Business

The health care industry might be next in line for the type of mega-merger that has already rocked the retail and wireless communications sectors, with Johnson & Johnson reportedly mulling a takeover of Guidant in a deal that could be worth more than US$24 billion. Published reports said that J&...

Leading computer maker Dell said it cut prices on a slew of technology items, from personal computers to servers, a move seen as a competitive thrust aimed at solidifying its growing presence in the enterprise. Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said it was simply passing along savings it was seeing in co...

Facing customer unease as another product support lifecycle approaches expiration, Microsoft today said it would extend the timeframe during which it makes custom, paid support available for the server version of Windows NT. The move, just the latest in a number of tweaks the software giant has made...

With the tech industry still buzzing over its apparent decision to sell its PC business, IBM underscored its ongoing transformation by announcing today that it had landed a contract worth nearly US$1 billion to supply Internet-based telephone and data services to British banking giant Lloyds. The se...

In a move to woo independent software vendors (ISVs) to develop open solutions tailored to vertical industries using IBM hardware, IBM today announced resources available from its new Virtual Innovation Center for Hardware. This online information portal is designed to help IBM business partners mor...

It's that time again: Holiday shopping is here. What's the latest fad for the kids? Where can I find the best selections, prices and product information? And what in the world can I get for Uncle Phil, who has everything and likes very little? If the questions remain timeless, finding answers has ch...

Many people have predicted that Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) would lose ground to Mozilla's Firefox. Today it is official in Europe. German Web advertising firm Adtech AG today reported that Firefox has grown to more than 5.5 percent share and Internet Explorer has dropped below 90 percent in ...

Lycos Europe waged war against spammers earlier this week but the battles have now resulted in it withdrawing its controversial Web site, replacing it with a graphic that urges visitors to "stay tuned!" Lycos Europe announced on Monday it had created a downloadable screensaver aimed at putting spamm...

In a move that could end an era by eliminating a pioneer from the personal computer industry, IBM has reportedly put its PC business up for sale and might already have at least one prospective buyer for the unit, which analysts say could fetch as much as US$2 billion. Big Blue has refused to comment...

Microsoft today announced it has filed seven lawsuits against defendants who allegedly sent spam e-mail that violated the federal Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) anti-spam law. The suits are just the latest in a Microsoft legal barrage. The company has ...

Worldwide mobile phone sales surged in the third quarter and some vendors took more advantage of the uptick than others, with Nokia solidifying its hold on first place and onetime market leader Motorola slumping from second to third place as Samsung became No. 2. According to a report from Gartner, ...

Three holiday shopping indices are reporting a sluggish start to the giving season, with some analysts trimming holiday sales forecasts after a disappointing Thanksgiving weekend in brick and mortar stores. Meanwhile, online data crunchers are reporting a much different story for e-commerce stores.

Bidding to solidify and expand its new role as market leader in the wake of its merger with AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless has announced plans to roll out faster wireless service and more broadband-dependent services nationwide. Cingular said its completion of the US$41 billion merger with AT&...

How will this holiday season pan out for online retailers? That depends on whom you ask. An NPD Group survey of consumer holiday buying intentions reveals that the 2004 holiday shopping season could be challenging for retailers. Nearly nine out of 10 consumers say they are planning to spend the same...

Microsoft has filed its first eight lawsuits against defendants who allegedly distributed counterfeit Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels in an attempt to authenticate software that was unlicensed. Yesterday's filings are the first fruits of the software giant's effort to identify and target co...