Case Studies

iStart Australia e-newsletters
Click on the links below to view html versions of previously published iStart Australia e-newsletters... READ MORE >

iStart AppWrap
Monthly wrap-up of all the key news and deals from the ICT market to keep you up to date. Click here for the December 2008 edition... READ MORE >

Aussie launch madness
Our Directors are so excited by the launch of iStart into Australia they’ve gone a little doolally and put together a deal that will help bring us all out of Rugby World Cup gloom… READ MORE >

Welcome to iStart Australia
iStart is happy to welcome readers to iStart – Australia’s ICT Research Hub... READ MORE >

Under Construction
Keep on eye on this space as we add more Solution Providers, Case Studies, Buyers Guides, Whitepapers, Industry Reports and Events... READ MORE >

Jumbo hacker trouble for Boeing
A new report from the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has sounded alarm bells at Boeing, revealing that the 787 Dreamliner’s comphrehensive passenger entertainment system (which includes live broadband internet) could potentially be hacked by passengers – compromising flight critical systems... READ MORE >

Telstra urges rural customers to look for the tick
With Telstra's CDMA network closed down the company is again advising its customers moving on to the Telstra Next G network to use Telstra’s Blue Tick handsets if living or travelling in rural Australia... READ MORE >

1000 SME’s can’t be wrong says SAP
SAP have annouced its 1,000th Australian customer in the small and midsize enterprise (SME) category - Eurolinx, the Australian distributor of Ilve cooking appliances. Eurolinx managing director, Leia Colbert, says the company looked at four options before selecting SAP and implementation partner Key Business Solutions for its of ease of use, & inventory management tools... READ MORE >

Gates announces last day at Microsoft
The 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show kicked off Sunday in Las Vegas with the traditional keynote speech from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates... READ MORE >

Business Process Management: the sky’s the limit
According To Gartner, Business Process Management Suites will be among the fastest growing software markets through to 2011. Here’s why... READ MORE >

iStart e-newsletter subscription
iStart's e-newsletter is packed with in-depth case studies, events and examples of businesses successfully using technology to improve productivity, processes and sales... READ MORE >

Microsoft prepared to go it alone after Yahoo failure
Apparently annoyed that its offer for Yahoo was not accepted, Microsoft seems destined to continue its quest to tackle Google in the search business... READ MORE >

ACS calls for email privacy legislation changes
Concerned that corporate policies regarding the monitoring of employee communications does not reflect the reality of modern communications, the Australian Computer Society has called on the Federal Government to consider adopting an auditing system for random employee email checks, as well as alert and logbook systems in its revision of the nation’s email privacy laws... READ MORE >

Telstra wins sole provider comms contract with the DOD
The Department of Defence has chosen Telstra as the sole supplier of its fixed voice, mobile and broadband requirements - the first time the Australian military has awarded all of its voice, mobiles and broadband communications requirements to a single supplier since the competitive market in telecommunications was established in 1997... READ MORE >

Vodafone Australia to sell iPhone (but won’t say when)
Vodafone has announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the world (including Australia). Although this is good news for the Apple fanatics desperate to get their hands on the much lauded iPhone, Apple and Vodafone won’t reveal a street date – probably because neither party is 100% sure... READ MORE >

Mobile data services to grow at over 50% in 2008
New mobile data services will grow at a rate of more than 50% in 2008, according to an IDC review of the performance of Australian Telecom Service Providers in the third quarter of 2007... READ MORE >

Professional Advantage signs deal with Infor
Professional Advantage has signed a global reseller agreement with international enterprise software company Infor for Infor FMS SunSystems extension products... READ MORE >

Country Energy partners with IBM for smart network
Country Energy, manager of Australia’s largest power network, is joining forces with IBM to develop an Intelligent Network in Australia... READ MORE >

‘Virtual Office’ makes good business sense - Gartner
In 2008, 41.4 million corporate employees globally spent at least one day a week teleworking, but there is still resistance to this trend from those preferring face-to-face interaction... READ MORE >

Mobile viruses a growing concern
Security systems can now block the first computer viruses attack on cell phones, but the mobile industry sees new risks stemming from upcoming open software platforms such as Google’s Android... READ MORE >

Device Review: Motorola Q9h
Motorola RAZR series cornered the market on sleek, sharp, edgy-looking phones and when you lift the MOTO Q 9h out of the box, there’s definitely a family resemblance. And this is no mean feat considering that this Motorola packs the weighty responsibilities of a smartphone on its somewhat wide shoulders - and is lumbered with fairly sizeable dimensions (118 x 66.7mm) - though it’s as lean through the midriff (11.8mm) as any of its RAZR cousins... READ MORE >

AppWrap July 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Gold rush for Enterprise FMC
Global telcos are launching enterprise fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services offers in Australia, which is good news for their business customers... READ MORE >

Top 10 things to hate about the iPhone
If you've read Tim Gaden's article about the Top 10 things to love about the Apple iPhone then you might have come away thinking we live in a perfect world. OK it’s a great phone, but it’s not perfect – in fact some of his points are on my list of things to hate about it. READ MORE >

AppWrap August 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Want to improve data management? Quit smoking
The ever-present risks of data loss through criminal activity, human error, software or hardware failure means any time is a good time to review your business’s data management processes... READ MORE >

Social Networking: Still not a friend of business
The majority of users of social networking websites are motivated mainly by personal needs and a desire for entertainment, rather than business and practical objectives, according to a survey by Gartner... READ MORE >

Webinar Product Review - GoToMeeting
The concept of holding virtual meetings online has always made sense. Until recently, however, technology seems to have failed to deliver a product that could make it a practical, realistic option for everyday use... READ MORE >

SOA? ... So What? Bruce Gordon, Infor CTO, explains.
Bruce Gordon, chief technology officer of business solutions vendor Infor, says using a service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework helps his company eff ectively introduce new capabilities into its software. Gordon spoke to iStart about how the SOA approach works... READ MORE >

Greening the supply chain
Product strategy director for Oracle supply chain management, Rich Kroes talks about the benefits of building a greener supply chain... READ MORE >

You are in to win a Treo 500 Smartphone
READ MORE >

AppWrap Monthly Wrap of ICT Deals and Deployment - Sep 08
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

AppWrap October 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Smartphone market heads into a storm
Life just got tougher for the tech-conscious executive trying to decide which smartphone to accessorise – thanks to Research In Motion’s latest BlackBerry: the touch-screen enabled Storm... READ MORE >

Scottish transport firm picks Australian software
Scotland’s Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has chosen Australian enterprise software solutions provider TechnologyOne to supply its financials, supply chain, and business intelligence solutions to the organisation.... READ MORE >

iSOFT wins hospital deal
IBA Health Group says the Macquarie University Private Hospital is set to become its first customer in the southern hemisphere for LORENZO Acute Care under a deal worth up to A$7.6 million for a range of advanced healthcare IT applications at the new state-of-the-art hospital opening in the latter half of 2009... READ MORE >

Fujitsu opens sustainable data centre in Sydney
Fujitsu Australia has opened its new sustainable data centre at Sydney’s Homebush Bay after extensive work to improve the facility’s energy efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint... READ MORE >

Yellowfin breaks into Apac telco sector
Business intelligence software specialist Yellowfin is trumpeting its successful foray into the Asia Pacific telecommunications sector through its expanding partner network... READ MORE >

Competition increases in identity and access management market
Analyst firm IDC says competition in the local identity and access management (IAM) market has intensified over the last 12 months, which it says is good news for businesses looking for IAM solutions... READ MORE >

3CX lands in Australia
International telco software developer 3CX has opened its first office in Australia... READ MORE >

National Australia Bank signs with CCK
CCK Financial Solutions Ltd (CCK) says it has signed a contract with National Australia Bank (NAB) for the purchase of CCK’s Guava Suite... READ MORE >

Telstra Awards App outsourcing to Accenture
Accenture has signed a five-year, multi-million-dollar application outsourcing contract with Telstra, to maintain the telco’s customer care and billing platform, which Accenture helped design and deploy... READ MORE >

Targeting the ‘millennial' generation - tech-savvy and tough to reach
A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit has found most companies are struggling with how to adapt their businesses to serve a new wave of consumers from the "millenial" generation... READ MORE >

SAP ANZ appoints new COO
SAP Australia New Zealand has appointed Ian Black as chief operating officer, reporting to ANZ president and CEO Tim Ebbeck... READ MORE >

Recession will hit ICT industry, says IDC
The Australian economy is sliding into a recession that will impact the ICT industry to various degrees, says IDC... READ MORE >

Tuapeka Gold Print chooses Syspro for ERP
New Zealand’s largest supplier of printed pens and promotional products, Tuapeka Gold Print (TGP), has selected Syspro Software as its new company-wide ERP system to underpin rapid growth plans... READ MORE >

Australian Defence Organisation extends EDRMS contract
The Australian Defence Organisation has signed a contract extension of up to six years with electronic document and records management solution specialist Objective Corporation for support of its enterprise content management solution... READ MORE >

CEOs want high speed broadband
A survey of CEOs has concluded the development and deployment of a high speed national broadband network is now seen as crucial in building the future competitiveness of both Australian companies and the Australian economy... READ MORE >

Hansen Technologies to acquire Peace International
Hansen Technologies Limited is to purchase the Peace utility customer information system business from First Data Corporation... READ MORE >

Open Text signs panel contract with NSW government
Enterprise content management specialist Open Text has been awarded panel contract status by the New South Wales Government to provide an information asset management system (IAMS) to government departments and agencies throughout the state... READ MORE >

AppWrap November 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

True Alliance signs e-commerce contract with Sterling Commerce
Footwear and apparel brands distributor True Alliance has selected Sterling Commerce (Australia) Pty Ltd, an AT&T subsidiary, in conjunction with HCL, to supply Sterling’s Multi-Channel Selling Solution... READ MORE >

Unified communications services market worth $340m
The Australian unified communications (UC) services market earned an estimated $340.2 million in 2007 with hosted services such as conferencing, email and telephony accounting for 55.7 percent of revenue... READ MORE >

Fujitsu to build sustainable data centre
Fujitsu Australia has announced plans to build what it is calling “Australia’s most advanced, environmentally sustainable data centre” in Perth... READ MORE >

Infor launches Web 2.0 user interface
Software vendor Infor has used the inaugural Australian Inforum conference to unveil MyDay, a new role-based Web 2.0 user interface that sits on top of Infor's Open SOA platform... READ MORE >

OneSteel Whyalla picks QMASTOR’s Horizon for advanced planning and scheduling
OneSteel Whyalla has signed a contract with QMASTOR for the provision of QMASTOR’s Horizon advanced planning and scheduling system for OneSteel’s iron ore supply chain at Whyalla, South Australia... READ MORE >

Oracle buys RuleBurst
Oracle is to acquire Australian-owned RuleBurst Holdings Limited, the parent company of Haley Limited, a provider of policy modelling and automation software for legislative and regulated industries such as public sector, financial services and insurance... READ MORE >

Infohrm launches workforce planning tool
Workforce planning, reporting, and analysis solutions provider Infohrm has released its “What If?” financial modelling application for workforce planning... READ MORE >

East Perth Redevelopment Authority picks Objective
The East Perth Redevelopment Authority has selected enterprise content management software provider Objective Corporation to provide an enterprise-wide ECM solution that will underpin the authority’s information management strategy... READ MORE >

Telstra partners with Microsoft to deliver business services
Microsoft and Telstra have joined forces to deliver business software applications, mobile services and devices, and integrated computer and telephone services over Telstra's Next IP and Next G networks... READ MORE >

Offshore IT services prove popular
A survey by IT research firm IDC has found that the adoption rate for offshore outsourcing services has nearly doubled since 2005... READ MORE >

Apex Circuit picks SYSPRO for ERP
Printed circuit board maker Apex Circuit has chosen SYSPRO to provide a new ERP system for 150 concurrent users... READ MORE >

Survey finds local online spending is down
In an economic downturn, more than a quarter of Australians are most likely to remain loyal to companies that provide them with the best service. So says a new study investigating what impact the current economic situation will have on consumer spending and customer service in the run-up to Christmas... READ MORE >

Telefónica O2 buys Orbis marketing solution
UK mobile phone and broadband provider O2 has entered into a contract with Australian marketing software vendor Orbis to implement the Orbis Marketing software suite... READ MORE >

Boral goes with Imarda for vehicle tracking
Construction conglomerate Boral has signed a deal with fleet tracking solutions company Imarda which will result in it rolling out a minimum of 1,000 Imarda's SmartTrack vehicle tracking units over at least a three year period... READ MORE >

Gartner identifies top 10 strategic technologies for 2009
Research firm Gartner has released its latest annual list of the top 10 technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organisations. Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with the potential for significant impact on the enterprise in the next three years... READ MORE >

RailCorp selects Unisys for identity and access management pilot project
Rail Corporation New South Wales (RailCorp) has awarded Unisys an identity and access management (IAM) pilot project to manage employee identity verification and access to three of the organisation’s key enterprise applications... READ MORE >

Windows 7 - what’s in it for business?
While most people are still getting to grips with Vista, Windows 7 - Microsoft's latest version of its operating system - is provoking a lot of interest. The question is what's in it for business users? READ MORE >

Newcomer ComTel wins Deloitte 2008 Technology Fast 50
Listed mobile network operator ComTel has taken top spot in this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program after recording growth of 1302 percent over the last year... READ MORE >

Microsoft’s head is in the clouds
While the world was waiting for “Office Online”, Microsoft has been unveiling their definition of SaaS – what they call “Software-plus-Services” – a blend of hosted computing services and locally-run applications... READ MORE >

‘Back to basics’ approach to IT spend expected next year
IT research firm IBRS believes the impact of the global economic crisis will result in businesses focusing their 2009 IT spend on technologies that increase productivity or save costs... READ MORE >

Netsuite targets Salesforce.com customers
Competition in the on-demand CRM space is intensifying, with mid-market vendor NetSuite announcing an “aggressive” new pricing program aimed at winning local customers from rival software-as-a-service provider Salesfoceforce.com... READ MORE >

Global spam cut after botnet host shut-down
On November 11, the volume of spam around the world fell by as much as 70 percent due to the shutdown of a major spam hosting network, McColo... READ MORE >

ACS establishes E-security Task Force
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has formed a new E-security Task Force, comprising leading experts in e-security and ISP filtering... READ MORE >

Pronto Software plants seeds of success for Heritage Seeds
Pronto Software, an Australian developer of enterprise software solutions, has inked a deal with Heritage Seeds, one of Australia’s largest seed companies to roll out its flagship ERP solution, PRONTO-Xi to streamline the company’s manufacturing operations... READ MORE >

AppWrap December 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Lawson Software partners with Co.Operate
Lawson Software has announced a partnership with management and support services company Co.Operate to assist Lawson customers within the equipment service management and rental market in Australia, as well as across the wider Asia Pacific region... READ MORE >

NetSuite claims strong growth
NetSuite Australia has announced several new customer wins and says it has continued to expand over the past quarter as local demand grows for its software-as-a-service offerings... READ MORE >

New Symantec report reveals booming underground economy
Security vendor Symantec has released a new report detailing an online underground economy that has matured into an efficient, global marketplace in which stolen goods and fraud-related services are regularly bought and sold, and where the estimated value of goods offered by individual traders is measured in millions of dollars... READ MORE >

Sun Microsystems offers cheap deals to start-ups
Sun Microsystems has unveiled its Sun Startup Essentials Program, offering free and heavily discounted Sun products and services to newly established businesses... READ MORE >

Charles Sturt University picks Interactive Intelligence for unified comms
Interactive Intelligence, a global developer of unified IP business communications solutions, has secured a contract to deploy a unified comms platform across Charles Sturt University’s multiple campus locations... READ MORE >

Accela establishes South Pacific base in Melbourne
Government services software vendor Accela has opened an office in Melbourne to provide a springboard for business development and operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia... READ MORE >

Mornington Peninsula Shire implements Objective
Mornington Peninsula Shire, the third largest council in Victoria, has implemented Objective Corporation’s enterprise content management solution to underpin its information management strategy... READ MORE >

iSOFT has a $14m prescription for WA Department of Health
IBA Health Group says its iSOFT Health division has signed a contract with the Western Australian Department of Health (WA Health) for a pharmacy management solution and support services in a deal worth up to $14 million... READ MORE >

Enterix signs with ComOps
Quest Diagnostics subsiadiary ComOps, Enterix Australia has signed with business software products and services provider ComOps to deploy a corporate performance reporting solution... READ MORE >

Survey finds ongoing demand for storage spend
The majority of CIOs will continue spending money on boosting their organisations’ storage capacity despite the economic crisis, according to a new survey... READ MORE >

Roast laptop, anyone? The year’s top data disasters
Vendor Kroll Ontrack has released its fifth annual top ten list of “data disasters” and says the list –a global representation of real data loss situations compiled by its Ontrack Data Recovery engineers –demonstrates that regardless of how prepared you are, data loss can be unavoidable... READ MORE >

Mega-D Botnet returns after McColo shutdown
One of three major botnets shut down as a result of the closure of major spam hosting provider, McColo, has been re-established and is back spamming in large volumes, according to security vendor Marshal8e6... READ MORE >

Ovum warns of major IT services issues in 2009
The impact of the slowing economy on business process outsourcing (BPO) business models, the convergence of IT and telecom services, and the continued importance of quality and security are among the top issues IT service providers will face in 2009, according to IT consulting firm Ovum... READ MORE >

Connell Wagner picks Open Text for document lifecycle management
Connell Wagner has selected Open Text to provide a full electronic document lifecycle management solution for the company’s global workforce... READ MORE >

NSW Health deploys Sterling Commerce e-procurement solution
The New South Wales Department of Health (NSW Health) has revealed its prescription for an e-procurement hub is a standards-based solution from Sterling Commerce... READ MORE >

Online sales enjoy strong growth despite economic woes
Predictions of a gloomy Christmas for retailers are falling on deaf ears in the world of e-commerce, where online businesses are reporting strong and growing activity as the festive season draws closer... READ MORE >

Repetition seen as key to risk and compliance success
Research findings that employees remain the most likely cause of IT security breaches is a strong indication that repeated exposure to IT security policy – and closing off options for policy ignorance – is key to maximising compliance, says Australian policy management company PolicyPoint... READ MORE >

Kimberly-Clark Selects StayinFront CRM
StayinFront Australia has secured the contract to develop, implement and support a CRM solution for Kimberly-Clark, one of the world’s largest producers of health and hygiene products ranging from nappies, tissues and paper towels through to surgical gowns and face masks... READ MORE >

Lawson brings APAC operation together
Lawson Software is combining its Australian and New Zealand business with its Asia operations to create a unified Asia Pacific regional organisation... READ MORE >

Survey finds East/West divide in digital media habits
The so-called digital divide between emerging and developed economies worldwide may not be that wide after all... READ MORE >

Aussie online shopping trends
Despite online shopping sales conversions dropping by up to 36%, a recent report clearly shows more Australian shoppers are using the ‘net to gather information before heading out to buy locally... READ MORE >

2009 ICT Investment Intentions Survey & phone giveaway
Complete the 2009 survey and be in with a chance to get your hands on one of these great executive phones – the Nokia E66 or the Samsung Global i325. It takes just 2 minutes to complete... READ MORE >

Recession to accelerate shift to online advertising
While spending on online advertising is set to slow further, TV and print advertising spend will continue move online... READ MORE >

Vodafone and Telecom neck-and-neck as both roll out 3G networks
Telecoms users on-the-go to benefit as mobile broadband services reach 97 percent of people... READ MORE >

Web analytics tool tracks off-site activity to discover what ads work best
Coremetrics has developed a tool that tags – and then maps –display ads, videos and microsites to see what drives customers to a client’s website... READ MORE >

Peacock helps kiwifruit packer to harvest sweet result with RFID
Australasian Peacock Brothers’ project to equip major New Zealand kiwifruit packer EastPack with an RFID-based system for storing and distributing kiwifruit has paid off to the tune of NZ$400,000... READ MORE >

Star Business Solutions Canberra office opens
Star Business Solutions Chief Executive Officer, Trish Hall CA is pleased to announce that effective Monday 2nd February 2009, Star will be expanding it's presence into the Australian Capital Territory. This will compliment existing offices in Melbourne and Sydney... READ MORE >

Twitter marketing - the next big thing?
Do you twitter? As in the SMS-style online chat phenomenon that recently hit an all-time popularity high? Maybe you should. The business case for tweeting is building – but some subtlety is required... READ MORE >

Canon appoints new senior general manager marketing
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IT Spending ‘back to basics’ in 2009
In its annual Top 10 Predictions for the Asia-Pacific IT services market, analyst firm IDC says organisations will go “back to basics” in 2009 to contain costs... READ MORE >

Star provides The Good Oil for infrastructure providers
Star Business Solutions has pitched in to push the benefits in better productivity that can be achieved through IT, and how the right investment can pay dividends despite the recession... READ MORE >

Survey finds Australia a hot spot for Doc Management
A Datamonitor survey has revealed that Australia is a hot spot for DRM (Documents & Records Management), with 16 percent of companies surveyed saying a DRM project was their “most important/critical engagement” last year... READ MORE >

Renaissance takes on NetComm’s rugged routers
Renaissance has been appointed exclusive distributor for Australia’s NetComm range of rugged industrial 3G cellular products in New Zealand... READ MORE >

Focus on IBM Cognos award
IBM has named its Cognos Partners of the Year for 2009, with Focus Strategies and Solutions winning the premier Business Intelligence of the Year Award for Australia and New Zealand... READ MORE >

Oracle’s $US7.4 billion Sun buy provokes much excitement
Oracle’s US$7.4 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems has caused much excitement in both the tech and business communities because of its implications for the future openness of Java and MySQL... READ MORE >

Architect saves A$440,000 with VC pilot
Sydney-based global architect Woods Bagot is deploying Tandberg’s video-conferencing technology worldwide across its 15 offices... READ MORE >

Tourism Australia goes walkabout with Open Text
Tourism Australia has adopted Open Text’s web content management system... READ MORE >

NAB speaks up
National Australia Bank has improved its customer service with the help of Telstra and VeCommerce’s speech recognition system, which will help ensure enquiries are directed to the appropriate bank officials... READ MORE >

2009 Australian IT Investment survey
Survey finds focus firmly on core infrastructure and today’s ROI... READ MORE >

Global interest in local accounts software for the blind
Australasian small business accountancy software specialist Accomplish has joined forces with a blind Kiwi entrepreneur to develop a package for blind users that’s already exciting global interest... READ MORE >

NetComm’s rugged routers go to NZ
Australian broadband products developer NetComm has appointed Auckland’s Renaissance as exclusive distributor for its range of rugged industrial 3G cellular products in New Zealand... READ MORE >

Device Review: Nokia N96
The Nokia N96’s predecessor, the N95, quickly became the company’s flagship smartphone and created its own army of fans. Now, it’s about time that a successor is released. Enter the shiny new N96... READ MORE >

Enabling goes down on the farm with CRT
Enabling has won the tender to upgrade South Island co-operative Combined Rural Traders’ ERP system with a ‘people-centric’ Microsoft Dymamics AX solution... READ MORE >

Six cost drivers behind US$42 billion SaaS uptake
Analyst IDC finds cost is the major factor driving up spending on cloud computing, also known as SaaS, which is set to jump three-fold, to US$42 billion, by 2012... READ MORE >

VicRoads signs up WindowLogic to manage Open Text in A$1.8m deal
Victoria’s VicRoads, the state’s roads corporation, has signed up WindowLogic to implement and support its Open Text document management system... READ MORE >

Pimp your smart phone
You've got your smart phone and you know there are lots of applications you can download that can really make the most of its capabilities. The question is: which ones are the most useful? READ MORE >

Tandberg goes mobile with Movi PC-based video
Tandberg has released a PC-based mobile video-communications tool, called Movi, aimed at business users... READ MORE >

Third mobile network launch set for August
Switch and retain your old number – and phone... READ MORE >

Slashing of ‘rip-off’ European mobile rates could be good for NZ
A drastic recommendation by the European Commission that “rip-off” mobile termination rates (MTRs) be cut to 1.5 to 3 euro cents could be good news for NZ consumers – and third mobile player NZ Communications, now renamed Two Degrees Mobile... READ MORE >

GlobalConnect signs up Verint
Contact centre integrator GlobalConnect Australia has signed a reseller agreement with Verint, which provides workforce optimisation software and services for contact centres. It also supports remote office, branch and back-office operations... READ MORE >

Sixty-seven percent of consumers fear security details at risk
A survey by Sydney-based research company callcentres.net has found 67 percent of Australians interviewed feared their security details were at risk... READ MORE >

Pronto eases into Phase 6
Pronto Software has released a new version of its flagship ERP solution, PRONTO-Xi... READ MORE >

Oracle’s Ellison tells why he’s chasing low-margin business
The database company, which recently bought Sun – and its jewel, Java – is keen to move into the difficult hardware business… READ MORE >

Social media a hit with business - but how do you use it?
Survey finds companies are keen to experiment with the new technology, but aren’t sure how, nor are their initiatives proving very successful so far… READ MORE >

Savio Maximizes SME potential
CRM provider Maximizer and New Zealand’s Savio Solutions have joined forces as business partners on both sides of the Tasman... READ MORE >

Two-thirds of Kiwi businesses doing alright
Revenue stays the same for most companies – up for some, according to MYOB survey… READ MORE >

Cheap call back for smartphones promises to slash calls
Australian start-up BigTinCan has launched a smartphone call back service that offers 30c international calls… READ MORE >

‘Information is power’ – business looks to BI for help
Companies may still be in survival mode, but the outlook is improving and with it an interest in knowledge management… READ MORE >

iPhone provides sweet smartphone satisfaction
It’s the apple of users’ eye – far outstripping rival Blackberry when it comes to user love… READ MORE >

Australia puts business online as broadband speed jumps
Australian business users are downloading data big-time – twice as much as last year, in fact... READ MORE >

GFC an ‘opportunity’ for contact centres
Companies are looking to low-cost marketing channels because of the GFC and are finding contact centres are well up to the job… READ MORE >

ERP competition hots up as users demand more but want to pay less
Big ERP providers like SAP and Oracle are coming under pressure from customers seeking better value as the recession bites into their budgets… READ MORE >

SaaS clouds threaten the status quo
Software as a Service (SaaS) is growing in popularity, proving a cheaper alternative to traditional on-premises solutions. Randal Jackson looks at where SaaS is going and why the future is ‘cloudy’… READ MORE >

Small business leads the way with SaaS
Four companies that sell both SaaS and on-premises solutions point to a hybrid approach developing that bodes well for users. Johanna Bennett reports… READ MORE >

Business process optimisation flows outside the xerox
Versatility of the multi-function device (MFD) is an often-touted benefit by all the major office equipment manufacturers. But how many organisations are using these devices to their full potential and what is actually meant by versatility? READ MORE >

Green efficiency helps datacentres do more with less, as budgets stagnate
Analyst firm Aperture Research reports that the economic slowdown has had little effect on the demand for IT services. Datacentre managers are looking to energy efficiencies and better use of resources to cope with the demand... READ MORE >

Two-thirds of consumers fear ID fraud
A survey by Sydney-based research company callcentres.net has found that over two-thirds – 67 percent – of Australians interviewed feared their security details are at risk... READ MORE >

Beyond the photocopier to workflow control
Office copiers have been transformed into business process management tools. We look at some of the offerings available and find out what they can do to make document management easier… and deliver your coffee just so, too… READ MORE >

Pernod Ricard picks SolveIT Software for planning and scheduling
Wine and spirits company aims to boost productivity across its Australian and New Zealand bottling sites... READ MORE >

Kiwi telco integrator Agile sets up shop in Australia
Australian industry veteran tapped to head new entrant in enterprise communications market... READ MORE >

Microsoft releases Dynamics POS 2009
The new solution for retailers is available in five countries, including Australia.. READ MORE >

Australian IT security market growing strongly
Despite the economic downturn, Gartner says security spending rose 27.5% last year... READ MORE >

Hermes picks BlackBay for new mobile communications solution
Real-time mobile worker software will drive efficiencies across the courier company’s business and boost customer service... READ MORE >

Foster's Group picks Cisco unified communications solution
The drinks giant expects cost savings and increased productivity from its global IP deployment... READ MORE >

Survey finds most companies fail to measure IT’s value
Respondents – including Australian IT professionals – said they can’t be sure what they’re getting from their technology investment... READ MORE >

Kmart selects HP retail publishing solutions
In-store and online service will allow customers to order prints and ‘creative’ photo products... READ MORE >

Simplot selects IBM business analytics software
Food giant decides the recipe for BI success lies with Cognos 8 BI... READ MORE >

TIBCO Software acquires DataSynapse
$US28 million deal will enhance enterprise solution vendor’s distributed software infrastructure and cloud computing portfolio... READ MORE >

NetSuite luring businesses into the cloud with “Cash for Clunkers” promotion
Cloud computing vendor offers new customers who ditch legacy software $500 off for every $5,000 they spend... READ MORE >

RYCO Hydraulics picks Lawson ERP
Hydraulics manufacturer and distributor pumps up its technology to a fully integrated, enterprise-wide information system... READ MORE >

Australian PC market shows signs of improvement
Gartner identifies consumers and small business as sectors to lead recovery... READ MORE >

Super Cheap Auto selects SAP for CRM and BI
Retail group adds to its existing SAP base as it revs up its niche marketing efforts... READ MORE >

ASICS keeps finger on the pulse with SAP BusinessObjects
Sportswear firm implemenst SAP BI 7.0 for reporting and market analysis to support the company's continued growth... READ MORE >

AppWrap September 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Call centres asked to do more with less
Contact centre budgets have decreased over the past year and technology spend is tipped to fall, according to the latest callcentres.net research... READ MORE >

Queensland Prosecutions Office chooses LexisNexis for case management
Lexis Visualfiles promises an integrated case management and research solution to automate workflow and ensure timeliness... READ MORE >

Tasmania Fire Service selects ComOps for risk management reporting
Solution allows TFS to automate safety and hazard reporting, and generate detailed reports to support training and OHS... READ MORE >

Microsoft and Telstra unveil cloud software offerings
Microsoft Online Services now available through the Telstra T-Suite platform... READ MORE >

Symantec donates software to non-profits
Enterprise software available to eligible charities, voluntary and community groups... READ MORE >

Curtin University adopts Microsoft’s cloud email platform
Live@edu roll-out aims to enhance collaborative learning platform for students and increase their technical capabilities... READ MORE >

IBM and Qantas Sign Project Delivery Agreement
Seven-year services contract aims to bolster airline’s goal of improving business efficiencies... READ MORE >

Seqwater selects TechnologyOne solutions
Queensland Government water authority opts for an across-the-board solution from one vendor to help integrate and standardise business processes and planning... READ MORE >

Curtin University adopts Microsoft’s cloud email platform
Live@edu roll-out aims to enhance collaborative learning platform for students and increase their technical capabilities... READ MORE >

Industry welcomes Queensland Government ICT initiatives
State’s ‘Towards Q2’ strategy aims to improve the management and development of its $29 billion technology industry... READ MORE >

M2 calls on Axios solution for IT service management
Telecommunications provider selects Axios Systems’ assyst solution to help manage its rapid growth... READ MORE >

Survey finds local organisations exposed to file recovery risk
Poll of senior ICT decision makers shows Australian and New Zealand organisations require ‘information intervention’ to improve governance processes... READ MORE >

Costa Logistics delivered a $4 million software upgrade
Enhancements to its Manhattan WMS solution give the third party logistics services provider full e-business capability and real-time stock visibility for customers... READ MORE >

SAP opens new green office in Brisbane
Environmentally sustainable premises become the Asia Pacific headquarters for SAP Research... READ MORE >

Windows Mobile app store to sell business applications
The forthcoming iTunes-style store will offer downloadable applications aimed at small business as well as the more usual fun consumer apps… READ MORE >

AppWrap October 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE picks SAS sustainability tool
Educational institute believes hands-on teaching with SAS for Sustainability Management suite will equip students with workplace skills now increasingly in demand... READ MORE >

Virgin Blue Group picks Verizon Business for IS support
Airline operator selects Verizon to support its information systems through remote management of core business applications... READ MORE >

Survey finds over half of IT departments fail to deliver value
Importance of ‘service value management’ tipped to grow as lack of real-time metrics aligning IT with business needs continues to frustrate corporates... READ MORE >

Australian Air Express selects Blackbay and Motorola
Express freight services provider implements a robust mobile worker solution aimed at enhancing customer experience... READ MORE >

Security concerns keeping businesses out of the cloud
Poll finds corporate concerns about security and data privacy continue to be the major barriers to enterprise adoption of cloud computing... READ MORE >

API Consumer Brands implements Infor Advanced Scheduler
The Pharmaceutical company expects to increase production capacity by 20% with its new solution... READ MORE >

LogMeIn promises easy, secure remote access
Despite the advent of Google Docs and remote access to email via the web, working remotely remains an issue for many staff... READ MORE >

SA Government extends network contract with Dimension Data
Network management innovation needed to meet the increasing demand placed on South Australia’s ICT infrastructure... READ MORE >

Scott Corporation picks ComOps’ compliance software
Specialist transporter moves to unify and enhance its management of safety, health and environment-related data... READ MORE >

Survey finds Government ICT managers are greener than most
Fujitsu research examines how Federal Government agencies are responding to the transition to a low carbon economy... READ MORE >

University of Technology, Sydney Selects IBM Cognos for student management reporting
Having a common reporting platform across the institution will means savings in licence costs, software administration and maintenance for UTS... READ MORE >

Delfin Lend Lease implements IPscape
Solution enables communities developer to add an SMS channel to its digital communications toolset... READ MORE >

Health Corporate Network selects Objective
The WA Department of Health’s corporate shared service centre expects its new EDRMS solution will improve customer service and job accuracy... READ MORE >

Macquarie Generation rolls out SAP mobile applications
Australia’s largest electricity generator looks to streamline business processes by mobilising SAP Maintenance Inventory on handheld devices... READ MORE >

Organisations boosting investment in IT security strategies
Enterprises say they are planning to invest in IT security audits, data loss prevention, and consulting... READ MORE >

Charlie Chidiac swaps Symantec for Websense
Technical support veteran now overseeing Websense’s Asia Pacific technical account managers... READ MORE >

Businesses see enterprise web 2.0 as a must-have
Wikis, blogs, collaborative document management and Twitter are the key apps driving enterprise web 2.0 adoption... READ MORE >

Motorola slims down and balances up with new rugged handheld
NOW available in Australia, the slim MC9500-K has a number of new features and improvements including better balance, display, data capture and wireless connection enhancements... READ MORE >

Department of Immigration and Citizenship extends Unisys contract
Next phase of $50m outsourced desktop services deal will see server numbers cut from 107 to 8 through a virtualisation project... READ MORE >

“Context-aware computing” tipped as the next business advantage
Gartner says within six years, context will be as influential in mobile consumer services and relationships as search engines are to the web... READ MORE >

Sinclair Knight Merz implements Organice to manage project documentation
Sydney-headquartered international engineering firm needed an integrated tool to share everything from CAD drawings to emails... READ MORE >

Author-it and Lionbridge launch multilingual content delivery solution
Partnership focused on unified global content lifecycle solution for managing content in multiple languages and formats... READ MORE >

Two-thirds of businesses planning Windows 7 deployment within a year
Australian survey finds waiting for Service Pack 1 is a thing of the past but uncertainty remains regarding deployment strategy... READ MORE >

Melbourne Airport develops 20-year ICT infrastructure plan
Far-reaching strategy focused on identifying how to consolidate ICT services across tenants and airlines in order to reduce the cost of operating at the airport... READ MORE >

Rio Tinto picks Open Text Web Solutions
Mining giant needed a centrally-managed hub solution to deliver brand consistency across its portfolio of more than 80 websites... READ MORE >

One in three Australian organisations already embracing web 2.0
Survey finds only 7% have decided against deploying the technology in the foreseeable future... READ MORE >

Queensland Government departments select Sword Ciboodle
Product’s ability to deliver high quality customer service over multiple channels cited as a key factor in decision... READ MORE >

Stuart Alexander deploys Lawson M3 7.1
Distributor goes live with the latest version of the Lawson ERP application, including Lawson Smart Office... READ MORE >

AppWrap - ICT Deals & Dealings November 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >

Leighton Contractors extends managed print services contract with HP
Construction company says partnership with HP has already reduced costs and improved staff productivity... READ MORE >

Virtual Computer expands into Australia
Virtualisation vendor partners with resellers to grow its presence in the Asia-Pacific region... READ MORE >

Warning to BlackBerry users: Beware the PhoneSnoop
Could your competitors be listening in on your business calls? A simple BlackBerry app makes corporate espionage easy – at least in theory... READ MORE >

IT Spending survives the Global Recession
Survey finds CFOs are demanding efficiency gains and cost savings from IT initiatives, and modifying existing systems is often the preferred option... READ MORE >

Sixteen million calls a day and counting...
Australia’s booming contact centre industry is a major UC user. It’s also spearheading changes to how UC is used, says ATA’s Michael Merediths… READ MORE >

IDBS expands Australian presence
Vendor will use its local centre to provide sales, support and training for its research data management and analytics solutions... READ MORE >

Most companies survive GFC without cutting IT staff
IDC survey finds that to survive the global financial crisis, firms have trimmed admin, operations and ICT budgets rather than making IT staff redundant... READ MORE >

NetSuite adds ‘social intelligence’ to business software
Vendor says its InsideView for NetSuite application is the first to bring social media insights directly to its CRM and ERP solutions... READ MORE >

Hornsby Shire Council deploys Interactive Intelligence comms solution
Software-based IP solution has allowed the council to integrate communications across 20 sites and reduce its ongoing telecommunications costs... READ MORE >

Organisations urged to start planning for Windows 7 migration immediately
FrontRange Solutions outlines four-stage plan to ease the pressure of switching to the new operating system... READ MORE >

Lion Nathan optimises logistics operation with Infor
Brewer focused on cutting complexity, increasing planning visibility and speeding up innovation... READ MORE >

AppWrap ICT Deals and Dealings - December 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market, compiled by Simon Hendery - iStart News Editor... READ MORE >

‘Human error’ causing more business data disasters
Increasingly complex storage systems and reductions in corporate IT staffing levels are behind the growing number of bungles, says Kroll Ontrack... READ MORE >

Australian Unified Communications Services Market tops $600m
Research firm Frost & Sullivan says cost saving technologies are driving demand for UC... READ MORE >

Power of collaboration driving SME interest in unified comms
Hosted IP telephony is on the rise, says Ovum, and this will help fuel SME demand for software-based collaboration tools... READ MORE >

Medicare re-signs with IBM
One-year extension of IT infrastructure services contract valued at $70 million... READ MORE >

Survey shows ‘workforce planning’ is on most companies’ to-do list
Despite tough economic times, almost half of businesses expect to spend more on WFP next year... READ MORE >

Free book giveaway – “Thinking about ERP”
An executive’s guide to buying, implementing and operating ERP. The book presents a practical strategy for selecting an ERP system, as well as optimising their existing ERP system... READ MORE >

40 percent of Australians check work emails whilst on holiday
More than a quarter of holidaying workers pack a laptop specifically to check work messages… READ MORE >

DFAT awards ICT service desk contract to Fujitsu
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeks to transform the way services are provided to over 6,000 DFAT and supported Government agency staff around the world… READ MORE >

IT job market tipped to improve
2010 will be a better year for technology job seekers, says recruitment specialist… READ MORE >

Ricoh picks Telstra and Polycom for HD video-conferencing
Company says Telstra’s managed video conferencing service will reduce travel costs by up to 15 per cent, save the company $40,000 a year and increase employee and enterprise productivity... READ MORE >

BHP Billiton goes live with Broadridgetreasury solution
Company now processing international treasury payments on Broadridge’s SWIFT Service Bureau… READ MORE >

Victorian State Government picks BMC’s service management capabilities
BMC Software named sole service management provider for its shared services department, CenITex… READ MORE >

Gartner predicts strong growth for open-source BI
Open-source business intelligence tools production deployments picked to grow five-fold through 2012… READ MORE >

Townsville council deploys PolicyPoint
Queensland’s largest regional council addresses need for a common policy library to help staff manage infrastructure, services, venues and events consistently… READ MORE >

AppWrap ICT Deals and Dealings - January 2010
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting Australia's enterprise ICT market, compiled by Simon Hendery - iStart News Editor... READ MORE >

Gen-i launches cloud strategy and services
ICT services provider gears up to tap into the growing Australasian market for cloud computing solutions... READ MORE >

Unisys predicts a ‘biometrics boom’ in 2010
While organisations go on the offensive to protect data, advances in surveillance systems and continued Trojan attacks are also on the horizon... READ MORE >

Hacking: the new form of organised crime
The ‘industrialisation’ of hacking by criminal cartels is the new decade’s greatest security threat, according to Imperva... READ MORE >

Settlements from illegal software use top $300,000
Piracy watchdog the Business Software Alliance reveals what it calls “the real cost of using illegal or pirated software”... READ MORE >

Growth in PC shipments hits seven-year high
Gartner says all regions around the world experienced positive shipment results during the final quarter of last year... READ MORE >

Mining and resources companies lagging on carbon reporting
New research commissioned by IFS shows less than half have implemented an energy efficiency improvement system... READ MORE >

Project Management Institute opens Australasian office
Professional membership organisation says major projects such as the National Broadband Network will increase demand for skilled managers... READ MORE >

RailCorp extends managed services contract with Fujitsu
Three-year deal to run company’s ICT operations, and achieve maximum efficiencies, is extended for a further two years... READ MORE >

Microsoft secures benchmark agreement with Queensland Government
New 'whole of government' enterprise agreement lays the foundation for future ICT projects and supports Queensland's ICT businesses... READ MORE >

Ovum forecasts modest recovery for local IT services market
Research firm expects 2010 to “an optimistic year, sprinkled with a healthy dose of cautiousness”. Project-led consulting and systems integration work also tipped to rebound... READ MORE >

SAI Global Selects Epicor ERP solution
Sydney-headquartered risk management information services and solutions business likes the global financial capabilities of Epicor 9... READ MORE >

TransLogix acquires Transit Computer Systems
Company says its new merged capabilities will provide expanded, competitive solutions to the Australian logistics marketplace... READ MORE >

Avanade launches online SaaS application deployment service
First offering provides Microsoft Dynamics CRM as an enterprise-wide software-as-a-service solution... READ MORE >

National Transport Commission deploys online mapping solution from MapData Science
New interactive portal allows heavy vehicles drivers and operators to plan their journey across the country... READ MORE >

Campbelltown City Council picks TechnologyOne
Adelaide council deploys software solution to realise its climate change strategy… READ MORE >

Malware and spam rise 70% on social networks
Report finds three out of four businesses fear corporate security risks from staff use of social networking sites… READ MORE >

TechnologyOne new grants management solution
Software targeted at tackling Government funding issues… READ MORE >

WA Police pick Empired for consulting services
IT strategic consulting services contract valued at approximately $5 million… READ MORE >

Microsoft’s Surface arrives in Australia
New multi-user, multi-touch, table-like technology provides users with “collaborative and engaging computing experiences,” the company says... READ MORE >

Objective claims local government wasting $500m a year
Councils losing out on an average of $3 million a year in savings through inefficient document management, says the content solutions vendor… READ MORE >

Virgin Blue picks ComOps claims management tool
New solution enables airline to standardise and automate employee compensation claims, leading to faster processing... READ MORE >

Unisys picks 2010 to be a big year for security roll-outs
IT services and software company predicts miniaturisation and attitudinal change will drive the take-up of innovative measures focused around identity security … READ MORE >

iVision selects BMC software for IT service management
Communications provider aims to streamline IT processes and improve efficiency with BMC’s Remedy IT Service Management Suite… READ MORE >

Fast-paced data centre growth continues
Energy-guzzling business shows no signs of slowing down, says Frost & Sullivan… READ MORE >

Local software market tipped to continue recovery
Ovum says major vendors are well-placed as the economy improves… READ MORE >

South East Water picks Open Text for lifecycle management
Solution provides integrated lifecycle management for nine million records across SharePoint and Open Text content management environments… READ MORE >

West Australian Public Trustee hands five-year contract to Unisys
Five year support deal follows modernisation of trustee’s client management system… READ MORE >

Western Power selects ASG Group for IT services contract
$35 million deal will see ASG deliver a range of services to the electricity utility, including across its data centre, network and VoIP infrastructure… READ MORE >

Beyond No. 8 fencing wire
We’re not as innovative as we think we are, says an IBM study. New Zealand innovation flatlined between 2000 and 2007, and then took a recessionary dive… READ MORE >

iStart's 2 minute survey: investment intentions 2010
Each year, iStart surveys business leaders to provide all readers with an insight into industry intentions regarding investment options in ICT. You could also WIN a Blackberry Bold 9700 worth $1,199... READ MORE >

There’s sales in them thar blogs
Once upon a time, those with a sharp commercial eye might have mined the hills, with pickaxes, for gold, now they mine the web with software tools for the golden sales opportunities out there… READ MORE >

Mobile biometrics can combat ID fraud
Fujitsu UK's Head of Biometrics, Dr Alex Bazin, says biometrics built into mobile devices could help combat both drug and people smuggling, as well as immigration fraud... READ MORE >

Epicor’s next-generation ERP looks to SMBs’ needs
ERP goes mobile, as well as focusing on helping users reduce costs and encourage a better response from their own customers… READ MORE >

AppWrap ICT Deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >

SaaS in hot demand in post-recession A/NZ IT Market
Software-as-a-Service providers are in keen demand post-GFC as organisations look to control costs. iStart’s fifth annual Investment Intentions Survey shows that almost two-out-of-three companies are now using SaaS applications – up from a half a year ago… READ MORE >

How secure is your smartphone?
With staff increasingly mobile and mobility applications burgeoning, security threats are becoming as real on smartphones as they have been for some time on PCs. Being aware is the key to staying clean… READ MORE >

NBN pricing debate begins – it’s pricey, but remote users willing to pay
Metro users are balking at iiNet’s $129.95 monthly price tag, but remote and rural users point out you can pay that now for 9Mbps. And, with a 100Mbps service, you can ditch the phone… READ MORE >

Electronics still toxic, but Apple and HP show the way
Greenpeace’s latest Guide to Greener Electronics shows some electronic companies making headway while others are falling behind… READ MORE >

BI Vendors Solutions Guide 2010
Each year iStart publishes the BI Vendor Solutions Guide (or BI Buyers Guide) providing comparison and evaluation of the leading BI vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >

AppWrap ICT Deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >

Microsoft Office 2010: rich features and in the cloud
The new suite is an up-to-date take on its 2007 predecessor, with an emphasis on social networking and collaborating online… READ MORE >

Aussie’s on-the-go holiday planner
Is Tourism Australia’s new mobile capable tool aimed at IT savvy travellers or the advertising departments of industry big players?... READ MORE >

Power-hungry internet needs to nap
The internet’s energy consumption is growing fast. It may need computers to help it sleep if it’s not to pose a green threat… READ MORE >

Working together software creates true custom fit
It’s the way of the future – developers and users working to together on a daily basis, via the web, to create software that really does fit ‘requirements’ snugly… READ MORE >

New animal tracking standard opens door to Chinese advantage
A recent government standards announcement could mean losing another agri-tech race after kiwi’s do all the hard work... READ MORE >

FlexiTime online payroll lets SMEs get on with business
A Kiwi start-up has put payroll online for small business in a similar move to that of online accounting success Xero – as well as integrating with Xero… READ MORE >

Infor on track to trump Oracle in the integration game
Infor may be on track to beat rival Oracle in delivering the Holy Grail of a properly integrated ERP-and-essential-business-applications suite... READ MORE >

Mobile health risk real, but bluetooth cuts radiation by 90 percent
Nothing is risk-free. Mobile phones are a wonderful invention and we’ve taken to them with alacrity. However, the results of the recent 10-years-in-the-making Interphone project make grim reading... READ MORE >

Rugby scoreboard goes high tech
While there are lots of iPhone applications to keep track of the score of top-notch rugby, Gordon Brown realised there wasn’t one for simply keeping the score in grassroots rugby... READ MORE >

How to become a standout company – whatever the economic weather
IBM recently conducted a global survey of over 1,500 chief executives, including 81 from Australia and NZ, and found it is the ‘change animals’ who are not only emerging from the economic meltdown intact, but have even grown during the recession… READ MORE >

Law Enforcement Analytics: fighting crime with business intelligence
Ask any field officer what his most important weapon is, and chances are he’ll tell you, information. Armed with the right information at the right time, police officers can carry out their duties more quickly, effectively, and safely...By Rob Mills READ MORE >

Mapping your business data easier, but don’t fall off the cliff
In the old days, mapping data was easy. You bought a wall map and lots of colourcoded pins. Then you stuck them on the map. Fast, easy and cheap. But the information content was superficial at best... READ MORE >

Smart maps show traffic patterns
Placing a retail outlet in the optimal location can spell the difference between profitability and loss. Location intelligence helps retailers choose the right site by assembling key metrics – including customer behaviour records, demographics, traffic patterns and competitor information – from various sources... READ MORE >

Sorry folks, the Earth is not round
Location data can be characterised in a number of different ways. Latitude and longitude, expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds... READ MORE >

Bank lets Australian iPhone customers transfer money without fees
As mobile payments start to flourish thanks to the growth of smartphones, ANZ has launched an iPhone app that lets its Australian customers send money to anyone with a mobile phone... READ MORE >

Australian Passengers get boarding passes via SMS in world first
Australia's low fares airline Jetstar will use world first technology to introduce boarding passes via SMS and 24 hour pre-enrolment check-in as part of a major innovation investment to revolutionize air travel for Jetstar customers... READ MORE >

Gartner says Android way ahead of predictions
The worldwide mobile operating system market will be dominated by Symbian and Android, as the two OSs will account for 59.8 percent of mobile OS sales by 2014, according to Gartner, Inc... READ MORE >

Fast wireless mobile phone charger coming soon
In two years time, you may be able to charge your mobile phone without the need for cables... READ MORE >

University project creating location-based tools we dream about
Research is trying to find answers to questions like how do mobile technologies affect group cohesion, interaction and conflict?.. READ MORE >

Micronet Systems continues its expansion
Melbourne is the next on the list for a fast-growing business software solution provider... READ MORE >

LED printers for SMEs takes another leap
Dell calls it the next evolution in colour printing technology… READ MORE >

RIM unveil social platform
Research In Motion has unveiled the BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform, giving developers the tools to build applications that take advantage of the social aspects of the popular BBM service... READ MORE >

Australian Blackberry app proves popular
An Australian developed Blackberry app, available in Australia and New Zealand, had 35,000 downloads in the first five days… READ MORE >

Symantec announces new SME tools
Symantec has announced two new tools aimed at helping Symantec partners generate more demand for their services... READ MORE >

Android will surpass Apple, say most developers
A survey of US developers shows they strongly favour Android over Apple iOS and believe it’s the future... READ MORE >

Study shows Australian online customer service not delivering
A survey has found that only five percent of Australian consumers feel that a company has exceeded their online customer service expectations… READ MORE >

The smart meter industry is about to take off in Australia
There are $200 million worth of smart grid pilot projects in operation or about to start in Australia with most focusing on the potential for smart meters and demand management... READ MORE >

Start of new Google search bidding war?
A search specialist says some marked changes in the paid and natural search landscape could be ahead after he noticed a tweak in Google’s instant search results... READ MORE >

Video conferencing saving two hours of work a week
A study released today says that workers are now finding benefits of video conferencing beyond the accepted travel and other cost savings... READ MORE >

Cloud triggers boom for wholesale telecoms market
Increasing demand for cloud-based services is driving a boom in the wholesale telecoms market, according to Ovum... READ MORE >

Business infrastructure systems increasingly under political attack
A new Symantec survey reveals half of the infrastructure providers questioned have experienced politically motivated cyber attacks... READ MORE >

Fujitsu puts its head further in the Cloud
Fujitsu is launching a self-service Cloud Services Portal, to offer a fully flexible model for IT infrastructure, platforms and applications... READ MORE >

Infor unveils new family of applications
Infor’s new family of applications combine industry-specific functionality with rapid implementations to speed time-to-value... READ MORE >

AppWrap ICT deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >

Mobile payments about to explode in this region
Mobile payments in Asia-Pacific are expected to more than double to US$3.6b in the next five years... READ MORE >

Well dressed software available
Lawson Software offers new assistance for fashion manufacturers or companies that have a mix of manufacturing and sourcing requirements... READ MORE >

Sqware Peg picks up Sydney business award
Sqware Peg, a leading Cloud Computing consulting and solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region, has won a top business award... READ MORE >

Australia’s online advertising grows with mobile set to rise
Australia's online general advertising market grew in 2010 for the fifth year running and has shaken off the recession blues... READ MORE >

IPv4 addresses going fast
Less than five percent of the world's IPv4 addresses remain unallocated, according to The Number Resource Organization... READ MORE >

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