IBM takes on MS

IBM is boosting its software portfolio for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with plans to acquire Net Integration Technologies, a software vendor in Canada, says Computer World UK.

Net Integration Technologies, which offers business management tools, will be become part of IBM's Lotus division when the deal closes, which is expected to occur this quarter.

"We plan to use the technology to go after Microsoft in the small business server market," said Michael Rhodin, GM of IBM's Lotus Software division.

A Web site that could help small IT companies bid for contracts for London's Olympic Games has gone live, reports ZDNet.

The London 2012 Business Network was launched at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to an audience of more than 600 business people.

"It will contain all kinds of contracts, including IT," a spokesperson for the Olympic Delivery Authority told GC News on Friday.

SME owners looking to pump up productivity and increase their market reach should be investing in IT, according to a recent Microsoft Canada survey of 200 Canadian executives, reports Financial Post.

Using technology to improve staff productivity and efficiency was cited as the primary growth factor in the past year, but the executives also reinforced the obvious: Growth is hard to achieve without a well thought-out expansion plan (yet only 78% admitted to having one).

Two-thirds of those polled said they plan to expand their operations in the next 12 months, while 80% said current business conditions in Canada are either "good" or "ideal".