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New Pogoplug Brings Mobile Devices Into the Cloud November 20, 2009 On Friday, Cloud Engines launched a bigger, shinier version of its Pogoplug USB file-sharing device/service. This will let users share files, photos and videos directly from USB drives or memory sticks plugged into the Pogoplug device with friends or clients over the Internet.

Talk CRM in Language Users Can Understand November 17, 2009 Those of us immersed in CRM take it for granted that people understand what the acronym stands for and what it really means -- the technology, people and processes that go into building stronger relationships with customers. Quite naturally, the people who sell, support and comment on CRM understand all of that. But do the intended users?

How Etailers Can Take On the Whole World November 10, 2009 The majority of global markets are growing significantly faster than the United States. Bill Gates has even stated that in the 21st century, a business must use e-commerce to survive. In this economy, thinking outside the proverbial box and expanding a company without taking on significant overhead or structural changes means selling beyond geographic borders.

CRM for the Small Biz: Turning Agony Into Ecstasy October 30, 2009 Small businesses frequently rely on a haphazard assortment of tools to manage their CRM processes, such as email, contact managers and spreadsheets. However, such methods are usually not sustainable or scalable. "Their customer data ends up fragmented across 10 different applications and physical locations," said Dmitri Eroshenko, CEO of Relenta.

Get Your Startup on a Solid Legal Footing From the Start October 27, 2009 Technology entrepreneurs may understand the importance of protecting their intellectual property, such as trademarks and patents, yet many times they create startups without understanding what is involved in terms of protecting their business through other avenues -- such as contractual mediums, which can be more important than the registration of a trademark or patent.

Dell, Salesforce.com Join Forces in SMB Territory October 13, 2009 Dell and Salesforce.com have added another tie that binds -- a service offering Salesforce.com's flagship CRM applications to Dell's SMB customers. Data integration and quality control are among the value-add features Dell is bringing to the table through its integration services division.

QuickBooks Courts the Mac Crowd October 12, 2009 Over the years, Intuit's QuickBooks has had its detractors in the Mac community, but with the release earlier this month of a new version of the accounting software, the company hopes it can win more hearts and minds in the Applesphere. QuickBooks 2010 improves on the "Mac-like feel" of its predecessors and has new features aimed at making small businesses more profitable, according to Intuit.

Should a Small Business Watch the Clock? October 02, 2009 Many small businesses fail to fully utilize automated time-reporting tools or shy away from them altogether. However, once a business starts to reach about 30 staff members, time reporting helps them understand costs, improve efficiency, and focus on the right areas, said Journyx CEO Curt Finch.

Think, Then Measure: BI in the SMB October 01, 2009 Suppliers and consumers have tightened their belts under current economic conditions, sending businesses scrambling for cost-cutting methods. Small and medium businesses have turned to business intelligence tools in response to these pressures.

Working Your Way to a Greener SMB September 28, 2009 Big businesses often use big bucks to go green. Small businesses, on the other hand, haven't a dollar to spare even for a good cause like saving the environment. Shouldn't they just pass on the whole green scheme -- at least until the economy improves? Not necessarily.

For Digital Marketing Startup Edo, Success Is in the Facecards September 23, 2009 If you ask Edo Interactive CEO Ed Braswell the classic Facebook status update question -- "What are you doing?" -- he's liable to answer that he's providing a new spending avenue for consumers, along with a mother lode of digital marketing information for retailers.

Avaya Caters to SMBs With Kinder, Simpler IP Office Release September 22, 2009 Avaya has launched Avaya IP Office, a new version of its flagship product line targeting the SMB space. Changes to the product, now in version 5, include new configurations for certain user roles, such as customer service agent or mobile worker, as well as new functionality.

Twitter's Legal Challenges: Lessons for Startups September 21, 2009 On March 21, 2006, Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey sent out the first tweet: "Just setting up my twittr." A mere three years later, in February 2009, Twitter had approximately 4 million visitors. At that point, Twitter set an audacious goal of one day reaching 1 billion users and becoming "the pulse of the planet."

SesameVault Opens Online Video Channel for SMBs September 09, 2009 It is rather challenging to hit a moving target when it keeps changing directions. That's a bit like how Cameron Brain, CEO of Open Box Technologies, felt when he set his sights on a particular business market while still in college. In 2006, Brain and a group of classmates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., started to dabble in online sales and all things video on computers.

Speaking the Right Language Online September 08, 2009 A rose by any other name can raise quite the stink, making the act of localizing Web sites to fit foreign cultures all the more thorny. "Ben and Jerry launched their 'black and tan' flavor of ice cream without realizing that this phrase referred to British soldiers that were best known for their cruelty in the fight for Ireland's independence," said Nataly Kelly pf Common Sense Advisory.

Whipping MuleSource Into Shape September 01, 2009 Having secured funding from Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Morgenthaler Ventures, MuleSource cofounder Ross Mason turned what was the Mule Project into an open source player on the fast track. Re-invigorated with new CEO Greg Schott, MuleSource has been ramping up its business in the wake of a recession that has gutted some proprietary legacy players.

Getting Small Firms on Board With BPM August 31, 2009 The greatest obstacle small business operators face in adopting business process management is themselves. That factor could account for the underutilization of BPM by small businesses -- and the reason BPM vendors have targeted the small business sector as a huge potential market.

Rough Times for Angels: Q&A With MarketStar Chairman Alan E. Hall August 13, 2009 You might say that entrepreneur Alan E. Hall lives in two business worlds. Don't complain to him how challenging it is to grow a business in today's fragile economy. He knows those struggles firsthand as a business owner. He also knows how next-to-impossible it is for startup business owners to find financial backers. Hall is a player in the venture capital sector as well.

Going Global From Rural America July 29, 2009 Prior to the mid-1990s, the prospect of launching a globally minded company in rural America was, in a word, remote. However, times have changed. The Web now makes it possible for anyone to do business anywhere in the world. Small towns in America's heartland that have long been dependent on agribusiness, pine for tech-savvy companies that bring youth, energy and new economy revenue.

Little Bird to Tell Businesses How to Tweet for Cash July 24, 2009 Noting that more and more businesses are using Twitter to communicate with customers, the San Francisco social networking startup has launched a new sub-site to help companies learn strategies to leverage the service to their benefit. Twitter101 provides a quick overview, including a guide to Twitter jargon, a section on best practices and case studies.