Accounting and financial software publisher Intuit Inc. has launched QuickBooks Online Payroll -- an integrated payroll product designed for users of QuickBooks Online Edition.QuickBooks Online Edition includes a free license for a small business' accountant, allowing ongoing access to client data without the need to exchange files or visit a client's site.

All the lonely people--what are they doing at a bookstore at 9 p.m. on Friday?

Intuit Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of its Intuit Information Technology Solutions business to Boston-based TA Associates, a private equity and buyout firm.

Payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex Inc. has partnered with Mellon Financial and Affiliated Computer Services to offer the Paychex Health Savings Account.

Microsoft Corp. has made available a new piece of software that will allow small business retailers to combine Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006 with the Microsoft Point of Sale or Microsoft Retail Management System.

In many ways, SAP's Business One campaign is much like the site of its technology summit, being held this week at the Mission Bay Convention Center in San Francisco. The facility is so new, it's not listed in phone books and cab drivers need directions.

Microsoft Corp. announced the launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, the company's latest customer relationship management software.

The router seemed to beg from the shelves: Buy me. Freedom awaits in the heaven of wireless computing.

Global financial software publisher Sage Group posted 14 percent increases in its fiscal 2005 revenue and operating profits, to $1.4 billion and $391 million, respectively, for the period ended Sept. 30, versus the same year-ago period.

MYOB Ltd., a developer of small business accounting and management software and services, announced the sale of its U.S. operations to Acclivity LLC, an entity owned by members of the MYOB U.S. Inc. management team.

* CPA2BIZ ACHIEVES FIRST-TIME PROFITABILITY: CPA2Biz, the online marketing and technology portal for the American Institute of CPAs, posted year-end net income of $150,000 for the period ended July 31 - its first-ever profit since its inception just over four years ago. CPA2Biz executives said that the first-time profits were fueled by a combination of strong growth and a reduction in last year's depreciation expenses, which had hit $4 million. The portal had reported a loss of $3.14 million for its previous fiscal year. Revenue climbed nearly 8 percent, to $14.3 million, versus the year-ago results."Through focus and solid execution, we've been able to grow our customer base and revenues, while maintaining an appropriate cost structure moving the company to profitability," said CPA2Biz chief executive Erik Asgeirsson, in a statement.

Some accountants are so dedicated to the idea of portable electronics, they have even hurt themselves to prove it.Eighteen years ago, Tom Davis, CPA and owner of the Valdosta, Ga.-based CPA firm Tom C. Davis CPA LLC, had one of the very first laptops that was ever available to consumers - a $20,000 Compaq "luggable" with an 8086 Intel processor, 64KB of RAM and a 10MB hard drive.

Global business software provider The Sage Group plc has launched Sage CRM Solutions, a new customer relationship management applications division.The three Sage CRM applications - ACT! by Sage for entry-level, small businesses; Sage CRM and its online counterpart Sage CRM.com, for mid-level companies; and Sage SalesLogix for the higher-end mid-market businesses - will now be all grouped together in this one division rather than run as three separate entities.

When Henry Taub founded Automatic Payrolls more than 55 years ago, he revolutionized the way corporate America did payroll processing and built his company into one of the largest single computer processing services companies in the world.Today, Automatic Data Processing Inc. continues his legacy of service and innovation, but the current emphasis is on evolution, not revolution.

Average is where the best of the worst meet the worst of the best. Most firms don't consider themselves average, yet many are not performing to their capabilities due to outdated attitudes toward billing and technology.Poor billing policies are only exacerbated by technology and vice-versa. Value billing is talked about, but in reality few firms are utilizing it and maximizing the potential return on their technology and training investments.

For the second time this year, business software supplier Oracle Corp. will have to replace a top accounting executive.Oracle chief financial officer Greg Maffei is leaving after just four months on the job. He had replaced Harry You, who left the company in March after just eight months with the company. You had replaced Jeff Henley, who held the job for 13 years before stepping aside to serve as Oracle's chairman.

Doug Burgum, senior vice president of the Microsoft Business Solutions business group, will assume the newly created role of chairman of MBS just in time for the release cycle of Microsoft Dynamics, the new branding for MBS.

Cougar Mountain Software, a provider of business accounting software, unveiled a new version of their base accounting software, Cougar Mountain.

"The ancient art of talking is falling into decay," the writer complained.

Red Wing Software Inc., an accounting and financial management software developer for small and midsized businesses, will release Version 10.0 of Red Wing Payroll software for Windows on Nov. 30.