Paula Musich

Amid the gloom and doom of layoffs, faltering revenue and stock price nose dives, the one bright spot in IT appears to be the management software sector. The earnings reporting season has turned up a string of good news for tools providers ranging from Micromuse Inc. and InfoVista SA to Aprisma Management Technologies, along with […]

Microsoft Corp., in its ever-growing desire to gain ground in the enterprise, last week integrated its Microsoft Consulting Services and Product Support Services into a worldwide services organization thats 13,000 employees strong. In doing so, the Redmond, Wash., company has done an about-face on the issue of consulting and managing enterprise contracts. Now, rather than […]

When startup Interactive Plus One LLC first tried to find help in getting its business online, company officials started by searching the Web and cold-calling services companies. The result was a four-month ordeal of analyzing providers, reviewing past projects and checking references before Interactive Plus One finally hired a professional services company. For their next […]

Although the final chapter has yet to be written in the dramatic fall of MarchFirst Inc., the first pieces torn off in its dismantling tell the story of where a Web integrators real value might exist. While other Web boutiques continue to labor—with rumors of layoffs and acquisitions dogging their efforts—Divine InterVentures Inc. took a […]

When Brookfield Properties Corp. began looking to use technology to improve services for its business tenants, officials hardly thought theyd end up launching a new company. But $10 million and 15 months later, the worlds fourth-largest commercial property company late last month launched Semprio Inc.—a startup dedicated to providing small-business tenants in premier properties with […]

A handful of boutique Web integrators continued their collective death spiral last week with announcements of more dismal financial news and layoffs—all this amid a growing reluctance among clients to continue working with the shaky companies. Topping the list, Chicago-based MarchFirst Inc. last week began a third round of layoffs that could result in as […]

When it comes time to implement CRM or e-business applications, small and midsize businesses often face a dilemma: Wait until the money can be found to fund such projects, or go ahead with something less complex and with fewer features. But a new, more flexible payment approach could make such trade-offs a thing of the […]

Electronic Data Systems Corp. and Sabre Inc. have signed a 10-year, $2.2 billion outsourcing contract calling for Sabre to turn over management of its IT infrastructure as well as its outsourcing business for the travel industry. As part of the deal, Sabre and EDS will jointly market Sabres airline applications through an ASP (application service […]

Hewlett-Packard Co. earlier this month became the first large PC maker to try its hand at the nascent PC subscription utility-based computing model. The Palo Alto, Calif., vendor announced several installation and support services wrapped around its hardware and primarily Microsoft Corp. software for small- to midsize businesses. It joins startups Everdream Corp., of Fremont, […]

For the second time in his career, Jack Messman will head network software developer Novell Inc.—a result of Novells surprise acquisition of Cambridge Technology Partners Inc. and a top-level shake-up announced last week. As part of the acquisition, Messman assumes Novells CEO spot, taking the job of Eric Schmidt, who will remain in the chairmans […]

Opticom Inc. hopes to take on larger players in the service-level management arena with what it says is a unique way to provide relevant reporting on most of the elements that make up a service. The Andover, Mass., company this week announced Version 3.0 of its iView software, which provides fault detection, diagnosis resolution and […]

Electronic Data Systems Corp. built a business—and a reputation—locking customers into long-term deals that were never famous for warm and fuzzy things like customer care and responsiveness. But as part of a cultural shake-up, EDS is putting customers back in the drivers seat with a new service excellence dashboard that encourages more frequent user feedback. […]