitedLinux dead, or is SCO's participation the only casualty of the uproar?