Matthew Hicks

Oracle Corp. will enhance its flagship 9i database with the ability to store, manage and query XML documents within the same database as relational data. The companys initiative to support XML in 9i, called Oracle XML DB, will be a standard part of Release 2 of 9i, which is due for release this spring. While […]

Smart, tough negotiating can force it vendors to make concessions, especially in times like these. But haggling alone can get you only so far. To get the best deals, IT managers must also go into negotiations armed with accurate data on the software and hardware assets they have and how theyre using them. Putting people […]

When Norm Fjeldheim sits down at the negotiating table with IT vendors these days, he feels the odds are stacked in his favor. As IT spending overall remains flat and many vendors struggle to find business, Fjeldheim, CIO at Qualcomm Inc., has discovered that now is the best time to renegotiate deals and bargain on […]

On Feb. 12, when the figure skating judging controversy erupted at the Winter Olympic Games, it would not have been a complete surprise to see Mike Corrigan, director of technology at MSNBC.com, perform a panic-stricken double-toe loop right off the top of the ski jump hill. Corrigan and MSNBC.com—which stepped in to take over operation […]

Business may be tough for IT, semiconductor and electronic component companies, but they are continuing to make progress toward connecting to business partners through e-business and XML standards developed through RosettaNet, the 4-year-old high-tech industry consortium said Tuesday. RosettaNet, which had outlined 11 key milestones in May of 2001 for implementation of its standards, announced […]

UPS logistics group braced for a supply chain disaster Sept. 11 when, following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, it found itself without a key distribution center used to keep critical repair parts flowing to customers. Only 150 yards from the WTC, the distribution center was destroyed. Making the situation worse, a second […]

Although the economy and IT spending remain in the doldrums, IT executives are planning to increase spending in a few key categories this year, according to a report released this week by Aberdeen Group Inc. Specifically, IT organizations plan to focus technology spending on improving their current investments in e-business, retaining customers and optimizing IT […]

Looking for a way to beef up your XML skills and credentials? Check out a recently announced education and certification program from a pair of standards organizations. The program focuses specifically on the EAN.UCC XML cross-industry schema for B2B e-commerce developed jointly by EAN International, of Brussels, Belgium, and the Uniform Code Council Inc., of […]

Since its founding in 1997, uBid Inc. has played the role of a full-service provider to better-known, self-service, online auctioneers such as eBay Inc. and Yahoo Inc.s auction site. While the eBays of the world expect buyers and sellers to handle shipping and payment, uBid frequently ships goods to buyers from its warehouses and provides […]

Shoppers at Staples Inc.s retail Web site, Staples.com, were clearly annoyed. More and more of them early last year began abandoning the sites registration process midstream, leaving behind online shopping carts of unpurchased office supplies and concerned Staples officials. Something, clearly, had to be done. While other companies facing a similar challenge might have rushed […]

Not all usability tests are created equal. As important as it is for companies to undergo testing in the first place, its just as critical for them to time testing to match the stages of a Web sites development. “The essence of usability testing is feedback,” said Phil Goddard, chief of training, development and delivery […]

E-marketplace ChemConnect Inc. on Thursday announced that it is buying competitor CheMatch.com Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The deal is the latest in the rapid consolidation of chemicals e-marketplaces and online exchanges generally. The two companies have had discussions about combining since as early as 2000 and more recently realized that a single company would […]