Archive

In a preemptive strike against hackers, Microsoft has posted advisories on TechNet about newly discovered security vulnerabilities in the company's SQL Server software and three of its operating systems. "I think the main problem with Microsoft, and with them trying to protect Windows, is that it...

Recently, Apple announced a new advertising strategy to lure consumers away from Windows. But the company is taking a more low-key approach to targeting corporate users, hoping that its Xserve technology speaks for itself. "We think we're going to have the best system ... but we want to make sure...

In an attempt to thwart piracy -- and to find an online music strategy that works -- Sony Music and Universal Music have announced they plan to make downloading music from the Web less expensive. But with listeners accustomed to getting music free, pay-as-you-play services face an uncertain futur...

An economic downturn means fewer dollars for salaries, business resources and, in some cases, research and development. But is a poor economy synonymous with a dip in technical innovation, particularly at bellwether companies like Cisco and IBM? "Most companies are looking to streamline processes...

Amid the chaos of the past two weeks, when travel companies were tripping over one another to cut deals, merge and otherwise grab whatever they could while the grabbing was good, Priceline.com was just as busy as its competitors. But Priceline might have something the others don't: a plan. It mig...

Internet media company Terra Lycos has launched a subscription-based online music service with the full cooperation of at least four major record labels. The new service is designed not only to deliver music to Internet listeners, but also to help Lycos decrease its dependence on ad revenue, whic...

More than half of all U.S. retailers said their online sales operations achieved profitability in 2001, and growth could top 40 percent in 2002, according to a joint report published by the Boston Consulting Group, Forrester Research and Shop.org. The study predicted that online sales will grow 4...

Most people think of Web hosting and marketing outlays when they consider launching an e-commerce site, but a laundry list of additional costs are not apparent at first glance: merchant account fees, liability and fraud insurance fees, maintenance fees and transaction fees, and customer service, ...

Senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana) has announced plans to introduce a bill that would give the U.S. government more influence over ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the overseer of Internet addressing and traffic. Rick Villers, vice president of Internet research at Forre...

Trends are often difficult to get a handle on, especially those that gauge consumer sentiment. But I put a lot of stock in survey-driven news that consumers' interest in shopping via cell phone has plummeted. Such findings are disheartening, but they are not the end of the world for wireless commerc...

Cisco Systems has announced plans to move intelligent services from the center to the edge of networks by beefing up security features of its Cisco Catalyst switching portfolio. Switches are devices in networks that filter and forward packets of data between local area network segments. The enhan...

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has reached a settlement with Amazon.com on charges that the e-tail giant helped onetime partner Ashford.com dress up its financial results in 2000. The action resulted in a cease-and-desist order, requiring that Amazon refrain from similar tactics in t...

EarthLink has announced it will buy low-cost computer vendor PeoplePC for about $10 million, but the giant Internet service provider left open the possibility that the deal could swell to $14.3 million. PeoplePC has made a business out of selling inexpensive PCs bundled with Internet access. The ...

In an apparent bid to boost sales in some of its less popular departments, e-tail giant Amazon.com is rolling out a promotion that will give shoppers just one hour to buy specially discounted merchandise. None of the discounts will apply to Amazon's core offerings of books, music and movies. "I'v...

Novell has announced plans to acquire SilverStream Software in a $212 million cash deal designed to strengthen the networking software maker's position in the nascent Web services market. Analysts said the acquisition is a smart move. "Everybody is building their infrastructure to support service...