Tech Briefs: November 2002

IDC Projects 10-12 Percent Software Market Growth Through 2006: The worldwide packaged software market will begin "slow-to-moderate growth recovery" in 2003, and will continue growing at an average compound annual rate of 10 to 12 percent by 2006, according to industry watchers International Data Corp.

Application development and deployment will be the fastest growing markets with compounded annual growth of 11.5 percent. Growth in North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific and the rest of world will remain steady with no one region growing more rapidly than the others, IDC said.

Its report, Worldwide Software Market Forecast, Summary, 2002-2006, can be purchased by contacting IDC’s sales hotline at (508) 988-7988 or e-mailing ctoffel@idc.com .

Eagle Flies Into New Niche: Ron Eagle, president of the Information Technology Alliance and one of the founders of accounting firm consolidator Centerprise Advisors, plans to start a practice management consulting company that serves accounting firms, software resellers and other businesses.

"Providing technology services to clients is a very tough business these days, and maybe my experience can help some firms become stronger and more competitive," said Eagle, who has retired from Centerprise, but plans to remain active in the ITA. He took over the ITA when that group ceased being a section of the American Institute of CPAs in May, but he also plans to be active in AICPA technology initiatives.

Eagle had no clients as of press time, but expressed confidence in his ability to build the business, which will be based in his hometown of Indianapolis.

Former Execs From Aston And E-Partners Join Forces: Two former partners who sold their interests in a reselling business to competing reseller consolidators have reunited to create a software marketing consulting company in Morganville, N.J.

Mark Chinsky and Sheldon Kralstein, who at one time led Xecutek Accounting Systems, a Parisippany, N.J.- based reseller of software from vendors that include the companies formerly known as Sage and Navision, have created Success Driven by Technology, which, they said, "focuses on helping application software companies and their resellers develop and grow their businesses."

Kralstein sold his division of Xecutek, to the Aston Group, and went on to become the Michigan-based company’s North American sales vice president. Chinsky sold his XecuTrack division to e-Partners of Dallas, where he later held multiple positions.

Syspro Re-Brands: Middle-market accounting and enterprise management software vendor Syspro has launched a major re-branding that includes a new corporate logo that features its company name spelled entirely in capital letters and renaming its flagship product Impact Encore.

Branding under a "unified Syspro name will optimize brand awareness and increase market penetration," the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based company said. It also said that research indicated that the market has identified Impact Encore by both its original name and by the vendor’s moniker.

Microsoft, Morgan Stanley 8Ks Filed In XBRL: The giant software company and the investment banking firm have had the first-ever Edgar documents coded in XBRL filed on their behalf with the Securities and Exchange Commission. XBRL is the Internet-based XML format for financial reports being developed by a consortium led by the American Institute of CPAs.

R.R. Donnelley Financial, which filed the reports on behalf of Microsoft and Morgan Stanley, said, "A new era of financial reporting has begun." It elaborated; "End users such as investors and analysts may now use XBRL-aware applications to more readily access information in digitally enhanced format, which enables a dramatic improvement in the processing of financial reports."

Microsoft is a natural for this pioneering effort. It is among the 70-plus technology, financial services and publishing companies that are part of the XBRL International development consortium.

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