A couple of tech giants you wouldn’t expect are heavily wooing small businesses.
IBM and Google have stepped up efforts to nudge Microsoft aside and become tech suppliers of choice to small- and medium-size business (SMBs). Big Blue is unveiling several products and services. And Google has made it easy for users of Microsoft’s Outlook e-mail program to also use its Web-based Google Apps tools.
IBM has begun packaging smaller on-site computing systems that can run Windows programs or much cheaper open-source applications. And this week, IBM will add to its hosted offerings with the launch of LotusLive Connections, a Web-based social network for companies to connect with partners and clients.
“If SMBs are going to lead the economic turnaround, they’ll need cheaper technology,” says Bob Picciano, general manager of IBM Lotus Software.
Good to see LotusLive getting coverage in the mainstream media.