As Accounting Today's Top 100 Products was in its preparatory stages in terms of gathering information, procuring product shots and planning the requisite page layouts, we searched for something that would make this - the 13th edition - stand out from its worthy predecessors.The good news for us is that we didn't have to look very far.

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Contact information for the vendors of the Accounting Today 2006 Top 100 Products and Ones to Watch.AccountantsWorld

Paisley Consulting, a business accountability software provider, has upgraded the risk assessment functionality in its J2EE-based Risk Navigator, a software application helping companies comply with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations and establish long-term governance.

ABRA PAYROLL

Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Dynamics CRM Version 3.0, its latest customer relationship management system. Version 3.0 is a full suite of marketing, sales and customer service offered in a Professional Edition or a Small Business Edition.Available now in English, CRM 3.0 will be available in French, German, Dutch and Russian on Jan. 1, 2006. Seventeen other international language editions will follow throughout the upcoming months.

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.