SMEs turning to alternative broadband technologies

Wireless broadband services are proving popular with Irish SMEs, according to a new study. Research by Vodafone Ireland found that one-third of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Ireland are using services other than fixed lines as their main connection to the internet, with new services such as 3G mobile broadband enjoying strong take-up, alongside Wi-Fi and satellite technology. The report said that approximately 16 percent of SMEs rely on dial-up internet services from their fixed-line provider, with 22 percent of Ireland's small firms using ISDN. And while DSL has remained the most frequently used internet connection technology, the study found that 7 percent of larger SMEs no longer use landline telephony at all. For more on this story see ENN.ie.

Web plays key strategic role, say SMEs

More than 50 percent of SMEs in the UK are using the internet as their main means of promoting their business and communicating with partners. That's according to a study by BT Business, which found that three-quarters of companies envision the internet playing a major role in helping them achieve business goals in the next five years. In addition, 63 percent believe the net helps them compete with larger players and in different markets. Nonetheless, the study found that 40 percent of smaller companies do not have a dedicated website, and 21 percent are entirely without an online presence. This was particularly the case with regard to sole traders, 48 percent of whom have no web presence whatsoever. For more on this story see VNUnet.com.

RSS most valued Web 2.0 application

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is considered the most valuable Web 2.0 application, according to a new survey from Forrester Research. Among Web 2.0 technologies - which include blogs, podcasts and social networks - RSS was thought to have substantial business value by 23 percent of IT decision makers questioned. One in three respondents said they used RSS for marketing purposes. Podcasting was ranked close behind RSS in the survey, with 21 percent affording it substantial business value. Interestingly, only 11 percent said that blogging delivered such value. Read more on this story on BtoBonline.com.

Customer reviews boost online sales

Customer product reviews are increasing retail eCommerce conversion rates, website traffic and average order values, according to a new report by E-consultancy and Bazaarvoice. The "Social Commerce Report 2007" found that over half of online retailers in the UK, the US and Europe said their overall conversion rates had gone up in the past year and over three-quarters of respondents said traffic to their site had increased, while 42 percent of those surveyed said that average order values had risen. The study said that 28 percent of online retailers were using customer ratings and reviews, and more than half said they were considering it. Over 50 percent of all online sellers considered user-generated content either extremely important or very important to company strategy over the next year. For more on this story visit eMarketer.com.

Sectoral review: ICT and agriculture

Interview: Dr Dermot Ruane

Key steps to security

Use VoIP

Burlington Hotel, Upper Lesson Street, Dublin 4, September 18-19
This free event focuses on information and document management issues - what can be done and what returns can be achieved. The seminar will address all aspects of document scanning and capture, as well as email, web and records management across all sizes of organisation. Concepts, solutions and suppliers will be compared and there will be an opportunity to discuss plans and ideas with industry experts and existing users.

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