Plenty… A bit of news in the headlines recently about underwater cables being cut which led me to wonder just how many of these things are there? I got my answer via WallStreetFighter and thought I would share (image from the UK’s Telegraph).
Google fires a shot at Microhoo
Here’s Google’s official response to a Microsoft/Yahoo combination. This is gonna be good as Google is taking the side of the "principles of the Internet: openness and innovation." I’ll let the irony of that argument hang on its own considering the players in this dance.
See “industry research” for what it is
There is a story in the WSJ about Aberdeen Group (thanks Michael) and their approach to vendor funded research that is less than positive to say the least.
I’ve worked with Aberdeen in the past (although not currently) as well as their peers over the course of my career. There are two sides to the equation here (i.e., follow the money) – vendors pay these analysts for advice/insight with the aspiration that access will drive coverage and end-customers pay for advice with the hope of the inside scoop on the best decision to make around IT investments. A couple of years ago InformationWeek did a story on this topic.
How should these firms address this apparent conflict? Transparency. Just as equity research analysts must now disclose their relationships with companies, I believe that these firms should do the same. Sponsoring research is a standard part of the marketing toolkit and it should be seen for what it is – an interested party trying to elevate an issue or pain for their own benefit. Just check the research from the National Association of Realtors on how strong the housing market is (5th highest home sales in ’07!)
It is far from perfect and ALL of these firms offer some variation of vendor sponsored research. I spend my analyst dollars for advice and insight. A great analyst is a huge asset as you work through positioning, product plans, and even customer references. Invest in it…but invest wisely.
A Super Bowl asterisk
Say what you will about how great the Patriots are and that they have usurped the ’72 Dolphins in terms of dream seasons but don’t forget they cheat and, like our friend Barry Bonds, deserve an asterisk after this "record season." Not wanting to talk about it (as I sit here and watch a show about them on CNBC) does not mean it did not happen. Apologies for being a negative voice, but professional sports is in a seriously sad state. Just check out the drama around the Seattle Sonics.
I couldn’t agree more
That this is probably the worst idea in the history of the world or at least extremely close. Borrowing from your 401k via a debit card? Let’s just let this run amok over the next few years and then blame the financial institutions for being greedy and unscrupulous. Control your urges people…you need to "save" for retirement.
I’m all about product/service innovation and access to capital but making it easier to borrow pre-tax dollars from yourself that you have to repay with after tax dollars (plus interest) to then be taxed again when you withdraw the dough does not compute.
Gartner’s IT predictions
Our friends at Gartner have released their latest set of IT predictions. Full release here. Here’s a few highlights:
- By 2012, 50 per cent of traveling workers will leave their notebooks at home in favour of other devices.
- By 2012, 80 per cent of all commercial software will include elements of open-source technology.
- By 2012, at least one-third of business application software spending
will be as service subscription instead of as product license.- By 2011, early technology adopters will forgo capital expenditures and
instead purchase 40 per cent of their IT infrastructure as a service.- By 2010, end-user preferences will decide as much as half of all software, hardware and services acquisitions made by IT.
Reinforces many of the IT trends we are seeing. I personally can’t wait until I can leave my notebook at home although I think there are hurdles there. My Blackberry works great to monitor, read, and respond but isn’t all that great to do things like writing and number crunching. We’ll see…
SaaS & security
More on B2B priorities in 2008
Hubspan’s 8 B2B resolutions for 2008 continue to get some attention. We had an article on them just published in Enterprise Systems Journal and Loraine Lawson over at IT Business Edge did a great post on it entitled "SaaS Solutions Can Offer Efficient EDI Alternative."
Not in Davos this week
Just in case there was any wild speculation out there, I am not at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. I am, however, open to an invite for next year so if you are headed that way and need a travel partner let me know. Lots of fanfare around this event for sure (as well as fodder for those that think the world is controlled by a dozen people) but any forum where people can have informed conversation about issues without punditry and talking points (to a degree) is a worthwhile endeavor. The Aspen Institute is another such forum for informed conversation.
Assuming that in a year’s time I won’t become a rock star, head of state, or sovereign wealth fund manager (yes, aiming low this year), I thought I would pose the same "Davos Question" that attendees can answer and capture on video.
Before I do, think about what this is all about – world & economic leaders can make a point, have it recorded, and instantly globally distributed via our friends at Google/YouTube in the same way that anybody can record their thoughts and share them with this forum. A conversation where none was possible before…pretty cool.
I’m not sure that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (below) ever imagined that he would be doing this. Proof that YouTube (or any video sharing site for that matter) can be more than an on-line version America’s Funniest Home Videos.
“What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?”
Good news (sort of) for tech spending
It’s predicted to get harder to sell IT this year…which is better than impossible I suppose. According to this NY Times article and research from IDC:
"Overall growth in technology spending may fall from 7 percent last year to 4 percent or less this year"
The backdrop on this is that it’s not like spending has been going bonkers over the past 5 years especially in enterprise software and more specifically B2B investments. I had a recent chat with the head of e-business at a large distribution company where he lamented the continued "hangover" from the tech bubble and the empty promises (and bad investments) from so much vaporware.
Improved access and more economically tolerable consumption models (SaaS/on-demand) make this a less difficult (but not easy) road. Hubspan (yes, a shameless plug but our strategy is relevant to my point) is approaching this with a blend of self-service and managed service capabilities. As budgets tighten further, companies will seek more economical ways to address the B2B agenda be that through outsourcing B2B projects completely or choosing to take on initiatives with a more attractive on-demand consumption approach versus the big dollars historically required for integration software, servers, and staff.
Venture Vice 