Joseph C. Panettieri

Avaya has inked a multi-year outsourcing agreement with Accenture. Under terms of the deal, Accenture will provide Web-based e-learning and classroom-based training, to Avaya employees, customers and Business Partners. Accenture also will assume management of Avaya Universitys global network of professionals. Avaya University currently offers approximately 2000 courses to customers, associates and Business Partners. The […]

Covansys is making house calls. In recent months, the solutions provider has been calling and visiting health-care customers, to see if they need HIPAA assessment services. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a controversial initiative from the government that may force health-care providers to overhaul many of their IT systems (see http://www.zdnet.com/sp/stories/issue/0,4537,2814570,00.html). Most […]

Lucent Technologies has deployed a new Web-based procurement solution, as part of the companys struggle to regain profitability. Alliente, KPMG Consulting and Ariba worked behind the scenes to pull together the new system, known as EZBuy, for Lucent. EZBuy provides customized procurement services for goods and services—including computer equipment and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) […]

Michael Leblanc is cashing in on convergence, one customer at a time. Leblancs integration firm, dubbed Leblanc Communications, has overseen roughly 60 CTI (computer-telephony integration) installations in Connecticut and surrounding areas. His business strategy encompasses a rather simple three-step process: Leblanc works closely with vendors like 3Com, sells repeatable CTI solutions that generate a fast […]

After stumbling in the late 1990s, 3Com hopes to get a lift from CTI (computer-telephony integration). Toward that end, 3Com quietly acquired NBX Corp. in 1999 for $90 million in cash. At the time, 3Com was focused primarily on Ethernet cards, modems and the pending spin-off of Palm Inc. The NBX deal, though nominal in […]

For most of late September, my daily schedule was devoid of business meetings. It seemed as if the entire high-tech industry was too shocked and too upset to conduct business during such a tragic time for all Americans. It will never be business as usual, but Im pleased to say that my phone is ringing […]

Compaq Computer continues to deliver the goods to the U.S. Postal Service, but not without IBMs help. Compaq, which has worked with the postal service since 1994, says it has won a new 5- to 10-year contract worth up to $1 billion with the postal service. But the struggling PC giant also says IBM will […]

IBM and EMC are both claiming victory in a showdown to meet Wal-Marts IT needs. IBM on Monday disclosed that Wal-Mart plans to standardize its “worldwide data center infrastructure” on Big Blues Enterprise Storage Servers (code named Shark) and eServer z900 mainframes. The announcement was a thinly veiled assault on EMCs enterprise storage business. But […]

Managing your staff is challenging enough during an economic slowdown. Factor in the recent terrorist attacks, the loss of loved ones and the threat of war, and its difficult for anyone to focus on work. My advice? Communicate as openly as possible during times of crisis or when changes are afoot. Sure, some changes arrive […]

For the moment, many companies are shunning business travel. But if youre ready to get back on the road, Oracle OpenWorld is a tempting destination. Oracle touts OpenWorld as the ultimate event for its partners, database administrators and senior-level technology managers. Even if you dont believe the hype, attending OpenWorld is a great way to […]

My daily commute from Long Island to Manhattan has become a humbling experience. Many of my fellow commuters are electricians, ironworkers and carpenters, who are assisting the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. As for me, I merely edit a trade magazine. Other than giving blood and making a donation to the American Red […]

Name: Janet Perna Title: GM, data management solutions, IBM Web Info: www.ibm.com/db2 Claim to Fame: Inked partnerships to sink OracleIN JANET Pernas estimation, the multibillion dollar database sweepstakes has two entries and the smart money is on IBM. “Oracles client/server leadership is a legacy business,” says Perna, IBMs general manager of data management solutions, of […]