Special Reports

Behind the Scenes with the E-Business Idol-Makers
June 24, 2003

Venture capitalists may not be the heroic figures they were a few years ago, but they still have the power to decide whether would-be e-business superstars get a chance to seek the limelight. The difference between now and then is scale, Bain Capital Ventures partner Mike Krupka told the E-Commerce Times. "We now know you can only go so fast."

Anatomy of a Hostile Takeover
June 23, 2003

In macro terms, the hostile takeover has been a common, if generally reviled, tactic throughout human history. But does this art of war hold up over the long term in the business world? Amid the Oracle-PeopleSoft-J.D. Edwards melee, now seems like the right time to ask this pressing question.

New Frontiers in the Identity Theft War
June 20, 2003

Fraud on the Web may be analogous to fraud in the real world, but it seems to be far easier to defraud individuals of their bank accounts, cell phone accounts and even entire identities online. In this new medium, the black hats are outpacing the white hats, at least so far. Will law enforcement officials succeed in turning the tide?

Apple in 2008
June 19, 2003

If industry influence trumped such traditional economic considerations as market share, Apple probably would be the top computer manufacturer. Since prodigal founder Steve Jobs retook the reins in 1997, the company has revolutionized PC and notebook design, consumer electronics and digital distribution. Where will Apple be in five years?

Google as New Enterprise Superstar
June 18, 2003

Although the Internet burst into the mainstream several years ago, many enterprises are only just beginning to consider how world-class search capabilities could benefit their in-house infrastructure. One of the forerunners in this field is industry darling Google. As Gartner analyst Whit Andrews put it, "No one will get fired for buying Google."

To Outsource or Not To Outsource?
June 17, 2003

Most CIOs at some point have asked: Should I outsource this IT project? The answer can be surprisingly complex, depending on the reasons for considering such a move. For starters, although savings achieved through outsourcing can be significant, outsourcing is not just about money.

Linux (Finally) Ready for the Desktop
June 16, 2003

Has Linux finally matured into a viable desktop alternative to the Windows monolith? And will increasing adoption of this open source OS have a snowball effect in more and more organizations?

The Fine Print of IT Rebates
June 13, 2003

They seem ubiquitous wherever consumer electronics, hardware and software are sold: the offers for rebates plastered on packaging, store displays and cash register receipts. However, some buyers have found that promised rebates really are too good to be true. What are the pitfalls of high-tech rebates, and why do companies offer them instead of simply lowering prices?

Is Cisco Still Almighty?
June 12, 2003

The economic crash, which hit telecoms and dot-coms hard, did not spare onetime high-flier Cisco. However, despite a rough 2001, the company was one of the first tech giants to recover its balance. With some recent acquisitions in what it sees as key emerging markets, is Cisco poised to regain its titanic status?

Will SCO's Suit Chill the Penguin?
June 11, 2003

SCO's $1 billion lawsuit against IBM, which accuses Big Blue of violating its Unix licensing terms, has snowballed and is turning into "a high-tech game of Risk, with different combinations of players moving to form political alliances," Yankee Group senior analyst Laura DiDio told the E-Commerce Times. Will the suit slow the Linux juggernaut, or is it a non-starter?

Instant Messaging's Achilles Heel
June 09, 2003

Given the pace of business today, instant messaging seems like a natural fit for the global enterprise, enabling far-flung employees and contract workers to communicate in real-time throughout the workday. However, many enterprises are balking for a simple reason: IM and other peer-to-peer applications can pose serious security risks.

Inside Oracle's High-Stakes PeopleSoft Grab
June 09, 2003

Oracle's high-stakes bid for PeopleSoft, announced late last week, seemed to come out of nowhere. In a surprisingly blunt statement, PeopleSoft president and CEO Craig Conway called Oracle's actions "atrociously bad behavior from a company with a history of atrociously bad behavior." What is really behind Oracle's sudden takeover move?

Is Broadband Really Changing E-Business?
June 05, 2003

A new report by Technology Futures of Austin, Texas, states that in 2003, the proportion of American households using broadband will surpass 20 percent. At this crucial juncture in the evolution of the Internet, it might be worth reminding lawmakers who are trying to jump-start the economy how much increased broadband adoption could do for e-business.

What WebSphere Means for Your Business
June 04, 2003

IBM now is reaching out to small businesses with a scaled-down version of its e-business application development product, called WebSphere Express. These companies' first question is likely to be, "What is WebSphere, anyway, and what can it do for me?"

And the E-Business Idol Is...
June 03, 2003

Although Ruben Studdard has officially won the American Idol title, edging out Clay Aiken by a razor-thin margin, the search for America's e-business idol is still under way -- and industry observers seem as split over the contenders as the voting public was over the contestants on the top-rated TV talent show.

Is Cybersquatting Killing E-Business?
June 02, 2003

Although cybersquatters' numbers have diminished -- along with their profits -- these domain-name vultures are still in the wild, and companies that hope to maintain their good name on the Net must stay vigilant and organized to keep them at bay. What are some of the best strategies to stop cybersquatters in their tracks?

Supersizing the Supply Chain - And Minimizing Costs
May 30, 2003

In recent years, supply chain management applications have morphed from small, individual programs designed to fix specific problems into huge suites installed over time like so many Legos. Why has this occurred, and what does it mean for the future of supply chain management software?

Bite-Size Licensing for Small Businesses
May 29, 2003

For a time during the boom era, small businesses would jump up and down, money in hand, trying to catch the attention of software vendors, only to see those vendors choose to do business with larger, stronger, deeper-pocketed enterprises. However, the pendulum has swung in a different direction.

The New E-Brokerage Idols
May 28, 2003

In some industries, it is easy to tell who is at the top of the heap. The office software realm has Microsoft, the beer world has Budweiser, and for much of the cola-loving planet, Coke is it. Among online brokerages, however, crowning a king is not so simple. Potential candidates have strengths and identities as varied as those of the recent American Idol finalists.

Is Global Linux IBM's Holy Grail?
May 27, 2003

While the Microsoft vs. Linux debate rages in boardroom meetings and around IT water coolers, IBM has chosen sides already. Although Big Blue maintains a friendly rapport with Microsoft, its efforts in touting Linux worldwide have shown that the company is strolling down the aisle hand-in-hand with the Linux penguin. Is this marriage built to last?