Stories by: Len Rust

SaaS vendors, ISVs, telcos, and hosting providers in Asia are coming together to create powerful SaaS ecosystems that will accelerate the technology's adoption in the region, according to a recent research report by Springboard Research. The report was called SaaS Enablement -- The Emerging Ecosystem.

One of the most talked about topics right now is innovation. Hardly a day goes by without some prominent publication featuring comments from consultants, academics, and now politicians about how the key to breakaway success is to out-innovate the competition.

This week the spotlight on Loop9, EvoConnect, Aura, Scentral, PtyAuctions, and Electric Optic Systems

As companies continue to move to using multiple providers for their outsourcing services, the number of reported megadeals awarded to a single service provider has declined, according to Gartner. Megadeals are characterised as being worth more than $US1 billion. In 2007, 10 outsourcing megadeals were awarded, a decline from 12 in 2006.

Current economic volatility may trigger further business process transformation in the financial services (FS) sector, according to a financial services industry research paper released recently by business advisory firm EquaTerra. "What's Next for Service Delivery in Financial Services?" Is a compilation of findings from two recent studies offering management insights gleaned by canvassing industry leaders on a variety of business topics.

There is a powerful need to master outsourcing. From basic IT services to computer business processes, organisations are increasingly obtaining services and capabilities from a shifting blend of internal and external sources to meet goals for cost efficiency, agility, and growth. That was a clear message from Gartner VP and analyst Linda Cohen, who kicked off the Sydney Gartner Outsourcing & IT Services Summit 2008 last week.

Brazil, Russia, India and China -- collectively known as BRIC -- represent 43 per cent of the world's population and will profoundly change the way both the mobile telecommunications and the marketing industries operate.

Australians are expected to spend $27.2 billion on telecom connectivity services this calendar year, a healthy four per cent year-on-year growth, according to Telsyte's latest research. The mobile market -- now the single largest segment -- will attract 42 per cent of that spending, with penetration approaching 108 per cent of the population.

The spotlight this week falls on Common Vision, Xbio Systems, BloomTools, Avoka Technologies, and Replica Data Security

Worldwide PC shipments are on track to reach 297 million units in 2008, a 12.5 per cent increase from 2007 shipments of 264 million units, according to Gartner. The company's analysts have increased their outlook from their previous forecast due to the continued strength in mobile PC growth. In March, analysts had projected an increase of 10.9 percent.

The term information technology has ballooned to encompass many aspects of computing and technology and is more widely recognised than ever before.