The bMighty ANTenna -- January 2008 Archive

Open Access Guaranteed on 700 MHz Spectrum -- Thursday, January 31, 2008

The FCC auction for the C-Block of the 700 MHz spectrum passed its reserve price on the bid of a unknown company, assuring that that part of the spectrum will have an open access requirement.

Read all of "Open Access Guaranteed on 700 MHz Spectrum"

Source(s): InformationWeek, The Register

Senate Stimulus Bill out of Committee, Better for Business -- Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Senate Finance Committee approved an economic stimulus package with more provisions for small business tax relief than the version passed by the House last week. The full Senate vote is likely to come next Wednesday.

Read all of "Senate Stimulus Bill out of Committee, Better for Business"

Source(s):  CNN Money, New York Times

Click-Fraud Rates On the Rise -- Thursday, January 31, 2008

Despite efforts to stop pay-per-click fraud, the industry average continued to rise last year, up 15 percent over 2006.

Read all of "Click-Fraud Rates On the Rise"

Source(s): Click Forensics

India, Mideast Deal With Major Internet Outages -- Thursday, January 31, 2008

Cuts in two undersea cables in the Mediterranean has caused large-scale disruptions of Internet service in India and the Middle East.

Read all of "India, Mideast Deal With Major Internet Outages"

Source(s): BusinessWeek

Dispute over ISP Content Filtering Continues -- Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The argument about whether Internet service providers should, or are even legally entitled to, monitor traffic on their networks and restrict certain content continued on three fronts.

Read all of "Dispute over ISP Content Filtering Continues"

Source(s): Ars Technica, CNET, CNET

SBA Accused of Slighting Women -- Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Women's business organizations plan to attend a U.S. Senate hearing today, to protest the Small Business Administration's choice of industrial sectors eligible for set-asides for women-owned businesses.

Read all of "SBA Accused of Slighting Women"

Source(s): Fortune via CNNMoney

Microsoft Security Patch Shown to Be Necessary -- Wednesday, January 30, 2008

If you skipped Microsoft's first security patch of 2008, a new demonstration of its vulnerability should spur you to action.

Read all of "Microsoft Security Patch Shown to Be Necessary"

Source(s): CNET

Dell Ditches Kiosks -- Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Looks like Wal-Mart and Best Buy are working out: Dell, the world’s second-largest computer maker, is closing its U.S. shopping mall and airport kiosks while embracing a global retail strategy that has placed its hardware in thousands of stores around the world.

Read all of "Dell Ditches Kiosks"

Source(s): NPR, Cnet News.com

IBM Intros New Virtualization Technology for SMBs -- Wednesday, January 30, 2008

IBM has unveiled PowerVM Express, a new virtualization platform designed to help SMBs reduce energy costs and lower overall IT costs.

Read all of "IBM Intros New Virtualization Technology for SMBs"

Source(s): Internet.com, eChannelLine

Security Threat: Ignorant Users? -- Tuesday, January 29, 2008

According to a survey sponsored by Malta-based security software vendor GFI Software of IT managers at small and midsize businesses in the U.S., their companies' chief security need isn't money or software; it's smarter users.

Read all of "Security Threat: Ignorant Users?"

Source(s): CIO-Midmarket.com

What the Stimulus Package Means for Small Business -- Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Today the House of Representatives passed the $146 billion fiscal stimulus package it worked out in concert with the Bush administration. Assuming the Senate goes along with it--no sure thing--what does it mean for small and medium-size businesses?

Read all of "What the Stimulus Package Means for Small Business"

Source(s): Inc.com

Nokia Acquires Open-Source Software Company -- Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Mobile phone maker Nokia has bought a software company in Norway it says will speed the development of programs for its wireless devices and desktop systems, and bolster its Internet services.

Read all of "Nokia Acquires Open-Source Software Company"

Source(s): BusinessWeek, San Jose Mercury News

Palm Exits Retail, Settles Treo Lawsuit -- Tuesday, January 29, 2008

And then there was one. Smartphone maker Palm says it’s planning to shutter 33 of its 34 retail stores, most of which are in airports, to better compete in the mobile market.

Read all of "Palm Exits Retail, Settles Treo Lawsuit"

Source(s): SmartPhoneToday, InformationWeek

State of the Union Means State of the Economy -- Monday, January 28, 2008

President Bush, in what will probably be his last State of the Union address tonight, is expected to focus on economic issues and measures to forestall a recession.

Read all of "State of the Union Means State of the Economy"

Source(s): CNN Money

Get Ready for Web 2.0 Strategies -- Monday, January 28, 2008

Industry researchers and analysts Forrester Research have released a report predicting that businesses will increasingly turn to Web 2.0 tools such as RSS feeds, wikis, and social networking platforms to manage internal information.

Read all of "Get Ready for Web 2.0 Strategies"

Source(s): CRM Outsiders, Forrester Research

Juniper Readies LAN Switches -- Monday, January 28, 2008

Juniper Networks is preparing for a hurricane, only this one involves a line of switches for local area networks.

Read all of "Juniper Readies LAN Switches"

Source(s): SiliconValley.com

Microsoft Adds Windows Home Server To Security Bulletin -- Monday, January 28, 2008

Microsoft has added Windows Home Server to its list of products vulnerable to a critical bug announced nearly three weeks ago.

Read all of "Microsoft Adds Windows Home Server To Security Bulletin"

Source(s): Computerworld

Americans: Employers Should Help Us Get Health Care -- Friday, January 25, 2008

According to a new survey, 80 percent of Americans think their employers should either be required to provide health insurance to their workers or contribute to a fund to help them buy it themselves.

Read all of "Americans: Employers Should Help Us Get Health Care"

Source(s): Buffalo Business First

Microsoft Promotes Sunnier Economic Outlook -- Friday, January 25, 2008

In news that was good not only for the company itself but for the stock market, Microsoft raised its earnings outlook above Wall Street expectations and reported a 79 percent rise in quarterly profit.

Read all of "Microsoft Promotes Sunnier Economic Outlook"

Source(s): New York Times, Reuters via Yahoo.

SMBs Boost Xerox's Q4 Results -- Friday, January 25, 2008

When Xerox acquired Global Imaging Systems last spring, its intent was to expand its reach into the SMB market. Now it looks like that strategy is paying off.

Read all of "SMBs Boost Xerox's Q4 Results"

Source(s): ChannelWeb, CNNMoney.com

Federal Stimulus Package to Include Tax Break for Business -- Thursday, January 24, 2008

The rebate checks to individuals will get most of the attention, but the economic stimulus package worked out by the House of Representative and the White House will also include tax incentives for business.

Read all of "Federal Stimulus Package to Include Tax Break for Business"

Source(s): Fortune Small Business via CNNMoney.com

Lenovo Servers to Run IBM Software -- Thursday, January 24, 2008

IBM and Lenovo have agreed to cooperate on developing servers based on x86 chips and running IBM's System x server software.

Read all of "Lenovo Servers to Run IBM Software"

Source(s): The Register

In-Flight Wi-Fi? No Thanks: Survey -- Thursday, January 24, 2008

Just days after Southwest Airlines and American Airlines announced plans to test in-flight Wi-Fi comes results from a survey of business travelers who say they’re really not interested.

Read all of "In-Flight Wi-Fi? No Thanks: Survey"

Source(s): InformationWeek, The New York Times

Washington Mulls Corporate Tax Break -- Thursday, January 24, 2008

Companies in the red following years of profits stand to benefit from an emergency tax break under consideration by President Bush and lawmakers.

Read all of "Washington Mulls Corporate Tax Break"

Source(s): The Boston Globe, The New York Times

Windows 7, Vista's Successor, Due Next Year? -- Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Vista may finally be achieving significant market penetration, but the next version of Windows could be along sooner than expected.

Read all of "Windows 7, Vista's Successor, Due Next Year?"

Source(s): The Register, APC Magazine

Dell Brings VoIP to Small Businesses -- Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Dell has teamed up with Fonality, a developer of unified communications and contact center solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, to create a VoIP (Voice Over IP) phone system suitable for businesses with fewer than 150 employees.

Read all of "Dell Brings VoIP to Small Businesses"

Source(s): VoIP-News

RIM Bolsters Blackberry To Better Compete With IBM, Apple -- Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Research In Motion plans to make it easier for BlackBerry users—one-third of whom are small-business users and consumers—to use their wireless e-mail.

Read all of "RIM Bolsters Blackberry To Better Compete With IBM, Apple"

Source(s): The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg

HP Intros Desktop With Solid-State Drive -- Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Hewlett-Packard is taking the wraps off a desktop PC appropriate for customers that rely mainly on a single application.

Read all of "HP Intros Desktop With Solid-State Drive"

Source(s): CNET News.com

IBM to Build Foundations for SMBs -- Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The rumored Lotus Notes for iPhone may be just that, a rumor, but IBM is readying a Lotus-branded technology, called Foundations, for businesses with 5 to 500 employees.

Read all of "IBM to Build Foundations for SMBs"

Source(s): PC World

Lotus Notes for iPhone: Not Yet -- Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Last week's reports of the imminent arrival of Lotus Notes for the iPhone were apparently premature. According to an IBM spokesperson, "It's not...ready to go out and market or launch."

Read all of "Lotus Notes for iPhone: Not Yet"

Source(s): CNET News.com

Overtime Pay and the FLSA: Danger Area for SMBs -- Tuesday, January 22, 2008

More and more small businesses are facing lawsuits from their employees demanding back pay under the overtime rules in the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act. The 2004 revisions to the Act have sown confusion over who is exempt from overtime pay and under what circumstances.

Read all of "Overtime Pay and the FLSA: Danger Area for SMBs"

Source(s): Fortune Small Business via CNN Money

Microsoft Muscles Into Virtualization Market -- Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Microsoft has made a trio of announcements in its quest to take on VMware and others in the fast-growing area of virtualization.

Read all of "Microsoft Muscles Into Virtualization Market"

Source(s): The Wall Street Journal, CNN/Money.com

EMC Unveils Software As a Service For Data Backup -- Tuesday, January 22, 2008

EMC today is introducing a service that lets businesses automatically and securely back up their desktops, laptops and branch-office Windows servers online.

Read all of "EMC Unveils Software As a Service For Data Backup"

Source(s): Boston.com

New Entry-Level Servers Due from IBM -- Friday, January 18, 2008

During a conference call to present its 4Q2007 earnings, IBM announced that its Power6 chips would be extended into the lower-end models of its System p UNIX servers.

Read all of "New Entry-Level Servers Due from IBM"

Source(s): The Register, Rochester Post-Bulletin

Mandatory Sick Leave Spreading to Washington, D.C. -- Friday, January 18, 2008

Washington, D.C., could soon become the second U.S. city to require businesses to provide paid sick leave to all employees. The city council will vote February 5 on whether Washington should join San Francisco in leading the national push for universal sick leave.

Read all of "Mandatory Sick Leave Spreading to Washington, D.C."

Source(s): Fortune Small Business via CNNMoney.com

Sprint Announces Major Job Cuts -- Friday, January 18, 2008

Sprint Nextel plans to cut 4,000 jobs by the end of June to help offset losses resulting from a dwindling subscriber base, the company announced today.

Read all of "Sprint Announces Major Job Cuts"

Source(s): InformationWeek

Data Lost on 650,000 J.C. Penney, Other Retail Customers -- Friday, January 18, 2008

Exactly one year since news spread about T.J. Maxx's massive data breach comes word that a computer tape containing information on 650,000 customers of J.C. Penney and up to 100 retailers is missing.

Read all of "Data Lost on 650,000 J.C. Penney, Other Retail Customers"

Source(s): Burlington Free Press, Associated Press

Oracle to Acquire Captovation -- Thursday, January 17, 2008

An hour after acquiring BEA, Larry Ellison was apparently hungry again. Today Oracle announced its agreement to buy document imaging software manufacturer Captovation.

Read all of "Oracle to Acquire Captovation"

Source(s): CNN Money, SiliconValley.com

Time Warner Testing Metered Internet -- Thursday, January 17, 2008

A third giant broadband provider has launched an assault on heavy bandwidth users, this time by charging based on the amount of data consumed.

Read all of "Time Warner Testing Metered Internet"

Source(s): Associate Press via Wired, The Register, CNET News

Microsoft Windows Vista More Mainstream: Report -- Thursday, January 17, 2008

Windows Vista is making its way into more mainstream U.S. businesses, according to a CDW poll of more than 750 IT decision-makers.

Read all of "Microsoft Windows Vista More Mainstream: Report"

Source(s): CNET News.com

Analysts Report ‘Healthy PC Market’ -- For Now -- Thursday, January 17, 2008

Hewlett-Packard continued to lead its rivals in 2007 worldwide PC shipments, while Dell showed signs of recovery after a less-than-stellar year, according to reports from Gartner and IDC.

Read all of "Analysts Report ‘Healthy PC Market’ -- For Now"

Source(s): InformationWeek

Sun To Buy MySQL In $1B Open-Source Deal -- Wednesday, January 16, 2008

In what’s being hailed as the largest open-source software deal to date, Sun Microsystems has agreed to acquire open-source database vendor MySQL.

Read all of "Sun To Buy MySQL In $1B Open-Source Deal"

Source(s): InfoWorld, CNET

Oracle Acquires BEA -- Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Three months after Oracle’s unsolicited multibillion-dollar bid for BEA Systems, the middleware maker has announced that it is, indeed, being acquired by Larry Ellison’s software powerhouse.

Read all of "Oracle Acquires BEA"

Source(s): bMighty.com, Yahoo News, Web 2.0 Journal

IBM, Apple Team on E-Mail for iPhone -- Wednesday, January 16, 2008

IBM and Apple Computer are collaborating more closely on the software front with news that Big Blue will make its Lotus Notes e-mail application available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

Read all of "IBM, Apple Team on E-Mail for iPhone"

Source(s): Associated Press

Cost for SOX Compliance Less Than Expected: Study -- Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Smaller companies are paying less to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements than previously anticipated.

Read all of "Cost for SOX Compliance Less Than Expected: Study"

Source(s): SearchCIO-Midmarket.com

Apple Introduces MacBook Air -- Tuesday, January 15, 2008

It's a notebook! Apple ended weeks of speculation about what Steve Jobs would announce at Macworld Expo with this morning's introduction of "the world's thinnest notebook."

Read all of "Apple Introduces MacBook Air"

Source(s): 

Lithium Batteries Get New Lease on Life -- Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Researchers from Stanford University have found a way to boost the staying power of laptop batteries from four hours to 40 hours--a tenfold improvement courtesy of a new type of silicon nanowire electrode.

Read all of "Lithium Batteries Get New Lease on Life"

Source(s): ZDNet

Google Addresses the iPhone, iPod -- Monday, January 14, 2008

Google has introduced a new interface for its online applications aimed at iPhone and iPod Touch users.

Read all of "Google Addresses the iPhone, iPod"

Source(s): Wired Blog Network

Macworld Features Small Business Products from Microsoft, Others -- Monday, January 14, 2008

With Macworld Expo 2008 set to open tomorrow, there's widespread speculation about what new products might make their debut. Apple's intentions are still a secret, but other exhibitors, including Microsoft, will have software and hardware useful for small businesses.

Read all of "Macworld Features Small Business Products from Microsoft, Others"

Source(s): CNN Money

New Servers From HP: Two Today, Two To Come -- Monday, January 14, 2008

Hewlett-Packard has released two new ProLiant servers destined for the SMB market.

Read all of "New Servers From HP: Two Today, Two To Come"

Source(s): PC World

UPS Freight to Increase Shipping Charges -- Friday, January 11, 2008

UPS Freight announced that it will increase its noncontractual rates an average of 5.4% on less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments in the U.S. and Canada. This will impact the costs of small and medium-size business, which are less likely to ship by the full truckload than large companies are.

Read all of "UPS Freight to Increase Shipping Charges"

Source(s): Atlanta Business Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, CNNMoney.com, Purchasing.com

SBA Expands Web Services -- Friday, January 11, 2008

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has updated its Web site, adding new content and providing additional search features. The revamped site is supposed to make it easier for small business owners to find the various sorts of governmental and regulatory information they need.

Read all of "SBA Expands Web Services"

Source(s): Tampa Bay Business Journal

Intel Intros Modular Server For SMBs -- Friday, January 11, 2008

Intel has released a modular server system aimed at SMBs with enterprise storage and processing power needs.

Read all of "Intel Intros Modular Server For SMBs"

Source(s): InformationWeek, ChannelWeb

Network Solutions Slammed For New Domain-Name Policy -- Friday, January 11, 2008

Network Solutions is rethinking its new policy of reserving domain names following a week rife with criticism.

Read all of "Network Solutions Slammed For New Domain-Name Policy"

Source(s): Computerworld

Dollar Falls Against Euro, Rises Against Yen -- Thursday, January 10, 2008

After U.S. Federal Feserve Chairman Ben Bernanke promised "substantive additional action" to support growth, currency traders nervous about another interest rate cut pushed the value of the dollar still lower.

Read all of "Dollar Falls Against Euro, Rises Against Yen"

Source(s): Associated Press

What's Apple Got Up Its Sleeve? A new iPhone? An Ultra-Light MacBook? -- Thursday, January 10, 2008

This year's Macworld Expo starts next week, and the secretive Steve Jobs usually has some dramatic announcement ready for his keynote. Rumors are swirling about everything from a next-gen iPhone to a touchscreen MacBook.

Read all of "What's Apple Got Up Its Sleeve? A new iPhone? An Ultra-Light MacBook?"

Source(s): Reuters, Forbes, Gizmodo

Governments Poise For Web 2.0 -- Thursday, January 10, 2008

SMBs that cater to the government should polish their Web 2.0 skills.

Read all of "Governments Poise For Web 2.0"

Source(s): CNET News.com

Blackberrys Require Most IT Hand-Holding: Survey -- Thursday, January 10, 2008

Blackberrys require more support from IT departments than any other mobile device, according to two-thirds of survey respondents who participated in a Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) online poll.

Read all of "Blackberrys Require Most IT Hand-Holding: Survey"

Source(s): ConnectIT

FCC to Investigate Comcast's Internet Blocking -- Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The FCC has announced that it will investigate Comcast's practice of limiting its customer's access to certain Web sites and services. The case could be a test of the agency's commitment to Net neutrality and have implications for small businesses trying to compete with big ones on the Web.

Read all of "FCC to Investigate Comcast's Internet Blocking"

Source(s): The Register, PC World

Search Engines Top Source of Information for SMBs -- Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The 2007 "SMB State of the Union" study, released this week, reveals that 74 percent of SMB leaders list search engines as their main source of business information, narrowly edging out word of mouth.

Read all of "Search Engines Top Source of Information for SMBs"

Source(s): Reuters

Phishers Target the Midmarket -- Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Looks like enterprises aren’t the only ones that have to worry about phishing attacks.

Read all of "Phishers Target the Midmarket"

Source(s): SearchCIO-Midmarket.com

Apple Aims Enhanced Xserve At Small Biz -- Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Apple Computer has beefed up its Xserve with the intent of marketing it to small businesses with limited IT support.

Read all of "Apple Aims Enhanced Xserve At Small Biz"

Source(s): InformationWeek

IBM Sharpens Its Focus on SMB -- Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Following on the last week's news of a proposed Hardware Division restructuring, IBM has further positioned itself in the midrange market. It has created a new business unit, the Mid-Market Business Unit, to focus on companies with fewer than 1,000 employees.

Read all of "IBM Sharpens Its Focus on SMB "

Source(s): ChannelWeb

EMC Continues to Make Storage News: SAN This Time -- Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Storage vendor EMC has introduced the Clariion AX4, intended to bring "easy-to-use networked storage to small to medium businesses and branch offices at an affordable price." Aimed particulary at businesss that are outgrowing their currrent storage solutions, the AX4 is both flexible and scalable.

Read all of "EMC Continues to Make Storage News: SAN This Time"

Source(s): eChannelLine

HP To Up Energy Efficiency of PCs -- Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Hewlett-Packard continues to expend energy to make its PCs more energy-efficient.

Read all of "HP To Up Energy Efficiency of PCs"

Source(s): ComputerWorld

Open Source Kind to IT Budgets: Survey -- Tuesday, January 8, 2008

This will be a good year for open-source applications, results from a mid-December Open Source Alliance (OSA) survey reveal. For budget-conscious SMBs that can’t afford enterprise-size solutions, this is also good news.

Read all of "Open Source Kind to IT Budgets: Survey"

Source(s): CMP Channel, Open Solutions Alliance

New NAS Software From EMC Could Mean Cheaper, Simpler Servers -- Monday, January 7, 2008

"Information infrastructure" provider EMC has announced EMC LifeLine, low-cost OEM software for network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Storage vendors could use the software to develop inexpensive yet powerful file servers suitable for small business use.

Read all of "New NAS Software From EMC Could Mean Cheaper, Simpler Servers"

Source(s): The Register, InternetNews.com

Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM): New Consortium Promises To Handle E-Waste, Tech Recycling -- Monday, January 7, 2008

Businesses and consumers trying to dispose of their old, unwanted hardware face a bewildering variety of options and requirements that vary from state to state and even within states. A new partnership of TV manufacturers hopes to provide a single, consistent recycling solution.

Read all of "Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM): New Consortium Promises To Handle E-Waste, Tech Recycling"

Source(s): CNET News

Microsoft Updates Windows Home Server -- Monday, January 7, 2008

Two months after announcing its general availability, Microsoft has updated its Windows Home Server operating system to ease remote file access and automate data backup.

Read all of "Microsoft Updates Windows Home Server"

Source(s): CNET News.com

Hitachi To Debut 500-GB Laptop Drives -- Sunday, January 6, 2008

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has announced the February rollout of a half-terabyte 2.5-inch mobile hard drive that will dramatically expand the capacity possible in today's notebook PC designs.

Read all of "Hitachi To Debut 500-GB Laptop Drives"

Source(s): PC World, EETimes

Data Theft: How Do You Know What's Missing? -- Saturday, January 5, 2008

Every day seems to bring another news story about lost or stolen personal information or other data. But information is not like other business assets: it can be stolen without your knowing it. It's important to plan not only how to protect your data, but how to know if it's been breached.

Read all of "Data Theft: How Do You Know What's Missing?"

Source(s): CNet News

Co-Working Spaces a Money-Saving Alternative to the Private Office -- Friday, January 4, 2008

So-called "co-working spaces" are springing up from Massachusetts to Portland, offering the amenities of a full office at a reduced cost. In an era of rising office rents, they provide an economic alternative to sole-proprietor and other small businesses.

Read all of "Co-Working Spaces a Money-Saving Alternative to the Private Office"

Source(s): CNNMoney.com

New Law Restricts Airline Travel With Lithium Batteries -- Friday, January 4, 2008

Following a long string of lithium battery explosions and recalls, a new federal safety law went into effect Jan. 1 that limits the number of spare lithium batteries airline passengers can bring on-board and mandates how they must be stored.

Read all of "New Law Restricts Airline Travel With Lithium Batteries"

Source(s): InformationWeek, U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administation

IBM Restructuring Puts Focus on Small Business -- Thursday, January 3, 2008

IBM's better known for its enterprise-class solutions than as a partner of small businesses. But that might change soon in the wake of the company's planned restructuring of its hardware division.

Read all of "IBM Restructuring Puts Focus on Small Business"

Source(s): CNNMoney.com, ChannelRegister.com

Office 2003 SP3 Doesn't Play Nicely With Older Apps -- Thursday, January 3, 2008

Three months after Microsoft released its newest service pack for Office 2003, the software giant made clear the fact that SP3 doesn't support a number of files types businesses might still need to access.

Read all of "Office 2003 SP3 Doesn't Play Nicely With Older Apps"

Source(s): CNET News.com