News

Gold Smartphones 30% Off: 24ct BlackBerry Bold, iPhone 3GS, Nokia E72

U.K.-based luxury retailer Goldstriker has reduced the prices of its 24ct gold BlackBerry Bold 9000, iPhone 3GS and Nokia E72 offerings by roughly 30 percent each, making the precious-metal status-symbols slightly more attainable…but not much.

By Al Sacco

Jan 25, 2010

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

Ballmer the Good Sport Signs a Mac

Steve Ballmer laughs it up with students and autographs a MacBook. Makes you wonder if Steve Jobs would ever sign a PC.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 22, 2010

Data Center

BlackBerry Touch-Screen/QWERTY Hybrid Spotted; Sign of Good Things to Come from RIM?

A number of images of a never-before-seen BlackBerry smartphone with what looks to be both a touch-screen and full QWERTY "physical" keypad have surfaced on the Web, suggesting RIM may soon release its first handheld with a touch-sensitive

By Al Sacco

Jan 22, 2010

Data Center Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Linux Foundation: Microsoft’s Talking Smack on Windows Mobile

Microsoft's mobile chief dressed down Linux phones at CES and now the Linux Foundation is firing back. What's at stake? Control of the future smartphone market.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 21, 2010

Linux Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Real-Time Search: 5 Alternatives to Google, Bing

Real-time search tools let you search not only the Web but also Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and similar services — which can prove especially helpful when events such as the Haiti earthquake happen. Here's a look at five tools for effective real-t

By Kristin Burnham

Jan 21, 2010

Internet Social Networking Apps

Retail Tech: Whose IT Is Tops, Who Needs to Restock

In a new report, Citi's influential retail analyst Deborah Weinswig takes a deep dive into retail IT shops–and offers up 2009's leaders (CVS, JCPenney) and laggards (BJ's, Costco). As for Wal-Mart? It's surprisingly somewhere in

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 21, 2010

Data Center Retail Industry Supply Chain Management Software

Outsourcing: 10 Crippling Mistakes IT Departments Make

University of Tennessee researcher and author of the upcoming book Vested Outsourcing reveals the ten most common missteps that can destroy your outsourcing deal.

By Stephanie Overby

Jan 21, 2010

Outsourcing

Zune Phone Would Complete Microsoft’s ‘3 Screens’ Strategy

Microsoft's mobile play is still a mystery, but reports about WinMo 7 and a Zune-like Microsoft phone provide new clues.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 20, 2010

Data Center

Rating ERP Vendor Names: Good, Bad and the Ugly

Which software vendors have good brand names–and which vendors should have spent some more time considering the alternatives.

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 20, 2010

Enterprise Applications

Top 6 Sites to Get Products for Free

We have heard the adage 'Nothing in life comes for free' a thousand times, but in the wonderful online world you can be sure that the above saying can be proved otherwise.

By John Maringmei

Jan 20, 2010

Consumer Electronics Enterprise Applications Internet

T-Mobile: U.S. 3G Upgrade to HSPA 7.2 NOT Complete

Despite a number of recent reports to the contrary, T-Mobile's 3G network upgrade to 7.2 HSPA may not be complete. Rather, the network updates appear to be ongoing.

By Al Sacco

Jan 20, 2010

Carriers Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Apple Tablet: 10-Inch Display May Be a Myth

Will Apple's rumored iSlate tablet boast a 10-inch touchscreen? The masses seem to think so, but one technologist predicts a much smaller, 7-inch screen that's less power-hungry.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 20, 2010

Consumer Electronics Small and Medium Business Tablets

AT&T, T-Mobile Vaunted 3G Upgrades Meaningless to BlackBerry Users

Wireless carriers AT&T and T-Mobile both announced major upgrades to their 3G cellular networks for max data transfer speeds of 7.2Mbps. That's all fine and good for AT&T and T-Mobile customers who live in certain cities and own compatib

By Al Sacco

Jan 20, 2010

Carriers Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Does a Great System Make a CIO Better?

IT organizations that have management "systems" in place – in addition to talented individuals – are best positioned for success.

By Chris Curran

Jan 20, 2010

IT Leadership

Why Project Management Certifications Matter

The value of project management certifications is hotly debated among IT professionals. CIO.com investigates whether certifications make better project managers and whether projects staffed by certified project managers are more successful than proje

By Meridith Levinson

Jan 20, 2010 10 mins

Careers Certifications Project Management Tools

The Outsourcing Market Is Looking Upbeat

Analyst reports, quarterly earnings all point to brighter days.

By Beth Bacheldor

Jan 20, 2010

IT Leadership

Apple Prepares for More Acquisitions

Apple has been cautious about entering the M&A fray, but recent signs point to a change

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 19, 2010

IT Leadership

Oracle Is “The Teflon Don” of ERP Software Maintenance

Why is Oracle so untouchable when it comes to maintenance and support fees?

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 19, 2010

Enterprise Applications

Microsoft Office 2010: Three Upgrade Tips for Enterprises

Enterprises considering upgrades to Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 will face disruptions due to new features and integration with social networking and Web-based tools. Here are a few bits of advice from Forrester on how to plan ahead.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 19, 2010

Microsoft Office Office Suites Small and Medium Business

Virtualization Shines in Cautious IT Hiring Picture

Who will IT managers call first when they can hire new staffers again? Virtualization and cloud skills will serve you well, new research says.

By Kevin Fogarty

Jan 19, 2010

Careers Cloud Computing Virtualization

CRM Deployment: Users Can’t Set Timetable

CRM users are vocal, articulate, and politically powerful. So what do you do when they're asking for the wrong things, or are asking for them in the wrong order?

By David Taber

Jan 19, 2010

CRM Systems Data Center

Cloud Computing: The Future of IT Application Architectures

Assumptions we have traditionally used to design application architectures are increasingly outmoded, says CIO.com's Bernard Golden. Application architectures will change – just as much as IT operations – during the next five years due to the na

By Bernard Golden

Jan 19, 2010

Virtualization

BlackBerry Curve 8910 Gets FCC Cert; U.S.-Bound After All?

The recently uncovered BlackBerry Curve 8910, previously thought to be destined for shores outside North America, has popped up in an FCC wireless certification, suggesting the 3G-less device may be bound for the United States after all.

By Al Sacco

Jan 19, 2010

Data Center Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Tech Support Hell: Ways to Avoid It

Tech support is a broken system. Low-margin products leave little room for good customer service. But you can minimize the pain.

By Bill Snyder

Jan 19, 2010

Computers and Peripherals

How Project Managers Can Get Their Projects Back On Track

Project management is like a game of kick the can. Learn to kick better.

By Jim Vaughan

Jan 18, 2010

IT Leadership

New IBM Lotus BlackBerry Apps Aim to Boost Mobile Business Collaboration

BlackBerry-maker RIM today will launch two new enterprise collaboration apps for IBM Lotus users with BlackBerry smartphones: Lotus Quickr, which provides a variety of unique, "team-based" collaboration features; and a upgraded and expanded

By Al Sacco

Jan 18, 2010 3 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Windows Mobile 7, Where Art Thou?

Microsoft promises a revolution with Windows Mobile 7, but should first show the world it actually exists, and do so quickly.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 15, 2010

Data Center

Oracle and SAP Are Big: Too Big for Their Own Good?

The billion-dollar behemoths are top dogs in enterprise software. But they just might be too big to manage the change that's happening all around them.

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 15, 2010

Cloud Computing ERP Systems Mergers and Acquisitions

LinkedIn Quick Tip: Increase Your Presence With Network Updates

Want to stay top of mind with your LinkedIn connections? The status update tool, used effectively, helps you do just that.

By Kristin Burnham

Jan 15, 2010

LinkedIn Social Networking Apps

SAP’s Tough Choice: Maintenance Revenues or Happy Customers?

After much customer griping, it chose customers by revising its plans — but some critics still aren't thrilled.

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 14, 2010

Enterprise Applications

Office 2010: The Pros and Cons for Businesses

Office 2010, set to launch in June, has handy new features for businesses and is more Web-friendly, but will come with a potentially clunky merging of new technologies and upgrade headaches. Is it worth it? A Forrester research report weighs the good

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 14, 2010

Enterprise Applications Microsoft Office Office Suites

Palm Benefits from Apple Alums

Apple's former chief software technology officer has joined venture capital firm Elevation Partners, which heavily backs Palm. Are Apple alums coming to Palm because they smell rebirth?

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 14, 2010

Consumer Electronics IT Leadership Small and Medium Business

New BlackBerrys on the Horizon: “Tour2” 9650; “Pearl2” 9100; and “Curve 8910”

Anxious for a peek at the next BlackBerry smartphones? We've got images and details on three of RIM's upcoming handhelds: the second version of RIM's BlackBerry Tour, the "Tour2" 9650; the BlackBerry "Pearl2" 9100,

By Al Sacco

Jan 14, 2010

Data Center Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Got Twitter Clout? New Tools Rate You

Are you a Twitter star, tweeting up a storm and being followed by many influential people — or are you a whale of a fail? New tools let you, and others, judge your Twitter influence level. Here's a look at how you're being ranked.

By Kristin Burnham

Jan 14, 2010 5 mins

Social Networking Apps Twitter

The End of Traditional Software Licensing? Not So Fast

A Forrester prediction that enterprise software vendors will walk away from lucrative tradition doesn't add up.

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 13, 2010

Enterprise Applications

Clearing the Cloud Part II | A Ray of Sunshine On A Cloudy Day || Cloud Computing Security (2)

Continuing with my article of last month, let's continue discussion Controls in Cloud Security:

By Ariel Silverstone

Jan 13, 2010

Security

Wipro Brings Cloud Computing to Retail Industry

Cloud computing is here to stay and Wipro is focused on tapping this lucrative industry. The company has announced the launch of two new solutions–digital customer experience platform and loss prevention platform–for the retail industry.

By Anuradha Shukla

Jan 13, 2010

Cloud Computing Retail Industry

6 Personal Branding Mistakes That Can Threaten Your Job Search

In their haste to differentiate themselves during the worst job market in decades, job seekers are making personal branding mistakes that can undermine their job search efforts. Here are six things that you should never do.

By Meridith Levinson

Jan 13, 2010

Careers IT Jobs

CIO’s December 2009 Economic Impact Survey Results

Our exclusive survey of heads of IT suggests budgets are continuing to stabilize and large companies, at least, are opening their checkbooks

By Carolyn Johnson, Simone Levien

Jan 13, 2010

IT Leadership

Virtualization Speed Traps: Five Ways to Drag Apps Down

As you virtualize more of your company's applications, avoid these five mistakes that could kill application performance for users. One piece of bad news: Your IT staff will have to learn to play nicely.

By Kevin Fogarty

Jan 13, 2010

Virtualization

Google’s Mission Impossible: Matching Apple iPhone Customer Service

Where are the Google gurus? They'll get back to you in a day or two over email.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 12, 2010

Mobile Small and Medium Business

BMW Shares Tips from Its Drive to Windows 7

German car giant BMW, in the midst of a massive migration from Windows XP to Windows 7, shares five key upgrade tips for enterprises. Here's their advice on preparing for a smooth journey.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 12, 2010

IT Leadership Small and Medium Business Windows

Kiss Microsoft Office Goodbye: Three Alternatives to Office 2010

Why spend $279 on Microsoft's behemoth Office 2010 suite when you can get a slick, lightning fast alternative for less than one-third of the price? These three alternatives could make you forget about buying Office 2010.

By Bill Snyder

Jan 12, 2010

Consumer Electronics

Cloud Software Vendors See Stocks Hit Stratosphere

SaaS companies have ridden the cloud applications trend to huge stock gains since December 2008. Who's in the most money?

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 12, 2010

Cloud Computing ERP Systems Technology Industry

NetSuite Plays Shoot-Out with SAP Perfectly–and Wins

A software shootout between SAP and NetSuite's cloud ERP offerings gives NetSuite just what it wanted: Publicity and legitimacy.

By Thomas Wailgum

Jan 11, 2010

Enterprise Applications

Does The Business (Still) Hate IT?

Why are the issues between IT and the business the same as they've been since retiring CIOs were knee-high?

By Forrester Research

Jan 11, 2010

IT Leadership

IBM: Consumers Demand More Interactivity

Consumers want more retail stores to be more interactive and personalized online, a new survey from IBM has found.

By Joab Jackson

Jan 11, 2010

Analytics Social Networking Apps

Outsourcing Advisors: 6 Tips for Selecting the Right One

Hiring the best advisor for your business needs may be the single most important decision you make during the outsourcing process. Here are six tips for making a smart choice.

By Stephanie Overby

Jan 11, 2010

IT Leadership Outsourcing

Five Ways Techies Can Stay Motivated This Year

Have you heard? Americans hate their jobs more than ever. But from movies to games to Steve Jobs, IT troops can find inspiration even in dark career times.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 11, 2010

Careers

CRM Team Staffing – Inside or Out?

CRM projects can represent a big investment of IT personnel. But if you're using a SaaS CRM system, when should you be thinking about the implementation team as "staffing-as-a-service?"

By David Taber

Jan 11, 2010

CRM Systems