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Case Studies
iStart TV – Video Case Studies
Here you can view iStart's latest video case studies online. Just click on the images below to get started... READ MORE >
iStart NZ e-newsletters
Click on the links below to view html versions of previously published iStart NZ e-newsletters... READ MORE >
ICT News Update - AppWrap October 2009
Monthly wrap-up of all the key news and deals from the ICT market to keep you up to date. Click here for the December 2008 edition... READ MORE >
Industry Report: 16 August, 2001 Growing Your Own Internet
Making sense of intranets, extranets, VPNs and corporate portals. New Zealand businesses must work to ensure information flows freely around their own organisatonal pond before they can expect to benefit from the full impact of any external knowledge wave. READ MORE >
e-Biz Trends: Web Services, the new Buzz Word Enterprises which have yet to streamline their internal systems and are still waiting to integrate their front office and back office with the web may be able to jump the queue by taking advantage of Web services technology. READ MORE >
E-Business Functions
There are 6 key areas of business processes that organisations can look to e-enable in the coming months and years. READ MORE >
e-Biz Trends: Add Voice to Your Data Network
Voice over IP technology seems to be one of the big winners on the IT manager's wish list this year as pressure increases on organisations to find ways to simplify technology management and reduce costs... READ MORE >
At Last ERPs Geared for Local Needs
A two part analysis by Keith Newman A few years ago if your organisation wanted an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system it would most likely require massive re-engineering and an IT budget the size of Telecom's latest profit
e-Distribution Options "Companies Don't Compete - Supply Chains Do" The phrase has never been more relevant. So just how well are New Zealand distribution companies adjusting to the Internet? Are we struggling for cohesion or developing world-leading e-distribution models? Most importantly, what are the options for your business? Here's our 2002 report card. READ MORE >
White Paper: B2B - Size Doesn't Matter!
Connecting your business into a trading community or linking with partners to streamline transactions and build tighter supply chain relationships is the cornerstone for efficient e-commerce. But if you are using incompatible databases and document formats you may find yourself locked out of the conversation. In this Industry Report, iStart looks at five organisations offering translation software or services to get you speaking the same language, no matter what size your company. READ MORE >
Online credit card payments: FAQ
Two questions for websites selling goods and services to the world, but quoting prices in New Zealand dollars. One: are you losing the business of people wary of an unfamiliar currency? Two: are potential customers suffering from "dollar shock", mistaking your $NZ prices for $US? A new solution is multi-currency credit card billing. READ MORE >
Woolly thinking and harsh realities cost farmers $2-$3 million
We wrote off the NZ Wool Board's Woolnet development months ago. So you can imagine our surprise when Woolnet won the category for "Excellence in e-Business: B2B" at the Computerworld Awards in July. The judges claimed Woolnet was "completely transforming" the industry. Wishful thinking, but far from true. All that glitters is not gold and we uncover 13 lessons for eMarketplaces to prove it... READ MORE >
From Revenues to Profits
Special Report: CRM and Data Warehousing CRM initiatives don't always live up to expectations. The key to success is to see beyond the technology and address your organisation's strategic approach to customer service... READ MORE >
Tier 2 ERPs Winning Big Boy's Business
What do you think? Time to throw out our legacy systems and start again or can we safely keep adding disparate bits to our existing systems for the next few years and still get the efficiencies and interconnection we need? When the crunch comes, many New Zealand companies of all size are turning to mid-market ERP's. READ MORE >
The typical business loses 1/2 of its customers within 5 year
It costs 7 to 10 times more to gain a new customer than to retain one
5% increase in retention can result in a 25% to 75% increase in profits
In this report, we team up with leading CRM solution providers Front Range to dispel the myths about CRM and expose the important realities. As usual, we have developed this report with all size organizations in mind...as you'll see from the next surprising statistic
What is a Portal And Why You May Need One
Because time is money. Today, people expect and need to be able to find information and make decisions within minutes instead of weeks or months. Here's a quick overview of how enterprise portals bring information and applications together to make you and your staff more productive and efficient. READ MORE >
Industry Report; Virtual Marketplaces Need Real Value Electronic marketplaces first emerged about three years ago in the belief that collaborative communities of complimentary businesses would attract buyers and sellers in their droves to conduct instant secure on-line transactions. Many lessons from home and abroad have tested the concept, yet some kiwi companies continue to demonstrate tenacity and innovation and are making the model work... READ MORE >
Industry Report: Dial-Up Days Are Dying ISPs Must Re-invent or Roll Over. Dozens of ISPs face extinction or being swallowed up by their peers unless they move up the value chain and begin offering far more than dial-up connections, email and web hosting. READ MORE >
Part one: 21 point checklist to increase your website ROI
Email marketing and internet strategy specialist Debbie Mayo-Smith got the chance to re-work her own web site recently and as a result decided to put fingers to the keyboard and draft a 21 point checklist for everyone. So whether you have a website or are considering revamping it, want to brief a designer on a new one, or have a colleague that's puzzling over theirs - this will certainly help... READ MORE >
Part two: Gratuitous flashing and avoiding orphans
Here's the second set of top web site tips from email marketing and internet strategy specialist Debbie Mayo-Smith, including; the use of Flash, layers, backgrounds, colours and most importantly avoiding orphans... READ MORE >
E-Procurement sign of high performing companies
Benchmark Research surveyed large firms in the US, the UK and Germany to find that 63% of high-performing companies have saved between 10% and 50% with e-procurement solutions compared to just 3% of their low-performing counterparts...
READ MORE >
e-Commerce introverts may be ex-communicated
Part 1 of a 2 part series looking at how New Zealand's largest companies are beginning to dominate their online supply chains. First up, Telecom and Foodstuffs. Two companies outwardly providing the resources required for smaller suppliers to participate online, whilst quietly making it clear that laggards may fall victim to the un-spoken rule developing; "Get e'd or get left out"... READ MORE >
McDonalds seeks closer electronic relations
McDonalds has an efficient system in place for communicating with its suppliers but very little of it is electronic as yet. As business increasingly moves to the electronic supply chain it’s seriously looking at its options and exactly what it will require of its suppliers... READ MORE >
Most top-10 e-tailers are multi-channel
The tide has turned away from pure-play dot-coms towards those operating online and offline sales channels, also known as "bricks-and-clicks" retailers. Retail Forward's 2001 Top 10 e-retailers include eight multi-channel companies - up from five in 2000 and just three in 1999... READ MORE >
Outsourcing gets overloaded businesses back to basics
Companies grappling with the speed of change and the complexity of their technology needs are increasingly turning to outsourcing to ease the pressure so they can get back to business basics. We asked Marc Cribbens, senior analyst at IDC to shed some light on the New Zealand trends... READ MORE >
Why NZ e-commerce uptake is slow...or is it?
Don't be too quick to beat yourself up if your site can't handle transactions. It could be that your customers don't want to anyway and are looking for something different... READ MORE >
Bricks and wheels before clicks and e-deals
Business is booming for many traditional Kiwi firms but while their computer systems are groaning under the pressure they prefer to invest in bricks and mortar and new machinery rather than jumping into e-commerce. It could be at least two years before they’re ready to open their purses for supply chain or ERP initiatives... READ MORE >
Understanding Bluetooth
This article explains technology characteristics and workings of Bluetooth, a short-range wireless connectivity technology that lets devices automatically recognize, connect and transfer data between each other... READ MORE >
Personalisation power!
We all get lots of email - that's a given. Does it make a difference to you when you see your own name? It did to Simon Young but it also got iStart in hot water recently. Read on...
READ MORE >
Government should adopt e-procurement
Editorial Feature: The government stands at the cross-roads of Efficient and Yesteryear Streets this week as 49 agencies decide whether or not to sign up for GoProcure – the government’s e-procurement project. Here’s why they should and what's in it for you if you supply government departments… READ MORE >
Content key to visit - sale transition
Provision of fresh, up-to-date, relevant content for visitors to your site to read is what turns a visit into a re-visit, and a re-visit into a buy. It's content therefore that drives website transactions - the purest form of e-commerce. Why it's important and what content to provide is all covered in the following...content! READ MORE >
B2B email campaigns get clicks, banners bad
Research in the United States indicates that B2B email campaigns can result in click-through rates as high as 25% although the average is far lower and dropping year on year. Meanwhile, surveys also indicate that banners are leaving a bad taste... READ MORE >
Southfresh closure
Trying to hook customers into the e-commerce net without the right quota of support from fish suppliers forced the Southfresh pioneering on-line effort to run aground. Founder Toby Warren speaks candidly about the threat e-commerce is to middle management, human nature and "crap timing"... READ MORE >
TVNZ's BCL has Broadband strategy for all NZ
TVNZ-owned Broadcast Communications (BCL) wants to help the nation's telecommunications carriers provide fast-internet access into rural and regional New Zealand, a task which has been in the 'too hard' basket for several years... READ MORE >
Tradenz launching portal for web wary exporters
The launch of the new $12 million exporters portal comes at a time when many New Zealand businesses are disenchanted with the internet because they’ve not seen a return for investment, been locked into proprietary technology or poorly advised on how to promote their web presence... READ MORE >
Anxious industry awaits Swain’s next move
GoProcure - possibly the biggest e-business project in the country this year, is in the spotlight. There's speculation that it hasn’t been piloted properly, but no-one's prepared to talk about it. Paul Swain’s in a tight spot – he’s promised government e-procurement but is he staking his reputation on a winning model?... READ MORE >
Getting fleeced the internet way
New look, same old scams; the Internet is attracting plenty of cheats and conmen. Mark Wright looks at the in's and out's of electonic crime - e-fraud, get rich quick schemes, credit card scams and more... READ MORE >
Deliver us from dial-up
Let's just change the name of Northland to Broadbandland and be done with it - because life for the telecommunications user in the North is gonna to be just peachy, if you believe all you hear...
READ MORE >
Financing flexibility gives new lease of confidence
In the current atmosphere of caution few companies are prepared to take an open cheque book approach to investing in IT systems. Rather than the pain a single hit on the balance sheet might inflict the majority favour some form of financing and are finding no lack of vendor flexibility… READ MORE >
18 companies tendering for broadband RFP
The Government's initiative to ensure all schools and communities have access to broadband services by the end 2004 has taken another step forward with the announcement that 18 companies or consortia had been invited to participate in the Project Probe Request For Proposals process...
READ MORE >
Portals next big thing
Illuminata, a New Hampshire-based research group focused on e-business technologies, has released a report in which the role of portals is projected to become increasingly important over the next few years... READ MORE >
Portals-know what you're getting into
Over the past year, the buzz around portals has reached a level where most corporates couldn't help but take notice. But, as happens with many emerging technologies, awareness and fad have become intertwined. As Gartner Group recently wrote, "'Portal' is the most-abused term in IT." By defining what a portal is -and can be - and looking at the capabilities of the technology, the applications and benefits of portal technologies become much clearer... READ MORE >
Consumers to define mobile content market
Now that wireless operators have the technology to deliver voice, data and video to mobile phones, they would now do well to follow the Japanese company NTT DoCoMo’s strategy for content delivery... READ MORE >
GoProcure go-ahead still needs commitment
The government is still trying to convince its own departments and suppliers that GoProcure is the way to go and is relying on an expensive first phase before forcing the issue or backing off... READ MORE >
Are you fast enough?
New Zealand's fastest growing companies are making smart use of internet technology. Keith Newman talks to John Skeets, chief executive of Marshal Software, rated New Zealand's fastest growing company by the Deloitte’s Fast50, and the leaders of two other high flyers – Atlantis and IceBreaker - to gleam the secrets of their web usage and what it means for the rest of us… READ MORE >
B2B Bottlenecks - getting e-docs flowing
With many of New Zealand’s leading companies developing electronic document exchange “communities” with trading partners it won’t be long before you’ll be expected to send and receive things like purchase orders and invoices electronically too... READ MORE >
Mobile business - the case becomes compelling
Kiwis love being mobile and now businesses are enthusiastically catching on. Vikki Bland investigates the social and economic trends driving increasing numbers of local companies toward mobile technology and what they can expect once they start digging... READ MORE >
Search engine marketing industry booms
Despite the reduced revenue estimates for online advertising, one vehicle that bucks the ad-spend trend is search engine marketing. Spending for this format has increased by 144.0% in the last year. One reason for this growth: companies are finding that search engine marketing is today's best interactive tool for driving carefully targeted audiences to websites... READ MORE >
Paying and viewing bills online
This year, 13% of consumers are paying bills online and 20% are viewing bills online – up from just 2% and 1%, respectively, in 1998, reports TowerGroup... READ MORE >
Easy pickings in tough times
For a company enjoying 10 percent profit margins, an overall cost reduction
of as little as 5 percent can impact earnings by 20 percent. Sounds good,
but where's the easiest place to find a 5 percent cost reduction...? READ MORE >
Finding the ERP that fits
SMEs and corporates alike are breathing a collective sigh of relief as ERP vendors take steps to make their solutions more palatable to Kiwi businesses. Keith Newman reports on an industry maturing...
READ MORE >
Portals that work
Many of today's portal initiatives fail to provide access to useful tools and resources on a daily basis; fail to facilitate interaction among customers, partners and employees; and fail to manage the content associated with these interactions. So how do you create a portal 'that works'?... READ MORE >
Portal progress & potential
Corporate portals have surged onto the scene so fast that few IT
corporates have had a chance to get familiar with them. If you're just getting
your ears wet in the portal scene, Michael Desmond's article
is a good place to start... READ MORE >
Get your email in shape for 2003
Get rigorous and discover the tips and tricks to turbocharge your email marketing for greater profitability in 2003... READ MORE >
Making mobiles multi-modal
When having to drive somewhere new, exactly one-half of wireless internet users would like to view a map on a mobile device, rather than hear directions through the device, reports In-Stat/MDR. But how safe is it to drive with such a device?... READ MORE >
Business intelligence boosted in 2002
Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation, has reported a revenue jump
of eight percent from the fourth quarter of 2001, citing
return-on-investment advantages of data warehousing and business
intelligence. Their next release looks set to extend intelligence tools
from management to all levels of staff… READ MORE >
Taking focus off the website user
Often websites overlook promising opportunities from the usability perspective. Vineet Thapar discusses the importance of 'User Focus' while continuing to retain website technology intricacies... READ MORE >
What the analysts are picking
Worldwide wireless enterprise interoperability revenues should rise from $9.5 billion in 2003 to over $80 billion by 2006 according to Kinetic. That's a big call, so what exactly is "wireless interoperability"?... READ MORE >
Making agility your competitive advantage
In today's fragile economic environment, the ability to respond quickly to changes of every size and shape is not merely a nice capability to have; it’s a must... READ MORE >
Cost and client failure shuts Always There
The Always There ASP business model was fatally flawed because it relied on a cost structure established at the height of the hype cycle making it relatively expensive and difficult to achieve expected sales... READ MORE >
To 3G or not to 3G, what was the question?
To understand where mobile data is going, it helps to understand how mobile networks have progressed. Vikki Bland explains what the "G" means, what "G" we're up to and when we can expect the big "3G"... READ MORE >
Qualified leads through free exposure on Tradenz site
Trade New Zealand’s new export web site has resulted in participating companies receiving more than 600 international trade enquiries during its four-month trial period… READ MORE >
It's time to unleash your road warriors!
In today ’s world, whether for business or fun, wireless communication is where it ’s
at. It is, in the words of Vodafone New Zealand, “the future ”. But there’s more to
it than that – ‘data’ is a more complex beast than ‘voice’ and you need to know
the differences between the networks. Vikki Bland speaks openly with Vodafone and Telecom Mobile about their strengths and weaknesses so that you can make more informed decisions this year... READ MORE >
Winning the war on paper
As I write this article – admittedly on paper – I realise there’s no way we’ll ever get rid of paper completely. However, the vast majority of paper based communications and transactional information such as purchase orders, confirmations, shipping notes, invoices and statements are simply clogging the arteries of the knowledge economy and holding us back as individuals and business entities... READ MORE >
Big boys line up for Probe
Kids in Wairoa will have access to the same information and online opportunities as kids in Wellington or Washington by the end of 2004, according to government broadband Project Probe head Tony van Horik. The tenders are in and everyone's holding their breath in anticipation... READ MORE >
Global Doldrums - It's time to get shipshape
Many New Zealand companies overly cautious of investing in technology risk being becalmed on the sea of uncertainty when they should be embracing smart strategies and preparing for better times. But how can businesses position technology-wise in the current global economic doldrums? Keith Newman investigates five strategies that start with a lesson from the best-selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad... READ MORE >
Boom, bust, build-out theory predicts internet upswing
The NASDAQ has rallied 12% this year and e-Commerce companies are up 65% in the last six months. That’s no surprise to Cisco senior vice president Howard Charney, who says what is happening with the internet is the opposite of what many people think. After a period of recoiling it will spring forth with renewed vigor and acceptance in much the same way as two other major industries have in the last century... READ MORE >
IRD infrastructure to focus on e-enablement
The Inland Revenue Department is gradually opening up its back-end processes so taxpayers can complete all their tax obligations online. The IRD's general manager business development Colin McDonald explains... READ MORE >
Traditional suppliers become NZ's e-commerce masters
In New Zealand e-commerce terms, office products suppliers Boise, Corporate Express and Office Products Depot are online veterans. And as David McNickel discovers they've all taken a different approach yet all have found the e-comm move has paid good dividends - both anticipated and unexpected!
READ MORE >
.NET & XML Web Services - A CEO's Guide
You've probably heard of Microsoft .NET and may be wondering how it fits into your IT architecture planning. In this article we explain Microsoft .NET and XML Web services - and showcase some local examples of businesses that are benefiting from these new technologies, including: 3-Tier, Villa Maria and Numeric Computer Systems... READ MORE >
Does your website scratch an itch?
Does your website answer what people are really asking, or are you just telling everyone about your product or company? Simon Young looks at how to find out the answers to your customer's question... READ MORE >
Kiwi manufacturers lead CRM, e-commerce and ERP uptake
New Zealand and Australian firms are leading the rest of the world in uptake of applications that go beyond traditional ERP. SSA Global Technologies reveals the key investment projects being deployed over the next 12 month period... READ MORE >
Wifi worries - what's all the fuss about?
Wireless guru Luigi Cappel doesn't like the idea of being forced to visit certain hospitality outlets just so he can have wireless LAN connectivity - he wants to see a more a open model for New Zealand... READ MORE >
Making the most of marketing automation
The traditional functions of marketing were captured by the simple mnemonic "The Four Ps": product, price, promote, place. As business has become faster, more complex and increasingly global, this summary appears at best incomplete, and at worst simply quaint. Here are ten reasons to invest, a preparatory list, and a decision tree to selecting the best software… READ MORE >
VoIP adoption hits 46%
A recent report from In-Stat/MDR indicates that over 46% of enterprise telephone stations sold in the US last year were IP based. So what does this mean in terms of dollars spent?.. READ MORE >
Business process outsourcing - caution recommended
Finding the right fit for skills, technology and even contract conditions when choosing a partner for business process outsourcing (BPO) is critical if organisations want to avoid frustration and failure. Keith Newman looks at Gartner's latest research... READ MORE >
GoProcure reduces offering
State Services Minister Trevor Mallard announced late Friday that after evaluation of the first phase of GoProcure, the proposed whole-of government online requisitioning system will be scaled back to focus on creating a "core transaction hub"... READ MORE >
Oracle committed to acquiring PeopleSoft
The gloves are well and truly off as Oracle battles to take over PeopleSoft...
READ MORE >
e-Media acquires Viatx business
Dunedin-based E-Media Limited has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of web content management company Viatx... READ MORE >
NCR - straight from the top
After 20 years at NCR and Teradata, NCR president Mark Hurd is in a unique position to discuss today's business challenges. Working for a company whose motto is 'turning customer transactions into customer relationships', he is all too aware of the information issues every chief executive deals with on a daily basis... READ MORE >
GoProcure - 'watch this space' say Govt
Suppliers interested in getting involved in GoProcure, the proposed whole-of government online requisitioning system, will need to wait until at least the end of November for decisions says the E-Government Unit... READ MORE >
Broadband roll-out hindered say TUANZ
While TUANZ says NZ is lagging behind in broadband uptake, Telecom say they’re doing all they can... READ MORE >
Life's a beach - why aren't you working there?
Working from home is a good idea, but working from paradise is better - David McNickel looks at the emerging reality of hi-speed access from (somewhat) remote locations, and how it's changing the face of work in New Zealand... READ MORE >
Which mobile device for your business?
Where once our mobiles were lovingly referred to as bricks, they've now morphed into a range of different devices operating on quite diverse networks. So which mobile device is right for your business? Vikki Bland investigates what's on offer - and talks with business people about what they're using and why... READ MORE >
Lawson sees mid-tier opportunity in PeopleSoft/JD Edwards merger
Lawson has announced a program to ease what it describes as "uncertainty" among mid-market users in the wake of the PeopleSoft and JD Edwards merger - and the concurrent hostile takeover threat by Oracle... READ MORE >
JetStream roll-out gaining ground with business
Telecom say Stewart Islanders have been quick to give JetStream a try after the Half Moon Bay exchange was upgraded for broadband last month... READ MORE >
WiFi explained
Everything you ever wanted to know about the latest communications revolution. Keith Newman answers the WiFi FAQ's... READ MORE >
James Hardie builds bridge between TV and web
Case study: Building product manufacturers James Hardie are using the web to leverage exposure from their TV Showhomes infomercials to point potential customers in the right direction… READ MORE >
Tech wars - the new age battlefield
During the Napoleonic Wars, daily battle casualties would often exceed 20,000 dead. 150 years later the US death toll on D-Day was 6,603. When America invaded Iraq earlier this year, they took the whole country with fewer than 150 killed by enemy fire. Their strategic advantage? Better technology… READ MORE >
Cut to the chase with content management
As communication channels proliferate, an organisation's ability to manage the content it presents to both internal and external clients has become crucial. Keith Newman investigates the solution to getting all your data managed online for when, where and how you need it... READ MORE >
Get Smart! 3 steps to better business intelligence
Businesses today are continually asking questions about how to cut expenses and improve profitability. Increasingly, a comprehensive Business Intelligence solution is the tool they’re turning to for answers – David McNickel finds out how it’s done... READ MORE >
Getting your emails onto your mobile - here's how
Are you one of the thousands who've heard about email to your mobile - but still haven't got a clue how to get it? Vikki Bland explains the steps... READ MORE >
Mmmmm…Payments
M-Payments – the TV ads are running and the media machine is in motion – but should we be expecting to turn our ‘cell phones into buy phones’ anytime soon? Vodafone says of course, but Telecom isn’t so sure. Vikki Bland investigates... READ MORE >
Mobility worries for world's most powerful companies
Representatives from the world's most powerful group travelled to Sweden recently with one question on their minds; How is 'mobility' going to affect their decades old business models? Their host, Lars Svensson, president of Ericsson Enterprise, sent an Auckland audience away to think about the same issues recently...
READ MORE >
Cisco shows off IP Telephony case studies
IP Telephony allows companies to send voice over their data network. This in turn can facilitate improved customer service, streamlined business processes and ultimately, greater revenue. The company has now made available a series of white papers, demos and case studies from local companies such as CallPlus, ASB Bank, Lion Nathan and Corporate Express... READ MORE >
Crystal ball: CEO outlook 2004
Looking ahead to 2004, iStart asked the heads of three technologically influential companies (Telecom, IBM & Microsoft), for their pick on the opportunities and challenges facing small to medium enterprises. Interestingly, business owners and managers being prepared to invest some time in understanding what existing technology offers them, was high on all their wish lists... READ MORE >
Measuring e-Newsletter effectiveness
Email newsletters are one of the most effective means of keeping in touch with your customers and prospects on a regular basis. But how do you know if they're really interested in your company or products?... READ MORE >
Conferencing technologies save time and money
Impulse Research Corporation has determined that 75% of respondents to a recent survey of 1,000 US business professionals have participated in a web conference in the last year. Interestingly, only 12% said they preferred conferencing due to concerns about travel safety... READ MORE >
Sales Force Automation - it's not just for the big guys
If you think mobile workforce automation is only for big corporations with huge budgets - think again. Today’s technology means any sized business can do it - even yours... READ MORE >
Marketers making moves online
Patrick Marketing Group finds that 50% of US marketing executives expect their spending on seminars and events to increase in 2004 over this year... READ MORE >
Future proof your home
New Zealanders have two strong tendencies; we want to own our own homes and we’re enthusiastic adopters of new technologies. Put the two together and it’s probably a good idea to ensure that your new home is wired (and unwired) for advances in IT and telecommunications today – and 10 years down the track... READ MORE >
2004 Buyers Guide: Smart Help Desks
In a small company, if a PC, fax or photocopier breaks down, there’s usually someone in the building who can fix it. For bigger organisations, however, managing support services across multiple sites has become a major cost center. Current best practice thinking is to consolidate IT, Human Resources, and Facilities support into one consolidated service desk. David McNickel finds out why... READ MORE >
Broadband for all - Project Probe explained
***Check our map for the Probe tender winner in your region*** If you are like many readers, you may be confused about what seems like a vast array of names popping up in the broadband provider space. Probe, BCL, Extend, Woosh, JetStream, Telecom Wireless, Vodafone, Counties Power, Wired Country, Walker Wireless, ThePacific.net and a few others besides. Although at first glance the list may seem difficult to get one’s head around, the following Q&A should provide some clarity... READ MORE >
Messaging - your business lifeblood
The human body needs a constant flow of nutrients and energy to survive. Blockages can be fatal and in business it’s no different. Marty Verry examines the business equivalent to human pacemakers and dialysis machines - integration solutions and message-broking services - and how they’re being used locally... READ MORE >
GoProcure calls it a day
State Services Minister Trevor Mallard has announced the government's online procurement system, GoProcure, has wound up and will not be continued... READ MORE >
Retailers' online losses to fraud decline
Mindwave Research surveyed 333 merchants in North America in October, reporting that retailers' losses from online fraud have declined over the years as a percent of overall online retail from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.7% this year... READ MORE >
Career sites cutting into newspapers’ niche
Job seekers used to turn to the employment section of their local newspapers, now they turn on their computers and log on to the Net. In fact, Borrell Associates finds that US online recruitment advertising revenues hit $3.1 billion last year, whilst US newspapers’ share of recruitment advertising dropped from $9.1 billion of the $19.5 billion market in 2000, to $5.5 billion last year… READ MORE >
Telecom launches new ASP offering
Telecom Advanced Solutions terminates relationship with GDC and launches its own ASP offering into New Zealand... READ MORE >
Telstra Clear launches feature-rich SME telephony service
As IP telephony becomes the latest hot topic for major corporates looking at a telecommunications overhaul, Telstra Clear say their new 'Private Voice' service will offer the SME sector much of the functionality of IP telephony - while at the same time reducing their total cost of ownership… READ MORE >
ASB and Telecom to launch world-leading mPayment service
ASB Bank and Telecom are launching a world-leading mobile payment service that, in the future, will enable consumers to pay for goods and services from their bank account using their mobile phone... READ MORE >
Eight trends to keep an eye on this year
Online industry watchers eMarketer gathered a team of senior analysts recently to come up with the top trends that will influence the business community in 2004… READ MORE >
White Paper: Winning All The Way
This paper explains the cultural, organisational and technical issues companies will face as they adopt a collaborative philosophy. It draws on expertise and case studies to explore the benefits and ways in which organisations in a trading community can create what the authors describe as the 'Win Scenario'. You'll find a summary and the full version here… READ MORE >
The agony of a website revamp
Success IS director Debbie Mayo-Smith shares the processes and strategies she used to completely redo her company's website recently. If you're up for a re-work shortly then this article should give you a new perspective on your site, especially if you rely on search engine traffic... READ MORE >
Why Trademe works
The TradeMe web site is experiencing month on month growth as buyers and sellers let the market decide the best price for cellphones, antiques, clothing and computer parts and the auction technology behind the scenes attracts attention from other players... READ MORE >
ERP battle moves to mid-market
2003 was a tumultuous year in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software sector – and 2004 is already shaping up to deliver more of the same. In this special iStart report, we take a close-up look at emerging trends in the New Zealand ERP space – and offer business decision makers some insight into how current trends may influence their ERP decision making strategy... READ MORE >
SAP appoints Eagle as New Zealand reseller
In its continued drive for the mid-market, SAP has appointed Eagle Technology as a sales and service reseller... READ MORE >
What makes people read your email?
To write an effective marketing email, you need to understand the mindset of the people you're sending to. In this issue we find out how you can do that... READ MORE >
Sharing documents between staff & offices
Spent any time trying to find a lost email, Word doc, spreadsheet or research report lately? Annoying wasn’t it? Annoying… and expensive. Badly managed document flow, storage and retrieval is costing New Zealand businesses millions of dollars a year. But as David McNickel discovers, it doesn’t have to be that way... READ MORE >
Is IP telephony right for you?
As they ready their aging PBX systems for retirement, many business managers are asking about IP telephony. What it costs, what it does, how they get it – and if they don’t get it now, are they missing the boat? Fortunately iStart telephony expert Vikki Bland has all the answers… READ MORE >
NZ CFO Survey: Outsourcing low, ERP under-exploited
IBM Business Consulting Services has just released the results of its New Zealand chief financial officers (CFOs) survey... READ MORE >
RFID - tracking every step you take
Radio frequency identification is the next big thing for inventory management... READ MORE >
Shape up or ship out! NZ retailers get strict
The pressure is on for suppliers to New Zealand’s larger retail chains to lift their game by adopting electronic tools including using mobile sales entry and document exchange to improve accuracy and efficiency... READ MORE >
Business of squelching spam
The Radicati Group estimates the volume of spam messages worldwide will grow by 115% between 2003 and 2004, totaling 35 billion by the end of this year... READ MORE >
Managed ICT solution delivers DTZ a competitive advantage
Property services company DTZ New Zealand is the first beneficiary of Telecom Advanced Solutions' recently-announced partnership with Computerland… READ MORE >
Using technology to aid personal motivation
What do an ancient Greek philosopher, All Black great Sean Fitzpatrick, business guru Kevin Roberts and author Steven Covey have in common? Their names and voices have all been used in 'Aristotle' - a ground-breaking new web-based coaching and motivation service. Vikki Bland investigates... READ MORE >
Customer service: let's get real
Warm fuzzy television commercials depicting idyllic relationships between customers and a company’s contact centre have been around for years. The reality of the relationship, however, has often been less rose tinted. Today, says UCMS Solutions’ Mark Maddren, businesses are finally “getting real” about their CRM offering... READ MORE >
Swain accepts partial Telecom unbundling
Communications Minister Paul Swain has decided he will not force Telecom to unbundle its local loop phone network. He has accepted Telecommunications Commissioner Douglas Webb's recommendation that Telecom offer wholesale high speed internet (broadband) services to rivals on the local loop to foster competition... READ MORE >
Foodstuffs project set to launch next e-Commerce wave
Foodstuffs and six of its suppliers have begun a pilot scheme that looks set to trigger New Zealand's next big supply chain e-commerce wave. Marty Verry finds out how... READ MORE >
Asia-Pacific technology CEOs top confidence tables
Asia Pacific CEOs in the technology sector are more bullish than their US and European counterparts, according to a survey of more than 400 CEOs in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 - a ranking of the world’s fastest-growing technology companies… READ MORE >
Hamish Carter's secret weapon
As he prepared for the Olympic games, champion New Zealand triathlete Hamish Carter had a secret weapon in his training arsenal - a mobility solution from HP and Vodafone... READ MORE >
Moving on to 3G
The days of mobile phones simply making and receiving calls are now way behind us. Today we're surfing the web and sending emails with our phones, taking photographs - and even filming videos. And while we might think this is about as good as it's going to get, as David McNickel discovers, in mobility terms what's happening now is only the beginning… READ MORE >
Txting 4 Biznis - It's not just for the kids
There's no doubt that Txting has become a social phenomenon. But aside from keeping teenage thumbs busy, as David McNickel discovers, the technology has numerous applications in business - potentially saving organisations thousands annually in communication costs... READ MORE >
Special Feature: 6 steps to VoIP and IP Telephony
Thinking about IP telephony? Unsure of what you need to know, where you should start or who you should partner with? In this in-depth feature, telephony guru Vikki Bland steps you through the entire IP telephony process - from vendor consultation, to system analysis and ultimately, implementation... READ MORE >
IP Telephony: Making a business case
Three days, six conference themes, 44 exhibitors and 8000 attendees - Grant Casci reports from the Alcatel Forum Paris 2004 about the latest thinking on making the business case for IP... READ MORE >
E-procurement - 5 vital steps, 2 trends and a tip for making it work
Misunderstood by many, e-procurement is not an online version of Victoria Park Market where procurement managers shop around for the best deals - line item by line item. Instead, it is simply organisations automating their purchasing processes - and making huge overhead savings by doing so. David McNickel explains how... READ MORE >
What next for CRM?
As the ‘trickle-down’ effect in business applications continues, CRM specialist Trudy Barnett takes a close-up look at CRM in New Zealand - and finds the SME sector firmly in vendors’ sights... READ MORE >
Global Trend Watch: e-Commerce takes off
According to America’s Department of Commerce, online retail sales in the US last year rose by 26%, to $55 billion. Seems a lot but that’s only 1.6% of all retail sales... READ MORE >
New magazine for mobility decision makers
You can always tell a product has truly arrived when somebody dedicates a magazine to it. And so it is with the mobile phone, as this month sees the launch of a New Zealand magazine totally dedicated to the subject of 'the mobile'… READ MORE >
Feature Article: Photos by phone
We’ve all seen the ads and it looks like fun, but how do you actually use photo messaging services, what’s the quality like, what does it cost – and is there a difference between Vodafone and Telecom’s photo messaging services? Michael Foreman gets in the picture... READ MORE >
Mobility Explained: All about WAP
You’ve heard about it and it’s on the features lists of most new phones, but how do you actually use WAP – and more to the point, how do you use it easily?... READ MORE >
Don't get caught Phishing
Phishing scams are growing at an alarming rate. But that doesn't mean they can't be controlled. Consumer education is key to preventing being duped... READ MORE >
Abandoned carts litter the net
Consumers are adding items to shopping carts at a slightly higher rate than last year - 9.4% in Q2 2004 compared to 8.3% in Q2 2003 - but cart abandonment rates are higher too, reports DoubleClick… READ MORE >
TUANZ award for Wired Country's broadband
Taking on the big boys in the telco industry has paid dividends for Counties Power with Neil Simmonds, head of their fledgling broadband access network division 'Wired Country', taking out the "Chairman's Award" at this years Telecommunication Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) awards... READ MORE >
e-Commerce's big comeback
New Zealand has had around a decade of commercial online activity. What have we got to show for it? What’s the net being used for these days? And who’s succeeding in the online world and why? Vikki Bland investigates... READ MORE >
How to get email to your mobile phone
As highly mobile as we are, when we get back to our computers most of us spend ages sorting through our emails – reading this, deleting that, replying to the other – wouldn’t it be easier to have got all that sorted while we were out, by accessing our email directly on our mobile phones? Read on to find out how... READ MORE >
Mobile email for business
Email is perhaps the most important functionality in current mobile devices – be they PDAs or mobile phones. But with security now all important, business users need enterprise grade mail solutions for their people in the field – offering a combination of pull and push techniques to give the always-on email experience... READ MORE >
PDA market not done growing
Research company Gartner reports that after 10 consecutive quarters of shipment declines, worldwide PDA shipments reached 2.75 million in the second quarter of 2004... READ MORE >
'Bluetooth' explained
The technology that allows wireless connection between mobile phones, computers, headsets, car kits and even fax machines, is now available in many 'premium' phones. But how does it work, and what should you be aware of when buying a Bluetooth capable device?... READ MORE >
90 Days to improved process execution
Business Process Management has now entered its third phase – promising faster business turnaround and effective use of information. David Knight explores its fascinating evolution... READ MORE >
Desktop Convergence: IP meet PC, PC meet IP
A consistent standard of management and customer service, the potential for a flexible home based workforce, and an easy evolution path are just some of the benefits on an IP Telephony/CTI solution. Vikki Bland gets the latest... READ MORE >
Ready, steady IP telephony
For some years, the prospect of being able to reduce business telephony costs substantially by routing calls via the Internet has had enterprises eager with anticipation. Logical CSI takes a look at the business case for IP Telephony within an organisation and where it's now headed... READ MORE >
Sourcing your outsourcer
Lower overhead, best in class technology and greater resource flexibility are benefits of outsourcing your IT function. Tony McDrury looks at why your company should consider an outsource arrangement - and why the choice of outsource partner is critical to your success... READ MORE >
Trademe.co.nz stars in NetGuide Web Awards
Online auction site Trademe.co.nz, has starred in this year’s NetGuide Web Awards, the premier competition for recognising the best websites produced in New Zealand. The site has scooped Best Trading Site and has claimed the awards’ top prize, Site of the Year… READ MORE >
Reinforcing the case for IP Telephony
Cost savings, improved functionality and reliability are all cited as potential benefits of internet protocol telephony. But experts advise against hinging your business case on the savings - instead, focus on business process improvements. Chris Bell explains… READ MORE >
ASB goes mobile to double-check it's you
ASB Bank have introduced an innovative security step involving mobile phone user verification to protect customers against online theft from their bank accounts... READ MORE >
Interview: Marc Ellis - Putting mobility to work at Charlies
He’s an ex-All Black, Warrior and Kiwi league star, appears on two TV shows and is now making his mark in New Zealand’s business community with his orange juice company, Charlies. We interviewed Marc Ellis and found out mobility plays a large part in his business... READ MORE >
Passion! CRM that fuels the emotions
Traditionally you may have focused on a product push strategy, but Saatchi & Saatchi's Kevin Roberts says the winning brands of this century will be ones that can "create genuine emotional connections with the communities and networks they live in". Neil Stewart examines the trend and how CRM solutions can help your organisation make the most of it... READ MORE >
3G - what's in it for business?
At Christmas, Telecom enabled commercial access to its 3G network. Sometime in mid-2005 Vodafone will follow suit. But the question NZ businesses are asking is "so what?" - what exactly will the respective 3G networks deliver in terms of business uses and benefits? Vikki Bland takes a closer look... READ MORE >
Synchronisation with Infrared & Bluetooth
Two of the greatest synchronisation and file transfer technologies incorporated into mobile phones these days are Bluetooth and infrared. Read on to find out how to install both to get files off and on to your phone quickly – and wirelessly... READ MORE >
Synchronising Nokia, Panasonic, Sony Ericsson, Siemens and Windows phones
Once you have connected your phone to your computer via USB cable, Bluetooth or infrared, it's time to synchronise. Here's how to do it with these 5 phone types… READ MORE >
Buying a PDA or smartphone?
Thinking about getting a PDA, Telecom Harrier or Vodafone i-mate but unsure of what to buy or what features to look for? Here we help assess why a PDA might be right for you, and explain the differences between the dozens available today... READ MORE >
Picking the right PDA
All PDAs are not created equal and to gain anything from your investment in portable mobile technology, you must pick the right device for the job. Transtech Distributors' Eric Ryda (pictured right) offers some guidance... READ MORE >
PDA Review: Dolphin
A long established mobile computer manufacturer, Hand Held Products’ Dolphin range offers a reliable solution in the mid-range of PDA performance. HHP have applied considerable design thought to how operators actually work and behave in the field and all Dolphin PDAs/PDTs are designed to provide performance within a reasonable budget and a low total cost of ownership... READ MORE >
PDA Review: Falcon
For managers under tight budget constraints, PSC’s Falcon PDA range deliver performance and feature sets that are comparable with competing PDAs costing considerably more... READ MORE >
PDA Review: Intermec
Whether on the road, in the field, or on the factory floor, your team needs rugged, reliable mobile computers to be effective in their work. Whether your application is standalone, client-server, browser-based, or terminal emulation, Intermec mobile computers can help your business improve its operations, increase mobile worker efficiency, and build a better bottom line... READ MORE >
PDA Review: Symbol Family
In the world of Enterprise Mobile Computing, Symbol is rated as a premium brand. All Symbol PDAs are designed to offer extended battery life that will last for a full shift of between six and 12 hours, and higher capacity battery options are available on all models. All Symbol PDAs are also drop tested across the temperature range, an important consideration as PDA cases are usually more brittle at low temperatures and more malleable in a hot environment. If business applications demand topnotch specifications and components, and a certain cachet that comes with the high design standards, Symbol is a strong contender... READ MORE >
EDIS International develops partnership with EAN New Zealand
Global i-commerce company EDIS International has become the first confirmed Premium Partner of EAN New Zealand’s Alliance Partner Group... READ MORE >
High-flyer brings wealth of experience home
What do you do once you have built a global IT business, lured the best financial backers, then sold to your biggest rival for a mint? You come home and help others do exactly the same thing... READ MORE >
EDIS gives B2B e-business shot in the arm
Doing business over the internet just got easier, thanks to world-leading technology from an Auckland-based company… READ MORE >
Internet and e-business trends in 2004
What shaped the Internet and e-business landscape in 2004? eMarketer brings you the top ten Internet and e-business trends for the year. According to eMarketer's CEO Geoff Ramsey, "The Internet is back!" But this time, it's got a solid foundation... READ MORE >
Top ten e-Business trends for 2005
eMarketer's team of analysts and researchers give their predictions of what to look out for in 2005 in the Internet, e-business and emerging tech arena… READ MORE >
Merchants fighting online fraud
CyberSource's newest online fraud report finds that more e-retailers are using fraud detection tools and rejecting a higher number of online orders - especially if they originate in Nigeria… READ MORE >
Seven new cell sites bring Woosh’s coverage to a further 37,000 Wellington homes
Portable broadband provider Woosh Wireless has increased its coverage in Wellington with the commissioning of seven new cell sites this week. The new sites will bring an additional 37,000 households within reach of its high-speed wireless broadband service... READ MORE >
COMET to boost SMEs into cyberspace
No less than 97% of New Zealand’s companies are small-to-medium enterprises but just one per cent of our 285,000 SMEs sell products overseas. The COMET Program could be about to change that with a free e-commerce package worth almost $2,000 for the first 2,000 businesses to sign up... READ MORE >
Caution sign for yellow pages
A new survey shows that more consumers are going to Internet search engines for local shopping information rather than their phone books… READ MORE >
Push to Talk explained
Believe the hype! Set to rival texting as mobility’s next ‘killer application’, Push To Talk has finally arrived. But is it right for your business? Affirmative, sierra tango – read on for the details... READ MORE >
Report: Are you ready for RFID?
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is set to turn the mechanics of supply on its head. By tracking the number, location, and history of items in the supply chain, RFID will deliver internal efficiencies and productivity improvements as well as allowing businesses to be more responsive to market needs... READ MORE >
RFID: From farm gate to restaurant plate
One of the first areas to take up RFID technology in New Zealand will be primary produce – in particular, the meat industry. Marty Verry explains why RFID makes sense on the farm... READ MORE >
The nuts and bolts of RFID
How much do RFID tags cost? What types of tags are available? Who controls RFID radio frequencies in New Zealand? Priya Kunthasami of mobile computing specialist Pocket Solutions answers these questions and more... READ MORE >
Working wirelessly: Mike's tough day away
The pleasure and productivity of remote working has become a reality with technologies like wireless networks, mobile data cards and “WiFi hotspots”. Come for a day trip with our fictitious friend, Mike, as he takes his laptop on the road to show how it’s done... READ MORE >
Mobilising sales and service teams
With the devices and software tools in their hands to complete their work on the move, an effectively mobilised workforce can save your company huge sums every year. David McNickel & Trent Fulcher explain how... READ MORE >
NZ in mobile map attack
A year ago mobile navigation systems seemed to be one branch of technology that had passed New Zealand by. But a raft of products have landed on our shores recently and the service has finally dawned... READ MORE >
Test-driving Navman
iStart’s David McNickel takes the Navman PiN 300 for a drive – and his life changed forever. Perhaps yours will too... READ MORE >
Guided by Goldfinger
Goldfinger’s Guider is a local GPS navigation system that can be loaded onto a wide range of Pocket PCs and works with several popular GPS receivers... READ MORE >
Device Review: Motorola V3 RAZR
Although it was one of the pioneering companies in the mobile phone space, many industry observers began doubting Motorola's innovation at the beginning of the decade for seemingly losing ground – particularly in a design sense – to relative mobile phone newcomers like Samsung and Panasonic. The arrival of the Motorola V3, however, raises the design bar for all players... READ MORE >
Device Review: Samsung A680
Samsung’s A680 is an ideal phone for business travellers who need a compact but fully featured mobile. The clamshell design of the A680 makes it very easy to tuck into a pocket or bag when closed but it still offers a decently sized user interface when open. The phone measures 84 x 46 x 23.5mm when closed (the external antenna adds another 24mm to the length). It weighs just 106g but feels slightly top heavy when open... READ MORE >
Can IT rescue an overcooked economy?
With an over-valued New Zealand dollar and a tight labour market, investment in technology is the recipe for growth and productivity, argues ASB Bank chief economist Anthony Byett... READ MORE >
Killing downtime: 10 tech tools to boost productivity
While investment in machinery is important to blue collar staff productivity, information technology solutions hold the key to accessing greater levels of productivity from New Zealand's white collar workers and office based managers. We review over 600 case studies to find the top 10 productivity-enhancing solutions... READ MORE >
One ring to rule them all
New services linking company PABXs directly to mobile networks are threatening to make the office landline redundant. We compare Vodafone’s Integrated TalkZone with a rival service soon to be launched by Telecom... READ MORE >
Bluetooth Carkits - all you need to know
With more Bluetooth phones available, your options for in-car Bluetooth handsfree kits have increased. So should you ditch the cables for a Bluetooth carkit – and what are the pros and cons of the many options available? READ MORE >
Device Review: Navman iCN 635
Where do you want to go today? Or more importantly, how will you get there? A satellite guidance system could make all the difference, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar part of town or even an entirely new country. Navman’s iCN 635 is a GPS device that comes preloaded with maps of New Zealand’s roads and has the potential for storing more data for international travel requirements using common SD Card memory... READ MORE >
Device Review: Sony Ericsson HCB-300 Bluetooth Carkit
When Jim Morrison sung “Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel”, little did he know that a whole industry of gadgets would evolve to help us do just that, with Sony Ericsson’s HCB-300 hard to beat… READ MORE >
International calling: Mobile or landline?
Is it really cheaper to use your mobile to call internationally? We did the numbers... READ MORE >
Why invest big in your website?
Implementing a content management system to run your organisation’s site is a sizeable investment, which could easily cost your company a hundred grand. It's up there with a major refurbishment of the head office reception area or a modest TV campaign, so why should you throw this kind of money at the web?.. READ MORE >
Smartphone Apps: Microsoft or Symbian?
What exactly is a ‘smartphone,’ how do they work, who makes them, what can you use them for – and where can you find some applications? David McNickel investigates... READ MORE >
The evolving ERP landscape
This year could be a very good time to review your company’s ERP systems as consolidation among the big league solution providers has led to new migration options and trade-in deals… READ MORE >
Keylogix gets proactive on virus detection
Keylogix needed a security solution that would protect it’s company website, servers and laptops from the ever growing threat of viruses and Trojans... READ MORE >
Global state of RFID
Line56.com reports that there is a lot of spending internationally this year, with mainstream adoption expected by 2008. Average budgets are rising, but actual deployment still low... READ MORE >
You’ve got mail…Overload
You'd be appalled at the inefficiency and wasted time. From the CEO down everyone is trying to do more with less resource in business today. Use of the computer has skyrocketed over the past 5/6 years. It's supposed to have helped us and made us more efficient. However you'll find staff who are exceedingly time poor already are wasting often a fabulous amount of time on their computers (costing big time dollars). As web tool guru Debbie Mayo-Smith explains, there is an alternative… READ MORE >
Data pricing: a hindrance to mobile progress?
Are data charges in New Zealand too high? We investigate current data pricing from both Telecom and Vodafone – and compare it to pricing in similar markets offshore... READ MORE >
Time to upgrade your PDA?
The arrival of 3G, maturing network technologies and a raft of new terminals has opened up the choices for mobile computing users. Eric Ryda outlines an upgrade strategy... READ MORE >
Mangled Mobiles! Putting Nokia to the ‘drop’ test
Can today’s mobiles stand up to the Kiwi way of life – and how tough are rugged phones really? Nokia was brave enough to offer up its 3220 and ‘rugged’ 5140 for Mobile Business not-very-scientific ‘drop’ tests... READ MORE >
CRM is becoming the next ERP
With the new focus on managing customer relationships, CRM systems are becoming as widespread and business critical as ERP/financial systems. Marty Verry looks at the evolution of CRM through the decades and identifies the new concept of ‘predictability’ that’s likely to drive CRM’s popularity in the coming decade… READ MORE >
Fast Internet: making the business case
Broadband means more than just a fast internet connection. It can change the way you do business or even change your life. Greg Adams reports... READ MORE >
When in roam
The ability to roam internationally has been a major feature of Vodafone NZ’s positioning since the company launched here in the 1998. But what is the reality of Telecom and Vodafone’s roaming capacity - and how much does it cost? David McNickel investigates... READ MORE >
Telecom or Vodafone - which 3G for you?
The launch of Vodafone 3G is another milestone moment in New Zealand’s rapidly evolving mobile telephony industry. But from a user perspective, do you need it and which 3G network and handset should you go for? David McNickel investigates... READ MORE >
Extranets: 10 tips to increase user adoption and productivity
If users don't use your extranet or portal, then what's the point of having one? Performance and availability issues can drive down adoption, forcing your customers and partners to seek higher-cost alternatives offline, and leaving you to eat the cost of the application deployment. Properly implemented, however, an extranet can shave costs from your operations while increasing productivity... READ MORE >
The future of collaborative workspaces
Email is an ineffective tool for team collaboration. Teams are increasingly finding the answer to the email dilemma in the form of collaborative workspaces... READ MORE >
Wal-Mart on data synchronisation
Understanding the retail giant's position on data sync; an example of EDI leadership. Now that the shifting sands of the data standards have solidified, nearly all the major retailers globally are providing their suppliers with one or another form of encouragement to get on board... READ MORE >
Baggage tracking system enhances air travel safety
The chances of a terrorist attack on international flights out of New Zealand will be further reduced by a baggage tracking system currently being installed in New Zealand airports... READ MORE >
Reaping the rewards of RFID
RFID technology is beginning to take root in New Zealand’s primary produce and manufacturing sectors but industry experts warn that successful implementations might require some trial and error… READ MORE >
Fast Internet: where do you get it?
Okay, so you need fast internet. But where do you get it, and if you’ve already got it, are there better options available in your area? Michael Foreman and Greg Adams scour New Zealand's fibre optic networks, copper cables, and airwaves to find out... READ MORE >
Memory cards: all you need to know
The arrival of MP3 player phones and 3G services, means many mobiles now come with large capacity removable memory – how do you use them and how do they differ? Vikki Bland explains everything there is to know about removable mobile memory... READ MORE >
ACT! 8 (the CRM system) arrives in NZ
Earlier this year financials software vendor Sage purchased CRMs ACCPAC, SalesLogix and ACT! The newly formed Sage CRM has just released the latest version of its customer and contact management software, ACT! by Sage v8.0, for small to medium businesses and corporate workgroups... READ MORE >
Share the know how
The Linc Group used Pocket PCs to help their workers share information and expertise with their co-workers spread across 43 states. Find out how they did this! READ MORE >
Sir Bob Jones: cellphone addiction
I do not understand, to the point of bafflement, why people carry telephones around with them for commercial purposes. They got along much better before these things turned up... READ MORE >
Dot Com poster child grows up
Once a poster child for the internet era, e-procurement has matured into an application which can reliably deliver cost savings and process efficiencies... READ MORE >
Greg Muir: The IT thinking behind Pumpkin Patch’s growth
In the first of a regular series of interviews with leading CEOs, iStart caught up with Greg Muir, executive chairman of Pumpkin Patch, to gain his insights on the application of technology in a rapidly growing international business... READ MORE >
Overcoming mistrust in the mobile workplace
Research by mobile computing manufacturer Toshiba suggests that the slow uptake of flexible working is due to mistrust of employees rather than a lack of technology... READ MORE >
Insight: 2006 NZ IT Investment Intentions survey results
The 2006 NZ IT Investment Intentions survey provides an interesting look at the level to which New Zealand organizations intend to invest across a range of technology solutions in 2006. IP Telephony, CRM, Wireless and Business Intelligence are the big movers... READ MORE >
Avoid embarrassments get business intelligence
The embarrassing about-turn in recommendation by the independent directors of Carter Holt Harvey that shareholders now accept Graeme Hart’s takeover bid is a lesson to all business managers in the importance of good reporting. As Michael Foreman finds out, there are business intelligence solutions out there to support the growth of any size organisation... READ MORE >
Escape the office this summer
Will your smartphone allow you to escape to the beach this summer - and stay there an extra week while still editing and dispatching docs, emails and spreadsheets like you're actually in the office? The answer is yes. David McNickel explains how... READ MORE >
IBM NZ ‘transforms’ as it turns 50
IBM New Zealand is 50 years old. Boy, has it grown. When the company first set up shop here it had 14 employees and its revenue for the first financial year was £31,000. Today the company employs 900 people and has an annual revenue of $390 million... READ MORE >
Noel Leeming embracing global gift card trend
Noel Leeming Group has launched gift card schemes just in time for the Christmas retail season. As CEO Nick Lowe points out, there’s something in store for consumers and corporates alike... READ MORE >
Telecom bets on Triple Play
Telecom has announced plans for a single, countrywide IP network that will carry voice, data and video conferencing by 2012. Vikki Bland investigates what this will mean for businesses... READ MORE >
Device Review: i-mate JASJAR
The Windows Mobile 5.0-powered i-mate JASJAR can be described in three words: mini laptop phone. If you’re looking for a device that can replace both your laptop and your phone (and who isn’t?) – then keep reading... READ MORE >
NZ internet ad spend growth well ahead of USA's
New Zealand's growth in internet advertising expenditure for the first half of 2005 has proportionately outstripped high profile markets such as the United States... READ MORE >
e-Security breaches cost NZ business $140-$240m annually
The business cost of internet security breaches is estimated at between $140 and $240 million a year, according to an Internet Security Survey conducted by the Employers & Manufacturers Association Northern in November... READ MORE >
B2B marketers shift budgets to online
It's not a niche anymore. Nearly half of B2B respondents report that they have used online marketing tactics this year... READ MORE >
Survey yields mixed results
A recent poll of online banking and e-commerce customers conducted by RSA Security found a high degree of confidence about online banking security but less faith in the security of e-commerce transactions, and a wide range of opinions about who should be responsible for online security... READ MORE >
Geoff Ross: Liquor legend
Four years ago 42 Below vodka was still being distilled in a garage. Now the spirits firm is New Zealand’s fastest growing listed company. Michael Foreman persuaded founder and CEO Geoff Ross to reveal some of the behind-the-scenes technology which is helping to manage this success... READ MORE >
Executive Summary: 2006 New Zealand Mobile Business survey READ MORE >
Sam Morgan’s e-Business strategy - an i-Start exclusive
He’s now New Zealand’s 700 million dollar man, but six years ago when iStart’s David McNickel interviewed TradeMe founder Sam Morgan, his auction site wasn’t making a cent, and local tech-media portrayed him as a lightweight contender to the crown everyone assumed e-Bay would soon arrive to inherit. At the time he gave McNickel his thoughts on how to use technology in business – thoughts that are just as relevant today as they were in August 1999… READ MORE >
Workflow/Process Management - Don't mention the paperless office
Electronic document workflow isn’t only about reducing paper. It allows you to re-engineer processes, achieve operational efficiencies and extend workflows to suppliers and customers, as well as breathing new life into legacy systems... READ MORE >
'Service Oriented Architecture' explained
One of the underlying enablers of integrated business processes is Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). It’s a term more and more CIOs are talking about and is something business managers would do well to understand in order to ensure that their IT is future proof... READ MORE >
ERP landscape: A year in (p)review
What did your ERP provider achieve last year, and what are its plans for 2006? Find out the answers to these questions and more in iStart’s review/preview of 2005/2006... READ MORE >
Electronic gift cards go to the next level
Retailers which launched electronic gift cards in time for Christmas reaped big rewards as a result. This year will see many more schemes being launched as well as a host of new applications... READ MORE >
Mobile email - options explained
If email was the killer application of the nineties, mobile email must be this decade’s must have business tool. And it’s not rocket science anymore. These days even modest mobile phones are capable, and getting email to and from them is much simpler. Vikki Bland reports... READ MORE >
Mobile Office/email solution review: AnywhereExchange
It's not often a journalist will buy a technology solution she covers, but that's just what Vikki Bland decided after learning about AnywhereExchange. With the launch of this hosted service, use of mobile email, contacts, calendar and accessing your organisation's shared files from anywhere in the world (including securely via mobile devices) is now efficient, affordable and oh so easy... READ MORE >
Text means business
While it is clearly the communications method of choice for teenagers, to dismiss text messaging as ‘something kids do’ is making a big mistake. David McNickel takes a close up look at the new face of texting – commercial applications that matter... READ MORE >
WiFi your house
What does it take to WiFi your home, and what can you do once you’ve done it? Vikki Bland has all the answers... READ MORE >
3G or not 3G?
What exactly is a 3G phone, which phones access true 3G content and services, what’s the difference between Telecom and Vodafone 3G services – and is Telecom’s T3G 3G or not? Vikki Bland has all the answers... READ MORE >
Coming Soon: More Tech Ads
Online advertising of computer hardware and software is set to resume its upward path to constitute the second-largest advertising category on the Internet… READ MORE >
Taking Skype for a test drive
Internet telephony applications and a new breed of powerful personal digital assistants are causing a buzz right now. We took Skype for a test on a Telecom Apache PDA... READ MORE >
2006 New Zealand Mobile Business survey – could do better
New Zealand's businesses are geared up for mobility, but are yet to make the most of the functionality and services available, according to the 967 respondents to New Zealand's first mobile business survey. There are, however, some notable exceptions with certain technologies, industries and organisational sizes... READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for all organisation sizes and industries READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for organisation sizes and industries <20 staff READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for organisation sizes and industries 21-50 staff READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for organisation sizes and industries 51-200 staff READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for organisation sizes and industries 200+ staff READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for agriculture industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Energy/Utlities industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Financial/Business Services industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Govt - central/local/education industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Hospitality industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Import/Export industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for IT/Technology industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Manufacturing industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Media/Marketing/Communications industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Retail industry READ MORE >
2006 NZ Mobile Business Survey - results for Transport/Distribution industry READ MORE >
Mobile termination & the Big Mac Index
Are the costs of making a mobile phone call in New Zealand as far out of whack with the rest of the world as the government would have you think? Is the grass really greener? Is legislation really the right way forward? David McNickel crunches the numbers with some startling results... READ MORE >
Mobilising sales & service teams
If your field staff (sales or service) are still phoning or faxing orders in, or worse yet, actually coming into the office to input details of their day’s jobs then you're basically throwing money out the window. This issue David McNickel investigates Mobile Service Applications - extending your backend systems to field staff, and slashing costs as a result... READ MORE >
Mobile CRM/Service Application Buyer's Guide
Here’s a guide to several of the top solutions for mobilising CRM applications and service teams, complete with pricing, local case studies and device compatibilities… READ MORE >
RFID picks up the pace
Cheaper and better RFID tags are driving the take up of the supply chain tracking technology both overseas and locally... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Andrew Ferrier, Fonterra
When you are selling to customers in 140 countries you need robust systems to manage day to day operations as well as to stay on top of currency and commodity price fluctuations. Michael Foreman interviewed Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier (pictured) to find out how technology is being harnessed at the global dairy company... READ MORE >
Anti-spam law will bite
Proposed anti-spam legislation packs a punch. Debra Northmore, managing director of Ventell explains how the legislation will affect you… READ MORE >
BI systems - make your next move count
Too many business decisions are based on ‘gut feel,’ according to recent surveys, but to get a clear picture of how your company is performing you need a Business Intelligence System. Adam Gifford reports... READ MORE >
Business Intelligence Solutions Guide 2007
Ready to invest in a business intelligence solution? Then start research using iStart’s 2007 BI Solutions Guide covering nine of the leading options available locally, their functionality, reference sites and appropriateness for various size organisations… READ MORE >
How to save a packet with VoIP
The imminent ‘unbundling’ of New Zealand’s local loop has focussed attention on IP-based telephony. Vikki Bland examines the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ benefits of VoIP... READ MORE >
Vehicle tracking: dollars, sense and big brother
Rocketing oil prices are making vehicle tracking systems easier to justify in financial terms, but what will your drivers think? We asked three vehicle tracking solution providers to state their business case... READ MORE >
Vehicle tracking: the experience (Navman PiN 300)
MyMobile Magazine Editor David McNickel recalls road testing a Navman PiN 300... READ MORE >
Are CFOs from Venus and CIOs from Mars?
The operational relationship between chief financial officers and chief information officers can be likened to Venus and Mars - according to a recent global survey by Deloitte... READ MORE >
Device Review: Motorola L7 SLVR
If you like Motorola’s RAZR design but would prefer something that doesn’t bend in the middle, the SLVR (short for ‘sliver’ we think) offers the RAZR’s design flair in solidstate format... READ MORE >
BI goes deep
As business operations become increasingly more complex in the global environment, enterprises require enhanced business intelligence at the deepest level - embedded within essential business processes. How is this accomplished?... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Mark Franklin, Vector
Vector began as Auckland’s electricity lines company but its acquisition of United Networks and more recently NGC transformed the company into one of New Zealand’s most significant energy infrastructure businesses. We caught up with CEO Mark Franklin who gave us his insights on how technology is helping Vector to manage its assets and staff, and serve its customers on a large scale... READ MORE >
Electronic gift cards go 'ballistic'
New Zealand’s retail and corporate gift market is about to follow international trends as retailers are rushing to launch electronic gift cards in time for Christmas... READ MORE >
Gift vouchers go electronic at The Warehouse
The Warehouse was able to get an electronic gift card system up and running in just three months with the help of gift card design and logistics specialist Trio. The system positions the retailer at the forefront to international retail trends and lays the foundation for extension into corporate gifting... READ MORE >
Managing enterprise-wide information and web content
Business Problem; How to manage electronic documents such as emails, faxes, reports, proposals, manuals etc, as well as ‘content’ to be shared with others internally or over the web, through one comprehensive enterprise-wide solution? Solution; Content Management Systems (CMS). Here, Chris Bell reviews some of New Zealand’s market leading solutions and gets inspired by their wide range of business applications... READ MORE >
Counting the cost of CRM
Implementing a CRM system can be an expensive exercise but projects that succeed will deliver the benefits to offset the cost and far more. Here, CRM expert Trudy Barnett outlines the six elements to success, and warns that you ignore the advice at your peril... READ MORE >
7 steps to making your network wireless
Wireless networks allow SOHO users to work anywhere in their homes or offices, while larger companies can save on infrastructure costs or even change the way their staff work. But where do you start, and what about security? Here is our seven-point guide to setting up a wireless network whether for small business or corporate scale... READ MORE >
Sales on the move
Closing the deal on the spot and having sales transaction information flow straight into backend systems is the sure fire way to get greater revenue and productivity from your mobile sales staff. David McNickel investigates the inherent power of today’s mobile sales applications... READ MORE >
Finding the perfect fleet phone
Simon Young examines which mobile handsets are proving the most popular for the corporate market and why... READ MORE >
What can you do with 1GB
Fancy 50 hours of videoconferencing each month? How about sending or receiving 2,500 photos, 100,000 emails or 1,000 PowerPoint presentations? Vikki Bland discovers what’s possible when you have a gigabyte of mobile data to play with... READ MORE >
Content Management Solutions Guide 2006
Ready to invest in a content management solution? Then start research using iStart’s 2006 CMS Solutions Guide covering some of the leading options available locally, their functionality, reference sites and appropriateness for various size organisations… READ MORE >
Connected CRM
Despite spending about $35 billion on customer relationship management (CRM) software in 2005 alone, companies are leaving plenty of CRM value on the table. The good news is that, working largely with existing technology, you can align people and processes to unlock maximum CRM value. A McKinsey report tells you how... READ MORE >
Right Hemisphere wins PricewaterhouseCoopers Supreme Excellence award
PricewaterhouseCoopers Supreme Excellence Award for the NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year was awarded to Right Hemisphere - an inspiration to other New Zealand companies looking to take on the world. Right Hemisphere which earlier in the evening received the Rakon Deal of the Year award is leading the way for this year's hi-tech winners to become "world famous" in New Zealand as well as around the globe... READ MORE >
Mobile channel cast in starring role
When one of the entertainment industry’s big names moved into mobile marketing the company immediately increased promotional response by a staggering 500%... READ MORE >
Fleet tracking's a snitch
Security, productivity, cost savings and fleet logistical management are all key drivers behind the latest range of vehicle tracking solutions – David McNickel profiles the options... READ MORE >
2007 battle lines drawn for SOHO telecommunication market
The days of having to take business calls from a desk-bound landline are long gone. But what does the near future hold for small business telecommunications? What mobile phones, devices and services will be used – and who’s going to offer them?.. READ MORE >
3G grips New Zealand - check our maps for where
Developments in 3G mobile and mobile broadband coverage mean more New Zealanders can access broadband speed internet on the run... READ MORE >
Device Review: MOTORAZR maxx V6
The MOTORAZR maxx V6 is one of two technically advanced Motorola phones launching here recently (the other is the MOTORAZR V3xx). The V6 maxx is not 'just another RAZR' but is actually the first mobile phone in NZ (along with the V3xx) to support Vodafone's new '3G Broadband' (HSDPA)... READ MORE >
HP builds business notebook to order
Supply chain improvements mean that HP can ship its built to order notebooks directly to users faster than ever before... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Sam Knowles, Kiwibank
Few CEOs can claim to have launched a full-service bank from scratch. Even fewer can report healthy profits after just five years from a business that competes on price. Michael Foreman interviewed Kiwibank’s Chief Executive Sam Knowles to discover the role that technology has played in the company’s success... READ MORE >
Stop wasting your time travelling
New technology and new market entrants means that video conferencing is now an affordable part of a unified communications strategy. Vikki Bland reports on what's becoming a viable alternative to costly travel ... READ MORE >
Stay in touch
‘Hybrid’ – the word is well known when talking about fuel efficient cars, but what about resource efficient telephony solutions? David McNickel gets to grips with Panasonic’s VoIP Hybrid PABX solutions... READ MORE >
Bollard - hooked on a Kiwi high
Export Year 2007 is more likely to mark the collapse of the productive-export sector than a celebration of its export success, if nothing is done about New Zealand’s dysfunctional monetary policy. Wood industry leader Marty Verry questions how long New Zealand can afford the Reserve Bank's suppression of exporters' income with its high currency addiction, and how personally motivated the bureaucrats are to pull the country out of its accelerating spiral into massive national debt and declining relative incomes... READ MORE >
Special Feature: Paper takes flight from BPM assault
If you thought business process management was little more than an excuse for consultants to engage in a bit of navel gazing, think again. A successful BPM implementation can increase management visibility as well as saving time, money, staff, and trees... READ MORE >
The Warehouse maps business with XSOL
Increased productivity and a positive attitude towards business processes were the big payoffs for The Warehouse after the company adopted XSOL’s business mapping product... READ MORE >
Special Feature: Working with both sides of the B2B coin
In the world of electronic business to business (B2B) transactions, buying and selling are increasingly being seen as two sides of the same coin. Whether you are looking at it from the procurement side or the e-commerce angle electronic B2B solutions offer a range of tangible benefits to companies that regularly order from and supply to each other... READ MORE >
Online dating for staff & businesses
Two forces are coming together to transform the nature of recruiting. Recruitment is going on-line with a vengeance, and at the same time, companies are making the switch from using external agencies to going in-house, Roger Boyd reports... READ MORE >
Net outstrips print for job ads
Recent research shows that the internet is beginning to overtake traditional print media in New Zealand and overseas. In New Zealand the latest ANZ Job Vacancies survey revealed that more jobs were advertised on the internet than in newspapers in New Zealand for the first time... READ MORE >
Gartner warns of data centre overheating
Faster, more power-hungry chips could lead to overheating at older data centres, research organisation Gartner has warned... READ MORE >
Hacking: the real costs and what you need to know about it
A number of countries are now surveying local businesses and government departments to get an understanding of just how widespread the problems are, and just how much security breaches are costing them to fix... READ MORE >
Email for business: the dos and the do nots
What do Don Brash, Brian Connell, Craig Dale, Louise Nicholas, Katrina Jorgensen, 15 Air NZ staff in Christchurch, 10 staff from CYF, and David Morgan all have in common?.. READ MORE >
.NET developer: Mad about mobility
Microsoft .NET developer Orbiz powers the mobile teams of some of New Zealand’s largest corporates. We caught up with director Philip Verstraaten recently to find out more about Orbiz and what’s fuelling the mobility momentum... READ MORE >
Device Review: i-Mate Smartphone2
Vodafone now offer the i-mate Smartphone2 through its branded stores, and is actively promoting it as part of their 'Mobilise' campaign (which includes the i-mate Pocket PC Phone Edition and the Mobile Connect Card)... READ MORE >
Device Review: BlackBerry 7230
After using the BlackBerry it’s easy to see why more than a million people (business people in particular) now carry one. It’s easy to use, keeps the user always in contact with email and it’s a mobile phone too... READ MORE >
Phone Review: Sony Ericsson K700i
In terms of its size and overall presentation, the K700i sits somewhere in the mobile phone middle ground. It’s not the smallest handset we’ve reviewed, but while being larger than the Panasonic X300, for example, it is considerably smaller than the Nokia 2280... READ MORE >
Device Profile: Siemens S65
The S65 is the latest in the Siemens ‘S’ series of business phones. Elegant looking with a black plastic and brushed aluminium finish, the S65 comes with a solid suite of business and connectivity tools and also features a 1.3 megapixel camera... READ MORE >
Device Review: Vodafone Treo 750v
The Trio 750v is Vodafone’s version of the latest Trio implementation of the Windows Mobile... READ MORE >
The rugby team that isn’t playing games
Waikato Rugby Union is a multi-million dollar business. As a provincial rugby union, it’s a contender for the Air New Zealand Cup. Thanks to Vodafone 3G mobile comms, it’s now got an unfair advantage... READ MORE >
Mobile Device Reviews: commercial and industrial
Check out the latest handheld Notebook and RFID-ready devices and scanners from Pocket Solutions… READ MORE >
This Week: Lotusphere comes to you
IBM bringing the future of collaboration right to your doorstep, with a half-day event that brings you the highlights of our recent global Lotusphere 2007 event.... READ MORE >
Ricoh New Zealand deploys document automation system
Well known for its innovative approach to technology, Ricoh applies advanced software tools to deliver sales proposal and RFP automation to its nationwide sales team... READ MORE >
Come on over
What is number portability and how can it work for you? Vikki Bland looks at how Telecom and Vodafone plan to win you over to their mobile networks by letting you bring your existing phone number with you... READ MORE >
Mobile email evolves beyond Blackberry
Since Blackberry first hit the market in 1999, other handset vendors, Microsoft, telcos and hosted service providers have all risen to the challenge of making mobile email an attractive business proposition. Vikki Bland finds out first hand how simple and convenient it has become... READ MORE >
3GSM world congress
The 3GSM World Congress is the largest wireless event in the world. It is the global meeting place for decision-makers from across the breadth of the wireless value chain. Scott Wattie reports ... READ MORE >
Mobile sales oils Wynn’s supply chain
Wynn’s has overhauled its company processes right from its sales team through to the warehouse and the back office, thanks to a mobile sales solution from Vodafone and SalesLink... READ MORE >
Device Review: Motorola KRZR K3
Motorola's KRZR K3 picks up where the K1 left off, and it's a grown up, more mature cousin that boasts more power and functions... READ MORE >
Supply chain collaboration could be ERP's redemption
Supply chain collaboration is becoming one of the competitive battlefields for industry, and an area where costs and inefficiencies can be stripped down by sharing documentation and inventory levels online. But what are the road risks for you and your trading partners in this new, two-way commercial traffic?.. READ MORE >
Moving to VoIP: the question is when not if
With all of the hype surrounding Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) at the enterprise level, iStart decided that it was time to talk to WorldxChange CEO Cecil Alexander (pictured) to get some straight answers on what benefits and risks are associated with adoption of Digital Voice technology for the small to medium sized business owner... READ MORE >
Survey Results: 2007 NZ ICT Investment Intentions
The 2007 NZ IT Investment Intentions Survey, sponsored by Palm Treo 700WX, provides an interesting look at the level to which local organisations intend to invest across a range of business technology solutions in 2007... READ MORE >
e-Business tools making exporting easier
Electronic business systems are helping New Zealand exporters to do business internationally as easily and efficiently as doing so locally. Simon Young takes a quick tour of some of the options and how they are being used... READ MORE >
Exporter Eaton gains supply chain Viisibility
Manufacturers, distributors and exporters looking for an easy means of sharing data and documents and collaborating along a supply chain, without costly system upgrades, should take a close look at the way Eaton Corporation has applied Viisibility... READ MORE >
A CEO's guide to VoIP/Unified Communications
Productivity justifications are taking over from costs savings as the main drivers for VoIP and IP Telephony implementations, finds Simon Hendery... READ MORE >
Turning NZ’s IT innovations into IT export success
New Zealand is a hotbed of innovation for technology companies. We have a culture of go-ahead entrepreneurs and a market of early adopters. However most local technology companies have struggled to turn their innovations into export successes. Scott Wattie outlines the key points that you should take into consideration when developing your export strategy... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: David Body, Glidepath
Newly appointed Glidepath CEO, David Body, is over-seeing an overhaul of the company’s technology systems. CRM, VoIP and video conferencing are just some of the projects on the conveyor belt as it moves to keep up with international growth opportunities... READ MORE >
As simple as A, B, C?
While activity-based costing (ABC) can be a powerful tool for analysing profitability it has met with mixed enthusiasm over the past two decades. Has its day finally arrived?... READ MORE >
Putting Business Intelligence to work
BI can have a significant positive impact on your business, writes Chris Rodgers and Daniel Vidal (pictured) of Integral Consulting, but a strategic approach is vital... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Gael de Kerdanet, Calcium Communications
French strategic marketer Gael de Kerdanet has been at the helm of Auckland start-up Calcium during a period where customer numbers have grown from 10 to 280. He tells iStart why the company is about more than just an email solution and how New Zealand can encourage more technology development... READ MORE >
Tripping through the CRM minefield
Having made the decision to get serious about customer relationship management, what does a business need to do to make the CRM dream a reality? Expert Trudy Barnett offers some suggestions... READ MORE >
Businesses ramp up online ad spend
New Zealand businesses have been slower than their overseas counterparts when it comes to spending on online advertising, but the signs are they might be about the change... READ MORE >
How's your form?
Organisations fighting the paper war are increasingly going digital as the productivity gains and cost savings of deploying e-forms as part of an effective business process management strategy becomes clearer... READ MORE >
A change for the better: the BPM advantage
In the ultra-competitive corporate environment, business process management is a powerful tool which shouldn’t be overlooked, writes Gary Collier of PricewaterhouseCoopers... READ MORE >
University of Auckland spreads the word on XSOL
Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool. Project managers in charge of an XSOL roll-out at New Zealand’s largest university experienced just what an effect it can have... READ MORE >
Information Storage: 10 trends every CEO should understand
Information/data is the lifeblood of the commercial world and the way it is handled can make or break a business. Remote hosting, virtualisation, back-up, disaster recovery, compliance requirements – we look at major data storage trends and how they are impacting on business... READ MORE >
Connected for the cups
New Zealanders winging their way to Europe to watch the America’s Cup in Spain and the Rugby World Cup in France may find their mobile devices and services are not quite as ready to globetrot as they are. Vikki Bland looks at the best global roaming options available... READ MORE >
Vehicle tracking: commander of the fleet
From vehicle location tracking to guiding drivers to the location of their next job, fleet-tracking technology is helping businesses large and small cut costs and improve productivity... READ MORE >
Häfele NZ turns data into information with a few clicks
Architectural hardware distributor Häfele NZ used to struggle with tracking sales across its broad product range. Then the company discovered QlikView, a highly flexible reporting and analysis tool… READ MORE >
Mobile money - banks taking the lead
Mobile payment systems are on the move and the future is in mobile technology. What's available to mobile users now, and do mobile payments deliver a competitive edge for businesses to offer? Vikki Bland looks at all the options currently available to mobile users, and investigates what we can expect to see in the not so distant future... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Jim Quinn, Express Couriers
Express Couriers Ltd (ECL) recently deployed a new handheld mobile tracking device to its contractors. CEO Jim Quinn talks about the challenges affecting the New Zealand courier industry and enthuses about the technology giving ECL a competitive edge... READ MORE >
BPM: A matter of public opinion
The Pubic Records Act ushers in sweeping changes to the way government departments manage and archive information. What can the business world learn from the civil service’s PRA experience?... READ MORE >
CRM software on demand: the elusive silver bullet?
Is the software-as-a-service model of delivering CRM just a wave like any other or a Tsunami force your business can’t ignore? CRM expert Trudy Barnett investigates... READ MORE >
Decisions, Decisions...
Mark Norton, chief technology officer of Idiom Ltd, outlines the benefits automated decisioning can bring to an organisation and offers some tips on how a decisioning solution can be implemented effectively... READ MORE >
Toyota Finance finds key to simple process management
Toyota Finance New Zealand (TFS) had invested a lot of time in documenting its processes and policies, but it lacked an adequate means of managing ongoing improvements and changes. Out went the Word-based manuals in favour of Promapp's dynamic web-based solution... READ MORE >
Switching on to IP: is it time to make the call
For years, the ICT industry has talked up IP telephony and the power of ‘unified communications’. But how do the numbers stack up for real businesses that have made the transition?... READ MORE >
Web 2.0: can your business handle the truth?
Web 2.0 is all about growing online communities through honest opinions and feedback. Is your company’s website up to the challenge?... READ MORE >
Field force automation delivers the goods for courier companies
Despite encountering a range of problems with early hardware, two of New Zealand's largest logistics companies have remained firmly committed to mobile technology... READ MORE >
Get smart(er)
Most phones these days can access the internet and send and receive basic emails, so the concept of a smart phone is somewhat confusing... READ MORE >
Energy and telco sectors leading the green charge
Almost two thirds of New Zealand and Australian businesses have environmental or green practices in place, according to a survey of Sun Microsystems customers... READ MORE >
Millions will ‘click-to-call’ without leaving the Office
Microsoft expects over 100 million customers globally will be able to “click-to-call” from inside its Office software applications within three years... READ MORE >
When it comes to IT, we think we’re pretty smart
New Zealand and Australian small business owners consider themselves savvy operators on the technology front... READ MORE >
Data security: 90% of firms at risk
Nine out of ten businesses are exposed to financial risk from data loss and theft, according to the IT Policy Compliance Group (ITPCG), a USbased research organisation... READ MORE >
Xero moves to general release
Entrepreneur Rod Drury's start-up software company Xero Live has announced the “general release” of its small business accounting solution... READ MORE >
Government’s business advice portal gets a makeover
Small Business Minister Lianne Dalziel says finding reliable and up-to-date business information has become easier with the launch of a new government website... READ MORE >
NComputing champions the $135 Virtual PC
Virtual PC solutions provider NComputing has announced the availability of its products on the open-source Ubuntu Linux operating system... READ MORE >
Key technology trends driving growth in local software market
Technology research firm IDC says the New Zealand software market reached a market value of $635.4 million last year... READ MORE >
Is RFID making waves in NZ & RFID Buyers Guide
New Zealand businesses have been slow to deploy radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as a supply chain tracking tool, but there are strong signals that might be about to change... READ MORE >
iStart / University of Auckland 2007 RFID Survey results
In some of New Zealand’s major international export markets RFID is starting to be seen as offering a competitive advantage and a significant return on investment. Is it time kiwi companies began taking notice? iStart has been involved in a major University of Auckland survey examining how widely RFID technology is being adopted locally... READ MORE >
Megatrux revs up its high-tech logistics service
RFID printing technology from SATO is an essential part of an integrated technology solution which has significantly improved customer service and shipping accuracy... READ MORE >
Dollar Thrifty Automotive uses RFID to control traffic flow - indoors
The leisure rental car business used RFID technology to determine the most popular events at its annual summit, making the next one more efficient... READ MORE >
Tracient Technologies helps Mini Tankers NZ deliver to its customers
The country’s largest on-site refuelling franchise has cut data errors and improved customer service with an integrated mobile solution incorporating Tracient’s RFID readers... READ MORE >
Strategic Procurement: Widening the net
Tapping into the full efficiencies of eprocurement means engaging electronically with as many supply chain partners as possible... READ MORE >
Survey Results: 2008 NZ ICT Investment Intentions
The 2008 NZ IT Investment Intentions Survey provides a fascinating insight into the level to which local organisations intend to invest across a range of business technology solutions over the coming year... READ MORE >
General Cable sets benchmark in IAS 39/FAS 133
Along with many other multi-national companies, General Cable Asia Pacific faced the challenging task of complying with new international accounting standards. Tuatara and CNS Treasury Software took away the pain... READ MORE >
RHE and Idiom help National Transport Insurance focus on the future
National Transport Insurance implemented Focus - a fully integrated Line of Business Insurance System. By developing business rules in-house, Focus is delivering a scalable, extensible, state of the art platform... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Ralph Norris, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Two years into his role as CEO and managing director of the Commonwealth Bank, one-time Air New Zealand boss Ralph Norris has once again used his thorough understanding of IT to drive through massive internal change and turn poor customer service on its head... READ MORE >
Videoconferencing: Video on demand
Advances in network and video management technologies mean videoconferencing systems are easier than ever to install and use. Vikki Bland asks whether that also means returns on VC investment is also improving... READ MORE >
WorldxChange’s cost-reducing IP PABX solution stacks up for Lumberlink
The pine lumber and wood products company invests in a communications system that saves money while allowing for future business growth... READ MORE >
Remote control? Securing your ever-expanding virtual business network
Remote working is an increasingly attractive option for organisations looking to boost productivity and cut costs. But how do you ensure the security of priceless corporate information across an everexpanding virtual network? Vikki Bland investigates... READ MORE >
Where are we? GPS explored
No idea where you are but don't want to ask directions? The answer to all your problems comes in just three letters...GPS. Chris Hurn investigates the technology behind GPS, where it is currently being used, what devices can help you and looks at the future applications for GPS in the world of mobile business technology... READ MORE >
Device Review: Sagem Porsche P'9521
Born out of collaboration between the German “engineers of passion”, Porsche Design Company, and French company Sagem Communication, this latest fashion phone is proudly European and self-consciously purist. No surprises then that the P’9521 was unveiled at the prestigious red dot design museum, where due homage could be paid to its painstaking manufacturing process... READ MORE >
Jumbo hacker trouble for Boeing
A new report from the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has sounded alarm bells at Boeing, revealing that the 787 Dreamliner’s comphrehensive passenger entertainment system (which includes live broadband internet) could potentially be hacked by passengers – compromising flight critical systems... READ MORE >
Westland Milk Products laps up efficiency gains with Label & Track
The country’s second largest dairy co-operative has minimised paper records and cut errors using SATO’s solution... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Gordon Buswell, ITM
The building supply store chain boss’s no-nonsense approach to IT, combined with ITM’s strong culture of accountability to shareholders, has seen technology play a key role in growing the business... READ MORE >
Big vendors get wise to Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence is now high up on the list of corporate IT priorities. We find out what organisations should consider when looking to leverage their ERP investment by adding on a BI solution... READ MORE >
7 tips for attracting & retaining staff
Regardless of the size of your organisation, attracting and retaining the right staff is a major factor in your success and ability to grow. Here are some ways to do it right... READ MORE >
Talent management drives growth at The Warehouse
The country’s largest general merchandiser has a powerful framework for tailored staff development thanks to Sonar6... READ MORE >
Starf adds up for Withers Tsang & Co
When chartered accountants Withers Tsang & Co were faced with the unexpected resignations of several team members, the company turned to Starf for a new approach to managing its human resources... READ MORE >
The good oil on Document Management
Implementing an effective document management system can result in impressive productivity and efficiency gains for an organisation of virtually any size. Thinking about the impact such a system will have on a business’s people and procedures is a good place to start... READ MORE >
Converged services: worth a bundle
In a competitive business environment, loyalty should be rewarded, and telecommunications companies get this. So what can you get if you put all your telecommunications business with one provider?.. READ MORE >
Mobile broadband picks up the pace for business
Technology advances mean mobile broadband is becoming a must-have business tool. We look at the devices you need, the deals you can get, and the reasons for calling 3G... READ MORE >
2010 Human Resources Buyers Guide
iStart’s annual guide to the leading Human Resource vendors and their products, including local reseller and implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
NZ online advertising spend tops $135m
A report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) shows New Zealand advertisers spent $135.17 million on interactive and online advertising during the 2007 calendar year... READ MORE >
Partnership provides rapid BI deployment
A partnership between business intelligence software provider iQ4bis and HP Consulting & Integration is enabling New Zealand clients to get BI solutions deployed faster and more cost-effectively, says iQ4bis... READ MORE >
Get ready for Corporate Culture 2.0
Business tools that allow staff to engage with each other in the same way they do out-of-hours on social networking sites like Facebook may be the answer to generating fresh ideas across organisations... READ MORE >
Sheppard Industries powers on with Lawson ERP
The Sheppard Industries Group, an Auckland-based Australasian cycling industry provider, has revved up its ERP capabilities through a new deal with solution provider Lawson Software... READ MORE >
Business decisions: it’s all about relationships
IT services company Unisys is predicting three issues will underlie business decisions in 2008. It says all are linked by the need to develop a deeper understanding of the underlying needs of core business relationships: with staff, customers and the wider community... READ MORE >
Mobile viruses a growing concern
Security systems can now block the first computer viruses attack on cell phones, but the mobile industry sees new risks stemming from upcoming open software platforms such as Google’s Android... READ MORE >
Vodafone Live! bites into mobile advertising marketing with Snakk
Vodafone New Zealand has signed up Snakk Media as its exclusive agent selling advertising on the Vodafone Live! Web portal, which is free to browse for more than a million Vodafone customers who own Live!- enabled handsets... READ MORE >
Hospital to trial wi-fi phones
Capital and Coast Health will trial 30 wireless pendant phones in Wellington Hospital’s emergency department. The same technology has been used at Christchurch Hospital, where it has been credited with saving staff members an average of 22 minutes on each eight-hour shift – saving the hospital $155,000 to $345,000 a year... READ MORE >
Telecom extends worldmode roaming range
Telecom has launched the latest addition to its range of WorldMode roaming mobile phones – the OKTA Mondo... READ MORE >
Music on mobiles a favourite in China
More than a third of mobile phone owners in China, the world’s largest mobile market, use their handsets to listen to music, more than in Britain or the United States, a study showed. Some 34.8 per cent reported they listened to mobile music every month compared with 20 per cent in Spain, 18.9 per cent in Britain and 5.7 per cent in the United States... READ MORE >
Vodafone may quit Australia
Technology researcher IDC says Telstra’s decision to switch on superfast broadband in 900 exchanges in provincial and rural Australian towns may trigger a chain of events that could lead to Vodafone exiting Australia... READ MORE >
Stumped by too much data? - not NZ Cricket
While most ball-by-ball cricket data is used for the game’s followers and commentators, New Zealand Cricket has harnessed software turn this data into a powerful competitive tool for the Blackcaps... READ MORE >
Canon moves to IP Telephony with TelstraClear
Canon New Zealand has selected TelstraClear to provide a fully managed converged voice and data solution... READ MORE >
HP gives printer customers the (carbon) credit
Hewlett Packard has launched a new initiative in New Zealand and Australia to help its customers reduce their environmental footprint... READ MORE >
Rotary Platforms NZ milks Sage for growth
The fast-growing manufacturer of rotary platforms for the dairy industry has deployed Sage’s resource planning and management solutions... READ MORE >
EDS New Zealand searching for new MD
Industry heavyweight EDS New Zealand has announced the resignation of MD Steve Murray, who has left the organisation for family reasons after just under two years at the helm... READ MORE >
Freightways bundles up Australian info and document businesses READ MORE >
Maclean Computing launches integrated IT/Tel service READ MORE >
Honeywell is sweet with Electricity Commission READ MORE >
Spam up in March, says Symantec
Worldwide spam activity continued to inch upward in March, according to security company Symantec. The latest Symantec Spam report says spam levels “bounced” higher during the month, averaging 81 percent of all emails and peaking at times during the month at all-time highs of nearly 88 percent...
READ MORE >
TSB adds POLi payments to its online banking
The TSB Bank has integrated the POLi payment service into the heart of its internet banking software... READ MORE >
OOXML format wins ISO approval
The ISO international standards body has voted to adopt Microsoft's Office Open XML (OOXML) document format as an international standard based despite strong opposition from a number of quarters, including organisations in New Zealand... READ MORE >
New Trans-Tasman submarine cable planned
New Zealand Government-owned telco network company Kordia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australia’s PIPE Networks under which the two companies have agreed to collaborate on a project to establish a new, private fibre optic cable linking the two countries... READ MORE >
iStart is now in Australia
iStart is happy to welcome readers to iStart – Australia’s ICT Research Hub... READ MORE >
TANDBERG and Agile in new strategic partnership
Global technology provider TANDBERG, a specialist in telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video products and services, says it has strengthened its channel presence in New Zealand with the appointment of Agile... READ MORE >
Survey Result: Ceos behind data breaches should be jailed
An international survey of 107 security professionals conducted by Websense at this year’s e-Crime Congress reveals a quarter of respondents believe the arrest and jail sentence for the CEO or Board member responsible would be a fitting punishment for a serious company data breach that exposes consumers’ confidential data... READ MORE >
Most popular websites accessed at work: Google, Facebook and Trade Me
A survey by New Zealand Internet security and management company Mako Networks shows Google, Facebook and Trade Me were the top three most accessed websites during business hours in March... READ MORE >
Unisys expanding Kapiti data centre
Unisys New Zealand is expanding its data centre in Kapiti, near Wellington, doubling the capacity of the facility... READ MORE >
Government calls for feedback on Digital Strategy
Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe is calling for all New Zealanders to have their say on the Draft Digital Strategy 2.0 which has been released for public comment today... READ MORE >
High customer churn rates hitting NZ businesses
Switching suppliers has become a national habit costing New Zealand businesses $320 million a year in lost business, according to new research out today... READ MORE >
CA shifts focus to channel sales model
Software vendor CA has re-jigged its New Zealand operation, shifting the focus to a “significantly expanded” channel sales model... READ MORE >
Software Associates launches secure messaging solution
New Zealand development company Software Associates has launched Securit-e, a secure, digital document exchange system... READ MORE >
Space-Time Research signs Infometrics
Wellington economic forecasting organisation Infometrics has selected Melbourne-based Space-Time Research’s SuperSTAR solution to deliver its data analytics capabilities... READ MORE >
Study finds green IT low on NZ business agenda
Beyond recycling and energy-efficient light bulbs, two-thirds of New Zealand businesses are struggling to act sustainably, according to the first New Zealand research into ‘Green IT’ by IBM and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development... READ MORE >
ICT industry growth slows
Total sales of goods and services from New Zealand's information and communication technology (ICT) industry increased 3.3 percent to $18.2 billion in the 2007 financial year, according to Statistics New Zealand... READ MORE >
National pledges to build $1.5b network
A National Government would invest up to $1.5 billion to drive the roll-out of a fibre-to-the-home broadband network... READ MORE >
TelstraClear returns to business mobile market
TelstraClear has launched new mobile plans for business customers and a “whole of business” proposition following its split last year with Vodafone and the signing of a new mobile network access agreement with Telecom... READ MORE >
Government Technology Services GM appointed
The State Services Commission has appointed a general manager of the new Government Technology Services (GTS) business unit... READ MORE >
WorldxChange adds Juniper routers
Internet service provider WorldxChange has deployed Juniper Networks’ E320 broadband services routers to enable the quality delivery of advanced voice-over-IP and high value Internet services. WorldxChange has also deployed Juniper Networks’ secure service gateways (SSGs) to secure its services and backend systems–including its domain name system (DNS) servers... READ MORE >
New network partnership targets Whangarei businesses
TelstraClear and Northpower say they plan to bring next generation telecommunications services to Whangarei businesses by Christmas... READ MORE >
Fronde appoints new CEO, reports profit
Software development and integration company Fronde Systems Group has appointed Ian Clarke as its new chief executive... READ MORE >
Vodafone launches new VoIP/mobility suite
Vodafone says its newly-launched Vodafone Office suite of services for businesses will enable customers to keep their landline number, and answer it on whatever device they have to hand – an IP desktop phone, mobile or softphone on a laptop.... READ MORE >
Poor customer service costs businesses
More than half of the consumers surveyed in a new customer experience report have ceased buying products and services from a company due to poor customer service and a high number felt that the supplier didn’t know it had lost their business... READ MORE >
AppWrap May 2008
NZ Herald technology correspondant Simon Hendery provides a short sharp summary of the latest news and deals affecting the enterprise software market in NZ... READ MORE >
Cisco launches TelePresence in New Zealand
Cisco New Zealand has announced the local availability of the company’s life-size “face-to-face” TelePresence 3000 videoconferencing solution... READ MORE >
Telecom halves roaming charges
Telecom says its mobile customers who roam overseas will be able to make or receive calls for half price until the end of November... READ MORE >
SAP releases environmental compliance solution
SAP has announced the New Zealand launch of SAP Environmental Compliance (EC), an enterprise-wide software platform which enables companies to monitor and manage their greenhouse gas emissions to ensure they comply with national and worldwide environmental laws and policies... READ MORE >
Kordia eyes Northland broadband opportunities
Broadcast and telecommunications company Kordia says the first steps have been taken towards possible development of a multimillion dollar publicly-owned broadband network tailor-made for the Northland region... READ MORE >
Young software guns off to Paris
After intense competition, Team Phoenix from the University of Canterbury emerged as the winner of the New Zealand final in the worldwide Software Design Invitational of Imagine Cup 2008... READ MORE >
Ballance selects SAP for enterprise apps
Fertiliser manufacturer and distributor Ballance Agri-Nutrients has selected SAP to provide enterprise applications to replace its legacy system... READ MORE >
Yellow Pages embraces digital media
Yellow Pages Group has announced the creation of a new Digital Media business unit, to be headed by the company’s current marketing director, Blair Glubb... READ MORE >
Data service company Digiweb goes green
Christchurch-based data service provider Digiweb says each year, the average business server produces approximately a third of a tonne of carbon emissions... READ MORE >
Dell expands virtualisation offer
Dell has announced what it is calling its broadest ever line-up of dedicated virtualisation solutions... READ MORE >
Gen-i signs four-year telco deal with ANZ National Bank
ANZ National Bank and Telecom subsidiary Gen-i have signed a new agreement that extends their existing services and relationship to include a core telecommunications infrastructure upgrade... READ MORE >
NZ Communications secures new backing
United States telecommunications investor Trilogy International Partners has taken a 25 percent shareholding in NZ Communications, which is currently building this country’s third mobile phone network... READ MORE >
Fronde’s success with mobile authentication
Wellington-based mobile financial services solution provider Fronde Anywhere says it is enjoying “significant uptake” of its mobile two-factor authentication platform, TwoSecure... READ MORE >
Spammers switch from remedies to replicas
Spam promoting replica watches, pens and cheap jewellery has taken over from spam pushing male enlargement and sexual performance pills as the leading items for sale by spammers according to new data released by security vendor Marshal’s TRACE security team... READ MORE >
IBM appoints new distributors
IBM has appointed Ingram Micro to join Express Data as its broad-based distributor for all its software brands – Information Management, Lotus, Rational, Tivoli and Websphere... READ MORE >
Budget heralds $500m broadband pledge
The Government’s 2008 Budget included provision for a “five-year down-payment for a 10 year plan which will take New Zealand towards the government’s vision of a fast broadband future”... READ MORE >
AppWrap June 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Kiwis embracing internet video
New Zealand and Australian broadband users are spending considerably more time using the internet than watching television or movies and are downloading video in significant numbers, a study by Cisco has found... READ MORE >
Online advertising up 67% to new record
New Zealand online advertising hit record levels during the first quarter of 2008, according to research from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers... READ MORE >
Symantec snares SunCorp
Security vendor Symantec has been selected by Australasian financial services group Suncorp to secure its information, minimise data loss risk and reduce its storage and retrieval costs... READ MORE >
Switched on CIO: Darryl Warren, Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan’s sales look likely to top $2 billion this financial year. Underpinning all this, as CIO Darryl Warren reveals, is a very diverse IT infrastructure... READ MORE >
Medtel goes mobile with Lawson
Medtel, an Australasian supplier of high technology products to the medical industry, has purchased Lawson Enterprise Mobility for Service to provide greater business process efficiency in the field... READ MORE >
Telecom appoints senior execs
Telecom has announced two key appointments to its executive team... READ MORE >
Green thinking driving corporate IT
IT research firm Gartner says the IT industry is being driven by a strong focus on individuals, the environment, and alternative ways of buying and selling IT services and technologies... READ MORE >
HP extends carbon offset programme
Hewlett-Packard New Zealand is extending its Carbon Offset Programme for LaserJet Printers until the end of July... READ MORE >
The 7 Deadly Sins of Selecting Business Systems
The IT industry has a bad reputation based on the failure rate of its projects. The seeds of project failure are often sown in the selection stage. By avoiding the ‘sins’ highlighted in this feature you can minimise your chance of becoming another casualty... READ MORE >
Financing flexibility helps stretch the IT budget
Microsoft Financing helps businesses leverage their IT budgets to get the software, services and hardware they need to stay competitive... READ MORE >
Zintel buys Commspec
Publicly listed ICT company Zintel has announced the conditional acquisition of Commspec (NZ) Limited, a reseller of Alcatel-Lucent and Samsung telephony solutions... READ MORE >
Killer KPIs: getting your business metrics right
Performance management and business intelligence tools can be powerful business enablers. To make the most of them you need to start by getting your key performance indicators right... READ MORE >
Green issues stamp footprint on ERP solutions
Vendors are rising to the challenge as organisations seek increasingly sophisticated ways to track their carbon footprints... READ MORE >
New Zealand Communication Appoints CEO
Mobile network aspirant New Zealand Communication has appointed Singapore-based Mike Reynolds as its Chief Executive Officer, and he will be relocating to Auckland next month... READ MORE >
CRM that delivers: 7 ways to maximise your investment
Despite the fortunes spent on CRM software, if your tools and your people aren’t correctly lined up, you’re probably missing your target. The good news is that working largely with existing technology you can align people and processes to unlock maximum CRM value... READ MORE >
10 tips to a successful relationship management solution
Deploying a relationship management solution can be fraught with difficulties. Here are some suggestions on how to decrease the risk and increase the success of your next deployment... READ MORE >
CRM: the tip of the XRM iceberg
The power of a relationship management solution can extend well beyond how your organisation interacts with its customers. Get ready for ‘xRM’... READ MORE >
Jade Software wins $20m development contract
Two years ago Christchurch-based Jade Software Corporation sold its health IT business to UK health software and related services supplier Ascribe PLC in a transaction which netted millions of dollars from the sale of intellectual property rights and future services with Jade... READ MORE >
Federated Farmers tames a beast of a billing system
When the well-known organisation needed to overhaul its billing systems, it made sense to partner with Endeavour, experts in both accounting and IT solutions... READ MORE >
Recruitment firms pick up the pace with custom-made integrated CRM solution
In the highly competitive recruitment industry, Recruit+ powered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM and developed by Altair Computer Systems, is giving many New Zealand recruitment firms a vital speed advantage... READ MORE >
Time to embrace mobile advertising
After a number of false starts mobile is shaping up as an exciting medium for advertising. Here's why brands should embrace this new medium and how they can start to learn what works and what doesn't... READ MORE >
NZ Army campaign finds a powerful mobile ally
When the NZ Army wanted to maximise the reach of its Force 9 recruitment advertising campaign, it made sense to go mobile, via the Vodafone Live! portal... READ MORE >
Get smart! Get out of the office
Smartphone capabilities and options are constantly evolving. We investigate what today's technology can offer the mobile executive... READ MORE >
Vodafone launches the Red Network
Vodafone says it is launching a new era in fixed line broadband in New Zealand with the introduction of its ‘Red Network’... READ MORE >
Orcon upgrades network infrastructure with Juniper
Internet service provider Orcon has deployed Juniper Networks MX960 Ethernet Services Routers and E120 Broadband Services Routers to increase the capacity and performance of its network infrastructure... READ MORE >
PGG Wrightson chooses Promapp
Rural services group PGG Wrightson has chosen the Promapp process management toolset to support its ongoing process improvement efforts... READ MORE >
Xero now available on the iPhone
Local software developer Xero has released a customised version of its software-as-a-service accounting solution that runs on Apple’s iPhone... READ MORE >
Digital Island launches SME broadband redundancy solution
Telecommunications company Digital Island has developed what it believes is a New Zealand first – its NetDEPEND Internet access product... READ MORE >
Tough times mean more spam
Security company Symantec says it is seeing a continuing trend of spammers capitalising on the economic slowdown in order to harvest personal information... READ MORE >
iPhone 3G due in New Zealand on July 11
Vodafone and Apple have announced that the new, much-anticipated 3G version of Apple’s iPhone will be available in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, and Portugal on July 11... READ MORE >
Air NZ flies into the .mobi space
Stuck in a meeting and wanting to check that your flight is departing on time? Now you can pull out your mobile phone and visit Air New Zealand’s .mobi site for travel info on the go... READ MORE >
Telecommunication industry headlines
Check out the latest in telecommunication industry headlines including iPhone sell out; Microsoft's mobile advertising push continues; Door opened for third mobile network player; plus much more... READ MORE >
Software helps farmers meet Kyoto obligations
A software solution developed by MAF, AgResearch and FertResearch will enable farmers to accurately estimate their greenhouse gas emissions and help New Zealand comply with its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol... READ MORE >
Software industry associations form alliance
New Zealand’s primary software associations – New Zealand Software Association (NZSA), Canterbury Software Inc (CSI), Website Developers Association NZ (WDANZ) and Wireless and Broadband Forum (WBF) – have signed collaborative agreements to form the “Software NZ” alliance... READ MORE >
It’s official: NZ broadband lagging
A new official report into the state of the New Zealand broadband market shows it is up to 50 percent behind the performance of the UK, Australia and the US in some key areas... READ MORE >
SAFI Technologies reverses acquisition trend
Christchurch-based SAFI Technologies has reversed the usual trend of US companies buying out successful New Zealand businesses – it has acquired US-based hosting and domain company, Host World Wide. READ MORE >
Local mobile software firm launches into the UK
Christchurch-based mobile software specialists Netresult Mobility have launched in the United Kingdom... READ MORE >
Metlifecare chooses StorageCraft for data protection
Retirement village operator Metlifecare has selected StorageCraft’s ShadowProtect Server to provides disaster recovery, system migration and real-time data protection for its Windows servers... READ MORE >
July AppWrap - NZ's enterprise technology update
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
New fibre network on trial in Orewa
The next generation of broadband delivering content-rich services to New Zealand households over an open access fibre network is being piloted in a new housing development in Orewa, north of Auckland... READ MORE >
Firms in the dark over IT assets
Organisations across New Zealand and Australia have little or no idea of the true value of their IT assets and the contribution those assets make to the business... READ MORE >
VAD and IronPort team up
Security appliance vendor IronPort Systems has further increased its New Zealand market focus, signing a nationwide distribution agreement with Value Added Distributors (VAD). The distribution agreement follows IronPort’s recent employment of a New Zealand-based team... READ MORE >
SmartPay launches VoIP
Local integrated merchant services provider and electronic product distribution company SmartPay has expanded its range of services to include VoIP (Voice Over IP) and telephony services... READ MORE >
Public Records Act means skills crisis
With the pressure on to achieve Public Records Act compliance by 2010, tenders for electronic document and records management systems (EDRMS) are starting to flow thick and fast... READ MORE >
InternetNZ welcomes web domain name changes
The Internet Society of New Zealand, InternetNZ, has welcomed two significant decisions announced at a meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in Paris... READ MORE >
DS reports strong local profit growth
The local arm of global IT business services company EDS has reported a healthy rise in revenue and profit for last year after it picked up more high-paying work from its blue-chip client base... READ MORE >
Local organisations unclear on emissions
Only 22 percent of Australasian businesses have practices in place to enable them to measure carbon emissions, according to a survey of 2,500 IT professionals from medium and large businesses and government organisations... READ MORE >
Nextspace appoints CEO
Local 3D visualisation industry “catalyst” organisation Nextspace has appointed Gavin Lennox as its CEO... READ MORE >
SAP New Zealand targeting growth in Business Intelligence
SAP says it is focused on building its Business Objects presence in New Zealand and has hiring two experienced business intelligence experts to drive growth... READ MORE >
Telecom picks Alcatel-Lucent for IP network build
Telecom says it is engaging its long-time infrastructure partner Alcatel-Lucent to deliver an Internet Protocol (IP) nationwide network that will bring voice, internet and mobile telephony services together onto one integrated technology platform... READ MORE >
Auckland Uni rolls out Google Apps
The University of Auckland is rolling out Google Apps Education Edition to 50,000 students, staff and alumni... READ MORE >
Non-Stop Ideas: Sustainable Innovation at IBM Forum 08
IBM's premier business event of the year, IBM Forum 2008, runs in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland in August. Forum is a full day event, packed with a range of informative seminars on the hottest topics, business and technological sustainability, as well as real customer stories and interactive demonstrations of world-leading solutions. READ MORE >
Green IT is low on NZ business agenda – NZ Study Findings
A joint study undertaken by IBM and the NZ Business Council of Sustainable Development into the perceptions and behaviour of over 2,000 businesses highlights that there are some significant opportunities in front of NZ business to walk the green talk... READ MORE >
West Coast DHB trials Cisco HealthPresence
Cisco, the West Coast District Health Board and Gen-i have announced an agreement to deliver the first global trial of Cisco HealthPresence between two organisations: Buller Health in Westport and Grey Base Hospital, about 100 kilometres away in Greymouth. READ MORE >
Gen-i and Vodafone sign major Government department
The Ministry of Social Development has signed contracts with Gen-i and Vodafone for its telecommunications services... READ MORE >
Norfolk Group signs Gen-i
Gen-i has won a managed ICT contract with Norfolk Group, an international provider of integrated building and engineering services... READ MORE >
Sage taps new Business Solutions CRM partner
Sage Business Solutions, part of the global Sage Software group, has signed customer relationship management (CRM) specialist Focus On Business Limited as its implementation partner and reseller in New Zealand... READ MORE >
Survey: NZ Businesses cautious of Web 2.0
New Zealand’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) remained concerned about security risks from mobile devices and Web 2.0 applications such as social networking, according to a new survey... READ MORE >
Otago Uni joins Sun Microsystems initiative
The University of Otago has achieved a coup by becoming the first university outside of the United States to be selected as a Sun Microsystems OpenSPARC Centre of Excellence... READ MORE >
George Bush and Microsoft exploited by spammers
Emails with exploitive headlines mentioning George Bush, Microsoft and Al Qaeda in their subject lines are part of a co-ordinated malicious spam campaign from criminals controlling the Rustock botnet... READ MORE >
Telecom to build sustainable Wellington offices
Telecom has signed an agreement with The Wellington Company to develop new purpose-built environmentally rated premises at 52 Willis St, Wellington... READ MORE >
Businesses yet to embrace social networking
The majority of users of social networking websites are motivated mainly by personal needs and a desire for entertainment, rather than business and practical objectives, according to a survey by Gartner... READ MORE >
AppWrap August 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Software Associates exports to Australia
New Zealand IT company Software Associates has started exporting a warehouse management product to Australia... READ MORE >
TelstraClear develops trans-Tasman TelePresence
TelstraClear says it is developing New Zealand’s first end-to-end trans-Tasman telepresence experience... READ MORE >
Global CEO Study: the Enterprise of the future
Hungry for change, wildly imaginative, disruptive by nature, totally wired to the people who matter most. These are the qualities companies will need to thrive in the near future, according to IBM’s latest CEO study... READ MORE >
Maclean Computing buys ATL Systems
IT solutions provider Maclean Computing is acquiring IT solutions business ATL Systems Limited... READ MORE >
Unisys introduces UC test drive service
Unisys has announced the availability of a trial service enabling enterprise customers to test drive Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007, and Microsoft Office LiveMeeting at no cost... READ MORE >
iSOFT signs $3.5 m deals with three DHBs
iSOFT, a subsidiary of Australia’s IBA Health Group, has signed agreements valued at over $3.5 million with three New Zealand district health boards (DHBs) for iSOFT patient management and clinical systems... READ MORE >
Paymark signs Sybase and Yellowfin
New Zealand payment transaction company Paymark has implemented a new transactional data and reporting solution jointly deployed by Australian business intelligence (BI) provider Yellowfin and global enterprise software company Sybase. READ MORE >
Education Ministry selects Talent2
Australian-based human resources outsourcing provider Talent2 has secured a support deal with the Ministry of Education, which operates New Zealand’s largest payroll... READ MORE >
Jade goes live in Northern Territories hospitals
Christchurch-based enterprise solutions developer Jade Software has made further inroads into the Australian health sector with the go-live of its applications across the Northern Territories’ Health Service... READ MORE >
Multi-million dollar deal for kiwi medical-tech company
New Zealand medical technology company Enztec has secured a deal to supply innovative surgical instruments to DePuy International, one of the top four orthopaedic companies in the world... READ MORE >
Securing personal information remains a challenge
Securing personally identifiable information (PII) is a top concern facing business and technology executives this year, according to a survey of more than 3,100 professionals in more than 95 countries... READ MORE >
Microsoft grows devices & applications team
Microsoft’s Specialised Devices & Applications (SDA) group, responsible for the retail channel of the company’s keyboards, mice, webcams and Office for Mac software, has announced several appointments as it moves into a new financial year... READ MORE >
Intergen named Microsoft Partner of the Year
Intergen has been named Microsoft Partner of the Year, the top honour handed out at Microsoft’s annual Partner Awards, held in Auckland... READ MORE >
Bailey to head restructured SmartPay
Former Cadmus Technology head Ian Bailey has been appointed managing director of integrated merchant services provider and electronic product distribution company SmartPay... READ MORE >
SAP adds CRM to Business All-in-One
SAP New Zealand has announced the local availability of CRM functionality in the SAP Business All-in-One solution, a move it says addresses the needs of midsize companies to better manage every aspect of their customer relationships... READ MORE >
Mitre 10 first to deploy AnySite
Pitney Bowes MapInfo, a global provider of location intelligence solutions, has launched AnySite New Zealand, a market analysis application is says is tailored for the local market and delivers visual and predictive analytic capabilities to improve the accuracy and efficiency of territory management and site selection... READ MORE >
NEC pushes into local unified comms market
Business communications giant NEC has announced the New Zealand availability of its unified communications offerings for the SMB and enterprise markets, describing the launch as “marking a major assault on the UC market”... READ MORE >
Sex, drugs and software lead spam purchase growth
Twenty-nine percent of internet users have purchased goods from spam emails, according to new research by Internet security company Marshal... READ MORE >
Napier City Council selects Cognos TM1
Napier City Council has selected Cognos TM1 to provide it with a reporting, budgeting, planning and modelling solution... READ MORE >
AppWrap September 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Marketing Impact buys MessageMedia
Marketing Impact, one of the country’s largest mail processing providers, has bought MessageMedia, a text messaging provider, and specialist in bespoke customer management processes. READ MORE >
Blue Wing Honda and Intek Security implements Lawson QuickStep Distribution
Blue Wing Honda and Intek Security Group, Auckland-based import and distribution businesses both owned by Caspex Corporation, are implementing Lawson QuickStep Distribution, a pre-configured ERP package designed for distribution-based companies... READ MORE >
Advertising guru Roberts joins Telecom board
Telecom has appointed kiwi advertising industry high-flyer Kevin Roberts to its board, replacing retiring director Patsy Reddy... READ MORE >
HealthAlliance wins Symantec award
Security vendor Symantec has named Auckland’s HealthAlliance as one of two winners of its 2008 Visionary Awards for Australia and New Zealand... READ MORE >
Imarda wins $US10m freight company deal
Fleet tracking solutions company Imarda has announced a US$10 million deal with a major, publically listed, US freight services company to provide an advanced Telematics based solution... READ MORE >
US payment processor acquires NZ’s Financial Automation
Financial Automation Limited (FAL), a New Zealand-based international provider of fuel card processing software solutions, has been acquired by US-based Wright Express Corporation for around $US9 million... READ MORE >
Eclipse appoints national business development manager
Business solutions provider Eclipse has appointed Boris Lamb as the company’s national business development manager for New Zealand... READ MORE >
Identity and access management market heats up
IT research firm IDC says competition in the identity and access management (IAM) market in Australia and New Zealand has intensified over the last 12 months... READ MORE >
Wood information branches out online
A major new online source of information about wood is now available, with the launch of the new NZ Wood ‘Resources’ website... READ MORE >
Want to improve data management? Quit smoking
The ever-present risks of data loss through criminal activity, human error, software or hardware failure means any time is a good time to review your business’s data management processes... READ MORE >
Putting coupons in mobile users' hands
More than one-third (37%) of US consumers surveyed who received text-message-based advertising were more likely to respond to an incentive such as a retail coupon or free song or ringtone, according to a September 2008 study by ABI Research. Only 11% of respondents said such incentives would not influence them... READ MORE >
Integral Technology Group acquires APL Plus
Integral Technology Group has made what it calls “a significant investment” through the acquisition of APL Plus Ltd... READ MORE >
RFID technology investment bears fruit
A growing number of businesses are realising the productivity, efficiency and accuracy benefits to be made by technology to fully integrate their supply chains. But what's holding others back?.. READ MORE >
Greening the supply chain
Product strategy director for Oracle supply chain management, Rich Kroes talks about the benefits of building a greener supply chain... READ MORE >
Infor delivers a Tip Top supply chain solution
Smart demand planning and scheduling solutions have helped the iconic ice cream maker optimise production and lick the expensive issue of raw material wastage... READ MORE >
IT engineering named a ‘recession proof career’
IT engineering has been named as one of five “recession proof” career options by recruitment firm Tradestaff... READ MORE >
Study finds mobile phone coupons help win over consumers
While most consumers’ initial reactions to marketing and advertising messages on their mobile phone can often be negative, a recent survey from ABI Research found that their level of responsiveness can often be improved if they are offered incentives... READ MORE >
Switched on CFO: Peter Gregg, Qantas
Peter Gregg leaves Qantas at the end of September after eight years as CFO. During his time in the role he has watched many other airlines struggle to survive. Qantas, however, continues to deliver an excellent bottom line result, while consistently winning a host of “best airline” awards. At the heart of the airline’s success is its constantly evolving IT strategy and Gregg has been the man in the pilot seat when it comes to financing that vital IT investment... READ MORE >
Call centre outsourcing driven by staffing issues
New Zealand businesses are planning to outsource more of their call centre work as they struggle to attract and retain staff to handle customer inquiries... READ MORE >
The great face-off
Facebook is the new soapbox. As the election approaches, we find out how the political parties are performing when it comes to utilising technology to run their campaigns and win voters... READ MORE >
Social networks get down to business
Do business and socialising mix? Yes, says online marketing research hub eMarketer.com... READ MORE >
It's easy being Green - 8 ways to use technology – and cut costs
With consumer awareness of environmental issues at an all-time high, there is an increasing expectation businesses embrace sustainability principles. To do so will typically make financial sense. Stephen Withers explores eight easily-implementable ways to cut your corporate carbon footprint... READ MORE >
Codec acquires Black Coffee Software
Codec Software has completed its purchase of Wellington-based Java developer Black Coffee... READ MORE >
Computer Brokers becomes Lexel Systems
Auckland IT infrastructure solutions provider Computer Brokers has changed its name to Lexel Systems... READ MORE >
Plain sailing: doing BI effectively
A business intelligence solution can be a highly effective tool for turning a mountain of organisational data into a goldmine of insightful information. But for New Zealand organisations who have mastered BI, including Wellington’s CentrePort, there’s more to getting it right than just deploying the technology... READ MORE >
Mobile safety
For years people have speculated and worried about getting cancer from cellphone radiatio, or untimely phone calls setting petrol stations alight. But what is becoming tragically clear is that the biggest danger of mobile phones is their apparently innocent and disturbingly widespread use behind the wheel of a moving vehicle... READ MORE >
Notebooks have it tough
Laptops have a higher failure rate than desktop PCs, but it’s not the manufacturers who are to blame, it’s clumsy users... READ MORE >
Tikiphone to launch South Pacific's first 3G+ network
French Polynesian mobile service provider Tikiphone plans to launch the South Pacific region’s first 3G+ network by upgrading its network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology to support a full range of high-speed mobile internet and data services... READ MORE >
Mobile ad spending set to soar
Marketing trends research firm eMarketer.com is predicting global spend on mobile advertising will more than quadruple over the next four years to hit more than $US19 billion by 2012... READ MORE >
Agile connects with an Australian partner
Voice, video and contact centre technologies specialist Agile has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with convergence and contact centre integrator GlobalConnect Australia, an arrangement the two organisations say will mean a commitment to providing uninterrupted service and support for customers on both sides of the Tasman... READ MORE >
Why TXT' changes everything: advertising 2.0
With today's advertising budgets expected to stretch further than ever before, smart media buyers are taking another look at the mobile phone's 'killer app'. David McNickel investigates... READ MORE >
Device Review: Bluetouch
Thanks to all of the media coverage of late, we’re all aware that driving whilst talking on your mobile phone will soon land you a hefty ticket, so what better time to introduce a car kit that can ease your pain? READ MORE >
TechnologyOne runs for council
TechnologyOne’s Financials platform has enabled the Far North District Council to thrive during a demanding period of growth... READ MORE >
Williamson outlines National’s IT strategy
The National party’s ICT spokesman, Maurice Williamson, used a recent speaking engagement at a CIO luncheon forum hosted by Zephyr Consulting to outline National’s IT strategy to an audience of senior industry executives... READ MORE >
You are in to win a Blackberry Curve Smartphone! READ MORE >
Eagle boosts SAP Business One practice with strategic acquisition
Eagle Technology is boosting its SAP Business One implementation and service capability, following the acquisition of Enprise Solutions’ SAP Business One consulting practice... READ MORE >
Jade Software schedules trains in Toronto
Jade Software Corporation says an IT system it developed for passenger trains in Toronto, Canada, has gone live... READ MORE >
NZ's Endev partners with WorkTech
Fortune 500 companies around the world depend on WorkTech software for their daily operations... READ MORE >
ICT industry highlights ‘copyright confusion’
Industry organisations representing the telecommunications sector, internet service providers, user groups, internet advocates and IT professionals have all labelled parts of the recently passed Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act “a deeply flawed law that undermines fundamental rights and simply will not work”... READ MORE >
2008 Business Intelligence Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the Business Intelligence Vendor Solutions Guide (or Business Intelligence Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading Business Intelligence vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details… READ MORE >
MSD chooses Dell desktops and notebooks
The Ministry of Social Development has chosen Dell as the hardware vendor to supply its personal desktop and notebook computers for the next three years... READ MORE >
Companies in the dark over worker surfing
Workers’ private time online is spiralling out of control according to an ICT security consultant, Paul Hortop from Voco... READ MORE >
Jab reminders to be sent by txt
Absentmindedness is no longer an excuse for failing to follow doctor’s orders... READ MORE >
NetValue joins elite Microsoft club
Microsoft has named Hamilton IT services and development company NetValue as its first New Zealand-based High Performance Computing (HPC) Partner and a Microsoft High Potential Managed Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Partner... READ MORE >
AppWrap October 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
WaikatoLink opens technology pathway into China
WaikatoLink, the commercialisation and technology transfer company of the University of Waikato, has set the foundation for more effective market access into China by entering into a partnership with their equivalent at one of China’s top universities, Tsinghua University... READ MORE >
New SmartPay GM restructures business
Merchant services provider SmartPay has implemented a restructuring programme to focus the company on its three main market segments of telecommunications, music/media and the taxi transaction payment market... READ MORE >
Kordia progressing Trans-Tasman cable plans
Kordia says it is making solid progress with the development of its business case to build a new fibre optic, submarine cable that will link Australia and New Zealand... READ MORE >
Retail sectors spends up large on IT
A new report by Global Retail Insights, an IDC company, has shown that IT expenditure in New Zealand's retail industry is not expected to slow down over the next five years... READ MORE >
New provider tackles ‘sorry state’ of data centres
A newly launched ICT infrastructure consultancy says it aims to help businesses close the gap between advances in technology hardware and systems and their increasingly rundown accommodations... READ MORE >
Compliance prompts records management spending
A survey by enterprise content management specialist Open Text has found New Zealand and Australian businesses are planning to invest in records management solutions to meet regulatory requirements... READ MORE >
Royal Mail selects Blackbay mobile worker solution
Following successful trials, Royal Mail has chosen New Zealand mobile enterprise solutions and services specialist Blackbay’s Delivery Connect solution to provide a real-time mobility solution for the majority of Royal Mail’s tracked products, including Special Delivery and Recorded Signed For... READ MORE >
Waikato DHB signs with Vodafone
Enabling clients to contact its community workers wherever they are and reducing costs are just two of the ways the Waikato District Health Board will benefit from a new contract with Vodafone to provide its fixed line and mobile telephone services... READ MORE >
NZ businesses accused of undercharging
According to Software Associates, New Zealand businesses are losing up to five per cent of their profits each year as a result of undercharging... READ MORE >
Smartphone market heads into a storm
Life just got tougher for the tech-conscious executive trying to decide which smartphone to accessorise – thanks to Research In Motion’s latest BlackBerry: the touch-screen enabled Storm... READ MORE >
Napier high-tech graffiti initiative wins award
Location intelligence solutions provider Pitney Bowes MapInfo has handed Napier City Council its “Outstanding Implementation of a Geographic Information Systems Project” award for the council's new graffiti mapping solution... READ MORE >
Companies struggling to attract tech-savvy ‘millennials’
A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit and Alcatel-Lucent’s call centre and customer interaction arm Genesys has found most companies are struggling with how to adapt their businesses to serve a new wave of consumers from the “millennial” generation... READ MORE >
Jade chief executive to become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury
Jade Software’s chief executive, Dr Rod Carr, had been appointed Vice-Chancellor at the University of Canterbury. READ MORE >
Resort gets NZ’s first gigabit fibre network
Residents of the newly-developed Gracefield Living community resort in Stoke (near Nelson) have become the first in New Zealand to enjoy a broadband network capable of 1Gbps speeds... READ MORE >
Graeme Riley appointed SAP’s local MD
SAP New Zealand has appointed Graeme Riley as managing director, reporting to Tim Ebbeck, SAP’s ANZ president and CEO... READ MORE >
TelstraClear launches VDSL2 business offer
TelstraClear says it is now offering New Zealand businesses the fastest DSL broadband technology in the country, VDSL2... READ MORE >
Tuapeka Gold Print chooses Syspro for ERP
New Zealand’s largest supplier of printed pens and promotional products, Tuapeka Gold Print (TGP), has selected Syspro Software as its new company-wide ERP system to underpin rapid growth plans... READ MORE >
Southland District Council beefs up storage platform
Southland District Council is banking on SAN storage to cope with fast-rising volumes of rich media and virtualisation requirements... READ MORE >
Retailers using technology as a competitive advantage
A study by Global Retail Insights, an IDC company, has found that New Zealand retailers are beginning to use emergent payment technologies not only to complete a financial transaction, but also to enhance the retail experience, increase operational efficiencies and to obtain competitive advantage... READ MORE >
Politicians challenged to better broadband commitments
The broadband commitments being made by both major political parties are a move in the right direction, but not enough by themselves, says ICT consultancy firm Voco... READ MORE >
Broadband uptake increases
An OECD report showing that broadband penetration in New Zealand is growing at the sixth fastest rate in the developed world has been welcomed as excellent news by TUANZ, the Telecommunications Users Association... READ MORE >
AppWrap November 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Technology drives Air New Zealand domestic airport changes
Air New Zealand customers will be among the first in the world to access radio frequency identification-enabled technology that will enable self-scanned check in and boarding at domestic airports... READ MORE >
Infor launches Web 2.0 user interface
Software vendor Infor has used the inaugural Australian Inforum conference to unveil MyDay, a new role-based Web 2.0 user interface that sits on top of Infor's Open SOA platform... READ MORE >
NZRS replaces .nz name server
New Zealand Registry Services (NZRS) has replaced the authoritative name server for the .nz Domain Name System (DNS) has been replaced... READ MORE >
TeamTalk expands secure technology network
Communications company TeamTalk has rolled out secure top end IP-based “P25” technology in Auckland, linking to the service already in place in Wellington and Christchurch... READ MORE >
Sales move online as economy tightens
New Zealanders are turning to internet sales for additional cash according to the latest sales figures from Trade Me... READ MORE >
Diligent Board Member Services Signs Burger King
Listed software company Diligent Board Member Services says it has signed a deal with the parent company of international fast food chain Burger King to use its web-based Diligent Boardbooks service... READ MORE >
ComOps lands in New Zealand
ComOps, an Australasian provider of business software products and services, has launched offices in New Zealand citing robust opportunity for its suite of business software solutions among both local public and private sector organisations... READ MORE >
Survey finds businesses believe IT is crucial for business success
The inaugural SAP/EMA Innovation for Growth Survey has revealed the importance of IT to the success of New Zealand businesses... READ MORE >
Ricoh becomes first carbon neutral NZ office equipment company
Copier and printer company Ricoh says it is the first supplier in the New Zealand office equipment market to achieve a carbon neutrality rating through the carboNZero programme. Ricoh says as well as offsetting emissions from its own business operations, it has gone a step further and also offset greenhouse gases emitted as a result of customers using its copiers and printers... READ MORE >
Microsoft offers free software and support to start-ups
Microsoft has launched a global program designed to help accelerate the success of entrepreneurs and early stage start-ups... READ MORE >
Cisco targets small business market
Networking giant Cisco has announced a $US100 million global strategic initiative focused on small business networking and communications solutions for companies with fewer than 100 employees... READ MORE >
Next Generation Networks conference registrations open
The Commerce Commission has opened registrations for its Next Generation Networks conference, to be held in February... READ MORE >
Zeacom and Datasquirt launch SMS queuing solution
Zeacom and Datasquirt are launching a new SMS-based communications service for organisations wanting to better manage high volumes of in-bound and out-bound customer calls... READ MORE >
Marshal to merger with 8e6 Technologies
New Zealand-founded security company Marshal is merging with 8e6 Technologies, a US-based specialist in web filtering appliances and technology, to form a new company, Marshal8e6... READ MORE >
FrontRange boosts local channel presence
FrontRange Solutions says it has strengthened its channel presence in New Zealand by expanding its relationship with its premier partner, Focus on Business... READ MORE >
Microsoft offers interest-free financing
Microsoft Financing has announced it will offer a zero-interest deal over 36 months for new purchasers of selected Microsoft Dynamics ERP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM software solutions... READ MORE >
NZ Rugby Union pics StayinFront for CRM
CRM vendor StayinFront has won a contract to develop a new CRM solution for the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU)... READ MORE >
‘Back to basics’ approach to IT spend expected next year
IT research firm IBRS believes the impact of the global economic crisis will result in businesses focusing their 2009 IT spend on technologies that increase productivity or save costs... READ MORE >
Netsuite targets Salesforce.com customers
Competition in the on-demand CRM space is intensifying, with mid-market vendor NetSuite announcing an “aggressive” new pricing program aimed at winning local customers from rival software-as-a-service provider Salesfoceforce.com... READ MORE >
Global spam cut after botnet host shut-down
On November 11, the volume of spam around the world fell by as much as 70 percent due to the shutdown of a major spam hosting network, McColo... READ MORE >
Transpower plugs into TelstraClear’s network
TelstraClear has signed a 10 year contract with Transpower for enhanced fibre services from its Next IP Network... READ MORE >
AppWrap December 2008
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Research finds strong demand for ID theft protection
Five out of 10 New Zealanders are extremely or very concerned about the security of their financial transactions, up sharply according to the latest Unisys Security Index... READ MORE >
Unisys completes ‘green’ data centre
Unisys has completed the expansion of its Kapiti data centre, near Wellington... READ MORE >
New Symantec report reveals booming underground economy
Security vendor Symantec has released a new report detailing an online underground economy that has matured into an efficient, global marketplace in which stolen goods and fraud-related services are regularly bought and sold, and where the estimated value of goods offered by individual traders is measured in millions of dollars... READ MORE >
Sun Microsystems offers cheap deals to start-ups
Sun Microsystems has unveiled its Sun Startup Essentials Program, offering free and heavily discounted Sun products and services to newly established businesses... READ MORE >
Livestock Improvement embraces utility computing
Hamilton-based farm improvement company Livestock Improvement (LIC) has signed a five-year deal for utility computing from ICT infrastructure provider Revera... READ MORE >
Kiwi tech sector ‘out-markets’ the US
Kiwi technology companies outspend their US counterparts on sales and marketing, but not necessarily on the most effective strategies, according to a new study... READ MORE >
Fronde technology boosts mobile commerce in the Philippines
Logica and New Zealand company Fronde Anywhere have launched a new mobile ordering and payment service in the Philippines with i.can Worldwide, part of the TAO Group of companies. READ MORE >
Beware the grinch of Christmas data loss
While businesses typically wind down over Christmas and New Year, security vendor Marshal8e6 is companies to stay alert over the holiday season when it comes to data security... READ MORE >
Small fleets can benefit most
Small businesses (fleets of 1-10 vehicles) are much more likely to benefit from GPS-based fleet management solutions and do so by a greater margin that larger businesses... READ MORE >
Storage: Trends to watch in 2009
As we move into 2009, Simon Elisha , chief technologist of Hitachi Data Systems ANZ, offers his predictions for the year ahead in the dynamic world of enterprise data storage... READ MORE >
Cheap Beer ... On Location
Imagine receiving an electronic "free beer" coupon to your mobile phone because you have opted-in to receive happy hour deals for a particular bar when you walk past... READ MORE >
New top-up service a business timesaver
Enabling businesses to automatically top-up staff members’ mobiles by an agreed amount on a regular basis is one of the key features of a new service aimed at making prepaid phone account top-ups more convenient... READ MORE >
Mobile concierge helps fight techno-rage
Mobile services company Mobile Mentor is aimed at tackling the frustration factor rising from technical problems, challenges or when a mobile device just stops working... READ MORE >
Telecom prepares for 'T-Day'
Telecom has finally announced the launch of its new cellular network and has been using statements like "The mobile phone revolution begins" and "A new era in New Zealand's telecommunications is at hand"... READ MORE >
Broadband growth figures welcomed
OECD figures showing strong growth in the uptake of broadband in New Zealand have been welcomed as encouraging news by the Telecommunications Users Association... READ MORE >
Defence Force selects TelstraClear and Vodafone
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has selected TelstraClear as its preferred supplier for Wide Area Network services and Vodafone for the provision of mobile services... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Surf's (Still) Up! Stephen Kay, Rip Curl
As it approaches its 40th birthday, iconic Aussie surf brand Rip Curl is in the midst of a technology and systems overhaul designed to deliver consistency and give its management team state-of-the-art decision making tools... READ MORE >
Recession tactics: How to shave 30% off your IT costs
As the recessionary environment bites, how can CIOs contribute to business survival? After canvassing his network of CIOs, leading outsourcing consultant Dean Robb presents a series of tactics that deliver bottom-line results... READ MORE >
Telecom begins inbound roaming on new mobile network
Telecom’s new W850 mobile network has passed a key milestone with the start of inbound roaming for overseas visitors... READ MORE >
Extreme ERP: Leveraging your investment
ERP systems are evolving. Once just glorified backroom accounting tools, they are now integrated solutions spanning a growing number of organisational processes. What are ERP buyers demanding today and how are the vendors delivering? READ MORE >
EMDA helps Navico Power along with Infor ERP SyteLine
Nautical electronics supplier Navico is boosting its global ERP capabilities with Infor’s versatile SyteLine solution, and expert assistance from business partner EMDA... READ MORE >
All together now - B2B messaging hubs blossom
Electronic business-to-business transactions are mushrooming, as the amount of traffic flowing through EDI gateways continues to grow. But there’s no doubt businesses are missing out on the full benefits that would be possible if collaboration in this area was even higher. So what needs to be done for e-procurement to reach its full potential? READ MORE >
Hamilton City Council deploys Unimarket to boost purchasing efficiencies
The local authority joins a growing number of organisations plugging into Unimarket's shared eProcurement solution... READ MORE >
Online advertising defies global economic downturn
According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s latest quarterly Insight report, all categories of online advertising in the New Zealand market continue to show strong year-on-year growth. The Insight report, released by the IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers, tracked local online advertising spending through the third quarter of 2008... READ MORE >
The internet is calling - VoIP goes public
Traditional thinking has been that VoIP-related services for businesses needed to be run over private, dedicated networks rather then across the public internet. But have technological advances made enterprise-grade VoIP and Unified Communication over public networks a reality? READ MORE >
2009 VoIP / Unified Communications Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the VoIP / Unified Communications Vendor Solutions Guide (or VoIP / Unified Communications Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading VoIP / Unified Communications vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
Survey finds ongoing demand for storage spend
The majority of CIOs will continue spending money on boosting their organisations’ storage capacity despite the economic crisis, according to a new survey... READ MORE >
Fleet management shifts up a gear
Advances in GPS technologies and location based services have made fleet tracking solutions more feature-rich and affordable. So what do you get for your money today and how are organisations taking advantage of the technology to gain a competitive edge? READ MORE >
Astrata maps fast responses for Fire Security Services
The alarm services company has clocked up considerable savings and improved its response times thanks to Astrata’s fleet management solution... READ MORE >
Roast laptop, anyone? The year’s top data disasters
Vendor Kroll Ontrack has released its fifth annual top ten list of “data disasters” and says the list –a global representation of real data loss situations compiled by its Ontrack Data Recovery engineers –demonstrates that regardless of how prepared you are, data loss can be unavoidable. READ MORE >
2009 ERP Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the ERP Vendor Solutions Guide (or ERP Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading ERP vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
Mega-D Botnet returns after McColo shutdown
One of three major botnets shut down as a result of the closure of major spam hosting provider, McColo, has been re-established and is back spamming in large volumes, according to security vendor Marshal8e6... READ MORE >
Ovum warns of major IT services issues in 2009
The impact of the slowing economy on business process outsourcing (BPO) business models, the convergence of IT and telecom services, and the continued importance of quality and security are among the top issues IT service providers will face in 2009, according to IT consulting firm Ovum... READ MORE >
2009 Fleet Tracking Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the Fleet Tracking Vendor Solutions Guide (or Fleet Tracking Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading Fleet Tracking vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
2008 RFID Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the RFID Vendor Solutions Guide (or RFID Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading RFID vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
Economic crisis set to hit NZ hardware and software vendors hardest, says IDC
In its latest report – Economic Crisis Response: The Impact on the New Zealand ICT Market – IT research firm IDC says hardware and software markets will be the hardest hit in the local market during the economic downturn... READ MORE >
Pumpkin Patch deploys Riverbed Steelhead WAN appliances
Local children’s clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch has deployed a range of Riverbed Steelhead appliances at its New Zealand headquarters and its regional offices in the UK and US... READ MORE >
Technology makes us greener and more productive, says Vodafone
According to a Vodafone survey, kiwis believe they are more productive at work and have less of an impact on the environment as a result of mobile phones and broadband at home... READ MORE >
EROAD joins road user charge trial in Sweden
New Zealand technology company EROAD is to deploy its eHubo product in a government sponsored field trial to develop an electronic road user charge system for heavy vehicles in Sweden... READ MORE >
Local ICT industry working on IPv6 transition plan
Following a workshop convened by the Ministry of Economic Development, major ICT industry and stakeholder organizations have agreed on the need for New Zealand to develop a transition plan from IPv4 to IPv6, the next generation Internet addressing protocol... READ MORE >
Report proposes utility expansion for broadband future
Research released by internet advocacy group InternetNZ concludes that utility expansion provides the best opportunity for dramatic improvement of New Zealand's broadband infrastructure... READ MORE >
New ICT industry body has skills high on agenda
More than 30 of the country’s leading ICT companies have agreed in principle to join together in the creation of a new ICT industry association... READ MORE >
Lawson brings APAC operation together
Lawson Software is combining its Australian and New Zealand business with its Asia operations to create a unified Asia Pacific regional organisation... READ MORE >
SmartPay buys wi-fi operator FIVO
IP-services company National Communications Corporation (NATCOM) says it has finalised the sale of its New Zealand wi-fi technology and network services business, FIVO, to listed transaction technology company SmartPay... READ MORE >
Survey finds East/West divide in digital media habits
The so-called digital divide between emerging and developed economies worldwide may not be that wide after all... READ MORE >
Kiwi online consumers more cautious as Ferrit flops
In amongst the recent news of the demise of kiwi online retailer Ferrit, a recent report on online sales conversions on eCommerce sites across Australia and New Zealand shows a drop of 36% in the final quarter of 2008... READ MORE >
Recession to accelerate shift to online advertising
While spending on online advertising is set to slow further, TV and print advertising spend will continue move online... READ MORE >
Vodafone and Telecom neck-and-neck as both roll out 3G networks
Telecoms users on-the-go to benefit as mobile broadband services reach 97 percent of people... READ MORE >
Kiwi Google engineering director wins ‘World Class’ tall poppy award
Expat Craig Nevill-Manning and creator of Maori language Google has won the ICT category of the World Class New Zealand Awards... READ MORE >
Web analytics tool tracks off-site activity to discover what ads work best
Coremetrics has developed a tool that tags – and then maps –display ads, videos and microsites to see what drives customers to a client’s website... READ MORE >
Kiwifruit packer harvests sweet result with RFID
EastPack achieves pay back in less than 12 month with RFID warehouse solution saving around $400,000-plus in its first year, with more savings to come… READ MORE >
Rob Fyfe at the NZ Job Summit
Rob Fyfe the CEO of Air New Zealand talks to Tim Norton from Made From New Zealand at the Job Summit... READ MORE >
John Key at NZ Job Summit
John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand talks to Tim Norton at the Job Summit about being a small country of small busineses where we can work together to get ourselves through the recession and take New Zealand to the world! READ MORE >
Windows 7 - what’s in it for business?
While most people are still getting to grips with Vista, Windows 7 - Microsoft's latest version of its operating system - is provoking a lot of interest. The question is what's in it for business users? READ MORE >
Kiwi first for accounting software for blind
A blind Dunedin entrepreneur has helped adapt a locally made small business accounting package for blind users... READ MORE >
Copyright law puts businesses at risk from rogue downloaders
Businesses need to be aware they could be at risk from the activities of rogue employees who illegally download music and films while at work... READ MORE >
Survey Results: 2009 NZ ICT Investment Intentions
Total capital expenditure on ICT in New Zealand is forecast to drop 32 percent in 2009, according to the latest iStart ICT Investment Intentions Survey... READ MORE >
Switched on CEO: Mike Reynolds - 2 Degrees
Maori tribes... 3G wars... All Blacks... $100 million in private equity... the CEO of NZ Communications has a lot to contend with. But the boss of the revamped mobile player aims to level the playing field and is already anticipating kick-off... READ MORE >
Beyond CRM
Putting your customers on the map, using the newer GIS and GPS services, will help you find them – and sell the right products to the right people... READ MORE >
Eco-decking sweetens customer service with Sugar CRM
Green decking company can now treat every customer ‘like an old friend’ with the aid of a hosted CRM service... READ MORE >
2009 CRM Buyers Guide
Each year iStart publishes the CRM Vendor Solutions Guide (or CRM Buyers Guide) providing details for the leading CRM vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
Txt2complain and get better service
Kiwis really don’t like to complain – it goes against the retiring, we-don’t-want-to-stand-out’ national character – but that doesn’t mean we don’t fume over bad service. Now a Kiwi company has come up with a text-based way of getting the ‘I didn’t like it’ message across without the person having to endure a personal confrontation... READ MORE >
10 tips for managing performance in a crisis
It’s tempting to just slash costs when a recession bites. However, it pays to give some considered thought to what should go and what should stay. Many a good business has been built in a recession and the lessons learnt in lean times can turn to gold when the environment improves (and it will improve!) READ MORE >
Controversial copyright act scrapped
In a rare case of government paying heed to grassroots objections, the National Government has scrapped the controversial Copyright Amendment Act (Section 92A)... READ MORE >
Next-Gen Orcon goes to Wellington
Orcon is launching its next-generation network in the capital, giving Wellingtonians a taste of high speed connection... READ MORE >
Nokia users get extra care
Nokia is opening a care centre in Auckland as part of a multi-million dollar investment programme. A second centre is planned for Christchurch in the middle of the year... READ MORE >
Nokia sets store by new app shop
Following in the footsteps of Apple’s pioneering success with the Apple App Store, Nokia is opening a similar store for its millions of phone users... READ MORE >
Google takes the Latitude
Do you have reason to share your location with colleagues or friends, or your boss? If so, then a new free Google Maps add-on could prove very useful... READ MORE >
Create your own phone short-cuts
Tired of continually having to unlock your phone and scroll through various menus and submenus to get to the feature you want? READ MORE >
Bypass recession pain the web way
EconomicTurningPoint.com is an unusual – and timely – website forum. It’s from the US, but is nevertheless still useful... READ MORE >
Motorola helps deliver almost 100 percent accuracy for Mighty River Power
The tech-savvy power company has fine-tuned its new fleet of MC70 digital assistants to make reporting from in the field virtually fool-proof... READ MORE >
Pimp your smart phone
You've got your smart phone and you know there are lots of applications you can download that can really make the most of its capabilities. The question is: which ones are the most useful? READ MORE >
Rodney Hyde tipped as Minister for Commerce Commission
Controversy continues to swirl around the Commerce Commission, with the possibility that outspoken ACT leader Rodney Hyde is to be appointed Minister for the Commerce Commission... READ MORE >
Canon appoints new senior general manager marketing for Australia READ MORE >
Samsung appoints senior manager sales and marketing READ MORE >
Backing up small business with Plan-b
The Auckland data back-up services company has launched an online ‘business continuity’ service for SMEs... READ MORE >
Renaissance takes on NetComm’s rugged routers
Renaissance has been appointed exclusive distributor for Australia’s NetComm range of rugged industrial 3G cellular products in New Zealand... READ MORE >
Focus on IBM Cognos award
IBM has named its Cognos Partners of the Year for 2009, with Focus Strategies and Solutions winning the premier Business Intelligence of the Year Award for Australia and New Zealand... READ MORE >
Oracle’s $US7.4 billion Sun buy provokes much excitement
Oracle’s US$7.4 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems has caused much excitement in both the tech and business communities because of its implications for the future openness of Java and MySQL... READ MORE >
Device Review: Motorola MC75 - rugged enterprise digital assistant
When it comes to getting serious about your mobile computing needs, Motorola’s MC75 EDA is a rugged piece of equipment you can’t ignore… READ MORE >
‘Hot’ clouds and the GFC top IDC 2009 conference topic list
Hot topics on the list for discussion at analyst firm IDC’s forthcoming annual ‘Directions’ conference include Cloud Computing and the challenges we face as a result of the global financial crisis (GFC)... READ MORE >
Enabling goes down on the farm with CRT
Enabling has won the tender to upgrade South Island co-operative Combined Rural Traders’ ERP system with a ‘people-centric’ Microsoft Dymamics AX solution... READ MORE >
Six cost drivers behind US$42 billion SaaS uptake
Analyst IDC finds cost is the major factor driving up spending on cloud computing, also known as SaaS, which is set to jump three-fold, to US$42 billion, by 2012... READ MORE >
MEP Services gets full-suite communications with Swyx
Swyx brings unified communications to the 24 x 7 call centre operation with IP-based SwyxWare... READ MORE >
Twitter marketing - the next big thing?
Do you twitter? As in the SMS-style online chat phenomenon that recently hit an all-time popularity high? Maybe you should. The business case for tweeting is building – but some subtlety is required... READ MORE >
Bay of Plenty council goes Objective route
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has chosen Objective’s content management system to help it store and manage the myriad of information related to the range of services it offers local people... READ MORE >
Survey finds Auckland IT sector bucking recessionary trend
Auckland recruiters Potentia recently surveyed 450 IT sector managers and found, surprisingly, that the majority of IT organisations expect to more than survive this year and actually increase revenue. A significant proportion of organisations are also planning to expand, says Potentia... READ MORE >
Cheap recession mobile offering in the wings?
While Telecom and Vodafone have been battling it out in courts and the media, NZ Communications could end up stealing a march on the pair... READ MORE >
Tandberg goes mobile with Movi PC-based video
Tandberg has released a PC-based mobile video-communications tool, called Movi, aimed at business users... READ MORE >
Third mobile network launch set for August
Switch and retain your old number – and phone... READ MORE >
Slashing of ‘rip-off’ European mobile rates could be good for NZ
A drastic recommendation by the European Commission that “rip-off” mobile termination rates (MTRs) be cut to 1.5 to 3 euro cents could be good news for NZ consumers – and third mobile player NZ Communications, now renamed Two Degrees Mobile... READ MORE >
Cloud computing - out of the sandbox into the mainstream
It’s a long-term ‘disruptive’ development that the global recession is only speeding up –customers buying only what services they want – and only when they want them... READ MORE >
Sixty-eight percent of consumers fear security details at risk
A survey by research company callcentres.net has found 68 percent of New Zealanders interviewed feared their security details were at risk... READ MORE >
Pronto eases into Phase 6
Pronto Software has released a new version of its flagship ERP solution, PRONTO-Xi... READ MORE >
Kodak signs up Nutech
Kodak has signed up Nutech IT Supplies as distributor for consumer and professional businesses in New Zealand... READ MORE >
SMBs get access to BI the SaaS way
It’s not only the economic slowdown that’s driving New Zealanders to SaaS, says analyst firm IDC. The enterprise market is saturated in New Zealand and this is driving vendors to look at the small- to medium-sized business market, says analyst Vern Hue... READ MORE >
Oracle’s Ellison tells why he’s chasing low-margin business
The database company, which recently bought Sun – and its jewel, Java – is keen to move into the difficult hardware business… READ MORE >
Social media a hit with business - but how do you use it?
Survey finds companies are keen to experiment with the new technology, but aren’t sure how, nor are their initiatives proving very successful so far… READ MORE >
Savio Maximizes SME potential
CRM provider Maximizer and New Zealand’s Savio Solutions have joined forces as business partners on both sides of the Tasman... READ MORE >
Frucor MD, Mark Cowsill - The 'V' Word
One-time apple juicing company Frucor has juiced up its business beyond Just
Juice with the aid of ‘V’, MiZone and other innovative products – along with
some custom-built technology, and grown to ten times its original size. It is now
poised to go global with new Japanese owner Suntory... READ MORE >
In depth:Under the hood of eProcurement software
eProcurement can be a powerful cost-saving tool. Unimarket president Kurt Black gets under the hood and describes how it can be used as an engine to drive savings... READ MORE >
SaaS the clouds roll in
Software as a Service (SaaS) is growing in popularity, proving a cheaper alternative to traditional in-house solutions. Randal Jackson explores where SaaS sits and why the future is cloudy… READ MORE >
GOTCHA! Catching burglars on your 3G phone
The Smart Sensor Alarm is new security technology that sends live video footage of an intruder to your 3G phone... READ MORE >
3Com cites ‘value and technical excellence’ as reasons to switch
The company’s H3C router and switching products are now No. 2 in the world – because it offers both value for money and technical excellence, it says… READ MORE >
Taking the ERP path less followed
ERP need not always be a huge Tier 1 purchase. Sometimes a Tier 2 – or even a Tier 3 – solution may be all you need. iStart examines the differences between them to help you choose what’s best and most cost-effective for your business... READ MORE >
Beyond the photocopier
Office copiers have been transformed into business process
management tools. We look at some of the offerings
available and find out what they can do to make document
management easier… and deliver your coffee just so, too… READ MORE >
MagnumMac Christchurch store ‘the business’
Bucking the recession gloom, Apple reseller Renaissance opened a new MagnumMac store in Christchurch in early July... READ MORE >
2degrees’ sign-up of 20,000 bodes well for business users
News that 20,000 people have already registered for new third mobile operator 2degrees shows how keen people are to embrace new telecommunications offerings – and how unimpressed they are with what Telecom and Vodafone currently offer... READ MORE >
Two-thirds of Kiwi businesses doing alright
Revenue stays the same for most companies – up for some, according to MYOB survey… READ MORE >
MapIt mapping software ‘tells a story’
ESRI’s latest offering, MapIt – offspring of the marriage of GIS and BI – promises to make studying data a cinch for business managers, enabling them to think and plan geographically… READ MORE >
Free battery recycling service
Recytech is offering a free nationwide battery take-back services to businesses nationwide... READ MORE >
'Information is power’ – business looks to BI for help
Companies may still be in survival mode, but the outlook is improving and with it an interest in knowledge management… READ MORE >
iPhone provides sweet smartphone satisfaction
It’s the apple of users’ eye – far outstripping rival Blackberry when it comes to user love…. READ MORE >
‘Going green’ on par with GFC for Oz businesses
An Infor survey of business’ attitudes to carbon emission reduction found it was still high on companies’ hot-list despite recession worries… READ MORE >
Australia puts business online as broadband speed jumps
Australian business users are downloading data big-time – twice as much as last year, in fact... READ MORE >
New contact centre body in triple launch
Frustrated contact centre professionals needed a place to meet, share ideas and access resources – they have it now in the form of the new Contact Centre Institute, which launches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this week… READ MORE >
Big turn-out for contact centre body launch
Contact centres’ business value is rising because of their low cost, but ‘isolated’ managers feel the need of networking support CCiNZ can provide… READ MORE >
Rod Oram future-gazes at IBM Forum
Veteran business commentator Rod Oram heads the speaker list at Auckland’s forthcoming IBM Insight Forum 2009 and says he will be conducting a ‘standing in the future’ exercise to focus on Auckland 20 years on… READ MORE >
2degrees halves call prices, promises business offering
The newbie telco has slashed call prices and is pushing pre-pay as the recession-busting mobile way for consumers and businesses. While its launch offering is aimed at consumers, it says it has a business offering waiting in the wings… READ MORE >
Txt keyword quadruples radio adverts’ results
Blue Crystal chlorine-free pool and spa cleaner marketer Counties Cleaner got a sparkling result when it added a text keyword option to its nationwide radio marketing campaign… READ MORE >
ERP competition hots up as users demand more but want to pay less
Big ERP providers like SAP and Oracle are coming under pressure from customers seeking better value as the recession bites into their budgets… READ MORE >
NetSuite partners with Australian start-up JCurve Solutions
Partnership delivers a quick and easily-deployable packaged business management solution targeted at Australian and New Zealand SMEs...
READ MORE >
Napier City Council selects Accela asset management solution
Local authority plans to use the software to eventually track almost 100,000 assets... READ MORE >
Napier City Council selects Accela asset management solution
Local authority plans to use the software to eventually track almost 100,000 assets... READ MORE >
Kaseya opens New Zealand office
IT automation software provider aims to grow its managed services capabilities in the local market... READ MORE >
Hamilton software firm secures global partnership
Digital Library Consulting joins forces with leading German company CCS... READ MORE >
Lawson expands partnership with Deloitte to New Zealand
Global consulting giant will provide a team of Lawson-certified practitioners in the local market... READ MORE >
SmartPay buys ProvencoCadmus payments business
Company says the $6 million acquisition makes it New Zealand’s largest eftpos provider... READ MORE >
Recession sees local IT vendors focused on verticals
Tough economic conditions are encouraging New Zealand vendors to target specialist niche markets, says IDC... READ MORE >
Kmart selects HP retail publishing solutions
In-store and online service will allow customers to order prints and ‘creative’ photo products... READ MORE >
HP Opens Global Applications Services Centre in Christchurch
Government apps centre also in the pipeline for Wellington as company increases its focus on “best-shoring” to meet client needs... READ MORE >
Intergen flags Azure’s ‘scalable’ cost-savings advantages
The new Microsoft cloud platform will handle workload peaks with ease… READ MORE >
Dell appoints new NZ country manager
Mike Hill replaces Deborah Harrigan and will focus on growing the local business market... READ MORE >
Growth-focused businesses continue to invest in IT to improve ‘customer care’
Despite tight economic times, IDC says New Zealand firms are still using technology to ‘keep customers happy’... READ MORE >
NetSuite luring businesses into the cloud with “Cash for Clunkers” promotion
Cloud computing vendor offers new customers who ditch legacy software $500 off for every $5,000 they spend... READ MORE >
Olympic Software brings new spend management solutions to NZ
Global vendor Ariba says its on-demand corporate spending technology can boost local businesses’ bottom line... READ MORE >
Optimation partners with Indian IT services giant HCL
The two companies say their combined mix of global scale and local expertise will benefit New Zealand customers... READ MORE >
IBM supercomputer boosts NIWA’s environmental forecasting
Science institute’s $12.7 million IBM Power 575 will be the most powerful climate research supercomputer in the Southern Hemisphere... READ MORE >
AppWrap September 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Open Source Society targets public sector with ‘Remix’ project
New Zealand Open Source Society initiative aims to encourage government agencies to look at open source as a way of cutting desktop computing costs... READ MORE >
New Zealand contact centres continue to expand
Local call centres defy the impact of the global financial crisis, but growth is set to slow next year... READ MORE >
SAP expands University Alliances Program in New Zealand
AUT joins University of Auckland and Waikato University as a third local participant in the ‘hands-on’ software education initiative... READ MORE >
New auction website targets local IT industry
DealFoundry promoted as a tool for consumers, small businesses, IT dealers, manufacturers and distributors... READ MORE >
Fonterra moves mobile business to Gen-i
In a significant business win for Telecom’s ICT services business, the dairy giant is shifting more than half of its mobile connections away from Vodafone... READ MORE >
‘Antique and collectable’ computers up for auction
Organisers of the eDay electronics recycling initiative plan to sell donated technology gems on Trade Me... READ MORE >
Symantec Donates Software to local charities
Enterprise software available to eligible charities, voluntary and community groups... READ MORE >
Department of Building and Housing selects Objective
EDRMS specialist tasked with designing a solution to support the growth of the government agency’s knowledge base... READ MORE >
World-first claim for local online medical alert service
125,000 New Zealander MedicAlert users set to benefit from emergency access to vital medical records... READ MORE >
Microsoft’s Tech Ed conference hits Auckland
The country’s largest IT summit draws more than 2000 attendees to SkyCity... READ MORE >
Maori Land maps out future
Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development is using the latest mapping software to build its Land Information Base… READ MORE >
Survey finds local organisations exposed to file recovery risk
Poll of senior ICT decision makers shows Australian and New Zealand organisations require ‘information intervention’ to improve governance processes... READ MORE >
TechEd gives customers a voice
Unusually, the recent New Zealand Microsoft developer’s conference showcased how six major customers are using technology to leverage business, help babies and more… READ MORE >
Device Review: Parrot Minikit Slim hands free car kit
From 1 November you’ll be fined $80 for using your cell phone in a vehicle, so I thought I’d get in early and check out a “no installation” wireless hands free kit from established provider Parrot to see if I couldn’t avoid the long arm of the law when November rolls round… READ MORE >
Device Review: Look Mum - No hands! Parrot MKi9200 Car Kit
My husband had the hands free car kit installed after too many “cripes that was close” moments when on the phone to him – but it came with some unexpected other benefits for the whole family… READ MORE >
Air New Zealand awards telco contract to Gen-i
Global network management services agreement aimed at saving costs and improving technology... READ MORE >
Zintel Acquires Cogent
Communications solutions provider says the $1.9 million deal will broaden its telephony offering... READ MORE >
Windows Mobile app stores to sell business applications
The forthcoming iTunes-style store will offer downloadable applications aimed at small business as well as the more usual fun consumer apps… READ MORE >
The Icehouse CEO, Andy Hamilton - How to nurture your inner mongrel
If you want to be an entrepreneurial success you need to get in touch with your inner mongrel, says Hamilton. But he – or she – will need to be subjected to strict discipline. Johanna Bennett talks to Icehouse CEO Andy Hamilton about what makes for start-up and SME success… READ MORE >
Optimation CEO, Rhoda Holmes - Small, nimble and optimistic
How does a tier-2 ICT service provider compete effectively against the industry’s big guns? Optimation CEO Rhoda Holmes has worked on both sides of the fence and believes the future is bright for smaller players – provided they have a well-focused market strategy... READ MORE >
Manufacturing KPI's - Five show the KPI way
Five Kiwi manufacturers describe how using business intelligence to measure key performance indicators has helped them track and grow business better... READ MORE >
Microsoft gifts $1.4m of software to Barnardos
Corporation says its donations to non-profit organisations in New Zealand topped $5.5 million over the past year... READ MORE >
Security concerns keeping businesses out of the cloud
Poll finds corporate concerns about security and data privacy continue to be the major barriers to enterprise adoption of cloud computing... READ MORE >
Agile expands Networks Group
Company appoints Phil Josephs as business development manager responsible for growing its carrier and service provider business... READ MORE >
API Consumer Brands implements Infor Advanced Scheduler
The custodian of Blackmores, Health Basics and other well-known brands expects to increase production capacity by 20% with its new solution... READ MORE >
Improve your business pitch, NZX boss tells IT start-ups
Investors looking to buy into fledgling technology companies want to hear business plans, not product details, says Mark Weldon ... READ MORE >
Vector’s Nigel Bernie appointed SAP User Group chair
Infrastructure company’s IT business systems manager plans to expand the NZSUG’s reach as Business One and SAP BusinessObjects users come onboard... READ MORE >
Survey finds over half of IT departments fail to deliver value
Importance of ‘service value management’ tipped to grow as lack of real-time metrics aligning IT with business needs continues to frustrate corporates...
READ MORE >
AppWrap October 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market... READ MORE >
Consolidation powers hard core savings
The energy distributor took some bold decisions to consolidate its database infrastructure to a single platform and is now reaping the rewards… READ MORE >
Mining the numbers turns up trumps for The Warehouse cards
A decline in overall spend from their credit and loyalty card customers prompted The Warehouse Financial Services to take a closer look at the numbers… READ MORE >
Unified Communications: The Killer App?
UC is one of those fuzzy buzz-phrases, but it is slowly becoming a tangible reality. iStart looks at what it is, what it does and where to find the ROI. By Johanna Bennett READ MORE >
RH Page turns over new comms leaf
Retail fitout specialist RH Page has turned over a new leaf in communications,
replacing an outgrown analogue phone system with an IP telephony setup... READ MORE >
LogMeIn promises easy, secure remote access
Despite the advent of Google Docs and remote access to email via the web, working remotely remains an issue for many staff... READ MORE >
Amway signs mobile deal with Vodafone
Partnership will see Vodafone handsets and services promoted through Amway’s network of independent business owners... READ MORE >
AXA picks Gen-i for mobility solutions
Insurer has sights set on cost savings and improved productivity as it moves to the new XT mobile network... READ MORE >
IT confidence in US bodes well for New Zealand
KPMG says local technology firms will benefit from the new positive economic outlook of American IT companies... READ MORE >
NorthTec gets spending under control with Unimarket
The Northland tertiary education provider has improved efficiencies, cut unnecessary spending and enhanced visibility with the web-delivered procurement solution... READ MORE >
SEO...The newest profession?
Search Engine Optimisation is emerging as the newest kid on the block. Already well established in the US, there is a growing demand for the unique skill sets that make up a rigorous SEO strategy and execution plan. SEO consultant Jacqui Jones is one who has watched SEO grow from its early roots – she gives us some history, and some insights… READ MORE >
Statistics NZ selects IBM for 2011 Census imaging services
Contract aims to improve quality and accuracy of data captured during the five-yearly national head-count... READ MORE >
Orcon launches locally-developed cloud computing service
ISP says the service, aimed at SMEs and launched under its iSERVE brand, is a first for New Zealand... READ MORE >
A smart development for companies wanting to turn green
Optimation’s resourceful and inclusive approach to application development is behind a clever online tool that’s helping local firms improve both the environment and their businesses… READ MORE >
CourierPost marks birthday with super-fast Kiwi sorting system
The national courier is now 20 years old and still keen to innovate. Its locally developed automated sorting technology has increased parcel-sorting capacity by a whopping 600 percent, it says… READ MORE >
Punk legend Iggy Pop fronts for Orcon
Local telco’s latest promotion involves the music icon putting a band together – with kiwi talent he meets online... READ MORE >
Telecom picks Opengear and Prophecy Networks for remote management
Country’s largest telco using centralised, out of band management of all equipment in its Network Integration Lab... READ MORE >
IBM partners with eCom for business processing
Partnership will deliver IBM’s FileNet content and business process management solutions to clients throughout New Zealand and Australia... READ MORE >
Plant & Food Research selects SAP Business Suite
Crown research institute says rapid deployment, and on-time, under-budget delivery adds up to good value... READ MORE >
“Context-aware computing” tipped as the next business advantage
Gartner says within six years, context will be as influential in mobile consumer services and relationships as search engines are to the web... READ MORE >
Fruit science company gets sweet insight into projects
Crown entity Plant & Food Research needed a better view into its operations to improve resource allocation to its 1000-plus projects. REALTECH’s SAP BI solution did the job with zest… READ MORE >
Author-it and Lionbridge launch multilingual content delivery solution
Partnership focused on unified global content lifecycle solution for managing content in multiple languages and formats... READ MORE >
Kiwi SaaS vendor launches new on-demand CRM tool
ActionStep says its new product – called CRM+ – can help businesses boost sales in a tough market... READ MORE >
Pingar debuts kiwi-made enterprise search solution
Local software developer says while half of all searches don’t find the correct answer, it has the solution... READ MORE >
Local Microsoft partner takes the stage at international SharePoint conference
Intergen’s Chris Auld shares his company’s experience with a global audience ahead of next month’s beta release of SharePoint 2010... READ MORE >
NextWindow selects Oracle’s Agile Product Lifecycle Management
Local optical touch screen exporter is the first company in New Zealand to deploy Oracle’s PLM solution ... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT Deals and Dealings - November 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market, compiled by iStart News Editor Simon Hendery... READ MORE >
Humes signs Infor to support plant growth
As it builds a new state-of-the-art plant, New Zealand’s largest pipeline systems supplier is focused on improving planning processes and reducing stock levels... READ MORE >
Leighton Contractors extends managed print services contract with HP
Construction company says partnership with HP has already reduced costs and improved staff productivity... READ MORE >
Microsoft trims cost of Business Productivity Online Suite
The business communication and collaboration software delivered as a service is now used by more than 200 New Zealand companies... READ MORE >
Virtual Computer expands into New Zealand
Virtualisation vendor partners with resellers to grow its presence in the Asia-Pacific region... READ MORE >
Warning to BlackBerry Users: Beware the PhoneSnoop
Could your competitors be listening in on your business calls? A simple BlackBerry app makes corporate espionage easy – at least in theory... READ MORE >
IT Spending Survives the Global Recession
Survey finds CFOs are demanding efficiency gains and cost savings from IT initiatives, and modifying existing systems is often the preferred option... READ MORE >
Is Facebook worth it for business?
Facebook hasn’t had much success with its advertising efforts so far, now it’s hoping that brand-oriented company Facebook pages will prove a winner… READ MORE >
Hardwired hands-free kits way to go
Once you go hard-wired you won’t look back.
This is the message from hands-free car kit distributor Grant Eveleigh...
READ MORE >
Most companies survive GFC without cutting IT staff
IDC survey finds that to survive the global financial crisis, firms have trimmed admin, operations and ICT budgets rather than making IT staff redundant... READ MORE >
NetSuite adds ‘social intelligence’ to business software
Vendor says its InsideView for NetSuite application is the first to bring social media insights directly to its CRM and ERP solutions... READ MORE >
Cortell shines at IBM Business Partner Awards
BI specialist picks up the Supreme Business Partner of the Year award for its deployment of a Cognos TM1 solution for burger chain Wendy’s... READ MORE >
IMS Payroll launches online module
Major local payroll software provider adds web-based data entry and processing capabilities... READ MORE >
Organisations urged to start planning for Windows 7 migration immediately
FrontRange Solutions outlines four-stage plan to ease the pressure of switching to the new operating system... READ MORE >
‘Human error’ causing more business data disasters
Data recovery specialist Kroll Ontrack says human error is responsible for an increasing number of incoming enterprise data recovery requests... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT Deals and Dealings - December 2009
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market, compiled by Simon Hendery - iStart News Editor... READ MORE >
Datamail Group orders HP digital presses
Country’s largest communications management group says the HP Indigo W7200 commercial presses represent a “re-engineering” of its business... READ MORE >
Airways NZ plans ahead with Oracle Primavera
New project management solution allows air navigation services business to pull all this information together in one central and easily accessible location... READ MORE >
Zeacom adds ‘Record and Evaluate’ module to UC offering
With contact centre agents spend more time engaging with high-value customers, effective reporting and evaluation tools are critical, company says... READ MORE >
GeoSmart launches online route optimisation solution
The mapping company’s new software-as-a-service Route²GO solution is being promoted as a way for smaller businesses to save travel costs and time... READ MORE >
Poll finds local businesses switching on to video communications
40% of New Zealand companies have invested in VC over the past year and almost half plan desktop implementations within five years... READ MORE >
VectorFibre launches ‘all you can eat’ business broadband service
Network company says its unlimited InterNet offer is a “critical departure” from standard business data plans... READ MORE >
Survey shows ‘workforce planning’ is on most companies’ to-do list
Despite tough economic times, almost half of businesses expect to spend more on WFP next year... READ MORE >
Bayleys' MD, Mike Bayley: It’s all about people
Bayleys’ MD values technology for how it can support business – and the critical information it has brought to the fore during the recession – but real estate is ‘all about people’, says Mike Bayley… READ MORE >
Air New Zealand passengers take off extra-fast with RFID
The Kiwi airline has taken to RFID technology with gusto, with its e-Pass speeding passengers through the tedious check-in process. But RFID can do so much more… especially when it comes to the smart tracking of farm animals...
READ MORE >
Working together will get the job done
ICT is a key productivity driver that can fast-track New Zealand, writes NZICT’s chief executive Brett O’Riley… READ MORE >
Top ten IT predictions for 2010
IDC sees planning for economic certainty continuing, as well as government consolidating IT buying, and a restructure of the present badly conceived ultra-broadband plan… all will feature in the coming year, says the analyst firm... READ MORE >
Five tips for getting to BI heaven
IBM’s five ‘best practice’ tips will point you towards business intelligence nirvana – and greater profits and cost-containment, according to Big Blue’s Mac Bryla. Johanna Bennett reports... READ MORE >
Kiwi small business gets sorted with tailored ERP
We’re a nation of feisty but often chaotic SMEs, but we’re getting organised, with a range of ERP software tailored to our small but often complex needs…
READ MORE >
Resene: painting customers' world any colour with ETint
The Kiwi paint pioneer needed an easy-to-use POS paint-tinting application. Optimation developed ETint and now the custom software is making paint tints a cinch… READ MORE >
Australasian 'family' takes on Texas
Australian-developed Legrand CRM is being put to use by a Kiwi executive to tackle the Texas education market… READ MORE >
IDC warns the rough economic ride isn’t over
Issuing its top 10 predictions for 2010, the IT analyst firm says while the economic recovery will accelerate IT-based business transformation, the rough ride isn't over…
READ MORE >
Microsoft releases Office 2010 beta
The latest beta versions of SharePoint 2010 and Silverlight 4 can also be downloaded for a complimentary test… READ MORE >
IT job market tipped to improve
2010 will be a better year for technology job seekers, but the pick-up in New Zealand is likely to lag behind Australia, says recruitment specialist… READ MORE >
New Zealand Defence Force awards Gen-i major licensing contract
Appointment as Microsoft and other software licensing management partner extends Gen-i’s existing relationship with NZDF… READ MORE >
IBM building new ‘state-of-the-art’ Auckland data centre
The $80 million facility will harness the latest green technologies, including making use of outside air for cooling during winter months...
READ MORE >
Cisco marks 10 Years of IP telephony in New Zealand
A decade after NZ Post first trialled IP telephony, the technology has transformed the way local businesses operate…
READ MORE >
Infosys opens its first New Zealand office
Up to 100 of the IT services and outsourcing company’s staff will work from New Zealand at any one time, spread across client sites and the new Wellington office…
READ MORE >
Gartner predicts strong growth for open-source BI
Open-source business intelligence tools production deployments picked to grow five-fold through 2012…
READ MORE >
Microsoft announces changes to partner awards
Company expands categories for next year’s local awards and aligns timing with global schedule…
READ MORE >
New Zealand outperforms other countries in technology innovation
Strong performance of kiwi companies in the annual Deloitte Technology Fast 500 shows local innovation is alive and well, says ICT industry body…
READ MORE >
Fujitsu wins five year services deal with Meridian
Electricity generator says new converged operating and delivery model will major benefits, including significant cost reductions…
READ MORE >
Stay connected with Wi-Fi
Improvements in Wi-Fi networks are increasingly allowing you to stay in touch with fast broadband as you travel around... READ MORE >
Playing with fire: The basics of managing business risks
Being in business invariably means treading that fine line between risk and reward. But how do you minimise the danger of getting burnt?... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT Deals and Dealings - January 2010
iStart’s monthly summary of news and deals affecting New Zealand’s enterprise ICT market, compiled by Simon Hendery - iStart News Editor... READ MORE >
ECN Group partners with Innovit
Local business process management and messaging solutions specialist says its deal with Innovit will make implementing GS1net solutions easier for its customers... READ MORE >
Gen-i launches cloud strategy and services
ICT services provider gears up to tap into the growing Australasian market for cloud computing solutions... READ MORE >
Paper Plus Group signs with SmartPay
Merchant technology provider SmartPay picked to supply point of decision marketing systems and in store radio across 164 shops...
READ MORE >
Unisys predicts a ‘biometrics boom’ in 2010
While organisations go on the offensive to protect data, advances in surveillance systems and continued Trojan attacks are also on the horizon...
READ MORE >
Hacking: the new form of organised crime
The ‘industrialisation’ of hacking by criminal cartels is the new decade’s greatest security threat, according to Imperva...
READ MORE >
Growth in PC shipments hits seven-year high
Gartner says all regions around the world experienced positive shipment results during the final quarter of last year...
READ MORE >
Simms International opens for business in New Zealand
Former Renaissance MD Paul Johnston tasked with building up the IT distributor and supplier’s new local operation...
READ MORE >
TracMap secures major US deals
Local GPS guidance systems business sees big market potential in the large North American rural fire-fighting industry...
READ MORE >
New ISO standard signals Risk Management is maturing
ISO 31000 aims to help organizations develop, implement and continuously improve their risk management framework...
READ MORE >
NetSafe launches Cybersafety resource for businesses
Whatsit business security resource website simplifies IT security policy implementation, especially for smaller businesses...
READ MORE >
Avoiding data loss and digital footprints
Mobiu USB data key targets mobile staff who need access to sensitive files while out of the office...
READ MORE >
Businesses demand more reliable broadband
Survey finds a need for more consistency of service. Regional service providers promise to deliver...
READ MORE >
Internet reaches critical turning point
New Zealand businesses must sit up and take note of the need to migrate to the new method of addressing computers and servers, says the IPv6 Taskforce...
READ MORE >
IT research forum aims to drive economic growth
New organisation focused on bringing industry, academia and government research communities together to help grow of the local software economy...
READ MORE >
Ovum forecasts modest recovery for local IT services market
Research firm expects 2010 to “an optimistic year, sprinkled with a healthy dose of cautiousness”. Project-led consulting and systems integration work also tipped to rebound...
READ MORE >
QV partners Revera for virtual computing infrastructure
Outsourcing property valuation service’s IT infrastructure results in savings of 20%...
READ MORE >
TelstraClear enhances printing efficiency with Canon
Tailor-made in-house solution expected to save $200,000 a year in reduced paper and toner use, meaning a return on investment in nine months...
READ MORE >
Kordia selects Juniper Networks for network upgrade
Telecommunications provider boosts network capacity to 10Gbps as data traffic and customer demand increases...
READ MORE >
Malware and Spam rise 70% on social networks
Report finds three out of four businesses fear corporate security risks from staff use of social networking sites… READ MORE >
Social media ‘key to increasing customer engagement’
Survey finds New Zealand businesses believe social media builds customer relationships, but few are prepared to invest in it significantly… READ MORE >
Intergen first to win elite SharePoint status
Kiwi integrator’s expertise pays off as it becomes the world’s first Microsoft SharePoint Elite certified partner… READ MORE >
Microsoft seeking ‘road warrior’ sales staff to promote Office 2010
Top salespeople invited to apply for audition and four-month contract… READ MORE >
Dell signs Simms International as NZ distributor
New arrangement in local SMB channel mirrors a similar approach Dell has taken in other markets, the company says…
READ MORE >
IT salaries forecast to remain flat this year
Contract rates and demand for staff expected to continue to be impacted by tough economic conditions…
READ MORE >
Objective claims local government wasting $1.4m a year
Councils losing out on potential savings through inefficient document management, says the content solutions vendor…
READ MORE >
Unisys picks 2010 to be a big year for security roll-outs
IT services and software company predicts miniaturisation and attitudinal change will drive the take-up of innovative measures focused around identity security …
READ MORE >
Auckland IT event to feature leading vendors
Organiser Eagle Technology hopes the initiative – allowing direct interaction with a range of providers – will become an annual event…
READ MORE >
Geographic Information Systems pioneer to attend NZ summit
ESRI founder Jack Dangermond to present keynote address at Annual GIS Senior Executive Summit in Wellington…
READ MORE >
Aviation Security Service chooses Quintiq for employee scheduling
Avsec aims to boost operational efficiencies with a new system that can cope with common rostering issues faced by the agency such as delayed flights…
READ MORE >
Fast-paced data centre growth continues
Energy-guzzling business shows no signs of slowing down, says Frost & Sullivan… READ MORE >
Local software market tipped to continue recovery
Ovum says major vendors are well-placed as the economy improves… READ MORE >
Timetable for Government's ultra-fast broadband network announced
Crown Fibre Holdings announces indicative timetable for network build partner selection process…
READ MORE >
No.8 fencing wire ‘innovation’ no longer enough
The traditional, resourceful Kiwi ‘You can fix anything with No.8 fencing wire’ take on innovation once served us well, but no longer. An IBM study found Kiwi innovation flatlined between 2000 and 2007, and then nosedived… READ MORE >
New Zealand Post Transforms business with Google
New Zealand Post Implements Google Apps to reduce costs and increase business agility... READ MORE >
There’s sales in them thar blogs
Once upon a time, those with a sharp commercial eye might have mined the hills, with pickaxes, for gold, now they mine the web with software tools for the golden sales opportunities out there… READ MORE >
Google selects Fronde in Google Apps partnering deal
The Kiwi company was invited by the search giant to drive Google Apps for Enterprise in NZ, because of Fronde’s experience here, notably installing Google Apps for NZ Post last year… READ MORE >
Has big ERP had its day?
It’s good for big business, but large-scale ERP can be an unwieldy and expensive beast for smaller businesses to handle. Many have opted for a modular upgrade approach, but getting the various modules to ‘talk’ to each other is a challenge… READ MORE >
Survey Results: iStart 2010 ANZ Investment Intentions Survey
Software-as-a-Service providers are in keen demand post-GFC as organisations look to control costs. iStart’s fifth annual Investment Intentions Survey shows that almost two-out-of-three companies are now using SaaS applications – up from a half a year ago… READ MORE >
LG's Android lands in New Zealand
Mobile phone maker LG announces its first handset based on Google’s Android operating system will be available in the local market...
READ MORE >
Epicor’s next-generation ERP looks to SMBs’ needs
ERP goes mobile, as well as focusing on helping users reduce costs and encourage a better response from their own customers…
READ MORE >
Social CRM: Hype or Holy Grail
Social CRM is the new buzz-phrase. But what does it mean and, more importantly, what can it do for your business? Graham Medcalf investigates... READ MORE >
Beyond ROI: Business focuses on technology
A good return on dollars spent on IT in these tough times should be a pre-requisite to investment – right? iStart asked those who know where to find it and got some surprising answers. Johanna Bennett reports... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT Deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >
How secure is your smartphone?
With staff increasingly mobile and mobility applications burgeoning, security threats are becoming as real on smartphones as they have been for some time on PCs. Being aware is the key to staying clean… READ MORE >
2010 Plain English Awards – enter now
iStart is supporting the annual WriteMark New Zealand Plain English Awards. The awards promote businesses that communicate clearly and raise awareness about the benefits of using plain English. Businesses enter to gain recognition for the way they communicate and to show their commitment to clarity. Entry is free and there are categories to suit any business... READ MORE >
Integral-Axon merger reaches boon for SMEs
The acquisition of Axon by Integral is good news for small business, says Maclean Computing... READ MORE >
Electronics still toxic, but Apple and HP show the way
Greenpeace’s latest Guide to Greener Electronics shows some electronic companies making headway while others are falling behind… READ MORE >
SAP and the Supercity
Major contracts worth over NZ$90 million altogether have been awarded to build the new Auckland Council’s customer-focused ICT infrastructure… READ MORE >
BI Vendors Solutions Guide 2010
Each year iStart publishes the BI Vendor Solutions Guide (or BI Buyers Guide) providing comparison and evaluation of the leading BI vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
DHBs slow to buy into e-Trading gateway despite savings
Ryall confirms board of Health Benefits Ltd as crown shared services organisation to explore opportunities...
READ MORE >
SAP goes mobile with Sybase
SAP’s acquisition of mobile specialist Sybase will allow it to deliver its ERP software to mobile devices… READ MORE >
Online advertising still growing
Online advertising grew 12.3 percent in the first financial quarter of the financial year compared with the first quarter of 2009, to reach NZ$55.3 million... READ MORE >
Microsoft Office 2010: rich features and in the cloud
The new suite is an up-to-date take on its 2007 predecessor, with an emphasis on social networking and collaborating online… READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT Deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >
Aussie's on-the-go holiday planner
Is Tourism Australia’s new mobile capable tool aimed at IT savvy travellers or the advertising departments of industry big players? READ MORE >
Power-hungry internet needs to nap
The internet’s energy consumption is growing fast. It may need computers to help it sleep if it’s not to pose a green threat… READ MORE >
Social Media Checklist
Social media is going through a classic ‘hype cycle’. There is huge interest and discussion in it as a way of marketing products, but many B2B companies aren’t really using it seriously i.e. spending serious marketing budgets on social media channels...
READ MORE >
Working together software creates true custom fit
It’s the way of the future – developers and users working to together on a daily basis, via the web, to create software that really does fit ‘requirements’ snugly… READ MORE >
New animal tracking standard opens door to Chinese advantage
A recent government standards announcement could mean losing another agri-tech race after kiwi’s do all the hard work... READ MORE >
FlexiTime online payroll lets SMEs get on with business
A Kiwi start-up has put payroll online for small business in a similar move to that of online accounting success Xero – as well as integrating with Xero… READ MORE >
Infor on track to trump Oracle in the integration game
Infor may be on track to beat rival Oracle in delivering the Holy Grail of a properly integrated ERP-and-essential-business-applications suite... READ MORE >
Contact centre wallflowers take to the dance floor
The contact centre is finally coming into its own, as this shy, retiring part of the business becomes increasingly important. Its technology is moving out into the larger business, while internally technology becomes ‘social’ and increasingly sophisticated... READ MORE >
5-minute Supply Chain Survey from University of Auckland Business School
Your chance to help ascertain the current status of supply chain practices in NZ and help SMEs to better understand the supply chain of tomorrow... READ MORE >
Mobile health risk real, but bluetooth cuts radiation by 90 percent
Nothing is risk-free. Mobile phones are a wonderful invention and we’ve taken to them with alacrity. However, the results of the recent 10-years-in-the-making Interphone project make grim reading... READ MORE >
Rugby scoreboard goes high tech
While there are lots of iPhone applications to keep track of the score of top-notch rugby, Gordon Brown realised there wasn’t one for simply keeping the score in grassroots rugby...
READ MORE >
How to become a standout company – whatever the economic weather
IBM recently conducted a global survey of over 1,500 chief executives, including 81 from Australia and NZ, and found it is the ‘change animals’ who are not only emerging from the economic meltdown intact, but have even grown during the recession… READ MORE >
‘All you can eat’ Broadband - do we really need it?
New Zealanders will have to stump up $350 each for the planned NZ$1.5 billion UFB network, while Australians will pay nearly $2,000 for their A$43 billion NBN network. The question is: What will we use them for and will it be worth the financial pain? Johanna Bennett takes a look... READ MORE >
BI expert comes in from the cold
SAP partner REALTECH has recently hired Swede Martin Sahlin to drive their business intelligence consulting practice in New Zealand. iStart caught up with a chilled out Sahlin recently in Auckland… READ MORE >
Every map tells a story
You could call them maps with attitude. They’re maps with business intelligence information overlaid on them and they can provide rich insights into business performance... READ MORE >
Law Enforcement Alalytics: fighting crime with business intelligence
Ask any field officer what his most important weapon is, and chances are he’ll tell you, information. Armed with the right information at the right time, police officers can carry out their duties more quickly, effectively, and safely... READ MORE >
Mapping BI Data: easier, but you can fall over the cliff
In the old days, mapping data was easy. You bought a wall map and lots of colourcoded pins. Then you stuck them on the map. Fast, easy and cheap. But the information content was superficial at best... READ MORE >
Smart maps show traffic patterns
Placing a retail outlet in the optimal location can spell the difference between profitability and loss. Location intelligence helps retailers choose the right site by assembling key metrics – including customer behaviour records, demographics, traffic patterns and competitor information – from various sources... READ MORE >
Sorry folks, the Earth is not round
Location data can be characterised in a number of different ways. Latitude and longitude, expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds... READ MORE >
Southern Cross Travel Insurance goes online in Oz with Datam
Australian launch success achieved through ‘phenomenal’ cost savings from transforming SCTI’s back office…
Online ad market growth moves up a gear
The local online advertising market saw healthy growth in the latest quarter but the star performer differs from international trends. READ MORE >
KiwiRail-IBM deal to deliver a smarter rail network
A $3m deal uses IBM services to bring KiwiRail in line with modern day rail networks... READ MORE >
Vodafone launches iPhone App for VNZMAs
Vodafone’s gone geek chic with a FREE Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards iPhone app, launched today... READ MORE >
This Android rocks
Chris Bellehewe falls in love with Sony’s new Android, which, once unlocked, really feels like a computer without the complications... READ MORE >
Lumino gains valuable financial insights with Unimarket’s easy-to deploy procurement solution
It didn’t take long for New Zealand’s largest dental healthcare organisation, with a national footprint of 49 practices, to see the benefits of having an enhanced level of visibility into its purchasing activity… READ MORE >
Milestone for Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Microsoft has announced a key milestone for Microsoft Dynamics CRM with the beta release of its next-generation product for cloud-based and on-premise deployments... READ MORE >
Kordia does deal with Datacom
Kordia has entered into a new wholesale channel partnership with New Zealand’s largest privately-owned IT services provider, Datacom... READ MORE >
Podcast: How the AA’s mobile technology keeps New Zealanders moving
AA Road Service in NZ have a massive 1.2 million customers who demand a fast efficient response in the stressful moments when a vehicle fails... READ MORE >
Learn the secrets to exploiting mobile technology
A conference late October will provide invaluable help for companies working out how to effectively manage their mobile workforces, deliver cost savings and in turn deliver a high level of customer service... READ MORE >
Fast wireless mobile phone charger coming soon
In two years time, you may be able to charge your mobile phone without the need for cables... READ MORE >
University project creating location-based tools we dream about
Research is trying to find answers to questions like how do mobile technologies affect group cohesion, interaction and conflict?.. READ MORE >
Kiwi Made Software Guide 2010
The complete guide to software that is made in New Zealand and made for business... READ MORE >
SKY available on computers
An Orcon SKY TV deal announced today will mean you will be able to watch SKY on your computer... READ MORE >
Moving forward on mobile termination issue
The Commerce Commission has commenced the process for determining the wholesale price for terminating mobile calls and text messages... READ MORE >
eBook: Trends in m-Commerce
The mobile phone is ubiquitous, personal and connected. that is why retailers,
bankers and marketers want to use it for informing, enabling and transacting
business. they are succeeding in global markets, but have been slower to make
inroads locally. local m-commerce expert Belinda Simcox provides the insights you
need to keep up with the play… READ MORE >
More signs we’re not out of the woods
The country’s SMEs are still clearly struggling with the after effects of the world wide economic dip… READ MORE >
Developers get phone challenge
NZ software developers are being challenged to come up with some of the world’s first apps for the new Windows Phone 7 platform... READ MORE >
New daily deals website celebrates launch with $1 iPods
Coveted products including iPods, soft toys and confectionery will go on sale for as little as $1 next month to celebrate the launch of New Zealand’s hottest new daily deals website...
READ MORE >
Start of new Google search bidding war?
A search specialist says some marked changes in the paid and natural search landscape could be ahead after he noticed a tweak in Google’s instant search results... READ MORE >
Simple processes work
More proof today that sometimes simple is good -and the more businesses that adopt the principle, the better it will work for them... READ MORE >
Buy now before it hurts
Kiwis went on a pre-GST spend up... READ MORE >
Moving to the clouds? Here’s a deal
iStart is looking for a business that is just setting up or migrating its business to the cloud... READ MORE >
Video conferencing saving two hours of work a week
A study released today says that workers are now finding benefits of video conferencing beyond the accepted travel and other cost savings... READ MORE >
Win help to be smarter
A NZICT contest will help a business become smarter through technology... READ MORE >
Fast broadband moves ahead
New Zealand is another step closer to ultra-fast broadband today... READ MORE >
Cloud triggers boom for wholesale telecoms market
Increasing demand for cloud-based services is driving a boom in the wholesale telecoms market, according to Ovum...
READ MORE >
Young entrepreneurs rewarded
Students with bright business ideas have been given awards by the AUT...
READ MORE >
Government funding for sorting machine
TechNZ will invest $3.7 million over 30 months in a project to research and develop an innovative produce sorting machine... READ MORE >
Global provider Datacraft acquires all of Integral Axon
Leading specialist IT solutions and services provider Datacraft has made a conditional offer to acquire 100% of Integral Axon Computer Systems for an undisclosed sum... READ MORE >
NZ’s internet story told in video and song
This is the 21st anniversary of New Zealand’s connection to the Internet and a Wellington digital agency has created a site to tell its story...
READ MORE >
Last bastion of manual processes set for disruption
Finance and insurance companies may like to be considered ‘solid as a rock’, but archaic processes don’t inspire customer confidence. Post-GFC, new players and old are launching offerings that challenge the paper-intensive old school. Chris Bell investigates... READ MORE >
Business infrastructure systems increasingly under political attack
A new Symantec survey reveals half of the infrastructure providers questioned have experienced politically motivated cyber attacks... READ MORE >
Infor unveils new family of applications
Infor’s new family of applications combine industry-specific functionality with rapid implementations to speed time-to-value... READ MORE >
Kiwis careless with their personal identity stuff
New Zealanders have been urged to take action to protect themselves against identity fraud after a recent Newspoll survey... READ MORE >
CallPlus launches Managed WAN solution
CallPlus has launched its Managed Wide Area Network (WAN) solution to complement its range of SIP and IP based services... READ MORE >
Government ICT direction gets the thumbs up
A government paper setting the policy for Government ICT use has been welcomed by the industry... READ MORE >
Government looks to make more technology savings
The government has announced how it’ll save millions in the technology area as well as cutting red tape... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT deals and dealings 2010
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >
Mobile payments about to explode in this region
Mobile payments in Asia-Pacific are expected to more than double to US$3.6b in the next five years... READ MORE >
Auckland buses track their performance better
Auckland’s transport authority is using SAP BusinessObjects BI reporting and analysis tools to report on the performance of bus operators in the region... READ MORE >
Sqware Peg picks up Sydney business award
Sqware Peg, a leading Cloud Computing consulting and solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region, has won a top business award... READ MORE >
Mobile voucher scheme launched
Numerous deals of the day and voucher services are being launched as competition in this space hots up... READ MORE >
Telecom under investigation
The Commerce Commission has confirmed it’s launched an investigation into an alleged breach of separation undertakings by Telecom... READ MORE >
Australia’s online advertising grows with mobile set to rise
Australia's online general advertising market grew in 2010 for the fifth year running and has shaken off the recession blues... READ MORE >
IPv4 addresses going fast
Less than five percent of the world's IPv4 addresses remain unallocated, according to The Number Resource Organization... READ MORE >
Snap the Tag
Snap this tag to get the eBook: Trends in m-commerce. If you need a QR Code reader, go to http://istart.gethardlink.mobi (from your phone’s browser), and install the i-Nigma QR Code reader. Then open the reader, and take a photo of the tag above to Snap the Tag! (thanks to www.contrastmedia.co.nz)
Ovum says multinationals must step up in managing mobile costs
In a new report, the independent telecoms analyst claims that multinationals are struggling to manage the ever growing cost and complexity of business mobility...
READ MORE >
2degrees bucks retail trend
The fast growing operator has decided to open retail stores – the first in Auckland’s Sylvia Park... READ MORE >
Tablets to take off at expense of netbooks, e-readers
A new report suggests worldwide media tablet sales will total 19.5 million units this year and keep growing... READ MORE >
Microsoft gets serious about the cloud
As space in the cloud computing area grows including with Google documents, Microsoft NZ has announced the launch and pricing details of Office 365... READ MORE >
Report reveals global mobile market almost saturated
A report out today reveals 90% of the world's population now has access to mobile networks but growth is slowing... READ MORE >
Cloud the big trend but Australia “sleeping through it”
Cloud computing heads the top trends within both Public sector and Enterprise IT for next year in the list devised by Ovum, the global research and advisory firm but opportunities in this region are being missed... READ MORE >
TIG CEO resigns
The Telecommunications Industry Group‘s CEO has resigned but won’t be replaced at this stage... READ MORE >
Buying local: The case for reform
Are Kiwi ICT innovation and jobs being stifled by an unwillingness from government departments to look more seriously at local vendors with smart solutions? Labour MP Clare Curran thinks so, and so she is lobbying for the introduction of the Kiwi Jobs Bill to take a closer look at the issue across not only ICT, but all of government… READ MORE >
Independent Egg Producers' EDI upgrade flows smoothly
When one of New Zealand’s major egg suppliers needed to overhaul its accounting solution without ruffling feathers down on the farm, it turned to Flow Software and Datagration… READ MORE >
Making money will “keep mobile operators awake” in 2011
Ovum says Asia-Pacific mobile operators will have a dilemma to solve... READ MORE >
Which companies are really making a green difference?
Too many companies are making promises about their “green” appliances, according to Greenpeace New Zealand... READ MORE >
Slice and dice business data
The first ERP vendor to embed and optimise IBM Cognos 10 functionality into its software has been launched... READ MORE >
Stand by for the Internet of Things
A report looking at the technology space in 2020 predicts that soon there will not be many devices not connected to the internet... READ MORE >
Online merchants get client-aware cloud
NetSuite marries a new Intel Web API and promises merchants a competitive advantage... READ MORE >
Kiwi iPhone developers conference
Jade Software will host the country’s first conference dedicated to iPhone and iPad developers in Christchurch on 4 December, 2010... READ MORE >
Blackberry gets local maps
BlackBerry users in Australia and New Zealand can now access a free Blackberry maps app... READ MORE >
Is your mobile secure? Many Kiwis are slack with security
New research reveals that New Zealanders are leaving themselves vulnerable by not securing their mobile devices... READ MORE >
More funding for wheelchair technology
The New Zealand company that launched a robotic exoskeleton to enable wheelchair users to stand and walk in July this year has received further TechNZ investment.... READ MORE >
Survey: Feel strongly about customer satisfaction? Tell us about it and get yourself a new phone...
Provide your views on which NZ industries are achieving high (or low) customer satisfaction, and why… READ MORE >
Sled dog computer doctors need makeover
New Zealand has some ugly business websites and the hunt is on to find the worst... READ MORE >
Where are the NZ businesses online?
The latest MYOB Business Monitor wonders why only 34% of Kiwi businesses own a website... READ MORE >
Microsoft picks Auckland school among chosen few technological leaders
An East Auckland high school has been chosen for the global Microsoft Innovative Schools Programme... READ MORE >
NZ software gets chosen by US government agencies
Two leading US government agencies are the first customers to purchase fast-growing New Zealand software company Biomatters’ new software package, Geneious Server... READ MORE >
Firm thinks mobile isn’t growing as fast as claimed
A global telecom advisory firm thinks growth is exaggerated and firms should hold off 4G... READ MORE >
New Zealand in bottom third for fixed line services
It’s bad news for New Zealand in a new Commerce Commission report benchmarking New Zealand prices for fixed line and mobile telecommunications services against international prices... READ MORE >
More options for regional broadband
The government is calling for applications for access to radio spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band, which will assist deployment of wireless broadband services in regional New Zealand... READ MORE >
Market insight iPhone app
Ovum has launched an iPhone app that makes market insight and research mobile for the business traveller... READ MORE >
HR systems shift to the cloud
With people wanting access to information anytime and anywhere, web-based HR systems are proving to be the way to go. Ulrika Hedquist finds moving to the cloud affords a flexible and cost-effective solution... READ MORE >
Rugby New Zealand 2011 CEO Martin Snedden: The Ultimate Test
In a matter of months, the first teams in the RWC 2011 will run onto Eden Park. Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 says the event is “sunk” if they don’t get the IT right but he has to trust the experts with that. He’s ensuring the global event will be a success... READ MORE >
Nokia appointment
Nokia has appointed a new General Manager of the company’s Australian and New Zealand operations... READ MORE >
NZ airline travelers are embracing new smart technology at airports
SmartGate, the new automated passenger clearance system at NZ’s international Airports, processed its 500,000th passenger this week. Trans-Tasman co-ordination gets closer… READ MORE >
Shared care software to transform Canterbury health system
HSAGlobal’s Collaborative Care Management Solution (CCMS) is being implemented as a part of a programme transforming the region’s system... READ MORE >
A Kiwi invention has been named one of the top inventions of the year
New Zealand invention the Martin Jetpack has just been named one of Time magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2010... READ MORE >
IT to make Eden Park a world-class stadium
ICT will play a major role in creating the ability for the RWC venue to add value to the spectator experience as well as generating new revenue streams… READ MORE >
Datacraft & McAfee launch new cloud platform here
Datacraft has partnered with McAfee to launch a new software-as-a-service (SaaS) Security platform in New Zealand... READ MORE >
Top event centre gets network upgrade
D-Link Australia & New Zealand is upgrading services at Auckland’s exhibition centre, the ASB Showgrounds... READ MORE >
FrontRange chooses new channel partner
Palladium Technology Limited, a provider of business software solutions, has been selected as its newest channel partner... READ MORE >
Silverstripe achieve open source server certification
The web development company claims it is a world first... READ MORE >
Telecom added to Sybase operators
Sybase 365 has added Telecom to its operators of its IPX (IP eXchange) and GRX (Global Roaming eXchange) on-net community in the Asia Pacific region... READ MORE >
NZ’s civil defence goes hi-tech
Farmside, New Zealand’s leading satellite telecommunications provider, hope to provide a modern technological solution to Civil Defence and Emergency Management staff... READ MORE >
CBA's Norris receives Customer Service CEO of the Year award
CBA’s $16 million man gains recognition for contribution to bank’s customer service... READ MORE >
Bandwidth demands boost ON sales
The continuing need for bandwidth is boosting sales of optical networking equipment... READ MORE >
New security challenges loom in 2011
Unisys’ predictions for the next 12 months note that the consumerisation of IT trend has created vulnerabilities in organisations’ network perimeters... READ MORE >
IT executives sweat for charity
Senior IT executives are going the extra mile this week to raise money for a women’s refugee... READ MORE >
Govt tender gives companies chance to prove NZ is innovative leader
New Zealand trade and enterprise is inviting tenders for a multi-channel project “to position New Zealand as a world leader in technology innovation”... READ MORE >
Kiwi Company launches online ERP II application for small to medium businesses
Letstrade International, founded by Kiwi entrepreneur, Peter Montgomery, is launching the new application that integrates with Xero... READ MORE >
Lobby group calls for mobile termination rates elimination
The Telecommunication Users group is calling for mobile termination rates to be virtually eliminated resulting in cost reductions for consumers... READ MORE >
Google and Microsoft meet in the cloud
Business users are testing a new Google Doc plug-in that enables it to sync with Word documents... READ MORE >
Local companies fail to back up virtual systems
A Symantec survey reveals many virtual systems in Australia and New Zealand are not properly protected... READ MORE >
Business tech world optimism for 2011 gets boost
Hewlett-Packard’s results beat expectations and bring surge of optimism... READ MORE >
Mobile phone number “porting” reaches milestone
Half a million numbers have now been “ported” showing the reality of mobile competition at the moment in New Zealand... READ MORE >
NZ online advertising shows 18% year on year growth
The latest online advertising expenditure figures for New Zealand show healthy growth... READ MORE >
Kiwi project software heads for Silicon Valley
A New Zealander whose rapidly growing online business includes NASA and Volvo as clients is about to open offices in the US... READ MORE >
Rush of enthusiasm for chance to prove NZ is innovative leader
New Zealand trade and enterprise has had to halt its tender for a multi-channel project “to position New Zealand as a world leader in technology innovation” because there is so much interest... READ MORE >
Government moves to change TV viewers to digital
The government has officially launched a national campaign to promote the switch to digital television... READ MORE >
Councils not working hard enough for NZ businesses
Almost half of the businesses in New Zealand are unhappy with the support of their local council... READ MORE >
Tablet and mobile device sales start to bite into the PC market
PC sales for the year are less than projected and iPad –type devices are blamed... READ MORE >
SEEK moves smartly on mobile market
Job seeking on-the-go just got easier for Smartphone users... READ MORE >
Orcon ups its offering
Government owned Orcon adds another notch to its belt with the purchase of business management services provider Bizo... READ MORE >
Nothing super about council governance says business survey
Confidence in local and national government is low according to a MYOB Business Monitor survey... READ MORE >
82 percent will sign up for fast broadband - but at what price?
Businesses want high end internet but not high end prices according to a new survey by Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ)... READ MORE >
TVNZ tunes into IT delegation
Television New Zealand is passing the IT buck to staff with its new delegation and automation software... READ MORE >
Kiwi made fleet tracking solution takes the high road on simplicity
NZ owned fleet management business FleetSmart have plugged a gap in the market for a practical low cost asset tracking product for kiwi businesses... READ MORE >
No walk in the clouds for Xero after IRD alert
Internet-based accounting system Xero’s CEO Rod Drury was quick to reassure customers after Inland Revenue Department tightened up on cloud computing... READ MORE >
Holistic view of law firm sends it into the cloud
Auckland’s new boutique law firm Speakman Law engaged Convergence for advice when setting up, and found web-based solutions would suit its requirements well and free up staff... READ MORE >
iPhone app enables sales decisions to be made in real-time
Scott Chemicals' sales team needed to access information, anytime, anywhere. A Convergence iPhone application has enabled decisions in real time while on the road… READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT deals and dealings 2011
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >
Digital literacy: Getting your workplace up to speed
A business isn’t getting the best out of their work staff if workers aren’t using the technological tools given to them to the best advantage. An expert explains what needs to be done and how best to approach it. By Colin Phillips READ MORE >
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Cloud
Many pundits agree that 2011 is set to become the year of The Cloud and that IT professionals need to prepare themselves. While everyone seems to be talking about “The Cloud” in excited tones, do we really understand what it’s all about?
iStart helps demystify what it all means and navigates a clear path through all the hype. What are the implications of ‘going public’ and staying private? By Chris Bell...
READ MORE >
IDC's NZ IT Services Predictions: 'Fusion' rather than 'Confusion' setting the scene for 2011
Auckland, New Zealand, 17 January 2011. Reconstruction, deconstruction, transformation, and consolidation - these are all recurring themes in International Data Corporation's NZ services predictions, but it's the rate at which these themes will fuse that will make the difference in 2011... READ MORE >
IDC NZ ICT Predictions: 2011 - The Year of Transformation
2011 is set to be a year of transformational and unpredictable change for New Zealand's Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) sector... READ MORE >
Business Communications will be the next cloud wave
An expert in business communication solutions reveals that cloud service delivery has become more than a novel new way to deploy applications. He says it’s bringing huge value, ending the days of long deployment cycles, huge investments, and costly support contracts...By Brendan Maree - Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand Interactive Intelligence READ MORE >
New Kiwi technology gets nod from old UK University
New Zealand based multi-media learning company Vital English will partner with the prestigious Cambridge University for a new online programme... READ MORE >
Integrated ticketing system gets onboard with Auckland buses
An Auckland Transport deal sees bus, rail and ferry users’ one step closer to an integrated ticketing system... READ MORE >
NZ Post deal aims to improve national security
Gaining the public’s confidence in information security management has proved a priority to the Government... READ MORE >
Public slant on Government's ICT council
Private sector representation is low on the Government’s newly announced ICT Council... READ MORE >
Ten tips for winning online: Luke Howard-Willis, Torpedo 7
A Hamilton mountain bike rider turned his sporting interest into a multi-million online venture, not just in New Zealand, but in Australia which now accounts for at least 50% of the income. Buoyed by his proven flair for success, he has expanded into other online ventures... READ MORE >
IT should follow strategy & process to get planning right
In the absence of a crystal ball, the next best thing to tighten your supply chain is robust S&O planning, but is your environment right?…by Anthony Doesburg… READ MORE >
2014 earliest possible date for real 4G
True 4G offers the hope of blistering mobile broadband speeds, but it can’t happen until access to the spectrums currently occupied by analogue TV are released – and that’s a few years away yet…By Nigel Horrocks READ MORE >
European online FX trader heading down under
Foreign exchange retail broker FXPro Financial Services has got its eye on the Australasian market... READ MORE >
Australian FMCG market checking out new CRM system
Global CRM and decisions support solutions provider StayinFront’s new on-demand system aims to pick up the pace in the FMCG sector... READ MORE >
Google ANZ pulls new managing director from News Ltd
Ex-Deputy CEO of News Ltd Australia Nick Leeder has been appointed as the regional manager of Google Australia and New Zealand after a lengthy search... READ MORE >
CallPlus' new product connects with small business
CallPlus' new voice solution aims to give big player options to small businesses... READ MORE >
Virtual marketing's future in business
Outsourced and remote marketing is the way forward for many businesses says advertising specialist Paul Wilkes... READ MORE >
Rural Broadband demands a step change to deliver future proofing
Following recent media speculation on the outcome of the $300 million Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), Federated Farmers is challenging the initiative to ensure it delivers radically improved broadband for over one million New Zealanders...
READ MORE >
ERP Buyers Guide 2011
Each year iStart publishes the ERP Vendor Solutions Guide (or ERP Buyers Guide) providing comparison and evaluation of the leading ERP vendors and their products, along with local reseller or implementation partner contact details... READ MORE >
Free-to-call directory delays launch citing testing issues
0133’s launch has been delayed until the end March due to system development issues, and slow subscription uptake...
READ MORE >
$300 million RBI investment not enough for farmers
Federated Farmers chief executive officer Conor English says the Government’s rural broadband initiative (RBI) needs significant change to deliver real value... READ MORE >
Smart reshuffle set to grow merchant services company
NZX listed SmartPay plans to expand in the Australian market with the help of newly appointed chief executive officer Andrew Donaldson... READ MORE >
Orcon unbundles local loop network
Orcon has unbundled exchanges in Hamilton and Tauranga... READ MORE >
Productivity special: What is the productivity enabler of the modern world?
How has Air New Zealand become one of the world’s favourite airlines and how does everyone get a bargain at The Warehouse? Why is Tegel chicken so fresh, how can DHL tell where your package is in 220 countries, how does Foodstuffs compete with global giants and how does Capital Coast DHB keep the supply cupboards full?... READ MORE >
Redundancies in line after Certus take over
The buy out of Australia company Software Traction by fellow IBM provider Certus Solutions is not as good for staff as it is for customers... READ MORE >
Eighty jobs set for Two Degrees Mobile expansion
Two Degrees Mobile is increasing its investment in New Zealand with a second contact centre. It is set to open in Christchurch’s CBD this year...
READ MORE >
Payroll provider brings first .Net4 product to market
Christchurch-based HR software provider PayGlobal’s chief executive Hugh Martyn says new product is the first to leverage the latest workflow tools from Microsoft... READ MORE >
Business seeks eased compliance in election promises
Filing tax returns electronically in exchange for tax credits would be a popular option aimed at easing the compliance burden for New Zealand businesses according to a new survey...
CallPlus chooses OneAccess for local managed services
New Zealand telecommunications provider CallPlus has joined forces with OneAccess, the second largest branch office router vendor worldwide, to provide its customers with access to managed services over their IP network...
Boosted signal not so sure for non-Vodafone customers
People who work from remote locations may have breathed a sigh last week when Vodafone launched its new 3G reception booster Sure Signal...
'Nokiasoft' partnership sees laggards in catch-up mode
Opinions may be split on the Microsoft and Nokia partnership but most agree the Finnish mobile phone maker did not have much choice...
New Zealand to form NZ ‘international review’ group
New Zealand (NZ) IT stakeholders and technical industry experts are to form a NZ ‘international review’ group to an ISO/IEC subcommittee on cloud computing services...
Orcon unbundles first South Island exchanges
Orcon has unbundled its first South Island exchanges, marking a significant milestone for the company, and has also announced it will be unbundling two new North Island cities...
Rapid software response helps Christchurch stricken
Quick thinking volunteers had disaster relief website Christchurch Recovery Map up and running within hours of the devastating earthquake hitting Christchurch on February 22...
Satellite images capture Japan before and after
The NY Times has published a before and after pictorial of the coastal towns impacted by the recent earthquake… READ MORE >
NZ nearing shared services tipping point, says provider
New Zealand’s public sector is lagging behind the UK in the take-up of shared services, says a British provider, and could learn some lessons from its adoption in rural Scotland... READ MORE >
CallPlus launches packages to help Canterbury businesses get back on their feet
New Zealand telecommunications provider CallPlus has launched a series of packages designed to assist all Canterbury business customers affected by the recent earthquake become operational...
Adaptable completes merger
Adaptable Solution’s change signals another round of local and international IT vendor consolidation as integrated solutions seen as the future…
Free online stores for Canterbury
Website builders Smallfish are offering to help small Christchurch stores affected by the quake to start trading online... READ MORE >
New robots speed up sheep processing
The meat industry is set for an efficiency boost thanks to new robotic technology from a results-oriented public private partnership...
David Kirk predicts All Blacks to win World Cup
Microsoft announces deal for NZ$2 million sponsorship of the RWC 2011 tournament… READ MORE >
Vodafone NZ pulls out of Egypt - brings jobs home
Vodafone has announced it is creating 125 local jobs by consolidating all of its contact centre operations in New Zealand...
iStart Blog
Welcome to the iStart blog page. The blog will be updated with useful opinions, tips, tricks and musings on communicating technology solutions to business... READ MORE >
Smartphones, tablets defeat netbooks as most popular mobile Internet device
Tablets and social networking services are key revenue growth opportunities for operators in Asia-Pacific according to mobile broadband industry survey... READ MORE >
Study shows internet more important than ever for business
A new survey shows that the internet is now permeating every aspect of New Zealand business - from where farmers buy supplies to how retailers reach customers...
READ MORE >
EFTPOS at the Rugby World Cup? Forget it.
Fans hoping to use their EFTPOS cards at the upcoming Rugby World Cup are headed for disappointment - none will be available... READ MORE >
Subcard hits the small screen
Loyal Subway customers are breathing a huge sigh of relief as they can now ditch their Subcard from their wallets... READ MORE >
Telecom hit with record fine for anti-competitive conduct
The High Court in Auckland has imposed a record $12 million penalty against Telecom for breaching section 36 of the Commerce Act in the so-called ‘data tails’ case... READ MORE >
ANZ’s ‘goMoney’ mobile banking app goes live
ANZ New Zealand have launched their mobile banking application, ANZ goMoney, as a way for ANZ customers to transfer money between friends, relatives and businesses using only mobile phone details...
READ MORE >
‘Localist’ launches, looks to take on Yellow Pages
New Zealand Post has launched a new local information and directory service called Localist, which looks set to compete with business directory veteran, The Yellow Pages... READ MORE >
Telecom/Vodafone seal rural broadband deal
As anticipated, Telecom and Vodafone have secured the contract for the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) to deliver on the government’s promise of vastly improved and affordable broadband for rural New Zealand...
READ MORE >
Microsoft switches to 100% recycled paper
Microsoft has announced that it will be switching to 100 per cent post-consumer recycled printing paper in all its Puget Sound facilities, including its Redmond headquarters, starting April 22...
READ MORE >
Apple accused of tracking iPad, iPhone user locatio
Apple’s bad press continues as reports surface that the company’s iPhone and iPad are collecting users’ location information… READ MORE >
Amazon outage the ‘worst in cloud computing history’
Amazon’s Web Services goes down, calling into question the reliability of cloud services... READ MORE >
Police issue warning around PlayStation hack
The New Zealand Police are warning people to be vigilant following the hacking of 77 million Sony PlayStation accounts worldwide... READ MORE >
NZ Post plans move to paperless digital platform
NZ Post is currently testing a new online platform that could see ‘snail-mail’ become a thing of the past... READ MORE >
LIC on road to 100 percent wireless
World leading dairy farmer cooperative LIC realised big savings and greatly enhanced mobile services for staff by extending their Lotus Notes and plugging in Traveler... READ MORE >
Bearing & Engineering going online with a purpose
Selecting the right partner made all the difference to realizing Bearing & Engineering’s vision of taking its business online… READ MORE >
Commerce Commission slashes mobile termination rates
The Commerce Commission has ordered the country’s mobile phone operators to dramatically cut the amount they charge each other for disconnecting a call on rival networks... READ MORE >
How to build mobile apps - tips and pitfalls from the experts
iStart Special Report: leading app developers reveal insights on the hot category of 2011 - includes your guide to developers of mobile smartphone applications...
READ MORE >
NZ high-tech industry gears up to court China, employ robots, during the RWC 2011
The local high-tech industry is pulling out all the stops to make the most of the international attention set to be generated by the 2011 Rugby World Cup... READ MORE >
2011 NZ Hi-Tech Awards winners announced
Rakon chips in big time winning both the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award and the NZTE Hi-Tech Company of the Decade Award... READ MORE >
The Year of the Rabbit set for transformation
Research agency IDC’s predictions for 2011 present a year of transformational and unpredictable change for New Zealand's ICT sector who might have to pull one out of the hat to survive... READ MORE >
IT service providers shed confusion, consolidate
When it comes to IT services, IDC is predicting 'fusion' rather than 'confusion' in 2011... READ MORE >
Survey Results: iStart 2011 ANZ Investment Intentions Survey
iStart’s annual investment survey shows BI has jumped into the limelight among the ‘must-have’ applications in 2011 as business shines the crystal ball to track market changes in volatile times... READ MORE >
Microsoft buys Skype: $US8.5 billion, cash
After a week of rumours that Facebook and Google may acquire internet communications company Skype, US technology giant Microsoft has swooped in and sealed the deal the deal for a reported $US8.5 billion... READ MORE >
Satisfaction Flunk
Almost 80% of business decision makers responsible for customer satisfaction think they deliver ‘poor’ or ‘average’ results… READ MORE >
The customer is king
In a world spoiled for choice, customer service sorts the good from the great and has become the differentiator that matters most, and, these days, there’s no hiding behind the fob off... READ MORE >
5 tips to happy Gen Y customers
‘I want it now’ consumers with choice on their side are pushing to get the most out of products and services, and are ready to complain when their experience falls short. John O’Brien, vice president for FrontRange Solutions in Asia Pacific has some tips to keep on top... READ MORE >
Microsoft’s online suite kicks users out of cloud
Those thinking that cloud computing has yet to reach acceptable levels of stability have received more ammunition following Microsoft’s latest online malfunctions... READ MORE >
Christchurch earthquake shakes investor confidence
The February Christchurch earthquake has had a significant negative impact on investor confidence according to the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey... READ MORE >
Sam Morgan’s surprising new investment
TradeMe founder Sam Morgan has given New Zealand-based social game SmallWorlds a $2.5m shot in the arm... READ MORE >
Expecting an economic boost from the World Cup? Yeah, right.
According to a nationwide survey, Kiwi business owners are not expecting much, if any, of an economic recovery from the Rugby World Cup... READ MORE >
The customer is always right
— and the customer experience is always critical...
READ MORE >
University Challenged: Steve Maharey
Massey University's Facebook page isn't set up to allow 'friends', but according to Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey, creating partnerships is actually going to be the big secret for University success for the foreseeable future. David McNickel investigates...
READ MORE >
Out-dated EFTPOS terminals to be disconnected on June 1st
Paymark is warning that businesses that have out-dated EFTPOS machines will have them deactivated if they are not upgraded by June 1... READ MORE >
IBM more valuable than Microsoft for the first time in 15 years
While the lead may be only temporary, IBM has indeed edged out old rival Microsoft for the first time since April 1996, becoming the second most valuable tech company in the US, behind market leader Apple Inc... READ MORE >
Salesforce looks to calm sovereignty fears by building an Australian datacentre
Cloud computer provider Salesforce has said that it will build a datacentre in Australia as fears over offshore data escalate... READ MORE >
Google Android now sitting at the top of the mobile OS heap
It’s official: Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, says technology research group Gartner Inc... READ MORE >
Free Wi-Fi for Wellingtonians
Announcing the initiative today, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says Wellington will be the first city in New Zealand to offer free wireless internet services across most of its CBD... READ MORE >
Animal ID scheme delay welcomed
Federated Farmers is welcoming the decision by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to delay the implementation of the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme from its planned 1 November start... READ MORE >
IBM launches NZ$80 Million Cloud Data Centre in New Zealand
IBM has just announced the official launch of its new NZ$80 million data centre at Highbrook Business Park in Auckland, New Zealand... READ MORE >
MS McKinsey report: The web is a job creator, not killer
A new report once and for all dispels the myth that the World Wide Web is destroyer of jobs... READ MORE >
Apple to unveil iCloud next week
It’s official: Apple CEO Steve Jobs will kick off the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with the unveiling of its upcoming cloud services offering, called, predictably, iCloud... READ MORE >
Costs rule in shared services: lessons from the UK
The UK government shared services experience can pave the way for New Zealand’s public sector. A UK expert in implementing shared desktop services was here recently, and iStart met with him while he was here...by Chris Bell
READ MORE >
Great minds come together for ICE Ideas Conference
The ICE Ideas Conference is bringing together some of New Zealand's best thinkers and doers to talk turkey about growing great kiwi businesses… READ MORE >
eBay looks to create “global commerce operating system”
eBay Inc. today announced that it has agreed to acquire Magento Inc., the creator of a leading open source ecommerce platform... READ MORE >
Fairfax to sell TradeMe?
Reports suggest that Australian media giant Fairfax is currently reviewing the status of New Zealand online auction site TradeMe and may sell the asset... READ MORE >
NZICT CEO Brett O’Riley resigns
Brett O’Riley, CEO of NZICT has announced his resignation from the group in a letter to the organisation’s members yesterday... READ MORE >
Yellowfin praised in ‘Wisdom of Crowds’ BI survey
BI software vendor Yellowfin has beaten out some major players in a recent BI vendor survey... READ MORE >
Lessons from Christchurch
Recent frustration from Christchurch business owners trying to access damaged offices has been linked to a desire to retrieve critical computers or data... READ MORE >
Recovering Christchurch
In amongst the chaos and destruction of the Feb 22nd earthquake, IT systems in the CBD came through remarkably unscathed with many businesses thankful for off-site IT decisions...
READ MORE >
India to issue 1.2 billion biometric cards
In an attempt to bring the nations census data into the 21st century, India, home to 1.2 billion people, has outlined plans to begin issuing state-of-the-art biometric IDs to its citizens... READ MORE >
Something to shout about: researchers developing the sound-powered mobile phone
New technology that turns sound waves into electricity is being used to develop mobile phones that charge themselves using the sound of the human voice... READ MORE >
Sega’s database hacked
This time it’s Japanese gaming company Sega Corp with egg on its face after 1.3 million customer records, including logins and passwords, are stolen... READ MORE >
US building scale model of the internet
The US has launched plans to construct a scale model of the internet that will help researchers to study the outcome of possible cyber-war scenarios... READ MORE >
$1.5 million kick-start business fund announced
The public and the private sector have teamed up for a new initiative that could provide up to NZ$1.5 million to encourage SMEs to expand their businesses... READ MORE >
iCloud Announced: What you need to know
After months of intense speculation, Apple has finally announced the launch of their cloud computing service, iCloud... READ MORE >
IBM lands NZ border management system
IBM has won the contract to build the Joint Border Management System (JBMS) for a reported NZ$75 million for the first stage of the four year project... READ MORE >
Kiwis take coveted global awards from Microsoft
Kiwi companies GreenButton and Provoke have walked away with awards at the prestigious 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Awards...
READ MORE >
The Pope sends first Tweet
Leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has broadcast his first Twitter message, praising Christ and informing the faithful that the Vatican’s new news site has been launched... READ MORE >
Microsoft Launches Office 365: full iStart review
Microsoft has announced the general availability of Microsoft Office 365, the company’s newest cloud service, in Australia and New Zealand...
READ MORE >
Facebook - undisputed king of social media
There’s a whole lot that Facebook could do better, and Google have decided that they’re the ones to do it. Well, good luck Google... READ MORE >
AppWrap ICT deals and dealings 2011
A wrap-up of the past quarter's ICT news... READ MORE >
Online game raises $38,000 Earthquakes – selling only virtual goods
New Zealand-based online social gaming company SmallWorlds has raised $38,000 for earthquake relief by selling limited-edition virtual capes to gamers... READ MORE >
2degrees makes a play for New Zealand business
2degrees has unveiled a range of mobile plans targeting New Zealand businesses, promising a repeat of the impact it made on the consumer market when it launched less than two years ago... READ MORE >
NATO server hacked, files now online
Servers belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have been breached again, this time with some 2,646 files from the server posted online as proof of the exploit... READ MORE >
Alasdair Thompson sacked from the EMA
Alasdair Thompson has been dismissed from the role of chief executive with the EMA following comments about female employees taking excessive sick leave due to their periods... READ MORE >
nsaTax fixes IT cost headache
Swapping the uncertainty and variability of IT support expenses with 100% predictable costs and unlimited support hours was a ‘no-brainer’ for nsaTax... READ MORE >
Unmasking Z: CEO Michael Bennetts
Transitioning Shell New Zealand from global outpost to fresh local upstart has presented CEO Michael Bennetts with some major marketing conundrums, and some tough technology challenges along the way. He enlisted the help of 17,000 kiwis to help... READ MORE >
Cloud resilience at what price?
What factors should businesses consider, and what questions should they ask prospective providers, to ensure their operations and their business critical data stay safe in the cloud?... READ MORE >
Google+ unleashes the spam
Google+’s first snafu sees beta users plagued with spam... READ MORE >
Microsoft launches Maori Language Packs
Microsoft New Zealand has launched new local language packs for Windows 7 and Office 2010...
READ MORE >
Glitch sees Dick Smith giving items away for free
Dick Smith was forced to take its site down this morning after a glitch allowed customers to purchase items for the mistakenly displayed prices of zero dollars... READ MORE >
LinkedIn steals number 2 social-network spot from MySpace
Figures just released reveal that LinkedIn is now the second largest social network in the US behind Facebook... READ MORE >
Smart cities - Designing urban living 2.0
The recent tragedy in Christchurch has sparked an interesting and robust conversation in the online and traditional media about rebuilding the city and what Christchurch 2.0 might look like... READ MORE >
The desktop goes virtual
You may shudder at the thought, but modern enterprise architecture is slowly but surely returning to the mainframe fold, at least conceptually, and never more so than with the idea of virtual desktops – hosted in ‘the cloud’. iStart reviews the leading alternatives... READ MORE >
Stop your data going rogue
These days every digital transaction you do generates data, and chances are that data is being stored. Mobile apps, web transactions, loyalty schemes & more provide a wealth of potential information resources. But with so much data being collected, how do you stop it becoming a rogue elephant and actually apply it to inform your business? David McNickel investigates how business intelligence can move smart companies from average to extraordinary... READ MORE >
The web is critical. The web team is not.
Most organisations consider their website to be critical, yet web teams rarely have respect, power or resources. Here’s how to change that... READ MORE >
5 email tips to boost personal productivity
If you or your team are not managing email effectively, they are not managing their
time effectively. Office productivity expert Debbie Mayo-Smith has provided iStart
with a few ‘freasy’ tips to get on top of the email overload... READ MORE >
New network highlights emerging NZ ICT project opportunities
The launch of the Kiwinet collaboration network is promoting NZ ICT projects looking to commercialise... READ MORE >
ICE Ideas Conference a sellout success - review
NZ Inc needs to get aggressive and get noticed if kiwi innovation is to leave its mark - that was the conclusion from last Friday’s hectic Ice Ideas Conference in Auckland... READ MORE >
Smart card technology: A pocket guide
When it comes to engaging with your customers, there’s plenty to know in the realm of card technology. So if you don’t know your ICC from your NFC, read on to find out just how smart cards, and the smart use of them, can serve your businesss... READ MORE >
The iStart Smartphone Roundup
Thinking about buying a smartphone? Better think carefully – they’re not cheap. So before you take the plunge check out the iStart Smartphone Roundup – it will help you navigate the pros and cons of six of the most popular units on the market, as well as provide you with all the important specs before you buy... READ MORE >
Business Intelligence: at the forefront of business investment
As last issue’s iStart 2011 Investment Intentions Survey clearly showed, Business Intelligence has become the ‘must-have’ application of the moment... READ MORE >
Better (but still not free) Auckland wi-fi for RWC
Auckland is expanding its wi-fi services in time for the RWC, but it still won’t be free... READ MORE >
Cisco cuts 6,500 jobs
Networking giant Cisco has announced that it will slash 6,500 jobs in an attempt to lower costs... READ MORE >
iPad makes compulsory stationary list at Auckland school
Parents of Orewa College students have been told that they will need to purchase an iPad2 for year nine students for 2012... READ MORE >
1 in every 5 online minutes wasted on social networking
comScore has released the State of the Internet New Zealand study and the results show that social media is far and away the biggest time-sink when online... READ MORE >
Hackers target Rupert Murdoch website
The Sun’s website has been hacked and the front page redirected to a fake article claiming that Rupert Murdoch is dead... READ MORE >
Slingshot offers half price broadband
Slingshot has launched half price broadband plans for the New Zealand market...
READ MORE >
Commonwealth Bank CEO calls it quits
Australia’s highest paid CEO, Ralph Norris, will retire as MD and CEO from the Commonwealth Bank come November... READ MORE >
Web too slow? Let Google rewrite it for you
Google have announced the release of their new service, Page Speed, which promises faster load times by fetching the content from users’ servers, rewriting them and serving them via Google’s own servers... READ MORE >
NZ online shopping to increase to $2.68 billion in 2011
A new report predicts big increases in online shopping for 2011 - with half the population shopping online this year spending an average of NZ$1400 each... READ MORE >
Apple forces new Samsung tablet off shelves
Apple has won an agreement from Samsung to prevent the new Galaxy tablet on shelves – for now... READ MORE >
e-waste recycling network gets a $1 million govt boost
The NZ government will spend more than $1 million to support the recycling of electronic waste such as televisions and computers announced environment minister Nick Smith this morning... READ MORE >
Apple becomes largest US company (briefly)
After days of volatile stock market action, Apple momentarily became the US’s largest company, edging out oil monolith Exxon Mobil temporarily before close of trade on Tuesday...
READ MORE >
RIM caught in the middle of UK rioters, hackers and officials
UK authorities are claiming that Blackberry messaging is being used a key communication tool by rioters in London... READ MORE >
Vodafone guilty of misleading customers: fined $400K
Vodafone New Zealand has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to its Vodafone Live! mobile phone internet service... READ MORE >
Google shells out $15 billion for Motorola
Google’s acquisition of the phone maker Motorola Mobility for $NZ15 billion represents the company’s biggest deal ever... READ MORE >
MetService website dishes out viruses to chilly Kiwis
Visitors to the MetService’s website over the last few days may have picked up more than they bargained for... READ MORE >
New deal makes SAP first choice for utilities
Electricity distribution company WEL has selected the Soltius New Zealand SAP best practices solution to replace their financial and asset management systems, with the implementation project to kick-off later this month... READ MORE >
NZ IT firms score big with science and innovation grants
The government has announced a $50 million round of technology grants this week, to aid the research and development projects of several Kiwi companies... READ MORE >
Sales soar as HP quits TouchPad game
HP’s decision to ditch its TouchPad offering just seven weeks after its New Zealand launch has sent Touchpad sales soaring, as customers rush to buy heavily discounted remaining stock... READ MORE >
MYOB sold to US firm
The bidding war over MYOB has ended with the accounting software giant being sold to US private equity firm Bain Capital for a reported $NZ1.5 billion... READ MORE >
Online advertising continues to climb as advertisers look ‘beyond the click through rate’
Online advertising in New Zealand experienced double digit growth for year-on-year ad revenue in Q2 says a new report, as mobile devices, video and social media continue to attract advertisers... READ MORE >
NZ’s largest tech conference now underway in Auckland
2,000 IT professionals and software developers have descended upon Auckland for New Zealand’s largest technology conference, the three day Microsoft Tech.Ed... READ MORE >
Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple
Apple’s board of directors has announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as CEO of the company but will remain chairman of the board...
The return of the TouchPad
Just when you thought you’d seen the last of HP’s touchscreen offering, the company announces one last run of the product to meet demand... READ MORE >
Labour vows to repeal file-sharing internet termination clause
The Labour Party is promising, if elected, to repeal the controversial ‘three strikes’ law that comes into effect today... READ MORE >
Cloud computing code of practice proposed
Plans for the development of a voluntary Cloud Computing Code of Practice to inform and safeguard the public around cloud computing issues have been announced... READ MORE >
Kiwi company launches e-books with a soundtrack
Enjoying a quiet read could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to new Kiwi technology that marries soundtrack material with electronic reading devices... READ MORE >
Motorola is facing probe over alleged bribes of $NZ3.7 million
US mobile giant Motorola and a European political lobbyist face bribery allegations in an investigation by US authorities it has been reported... READ MORE >
Apple defeats Samsung in European court
Apple has achieved a decisive victory in the ongoing patent war with Samsung with a Dutch judge banning the sale of three Samsung devices from mid-October onwards... READ MORE >
Cisco accused of aiding Chinese torture
Technology company Cisco is being accused of aiding the Chinese government in the torture and human rights abuses of outlawed religious sect Falun Gong... READ MORE >
Sony debuts the ultimate 3D gimmick: the head-mounted 3D theatre
Immersive 3D entertainment is coming to the home market as Sony unveils its HMZ Personal 3-D Viewer, a headset that delivers a 3D viewing experience to an audience of one... READ MORE >
Infor announces new apps for Force.com; Salesforce buys in
Software vendors Infor and Salesforce.com have revealed plans to release three new applications for Force.com, integrating Infor’s ERP solutions into the cloud platform... READ MORE >
HP boss: HP to review, not kill, PC division
Country manager of Hewlett Packard Personal Systems Group (PSG) met with media yesterday to ease uncertainty surrounding the company’s future plans after the dramatic events of last month... READ MORE >
Want to generate B2B leads from Twitter? Get your prospects to follow you
There is no doubting Twitter’s massive growth worldwide. Almost everyone knows of Twitter, millions use it, and thousands are hopelessly addicted to it... READ MORE >
What’s wrong with NZ’s take on copyright?
Now that the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011 has come into effect, many Kiwis will have a raft of new worries when it comes to their internet writes TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth... READ MORE >
Lucky fan scores ‘ultimate prize’: Microsoft’s corporate box for RWC final
Wellingtonian Niki O’Conner is enjoying a surge in popularity after scoring the Microsoft corporate box for the Rugby World Cup 2011 final for her and 14 of her friends... READ MORE >
Simon Power: SMEs to be freed from general purpose financial reports
The Minister of Commerce has announced proposals that will see SMEs enjoy drastically simplified financial reporting, a move expected to cut business compliance costs by $NZ90 million a year... READ MORE >
NZ feels surge in spending during the first week of RWC
NZ businesses are enjoying a sharp increase in spending, as RWC tourist spending spikes dramatically, even before the opening ceremony kicked off on Friday night... READ MORE >
NZICT appoints new CEO - will focus on UFB, SMEs
Candace Kinser, “evangelist for innovation” and former CEO of Biomatters, to replace Brett O'Riley as new CEO of NZICT... READ MORE >
The hunt is on for NZ's most tech-savvy school teacher
Microsoft is searching for 2011’s most innovative school teacher with the opening of this year’s Microsoft’s Innovative Educator Awards... READ MORE >
It’s official: 2010 was a tough year for business
There’s no denying it: 2010 was a difficult time for Kiwi businesses, with NZ suffering through the first decrease in total industry income in more than 10 years... READ MORE >
Survey: Systems and processes biggest cause of employee attrition
A news survey has revealed what employees want, and don’t want from their employers, with systems and processes proving to be the biggest workplace frustration... READ MORE >
Cloud gets lucrative as revenue forecast to quadruple to A$2 billion
IDC survey of Australian end user enterprises puts compound annual growth at 34 per cent, quadrupling services revenue by 2015... READ MORE >
Survey: Emerging ICT companies leading charge in NZ’s economic recovery
New Zealand’s technology export sector is leading the way in New Zealand’s economic rebirth, according to the soon-to-be-released TIN100 report, a survey of New Zealand’s largest technology exporters... READ MORE >
The Optimism Bias, or don't believe satisfaction surveys
We need to find a way to bridge the huge disconnect between what people say they do and what they actually do, says Gerry McGovern... READ MORE >
Google Wallet likely to boost loyalty programs
Google Wallet looks set to invigorate Kiwi loyalty schemes as NFC technology delivers customer incentives and drives foot traffic into stores... READ MORE >
Xero launches new mobile app
Xero, providers of online accounting software, have unveiled their new mobile application, Xero Touch, that enables small businesses to access financial information while on the go... READ MORE >
CallPlus dumps Vodafone for Telecom XT
CallPlus and Slingshot today announced they are abandoning former partner Vodafone and switching to Telecom Wholesale to provide “faster, flexible and more competitive mobile services” to the burgeoning Kiwi smartphone market... READ MORE >
Convergence in the cloud with Esker
Convergence Limited is partnering with Esker to bring enhanced document process automation solutions to organisations across New Zealand... READ MORE >
MYOB invests in hunting bigger business
MYOB, specialist in SME accounting software, is investing in a set of products designed to attract bigger fish, expanding its EXO Business enterprise suite to include an integrated CRM module... READ MORE >
SMEs showing growing confidence, staff numbers
Small businesses are displaying ‘prudent optimism’ says a new report which sees nearly a third of small businesses planning to increase their permanent staffing levels during the next quarter, up almost fifteen per cent from last year... READ MORE >
Big-screen LED shines as PC monitor market flourishes
The Dell-led PC monitor market has hit double digit growth as Australasian customers take a shine to larger LED PC monitors... READ MORE >
Putting the right back in copyright
(or, how we learned to love the internet after all)... READ MORE >
What we can learn from Yahoo!
Yahoo is an extremely popular website, yet its stock has performed really badly. Why? Because it sells stuff (banner ads) people don’t want to buy... READ MORE >
Gen-i wins Govt contract to supply Apple products
Gen-i has announced that it will be one of two suppliers of Apple products on the All-of-Government laptop and desktop computer procurement panel... READ MORE >
HP hires Goldman Sachs to fight ‘investor activists’
Wary of possible action from activist shareholders Hewlett Packard has hired Goldman Sachs to help the company defend itself against investor-driven change at the embattled computer giant... READ MORE >
Apple event disappoints fans: no iPhone 5 release
One of the most anticipated products in Apple’s history, the iPhone 5, will remain on the backburner for now, with fans having their high-expectations dashed with yesterday’s underwhelming launch of the iPhone 4S... READ MORE >
Apple visionary Steve Jobs passes away at age 56
The man behind the iPhone, the iPod and the iMac has died after a long battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer... READ MORE >
7 things to hate about IT recruiters
Business forums, professional networking sites and the internet in general is awash with stories detailing just how difficult dealing with an IT recruiter can be. But is all this online odium justified? Are they really the new ‘used-car salesman’? Or are recruiters just the fall guys for frustrated job-seekers in a down-turned economy? iStart investigates... READ MORE >
DRIVEN: How technology took the V8 Supercars from local sport to international spectacle
The V8 Supercars. The name calls to mind revving engines, the classic Holden vs Ford battle, and of course, petrol heads. But putting aside the raw edge of snapped conrods and blown head gaskets in front of baying Mt Panorama fans for a moment, it becomes apparent that the modern day V8 Supercars race is, in fact, a tech enthusiast’s dream.
With high-performance automotive tuning equipment and sophisticated multimedia, the cutting-edge tech required for modern-day V8 racing means that you’re just as likely to find a team of computer engineers in the pit as you are to find grease-monkeys... READ MORE >
$US200 billion spike in new revenues predicted for telecoms sector
Analysts are forecasting $US213.8 billion of new revenues up for grabs in the global telecoms sector between 2012 and 2015, due to high growth in a number of industry segments... READ MORE >
International Blackberry outage continues
Email and messaging services have been restored to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but many users are still reporting problems with messaging and browsing... READ MORE >
Sony hacked again
A beleaguered Sony has locked down 93,000 PlayStation accounts after another attack on the company was detected this week... READ MORE >
Telecom settles with Commerce Commission for $31.6M after discrimination accusations
Telecom will pay rivals $31.6 million to resolve allegations of discrimination under the Telecom Separation Undertakings... READ MORE >
Blackberry offers 12 free apps after three day outage
RIM is offering its customers free apps as it attempts to make good after last week’s disastrous outage... READ MORE >
Orion strikes major e-Health deal with Microsoft
Orion health Asia Pacific has signed an agreement to purchase Microsoft’s hospital information software assets which will enable it to offer to provide solutions to the global eHealth market... READ MORE >
Entrepreneur to promote NZ’s technology capabilities – by breaking the world land speed record
Wellington property developer Richard Nowland is looking for $30M in investment to build ‘Jetblack’ - a vehicle designed to break the world land speed record by 2016... READ MORE >
Innovation NZ: What we need to do to matter on the global stage
While New Zealand may be a small country at the bottom of the world, it is nevertheless a hothouse for entrepreneurship and innovation, boasting some of the savviest and most creative risk-takers in the world. Why then are we labouring in obscurity? iStart sat down with some of the country’s best and brightest to find out... READ MORE >
Supreme New Zealand innovator named
Point-of sale innovation Vend took out the Supreme Award at the Bayer sponsored New Zealand Innovators Awards last night, as well as winning the award for Innovation in ICT... READ MORE >
Fujitsu entices SMEs with free cloud offer
Fujitsu is targeting SMEs and ISVs by offering a free trial of its Australian-based computing cloud platform as it attempts to push beyond the enterprise sector... READ MORE >
Hurry up and wait.
The world of cloud computing... READ MORE >
RightNow Tech to sell as acquisition-hungry Oracle moves into cloud space
Oracle has scooped cloud-based customer service provider, RightNow Technologies Inc for a reported US$1.5 billion... READ MORE >
Kiwi companies win govt cloud tender
The DIA has awarded lucrative infrastructure-as-a-service contracts to New Zealand-owned companies, Revera and Datacom... READ MORE >
Virginia Rometty new CEO of IBM
IBM has named its new chief executive – the first female chief executive in company's 100-year history... READ MORE >
Bigger than Apple - Samsung surges ahead to become world’s biggest smartphone seller
Samsung has kicked Apple off the top of the heap as sales of Samsung electronics overtake those of former market-dominator Apple Inc... READ MORE >
Finalists revealed for the Microsoft NZ Partner Awards
Microsoft has announced the finalists for the prestigious 2011 Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards, a showcase of local industry’s best and brightest... READ MORE >
NZ Tech breaks the $7B mark
A five percent growth in revenue in 2011 has seen New Zealand technology companies pass $7 billion in annual revenue says the just released 2011 TIN100 report... READ MORE >
Trade Me floats at $2.70 a share
Fairfax says it plans to raise $529.5 million through the initial public offer of popular auction site Trade Me... READ MORE >
Jobs vindicated: Flash player for mobile devices dead, Adobe shares tumble
In a shock move, Adobe has announced that it will cease support for its multimedia platform, Flash, confirming rival Steve Jobs’ long-running prediction... READ MORE >
IT spend will top NZ $6 billion by 2015
Organisations are beginning to up their IT spends once again, says IDC NZ's new report, 'New Zealand Vertical Markets IT Spending: 2010-2015 Forecast and Analysis'... READ MORE >
Australian Arrow Research officially launches Tencia software in NZ market
Australian accounting and business management software supplier, Arrow Research Corporation, will officially launch their latest accounting software solution, ‘Tencia’, to the New Zealand market on the 1st of November 2011... READ MORE >
Finalists named in $250K Greentree software contest
The 10 finalists in Greentree’s Game On competition have been chosen and public votes will help decide which company wins up to $250K worth of business software and services... READ MORE >
Datacom, Fujitsu and Theta Systems scoop BI, CRM and ERP awards at the Microsoft Partner Awards
Hundreds of people gathered at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland last week for the Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards 2011, Microsoft NZ’s premier event for recognising the top IT companies designing solutions on Microsoft platforms... READ MORE >
Hard drive prices skyrocket in wake of floods in Thailand
With fewer hard drives rolling out in flood-stricken Thailand, consumers are being warned that price hikes are on the way... READ MORE >
Nokia to restructure - slashing 17,000 jobs
Network-equipment vendor Nokia Siemens Networks has announced that it will cut 17,000 jobs worldwide, in its biggest ever culling, in an attempt to narrow the gap with market leader Ericsson... READ MORE >
Seven really, really easy ways to get more business via Facebook
While Facebook may be seen as the working day’s number one enemy when it comes to procrastination and time wasting, you shouldn’t underestimate its potential to reach both a massive and extremely targeted audience, says MYOB’s online search guru Daylan Pearce... READ MORE >
Half of all NZers victims of fraud as cyber-crime runs rampant
New Zealand is leading the way in terms global economic crime, with Australia following close behind, says a new survey which finds fraud and cyber crime growing unchecked down-under... READ MORE >
BNZ launches NFC swipe phone wallets trial
A mobile phone which doubles as a ‘virtual wallet’ has come a step closer with a trial launched this week by Bank of New Zealand and Vodafone... READ MORE >
ICEHOUSE celebrates 10 years with international award
The Icehouse has been named joint winner of the Best Internationally Connecting Incubator award with Australian organisation ATP at the 10th Incubation Conference and Global Awards held in Auckland this week... READ MORE >
Online shopping service launches for Xmas
Yahoo! NZ and PriceMe have announced a new partnership hoping to capitalise on the Christmas consumer rush... READ MORE >
$8m boost for hi-tech start-ups
Wellington-based angel investment group Angel HQ is partnering with the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund to invest up to NZ$8 million into start-up companies... READ MORE >
Christchurch dunny maker bares all and cashes in
After asking businesses to describe the ‘pain points’ and day-to-day issues that were hindering their growth, dozens of Kiwi businesses entered the Greentree GAME ON competition, hoping their case was strong enough to land them a quarter-million dollar makeover. And the winner is... READ MORE >
Jade and Clearview join forces for new investment app
Jade Software has partnered with Australian financial services company ClearView Wealth to produce a new client investment portal and mobile application that is expected to produce millions in revenue in 2012... READ MORE >
Endace founder named engineering entrepreneur of 2011
Dr Ian Graham, former Dean at the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Waikato and a founder of Endace has been named New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year at the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards this week in Wellington... READ MORE >
Top Ten Tech Twitter Tags of 2011
Consumer tech leads the list of the top Twitter tech hashtags 2011, with app-hungry Mac users and the forthcoming Playstation console leading the charge... READ MORE >
60,000 customers facing password reset after Telstra hack
Telstra is now facing investigation by the Australian Information Commissioner following the breach of its BigPond database that posted more than a million customers’ private information online... READ MORE >
Poll: Cloud remains top IT priority for 2012
For second straight year, cloud computing tops the list of IT investments for coming year with cybersecurity and mobile/social computing tying for second... READ MORE >
Jade sells Empower HR to Fusion 5; announces new business
Jade Software has sold Australasian human resource and payroll business, Empower HR, to Kiwi company Fusion5, while announcing new security venture... READ MORE >
Gartner reveals top 10 commercial business apps for tablets
Business apps for tablet devices are moving beyond the first wave of personal productivity tools towards more manageable and secure enterprise applications that support major business initiatives, according to the latest research by Gartner... READ MORE >
Paul Bowkett appointed cloud sales manager for Microsoft NZ
Microsoft NZ has appointed Paul Bowkett as its new cloud sales manager, making him responsible for sales of all Microsoft Cloud Services to small medium business customers across New Zealand, including Office 365, Windows Azure, Windows Intune, Office and CRM Online... READ MORE >
Microsoft NZ launches new social media-based community portal
New Zealand Microsoft Communities has announced the launch of a new website for its user groups, that will add blogging, forums and online profiles to the organisation’s online offering...
Steve Joyce out, Amy Adams in - New ICT Minister announced
Newcomer Amy Adams is the surprise ICT Minister replacement in John Key’s cabinet reshuffle... READ MORE >
iStart starts up on Aussie soil
iStart, New Zealand’s long-standing independent tech publisher, today announced it has opened an office in Sydney to better support its growing list of Australian readers and advertisers... READ MORE >
Bidding begins on new domain-name suffixes
Bidding begins this week on the new word and brand name inclusive internet domain suffixes, as ‘.sport’ and ‘.bank’ join ‘.com’ as accepted domain-names... READ MORE >
New Apple CEO scoops US $378m
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, is set to receive $378 million worth of compensation for 2011, one of the biggest pay packages on record... READ MORE >
Cisco ANZ nabs former Nokia exec for VP position
Cisco has appointed Richard Kitts, former head of Nokia Siemens Indonesia, as VP for Australia and New Zealand... READ MORE >
IBM makes bold technology predictions for the coming years
IBM is generating both cautious ‘maybes’ and more than a little eye-rolling and with its latest round of five-year tech predictions that include mind-reading smartphones and a revolution in the way we view spam emails... READ MORE >
Trouble in paradise: how technology can trump the tyranny of distance
For most of New Zealand's history we've been bound by one simple fact: we're a long way from everywhere... READ MORE >
Steve Jobs action figure scrapped after Apple bites back
Plans for the (terrifyingly) lifelike Steve Jobs doll have been shelved after a request from Jobs’ family and “immense pressure” from Apple lawyers... READ MORE >
Go UK competition offers businesses over $100k in prizes
A British organization has launched a business plan competition designed to open up the UK to Australasian businesses looking to expand into Europe... READ MORE >
Ricoh and Intel judged world’s top IT sustainability performers
Oekom Research, one of the world's leading rating agencies around sustainable investment, has carried out an extensive study of more than 200 IT companies worldwide, and named Ricoh and Intel joint number one... READ MORE >
Top six finalists named in BNZ’s Start-up Alley competition
The finalists have been found in BNZ’s Start-up Alley, a competition to help grow New Zealand’s web and technology start-up businesses, and will now have a chance to get time in the Landing Pad in San Francisco... READ MORE >
Kiwi IT firm lists on German stock exchange
A Kiwi company founded in a bedroom eight years ago with just $10 start-up capital has now been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange...
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Kiwi businesses reveal strategies for 2012
A new survey says that customer satisfaction and growth into new markets will be the top priorities for Kiwi businesses in the coming year...
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RIM founders step down under investor pressure
Research In Motion shares dropped more than nine per cent Monday with the news that the founders of the troubled technology company, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis had stepped down and a new CEO named from within the executive ranks... READ MORE >
Kiwi develops new and improved web search
A Kiwi researcher has designed a new search algorithm that uses statistical language models to ‘see through’ the search terms used and capture the intended meaning of a query in a way Google can’t... READ MORE >
Gentrack scores Hong Kong International Airport billing contract
Airport management solutions provider Gentrack has signed a contract that will see it deploy its billing system to one of the busiest airports in the world: Hong Kong International... READ MORE >
KiwiNet hits innovation ball into business court
Innovative NZ science research projects are being put up to attract investor interest for commercial development... READ MORE >
Fast-growing Optimizer makes first strategic acquisition
Optimizer HQ has purchased Desaign, an animation and motion graphics company, just days after announcing its listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange... READ MORE >
Prediction: Economic rollercoaster to continue in 2012
After several years of talking about the benefits of ICT innovations and industry transformation, 2012 will be the year that organisations have to take action, says IDC... READ MORE >
Dotcom contests seizure of NZ assets, denied bail
Accused Megaload founder Kim Dotcom has filed papers with the Auckland High Court arguing that the freezing of his assets is excessive... READ MORE >
Xero raises $18.6 million for Australian push
Xero has recruited some high-profile investors and acquired accounting management software company Max Solutions, as the company prepares for accelerate Australian and worldwide growth... READ MORE >
The greatest period in human history
The Internet is helping us move towards a more educated, prosperous, healthy and wealthy world, says Gerry McGovern... READ MORE >
IT – the key to export growth
While many New Zealand businesses suffer at the hands of global and domestic economic uncertainty, the ICT and hi-tech industry is a beacon of resilience and growth for the country’s economy...
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