Mac News: Product News

Will Chrome Find a Home With SaaS?
October 07, 2008

It didn't take long for NetSuite to cozy up to Google. Shortly after the Web conglomerate rolled out its open source browser Chrome last month, the SaaS suite provider announced its support. Support for Chrome may prove especially intriguing for its customer base -- primarily because it is so Ajax-friendly.

Oracle's OpenWorld Revolution
October 01, 2008

Sometimes you walk away from a user group meeting concluding that the company didn't introduce much that was really new. You might get the usual product announcements or the dot-version releases and you may take a course that makes you a little smarter about the fine points of some esoteric feature that helps you to do your job.

The Buzz About Beehive
September 30, 2008

Oracle introduced a new collaborative platform called "Beehive" at OpenWorld last week. To be sure, it was hardly the only announcement the enterprise software vendor made -- but it did serve as grist for many bloggers. Oracle is basically jumping on a bandwagon in the collaboration space, said David Brunet, principal at Mipro Consulting and an OpenWorld attendee, but it's still a good opportunity.

SalesLogix Layers Web 2.0 Functionality Onto Buttressed Foundation
September 11, 2008

In version 7.5, SalesLogix' latest product release, the company builds on the Web architecture and platform it introduced more than a year ago. The upgrade leverages the multiclient customization environment to incorporate a number of new Web 2.0 technologies, as well as a Web-disconnected user interface.

Microsoft Loads Dynamics CRM With Web 2.0 Features
September 10, 2008

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online has been updated with Web 2.0 functionality that allows users to create and manage online and search engine campaigns; research and bid on keywords using search engine optimization; analyze ROI on the keywords using click-through and conversion rates; and capture sales leads from the Web using pages hosted by Microsoft or the organization's own Web site.

The Long Wait for Mobile CRM: Are We There Yet?
September 09, 2008

CRM users have been waiting for a viable mobile CRM market ecosystem to develop for years. To be sure, the industry tantalizes users with news that this or that vendor or offering or solution will herald mainstream application of this technology. For the most part, though, it hasn't happened yet, said Yankee Group analyst Sheryl Kingstone, even though the need is huge.

SugarCRM Leaps and Bounds and Other Cool Moves
September 04, 2008

Last week, SugarCRM made version 5.1 generally available. With its beta release earlier this year, the open source CRM provider broke new ground, providing innovations in business intelligence and an intriguing mobile app for the BlackBerry and the iPhone. Developers are particularly excited about the release's module builder enhancer and customization capabilities.

Demandbase Applies Web 2.0 Tricks to Lead Generation
August 28, 2008

Two-year-old Demandbase has planted its own stake in the rapidly emerging next-gen lead generation and lead conversion space with the introduction this week of Demandbase. A Software as a Service platform, Demandbase Central consists of sales and marketing applications, as well as a search, scoring and transaction engine that identifies qualified sales leads.

RightNow Continues Move to Web 2.0
August 26, 2008

With the release of its August '08 version, RightNow Technologies continues to shift both its platform and its lineup of products and features to Web 2.0. This latest upgrade includes a customer portal that offers widgets, video, forums and blogs. Its studio development environment now allows users to integrate the application with Adobe Dreamweaver.

Talisma Adds Enterprise Chops to Knowledge Management App
August 22, 2008

Talisma has introduced version 8.1 of its Knowledgebase application. The point release represents a significant shift in the company's approach to enterprise search, Bob Perry, director of Knowledgebase product management, told CRM Buyer. In this upgrade, Talisma has OEM'ed the Autonomy search engine.

Microsoft Ready to Hit the Gas on CRM Accelerators
August 12, 2008

Microsoft will be rolling out eight CRM "accelerators" for its Dynamics CRM product line in the second half of 2008. On the Javista blog, Microsoft's Reuben Krippner gives readers a thorough update on what they will offer customers. On the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog, he shares information for the analytics add-on. Krippner promises to blog about each accelerator each week.

IBM Kicks Mobility Play Into High Gear
August 10, 2008

IBM has rolled out "Mobility@Work," a package of new software tools that allow developers to run existing desktop applications on a mobile device, together with new mobile consulting services aimed at helping companies implement and manage a mobile work environment.

Landslide - and Other Moving and Shaking - in the Blogosphere
August 05, 2008

Landslide has a friend in blogger Chris Bucholtz, who writes, "Here's what Landslide provides in the new release: a single-screen interface that walks its users through the standard tasks that CRM fulfills -- gathering data on customers and leads -- and then beyond that into a set of processes that guide sales reps all the way through closing the sale."

The New Best Hope for Mobile CRM: iPhone 3G
July 25, 2008

On July 11, with the launch of the iPhone 3G, Salesforce.com became the first CRM vendor to announce the availability of its mobile applications for the iPhone in Apple's App Store. Now, two weeks after the phone's release, a few other CRM vendors can claim some sort of iPhone 3G compatibility; many more are planning to roll out an application in the future.

SAP Makes Customers a Support Offer They Can't Refuse
July 16, 2008

SAP is transitioning its customers to the recently released SAP Enterprise Support package next year -- a change that will ultimately increase maintenance and support costs to 22 percent of license fees. Companies will begin moving to the new package immediately, with price increases set to take effect later.

Lyris Pushes Web Marketing Toolset Downstream
June 30, 2008

Lyris has upgraded its flagship product and rolled out a new application for the marketing and advertising industry. The enhancements to Lyris HQ pave the way for a steady addition of collaboration and social networking tools this year. Lyris HQ for Agencies, meanwhile, will provide an inroad into a new constituency: advertising and marketing firms that serve multiple clients.