Doing Business With Open Source
Small Business Computing (05/22/07) ; Weiss, Aaron

The upsurge in open source products from commercial entities translates into more free software options for small businesses, particularly in the realms of messaging, customer relationship management (CRM), office productivity, and accounting. However, not all open source products are free, as users must cough up money for support, hosting, premium services, and customization. To enhance office productivity, for example, small firms can use the OpenOffice suite, which is compatible with the major operating systems and features a word processor, spreadsheet, and database, among other tools. Companies looking for a messaging system for use with Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal, and Blackberry should consider the Zimbra Collaboration Suite, with email, contact, and calendar tools. For open source accounting, businesses can chose from GnuCash--intended for double-entry accounting--or TurboCASH, which is considered a more user-friendly tool that enables users to produce extensive reports and design their own invoices. Those interested in open source CRM might want to consider SugarCRM, which features lead tracking, contact management, shared calendar, project management, and case management capabilities.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/news/article.php/3679161

Can Dual Monitors Give Your Staff a Productivity Edge?
Tech Journal South (05/17/07) ; Hobbs, Eric

A growing number of companies are offering dual-monitor setups for their workers as a means of boosting productivity. Jon Peddie Research has found that dual monitors can drive up productivity by 20 percent to 30 percent simply by improving the user's spatial memory, which records information. Meanwhile, research by the University of Utah reveals that the use of two monitors simplifies comparisons of two spreadsheets, documents, Web sites, or other information. To connect two monitors to a single computer, users need either a video card that can handle two monitors or one video card for each monitor. Identical monitors should be used to match color, brightness, and contrast.
http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=3157

Souping Up Your Cell Phone
Business Week (05/14/07) No. 4034 , P. 82 ; Kharif, Olga

A growing number of mobile applications are allowing cell phones to behave more like laptops. To take advantage of these applications, users must shell out at least $80 per month on a voice and data package from their wireless provider, plus any additional charges related to the application. Users who frequently attend business meetings outside the office might want to consider scanR software, which allows them to take a camera-phone picture of a business card or document for transmission to a co-worker via email or fax. Users are given a personal scanR Web page as well, making it easy for them to upload scans of business cards and import the information into Microsoft Outlook. Those who make five or less scans per month can use the service at no cost, while more than five scans costs $3 per month. Another useful mobile application is Google SMS, which allows users to send airline names and flight numbers via text message to find out the departure and arrival times and gate numbers.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_20/b4034085.htm?c
han=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories

Unified Messaging: The Next Wave?
Processor (05/11/07) Vol. 29 , No. 19 , P. 11 ; Millard, Elizabeth

With unified messaging, email, instant messages, voicemail, and faxes are integrated and stored in a central repository, where they are accessible via laptop, PDA, mobile phone, and other such devices. Unified messaging systems can boost the productivity of mobile workers by enabling them to hear emails and read voicemail, but experts urge companies to determine whether such features will actually benefit operations or simply be thought of as cool by employees. Other considerations include security, what types of messages to store, and the compatibility of the repository and the devices used to access messages. Peter Zimmer of Infocrossing says companies with limited budgets can opt for managed services that eliminate the need to build unified messaging systems from the ground up. According to Zimmer, "Many managed messaging providers have infrastructures that include provisioning tools for adding sources of messaging and device support for user bases." Adomo, Avaya, and Interactive Intelligence are the leading vendors in the unified messaging arena.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2
Fp2919%2F21p19%2F21p19%2Easp&guid=&searchtype=&WordList=&bJumpTo=
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