Business blog

Oracle reveals BEA roadmap
Oracle presented on Tuesday a comprehensive roadmap for its recently acquired BEA Systems middleware technologies, making BEA’s application server Oracle’s strategic Java container and pledging continued support for BEA customers.

Adobe, Google, Yahoo enabling Flash searches
In a move that could add substantial volumes of Flash content to Internet search results, Adobe is working with Google and Yahoo to provide optimized Flash Player technology to enhance the searching of this content.

Kaspersky adds anti-keylogger keyboard
The new version of Kaspersky’s security suite, Internet Security 2009, features a novel but simple defense against keylogging malware — a virtual keyboard.

Google changes tack on pay-per-action offerings
Google is rolling out two new offerings that let advertisers more precisely target people who will likely be receptive to their products.

Swedish Match adopts ComOps’ SAM sales system
Swedish Match, the company which owns the Redhead and Cricket brands, will soon be using the Sales Account Management (SAM) package from vendors ComOps (ASX: COM).

Microsoft, Powerset confirm deal
Microsoft and Powerset confirmed Tuesday that Microsoft will purchase the search-engine startup. The news comes several days after a rumor about the deal circulated on the Web.

Salesforce’s e-commerce engine favoring ‘native’ apps
Salesforce is developing an e-commerce engine called Force.com Checkout, but for now only “native” applications that are built on its Force.com development platform — as opposed to ones developed with other tools and then integrated with Salesforce — can join the pilot program.

Google aims for business mainstream with Taylor Woodrow win
Google has made a significant gain in its attempts to replicate consumer successes in the blue-chip enterprise world. Construction and facilities management giant Taylor Woodrow said early this month that it has deployed about 1800 seats for Google Apps, the search giant’s business-focused suite of applications for email, calendaring, voice calls, productivity and collaboration tools.

Yahoo reveals more on Microsoft talks, defends board
Yahoo’s management Monday filed a presentation to shareholders aiming to cast doubt on Microsoft’s sincerity in negotiating to buy the company, while defending its own actions.

Update: Microsoft tries again to improve volume pricing
Microsoft has unveiled a new program that allows its larger customers to combine separate product licensing agreements under one master contract, which could help them to get bigger volume discounts.

Yahoo: Microsoft deal would put Yahoo out of search business
Yahoo's management on Monday filed a presentation to shareholders aiming to cast doubt on Microsoft's sincerity in negotiating to buy the company, while defending its own actions.

IT won’t sacrifice performance to help environment
Green is in, right? Maybe, but a large number of IT shops aren't willing to sacrifice performance even if it would help the environment, according to a new survey.

Hello .ebay, .microsoft? ICANN votes to expand top-level domain names
As expected ICANN, the nonprofit group that manages the Internet domain name system, unanimously voted to begin the process of relaxing the rules for generic top-level domain names (gTLDs).

Yahoo trumpets reorganization
Under fire from angry shareholders and rocked by a stream of high-profile executive departures, embattled Yahoo on Thursday announced another reorganization, its latest attempt to snap out of its years-long technology and financial funk.

Micropayments: what not to do 101
Two years ago, Canadian contactless micropayment vendor Dexit was quietly morphed into the point-of-sale company HDX. No-one cared much.

eBay’s PayPal only changes deferred indefinitely
Controversial changes to payment methods on the online auction site eBay which would require all bidders and sellers to solely use [[ArtId: 677846353|Paypal|new]] as a payment method have been delayed indefinitely until the review process with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is complete.