October 18, 2010
Gartner: Rise of tablets will pinch handheld devices but not notebooks
ZD Net
Sam Diaz writes about the expected growth of tablet sales for next year.
“The tablet PC market is on the verge of an explosion and, because of their “all-in-one” nature, other electronic devices – think e-readers, handheld gaming devices and portable media players – could feel the pinch the hardest. Mini-notebooks could take the hardest hit. Those are the red-flag warnings issued by Carolina Milanesi, research VP at Gartner, which released a global forecast report for tablet PCs today. The big number: tablets will grow 181 percent in 2011. Driven by sales of the iPad, tablet sales are expected to reach 19.5 million by the end of this year and shoot up to 54.8 million in 2011. By 2014, that number will soar past 208 million.”
Microsoft to offer CRM Online 2011 promotional pricing deal next year
ZD Net
Mary Jo Foley writes about a deal Microsoft will offer for its CRM Online 2011 service next year.
“Microsoft will be offering its CRM Online 2011 service for a promotional introductory price of $34 per user per month, which will kick in starting in January 2011. The company announced the promotion on October 14 at its Convergence Europe conference. The current pricing for CRM Online is $44 per user per month. Microsoft officials said that current customers who want to take advantage of the new promotion can sign a new contract to get the cheaper price. The $34 price is good for the first 12 months of service.”
Cloud: Microsoft Launches Windows Azure Platform University for ISVs
The VAR Guy
Matthew Weinberger shares information on Microsoft’s Windows Azure Platform University.
“Microsoft aims to help partners answer that question with the launch of Windows Azure Platform University, a full-day event designed to provide sales readiness for cloud services. Microsoft is holding eleven sessions on the subject of Windows Azure, and they plan to cover topics like the company’s cloud strategy, how to develop business relationships with other MSFT partners and developers, and leverage official tools and resources to grow with the Windows Azure Platform.”
