Email is often the first introduction to mobility for many users and the Boxer email app takes it to the next level by combining all user email accounts in one interface.

Once again I feel the need to focus more on a single topic rather than the news of the week -- and I promise this will be the last time for a while -- but with the show floor going through final sweeping at Sage Summit I thought it appropriate to give my take on the week-long user and partner event.

Searer Business Technology (SBT) has released Executive Series Version 6.3 accounting software, which includes 300 enhancements and features across all major modules.

Deltek, has made available Kona Business, a social platform designed to allow all key departments within an organization to stay connected, with a particular focus on project management teams.

Sage North America has launched Sage Mobile Sales, Sage Mobile Service, and Sage Billing and Payment offerings to integrate with their Sage 100 and 300 ERP systems.

Top Sage North America partner Net@Work has hired former Sage channel partner head Tom Miller to lead its own Partner Alliance Program, four months after he officially retired.

A continued focus on customer experience, cloud and mobile initiatives and payments -- along with staying the branding and product course laid out over the past two years -- was the primary tone of this year’s Sage Summit user and partner event.

I'd like to take this opportunity to diverge from the news of the week to expound upon a couple of topics, namely what has become somewhat of a religious debate over the cloud as well as some thoughts on upcoming vendor events.

Seth Zarny, head of Raffa P.C.'s technology consulting practice, explores the renewed interest in CPA firms providing technology consulting services, and summarizes the reasons for successes and failures in this area.

Everyone is talking about moving to the cloud as though you can just snap your fingers and suddenly change everything from software to workflow to paperless systems. But the reality is that getting completely to the cloud, no matter how compelling, will take a while.

Intuit has purchased Australian-based online accounting practice management software maker Fifo for an undisclosed sum.

Acumatica has launched a campaign to add new reseller partners by mailing out a pair of “flip flop” sandals complete with a URL to the registration site for the company’s upcoming partner conference.

Online bill payment and invoicing service Bill.com has introduced the Bill.com Approval Solution, which promises to speed the invoice approval cycle for accountants, small and midsize businesses, and nonprofit organizations, while adding important checks and balances to the approval process.

Armanino has released Dynamic Insights, a software package for reporting and analytics designed to integrate with and utilize data from a company’s existing Microsoft Dynamics AX or GP system.

NetSuite partner ERP Guru has unveiled its Business Monitoring Suite (BMS), designed to allow customers the ability to better monitor and benchmark their business in real-time versus industry peers.

CPA-focused business intelligence tool provider iLumen has added a survey platform as well as budgeting and forecasting capabilities to work in conjunction with its Client Intelligence and Industry Intelligence products.

Sales tax and compliance automation service Avalara has formed a strategic alliance with AGN International-North America Inc. which will enable firms to access sales and use tax (SUT) and value added tax (VAT) information and related resources.

Palo Alto Software has launched a service to integrate QuickBooks data with the company’s LivePlan software to remotely monitor the performance of a business for its accountants.

With more practitioners working with electronic documents on their iPhones and iPads, the need to be able print them out rises as well and, as such, they are turning to apps like PrintCentral.

Deltek has purchased Texas-based project management product maker and services provider Acumen Solutions with the intent of helping Deltek enhance its products’ planning capabilities.