Citing double-digit increases in service and maintenance and subscriptions revenue, non-profit software publisher Blackbaud Inc. reported an 18-percent rise in third-quarter revenue, versus the year-ago quarter.

"Daddy, what's a blog?" the story might start--except it's not a child's question.

Financial management and compliance software provider Movaris has launched OneClose, a single close application that links financial controls and close tasks to financial statements during the final series of financial reporting processes.

Some familiar names are taking leave of us. They are names that many in the accounting software world have known for a long time. They helped define the era.

SERENIC ACQUIRES SOFTWARE FROM CLIFTON GUNDERSON: Serenic Corp., an international publisher of financial and operational software, has acquired the software product OneCare from regional accounting firm Clifton Gunderson LLP.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

You're at work and hear what you think is your phone. You pick up the receiver, but all you hear is a dial tone. Puzzled, you pick up your cell phone, and the only things on the display screen are the date and time. Then you notice that a message has popped up on your computer screen saying "Mom."You quickly plug your headset into the computer and click on the incoming call.

Financial and accounting software publisher Sage Software has released its BusinessWorks 50 Accounting Version 6.0 - an upgrade that features a number of enhancements, including integration with Sage's ACT! Module.New features offered by Version 6.0 include the ability to create purchase orders from a sales order, which streamlines purchasing to hone order accuracy and inventory control; a drop ship feature enabling users to better track drop ship orders; and expanded transaction description fields, providing greater line-item descriptions on purchase orders, quotes, orders and invoices, with a new 1,000-character description field.

In an effort to push decision-making farther down the organization, while at the same time keeping pace with fast-rising competitors such as Google, Microsoft Corp. has implemented a sweeping reorganization by forming three operating groups - down from seven - and naming a trio of senior executives to serve as president of each.Overseeing the Business Division - a meshing of Microsoft Business Solutions and the Information Worker unit - will be Jeff Raikes, the group vice president in charge of Office software.

Activity has never been greater in the merger and acquisition arena than today.Firms of all sizes are faced with the fact that they must grow to maintain quality people and profits. Growth can come organically or through mergers and acquisitions.

iCode Inc., a provider of business application software for small and midsized businesses, announced that it changed its name to Everest Software Inc.

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Sage Software unveiled Sage Timberline Office Suite 2005, the latest version of their financial and operations software for the construction and real estate industry.

Less than a year after the 2004 launch of QuickBooks Simple Start Edition, Intuit Inc. announced that more than 100,000 small businesses are now using the software.

Business software developer Sage Software unveiled the newest versions of its mid-market enterprise resource planning systems, Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200. Both new 4.1 versions offer features to streamline sales order entry, increase distribution workflow productivity and increase ease of use.

The most telling phrase about Intuit's plans for mid-market accounting software is displayed on the Investor Relations portion of the company's Web site.

Sage Software will offer year-end tax printing services through Sage Compliance Services to support year-end W-2 processing needs of small and midsized businesses.

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's has rolled out a new call-reporting modernization project based on the use of Extensible Business Reporting Language.

SAGE OFFERS SOFTWARE FOR UNITED WAY CAMPAIGNS: Sage Software released the latest version of Sage Fundraising 100 - Rainbow Edition, offering United Way organizations a suite of fundraising management and development tools.Formerly called MIP Fundraising Rainbow, the new release, Version 4.0, features options for managing United Way workplace campaigns, such as a new Grants Management module, and interface improvements to several additional Sage Software products and expanded endowment features.

Marketing director Maggy MacPherson, of regional CPA firm Beard Miller Co. LLP, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, recognized what few firms like to admit - her firm's Web site needs a lot of work."The site is not very user-friendly right now," said MacPherson, who is leading the redesign of a new site that at press time was scheduled for an October 1 launch. "We'll have a stronger message about the firm, our philosophy, and a new look and feel. It will be graphically interesting, but still simple and easy to use."

Microsoft Business Solutions released its anticipated Small Business Accounting and Office Small Business Management Edition - two MS Office small business accounting software applications - nearly a year after the release of the public beta release of SBA.Microsoft said that the new product, designed for the small business market, will hit retail shelves priced at $179 for a stand-alone copy, but ship with a $30 mail-in rebate.