Columns
September 2009 Archive

POINT: FCC Moving Down a Dangerous Path Toward Net Neutrality

September 30, 2009 | Opinion: The FCC's wrongheaded, bureaucratic, governmental meddling threatens to stifle networking investment and raise costs for small and midsize companies.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Ask Steve: The 7 Components Of Cloud Computing

September 29, 2009 | Yankee Group analyst Steve Hilton lays out the key aspects of cloud computing, and explains why he feels the technology isn't yet ready to star in prime time for SMBs.
By Steve Hilton

Intuit's New QuickBooks 2010 Eases Installation, Improves Reporting

September 28, 2009 | The latest version of the popular small-business accounting software also speeds editing of multiple list entries and makes it easier to customize forms and reports. Plus: new links to services like document management and e-mail marketing.
By Fredric Paul

An Open Letter To Microsoft: Why You Need To Make Windows 7 A Free Upgrade From Vista

September 22, 2009 | bMighty offers Microsoft a modest proposal: Establish your Web 2.0 street cred and instantly erase years of bad press with one simple move... Make Windows 7 a free upgrade for Vista users.
By Fredric Paul

T-Mobile's Billing Fiasco Holds Valuable Lessons For SMBs

September 21, 2009 | Variable pricing isn't going away, and it can help small and midsize companies cut costs and boost revenues. But the key to customer acceptance is using positive incentives instead of "punitive" fees.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Invoice Factoring: Smart Financing or Risky Business?

September 17, 2009 | Invoice "factoring" can get you paid fast, but it also poses special risks. Here's what you need to know to keep from getting burned when selling your unpaid invoices.
By Merrin Muxlow

Cellular Networks Prepare To Boost Speeds

September 15, 2009 | As carriers roll out new high-speed 3G and even 4G wireless services, small and midsize corporations should begin planning for deployment of more powerful mobile applications.
By Paul Korzeniowski

HP Launches Slick New Laptops -- And Some Desktops, Too

September 15, 2009 | HP's new Envy luxury laptops add style to the category, but the SMB-oriented ProBook 5310m offers decent looks at a much more affordable price. The Mini 311 straddles the line between netbook and notebook, while new All-in-One and traditional desktops round out the company's introductions.
By Fredric Paul

What To Look For In A Point Of Sale System

September 10, 2009 | Point of Sale (POS) systems can help retail and service industry businesses cut costs, manage inventory, and streamline sales -- but you need to know what options and features are right for your company.
By Merrin Muxlow

Does Microsoft Windows Mobile Have A Future?

September 10, 2009 | Even as Windows Mobile 6.5 prepares to debut, doubts are rising about the mobile operating system's long-term market viability. Now might be a good time for SMBs to explore alternatives.
By Paul Korzeniowski

What To Do When Social Media Turns Ugly

September 8, 2009 | Online discussions of your company and its products aren't always pretty. Forrester offers some suggestions on what to do when the online conversation turns nasty.

8 Tips for SMBs Doing Business in China

September 7, 2009 | The fast-growing Chinese market offers a huge opportunity -- even for small and midsize companies. These invaluable suggestions can help your company take advantage of the potential, without getting burned.
By Hal Josephson

The Man Behind the Memes

September 4, 2009 | Internet content connoisseur Ben Huh -- the man behind icanhascheezburger.com, Failblog, and LOLcat -- explains our fascination with cat photos, cheeseburger hats and misspelled words -- and how it can lead to online success.
By Jennifer Wang

Surprise! Telemarketing Still Holds Appeal For SMBs

September 3, 2009 | Is it time to bolster your high-tech online marketing campaigns with some old-school telemarketing mojo? Find out what's involved and how to make it work for your company.
By Merrin Muxlow

VMware Go Eases Virtualization For SMBs

September 3, 2009 | Responding to worries that its ESXi hypervisor is tricky to install and maintain, VMware creates an online configuration tool to help small and midsize companies get started with virtualization.
By Fredric Paul

Telecom Carriers Take to the Cloud

September 1, 2009 | Telecommunications carriers will play an important role in the continued evolution of the cloud services market.
By Paul Korzeniowski