Apple and Microsoft

Yesterday’s news that Apple’s market value slightly eclipsed Microsoft’s was significant and in my haste to get out a post on it, I may not have been able to apply all of my analytical effort so I want to try again. First, to cover basics, the market value of a company is simply the value [...]

Apple and Microsoft in dead heat

Katie bar the door!  A fresh headline from the venerable New York Times captures an important moment — “New King of Technology: Apple Overtakes Microsoft” Don’t get too excited, we’re dealing in Monopoly money here as the article makes clear: “In intraday trading in the afternoon session, Apple shares rose 1.8 percent, which gave the [...]

Sustainability and CRM

Using emerging technologies to foster more sustainable front office business processes. Sustainability might be the next big thing in CRM.  I’m betting it is and Beagle Research is initiating an award for sustainability in CRM.  Today.  Now. Everywhere we look we see not just an industry but also a civilization straining under the demands of [...]

Last week and the triumph of CRM

Last week was busy in a good way and also in ways that we have not seen in a while and at least some if that busy-ness showed promise for the economy and our industry.  In no particular order, Cloud9 Analytics announced it closed its C round financing, SAP held its user meeting in Orlando, [...]

Let’s get our terms straight

Sage’s introduction of SalesLogix for cloud computing has caused me to do a lot of thinking.  The operative terms we use in the industry for software functionality delivered across the Internet is SaaS or now cloud computing and numerous vendors find themselves twisting themselves and the definition into barely recognizable forms.  Enough of this I [...]

Microsoft sues Salesforce

Mary Jo Foley’s column today focuses on news that Microsoft has filed a suit against Salesforce.com for patent infringement.  I have no idea at all about what the merits of the case may be or the technology involved and I am a spectator like you.  But I can’t help making the observation that I hope for [...]

Sage SalesLogix for the cloud: The return of ASP

Perhaps the most interesting CRM development to come out of Denver this week was Sage’s unveiling of its SaaS or cloud offering.  But now that the initial hoopla has died down (mine included) it’s time to take a more measured look at what is being delivered. As I mentioned in an earlier post on my [...]

Sage’s first Cloud offering

At Sage Insights, Sage North America’s annual partner conference being held this week in Denver, the company announced its first cloud based CRM product.  This is a significant event for the company for a couple of reasons.  First, until this point Sage did not have any cloud offerings and second Sage sells through a partner [...]

Cloud9 Analytics raises 8 megabucks in C round funding

Not bad for a recession, that’s what I say.  The news from Cloud9 Analytics and Mayfield Fund says a lot about a lot.  First, the nearly moribund venture capital industry is showing signs of life after a couple of long, quiet years. Last year, 2009, was the worst venture capital year since 1997 measured by [...]

Sage Insights 10

Sage Software, North America convened its annual partner meeting, Insights, in Denver today.  The meeting is Sage’s chance to speak directly with all of its partners and resellers about the business and its myriad product lines, to educate and to listen to their issues and concerns.  It will also be the partners’ chance to receive [...]