Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    The Push and Pull of the News

    By
    John McCormick
    -
    October 29, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Microsoft introduces XP. Microsoft and Sun Microsystems detail their Web services plans. AT&T makes a series of strategic announcements about its future. Communications companies offer up new, robust IP services. And Amazon.com inches closer to profitability.

      Yes, those big news stories, and others, broke last week. Id classify them as the Pushes, the Pulls and the Pull Backs/Push Backs.

      The Pushes. Microsoft pushed out its Windows XP system, which runs faster and crashes less often than previous Windows systems. Lots of PC industry types are hoping the new OS will give buyers a reason to upgrade their desktops. In unrelated announcements, Microsoft and Sun made it clear theyre both ready to make big bets on Web services — an umbrella concept under which software and systems are designed to allow consumers seamless access to a host of online products and services.

      The Pulls. Many organizations are pulling together big collaborative computing, commerce and communications drives. The government is trying to drag heath care and benefits systems under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which mandates privacy for online medical records. A bunch of businesses are looking to pull in their messaging systems and go with more secure e-mail setups. Amazon, the No. 1 e-tailer, said it still expects to pull out its first-ever profit by years end. And a number of communications vendors are pulling out all the stops implementing new IP systems that promise businesses more options and lower costs.

      The Push Backs/Pull Backs. Web services, collaborative computing, corporate communications and e-commerce are all bandwidth-hungry apps. Yet, on the networking front, there seems to be a lot of pulling back. SBC Communications is the latest carrier to pull back a DSL effort. AT&T is shutting down its fixed wireless data-and-voice network, and will spin off or sell its broadband unit. Meanwhile, our cover story on wireless networks being more vulnerable — a lot more vulnerable — than anyone thought might cause I-managers to pull back on wireless implementation plans.

      OK. So where does this leave us?

      While these stories are significant, they pale in comparison to the war in central Asia and the anthrax attacks here at home — events every corporate move must be weighed against. These are indeed tough times. I-managers are being pushed and pulled in many directions. Theyre being asked to implement systems that boost profits, reduce costs — or both — on budgets that seem to grow tighter by the day.

      Still, new technologies and services present opportunities I-managers cant afford to miss. Success will come down to knowing when to push on and when to pull back. The adage holds true now like never before: Set your own agenda or someone will set it for you. If there was a theme to last week, it was that big movers and shakers were pushing and pulling to make something happen — on their own terms. And, the lesson to draw from the news: Its too critical a time to let someone, or some event, push or pull you in a direction you dont want to go.

      John McCormick is Editor of Interactive Week. He can be reached at john_mccormick@ziffdavis.com

      John McCormick
      Editor-in-Cheifjohn_mccormick@ziffdavisenterprise.comBefore joining Baseline, John was the editor of Inter@ctive Week, another Ziff Davis publication. He was the editorial director at SIGS Publications and the editor of both the print and online editions of CMP Media's InformationWeek. At CMP, he wrote a popular column, 'McCormick Place,' that focused on technology and business. He also served as the editor-in-chief of InfoDaily and appeared as a regular analyst on CNBC's Technology Edge program.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×