Dynamics CRM Online Is Now Online
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft is now officially a player in the market for CRM software services. Yesterday, the software giant announced the general availability of Dynamics CRM Online, a new release of its customer relationship management software that it's hosting in its data centers and delivering to customers over the Web via the software as a service (SaaS) method. And with an introductory rate of $39 per user per month, Microsoft will seed the market with hopes of swaying users from Salesforce.com. READ MORE >

Decline In Vulnerabilities Belies Threat Increase, Microsoft Says in New Security Report
by Alex Woodie

Despite a 15 percent decline in new security vulnerability disclosures during the second half of 2007, cybercriminals continued to successfully mine the Internet for profit, primarily by planting Trojan horses and other pieces of malicious code that steal people's identities and perform other works of unpleasantness. These are the conclusions of Microsoft's latest Security Intelligence Report (SIR), which it released at the Infosecurity Europe 2008 conference in London yesterday. READ MORE >

Ballmer Downplays Yahoo's Financial Results
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft's $40 billion quest to acquire Yahoo encountered another hurdle yesterday following impressive financial results from the Internet search and portal provider. Revenues of nearly $2 billion and net income of more than half a billion dollars for its first quarter ended March 31 generally exceeded analysts' expectations. Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, downplayed the significance of the quarterly announcement, saying it wouldn't affect Microsoft's offer. READ MORE >

Intel Profits Hit, AMD Books a Loss in Recent Quarters
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Competition is a very tough thing, particularly when vendors get pinched by each other and a tightening economy at the same time. But so it is in the market for X64 microprocessors sold by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. While both companies are under pressure, dominant chip maker Intel is still making profits and ramping up acceptable quad-core products, while AMD is just now getting quad-core chips out the door and facing a resurgent Intel as it slashes 10 percent of its workforce to balance its books. READ MORE >