NEWS&ANALYSIS
the
buzz
such as scanners.
Dell is also offering
a $79 VGA-out cable
that connects to the
bottom of the Axim
X50v, allowing users
DELL THIS MONTH IS
to connect to a presshipping a new Axim
entation projector. The
handheld with a 3.7cable comes bundled
inch VGA display for
with software that
viewing images at
makes it easier to
640-by-480-pixel
project Microsoft
resolution.
PowerPoint files.
Like previous
Dell’s Axim X50v has a
The Axim X50v
Axims, the $499 Axim 3.7-inch color screen.
runs Windows Mobile
X50v supports 802.11b
2003 Second Edition software for
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 1.2 wireless
Pocket PCs. The X50 replaces the
connectivity. When the handheld
Axim X5, Dell’s first handheld,
recognizes a Wi-Fi hot spot, it
launched in November 2002.
alerts users and asks whether
they want to connect. A button
—Shelley Solheim
on the handheld allows users to
suspend wireless capabilities to
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
conserve battery life.
Fueled by an Intel PXA270
624MHz processor, the handheld has 128MB of ROM and
64MB of SDRAM (synchronous
SAS INSTITUTE LAST WEEK LAUNCHED
dynamic RAM), 139MB of which
Version 3.0 of its SAS Supplier
is available for users. The Axim
Relationship Management suite.
X50v includes built-in CompactIn this version, the business intelliFlash and Secure Digital I/O
gence software company is splitslots for connecting peripherals
ting the product into four modules
HANDHELDS
Dell adds
VGA to Axim
SAS updates
relationship suite
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The lessons we have learned from search
engines and marketing are that the consumer
wants to be in control and does not want
intrusions.
Matt McMahon, executive vice president of Fathom Online,
a search engine marketer in San Francisco
18 e W E E K n O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 0 4
to let customers manage costs
and phase in deployments of the
software.
The modules include Spend
Analysis, for analyzing how much
is being spent and on which suppliers; Sourcing Data Quality, for
managing supplier data gathered
from transactional systems;
Procurement Scorecard, for
tracking supplier performance
through a dashboard interface
with key performance indicators
customized to a company’s business; and Sourcing Strategy, to
recommend future spending levels with each supplier.
The version is built on the SAS
9 business intelligence platform,
which adds better data extraction
and cleansing capabilities and
improved database management.
—Dennis Callaghan
MULTIMEDIA
Microsoft unveils
entertainment strategy
MICROSOFT UNVEILED ITS DIGITAL
entertainment strategy in Los
Angeles last week as part of the
company’s plan to manage multimedia content at home, on the
road and in portable devices.
The focus of the announcement was Windows XP Media
Center 2005, together with a
Media Center Extender device
that will push a home’s digital
content out through a wired or
wireless network. In addition,
top PC OEMs announced that
they will back the new software
with their own hardware, complete with support for multiple
tuners and HDTV (high-definition
TV) content. —Mark Hachman,
eweek.com
E-COMMERCE
eBay repairs
PayPal outage
ONLINE MARKETPLACE EBAY’S
PayPal payment service was
back up last week after five
days of intermittent outages.
PayPal service was restored by
Tuesday evening after problems
shut down the service Oct. 8.
Users began experiencing
glitches following a software
upgrade to the PayPal system,
eBay officials said. eBay has
reassured its users that their
account data and personal
information have not been compromised. ´
BY THE NUMBERS
Quarterly earnings roundup
Infosys
Technologies
Reported 49% increase in second-quarter
profits; upped revenue forecast for the year
Intel
Posted 15% rise in third-quarter profit, to $1.9
billion; saw slower-than-expected chip sales
Yahoo
Third-quarter profit more than tripled, to $253
million, and revenue more than doubled; most
of profit came from the sale of Google stock
Accenture
Fourth-quarter net income grew 52% on
strong consulting and outsourcing business
Nokia
Third-quarter net profit fell 20%, to $813.6
million, due to lowered prices on handsets;
sales declined 13% in the quarter
Apple
Fourth-quarter profit more than doubled on a
37% increase in revenue; sold two million
iPods during the quarter
Sony Ericsson
Third-quarter profit increased 45% in 51%
increase in handset sales
w w w. e w e e k . c o m