ANTenna Blog -- Business & E-Business

Research firm IDC calls out 16 companies that demonstrate innovation in meeting the needs of small and midsize companies in six broad areas. The list includes the usual suspects -- big vendors with broad product lines like HP and IBM -- but also a number of smaller contenders as well.

Here's the list:

Market Segmentation/Customer Targeting:

• Cisco


• Network Solutions

Innovative Alliances:

• EMC companies Decho and Iomega, for flexible bundles of SMB storage capabilities


• Intuit and IBM for offering access to Intuit QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions through IBM Smart Business platform technology.

Software-as-a-Service/Cloud Computing for SMBs:

• NetSuite Business Software Suite


• Doyenz ShadowCloud


• Telstra Business T-Suite


• LogMeIn Rescue and Ignition for iPhone

Streamlining/Enhancing Customer Engagement:

• Oracle Accelerate


• SAP Business All-in-One Fast Start


• Rogers Communications BusinessFirst Partner Programs

• HP MarketSplash


• IBM Express Advantage program

Technology Deployment:

• AT&T InSite portal and AT&T SMART tool


• Dell Vostro PCs and ProSupport Services


• Verizon FiOS Internet for Business

Raymond Boggs, IDC's vice president of Small/Medium Business Research, pulled out four key themes in the awards: 1. Cloud and SaaS, 2. Alliances, 3. Specific SMB groups, and 3. Support.

According to IDC, selections were bases on three factors: 1. SMB targeted products and programs, 2. Importance to the vendor, and 3. Competitive implications for the SMB market.

Not a bad list, all in all. But IDC says nominations came from IDC technology and SMB analysts worldwide. I'd be interested to see what vendors would get awards from actual SMBs...

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