SAP A1S faces reluctant SMBs, for now (SearchSAP.com)


SAP, Oracle Ready to Square Off
SAP seeks speedy discovery and mediation; Oracle seeks an 18-month discovery process and 2009 trial. (eWeek.com)


EarthLink's Wi-Fi dreams may be fading (CNET News)


End Nigh For Muni Wi-Fi? (Information Week)

I assume that the Philadelphia network buildout will be completed, but to what level of quality in coverage? And how will it be supported economically in the longer term? These networks don't just run themselves. What level of support is spelled out in the contract?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PACKAGE: Big Ten shut out by cable giants on first football Saturday (Associated Press via Centre Daily Times)
Here is Comcast's Press Release.


If Cable Is So Great, Why Is Comcast Down? (24/7 Wall St)


Facebook's Where I've Been Application Acquisition (TechnologyEvangelist)
Philadelphia developer Craig Ulliot, responding to article, reiterates that his Facebook app "Where I've Been" has not been acquired, as (apparently) mistakenly reported, and says that he is actively looking to hire people in the Philadelphia area. Here is the job app form:


Medicine 2.0 SciFoo Lives On Session (Scientific Blogging)
BioWizard makes presentation to virtual medical conference in Second Life.


Thin Client(phillyinc/Philadelphia Inquirer)
On Neoware and its upcoming integration into H-P.


Cabbies Prepare To Strike (The Bulletin)
Preparing to strike(again) over new technology.


New ARIS Controlling Products from IDS Scheer Offer Process Performance at a Glance and Automated Identification of Optimization Potential (BusinessWire)

Boomi Promotes SMB Integration for Petroleum Chain (ebizQ)



Something I just noticed in Liberty Media's early August earnings release for its Liberty Capital Group tracking stock:

"A 38% decline in operating cash flow to $24 million was blamed on a decline at TruePosition and losses at Starz Media." (my bold)

I don't know what is going on at TruePosition, the Berwyn-based provider of wireless GPS location solutions. When I have a chance I'll see if I can find some breakout of their financial data.

Following up on my recent post about Smarter Agent, I did some research and found out that their funding event apparently took place in early June. There wasn't much about it out on the Web, and it did not appear in the quarterly Price Waterhouse/Moneytree report. I did find this post, apparently made by Smarter Agent management, on the blog Ubikwitus :

Funding
$2 million primarily from founders, private investors and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania venture capital fund.

I assume the venture fund is Ben Franklin Partners, which does list Smarter Agent in its portfolio, though again there didn't seem to be much publicity about it.

In my research, I also came across this post by Jonathan Spinney on the blog maperture:

Smarter Agent needs a smarter agent

Smarter Agent will reportedly (subscription required) close their first VC finance round next week, with plans to double staff thereafter and make a run for it. I’ve encountered widely varying opinions on this type of app. Back in 2004, a then Director of LBS at Sprint said marketing cash support for a real-estate app was unlikely based on direct industry experiences she had, citing MLS listings as fragmented, inaccurate databases with little-to-no-value. Strong words for sure, but conversational nonetheless since Sprint eventually deployed the app—minus the expensive marketing effort to support its discovery.

Given the current infighting for real-estate mapping among the big portals and GIS vendors, and given Microsoft’s 80% market share in this space via Virtual Earth, I wonder if it makes sense for Smarter Agent to find, well, a smarter agent D2C channel.

Just one man's opinion.

SAP's India Customers Double in a Year (Associated Press via Forbes)
SAP also announces new partnership with Wipro.

Samsung to Build Mobile Network in NY (Korea Times)
Sprint had previously awarded contracts to Samsung to build out WiMax in Philadelphia and other East Coast cities.


EarthLink to Cut 900 Jobs; Shares Rise (Associated Press via New York Times)
That's about half their workforce.

It's a Philly Thing(Cable360)
Comparing the Eagles to Comcast


How to lose friends and make enemies: The Comcast Capacity Planning lesson (Network Performance Daily)

Harleysville Insurance Agent Portal Improves Carrier/Policyholder Relations(TechWeb)
Interview with Akhil Tripathi, CIO of Harleysville.


JasperSoft and Unisys to Deliver Open Source Services for Business Intelligence
(PR Newswire via CNNMoney)
JasperSoft is partially backed by SAP Ventures.


Beyond.com, Inc. Provides Jobs to Members of OLX, Inc.(BusinessWire)


Lenfest buys Environmental Tectonics preferred shares(Philadelphia Inquirer)

Vendors Target SIM Cards And Transit Applications In Budding NFC Market (CardTechnology)
Collaborative effort between NXP Semiconductors and Gemalto, whose U.S operations(formerly Gemplus) are based in Montgomery County.

Credit Card Industry Booming, Despite Treacherous Stock Market This Fall (FoxNews Business)
But storm clouds may be looming on the horizon.

Lockheed Martin's Spoken-Language-Understanding Technology to Aid Warfighters and First Responders (PR Newswire)
L-M's Advanced Technology Laboratories in Cherry Hill puts out some interesting stuff.


Americas’ SAP Users’ Group Announces New President/Chief Executive Officer
Former CIO of Morris Communications to Become First Full-Time Employee of User Group (BusinessWire)

Search Engine Finds Memories From Way Back (EDD Blog Online)
On Health Advocate case.


Rendell decides not to delay computer work on gun sales database (Associated Press via Philadelphia Inquirer)


INTERVIEW: SETH RAVIN ON THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE (SearchCIO.com)
Founder of TomorrowNow (sold to SAP) and Rimini Street Inc.

The Inc. 500 is out. There is actually an expanded Inc. 5,000, and here are links to lists of the companies included in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and even little Delaware. The Deloitte Fast 50 came out about two weeks ago. There are separate Fast 50's for Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey. I haven't been able to find those complete lists online yet, but when I do I will post them as well. (Actually, I just went back and looked and found that New Jersey now seems to be available, but Philadelphia still is not.) The Philadelphia 100 should be out in a couple of months.
So this is the time that everybody starts to crank out those press releases, saying how high they rank on one list or another. And they should. I do not mean to belittle those accomplishments at all. There are many outstanding companies included in these rankings that will have very successful futures. My issue with each of these lists is that despite their qualifying criteria they are all driven by sheer percentage of revenue growth, which is often off a very small base. And that's problematic to me, considering that there are so many ways to buy or generate additional revenues.
One big contract can produce phenomenal growth for a very small company, but may not be a good indicator of future success. A rapid but poorly planned string of acquisitions can get you on one of these lists, yet end up in disaster. And it is generally a lot easier to find ways to ramp up revenues quickly in very low margin, low value-added business than it is in higher margin busineses.
So that's the end of my lecture. These rankings can be useful, and they are better than nothing. But use them with care.

Comcast Stock May Soar on Cash Flow: Barron's (Reuters via New York Times)


What Makes QlikTech So Good? (Customer Experience Matrix Blog)


Late to Web Retailing? There’s Still Money There (New York Times)
Article about GSI Commerce

Five Suggestions to Improve Viddler (Allen Stern/CenterNetworks Blog)


Lockheed, Boeing vie for satellite deal (Thomson Financial via CNNMoney)
Lockheed's satellite unit is based in Newtown. This is a very important contract that's at stake.


Lockheed Expands IT Work As Other Defense Spending May Slow(Dow Jones via CNNMoney)

Supply Chain Software Once Again Hot Sector (Investor's Business Daily via Yahoo News)


AMETEK Acquires CAMECA SAS (Laboratory Networks.com)


EPAM: Success Offshore and Nearshore(CMP Channel)
Interview with Arkadiy Dobkin, CEO of rapidly growing outsourcer.

Chiquita chooses Pa. firm to manage spending (Philadelphia Business Journal)
ICG Commerce gets two new clients.

CADD Centre Enters Strategic Alliance with Primavera Systems
Professionals in India now have Access to the Latest Project Management Technology (BusinessWire India)


Beauty’s next mogul (Reuters Blogs)
John Malone's Liberty Media, which owns QVC, takes minority interest in cosmeceutical firm. Is this part of a strategy extension for QVC?


Finalist firms to pitch for seven-figure Comcast job (PRWeek)


Arbitron Blames Software In PPM Houston Snag (MediaDailyNews)
New radio ratings system, also being tested in Philadelphia.


ETC working on another flight training module (Philadelphia Business Journal)


Briggs & Stratton Corporation Deploys MCA Solutions’ Service Planning and Optimization (BusinessWire)

SAP to hold board meeting in India for first time (Business Standard India)


SAP’s cautious Web 2.0 imagineering(ZDNet Blogs)


SAPs 429 page lecture: who’s learning what? (ZDNet Blogs)


Who Will Win The SAP, Oracle Battle? (internetnews.com)


An Inside Look At The Fastest Growing Company In Business Intelligence Software
With a new Silicon Valley office, a unique approach to BI and a seasoned management team, QlikTech is planning an IPO next year. (Information Week)
This article is a little dated, but definitely worth the read if you don't know much about this Radnor-based company.



Inc digs deep (phillyinc/Philadelphia Inquirer)
Inc. Magazine releases Inc. 500(and more).


The New Face of Telecom Is Wireless (NJBIZ.com)



Democracy at your fingertips (NorthJersey.com)


PPL Completes Sale of Telecommunication Subsidiary (PR Newswire)


SICOM Systems Receives Burger King Corporation Vendor of the Year Award (PR Newswire)

I don't usually cover life sciences news much, but today was a very busy day for it in the Philadelphia area, so I thought it was worth mentioning. Globus Medical Inc. of Audubon raised $110 million to continue development of its spinal implant technologies. Cephalon agreed to pay $100 million to acquire North American rights to the muscle-spasm drug Amrix.
Beijing Med-Pharm of Plymouth Meeting raised $30.6 million, and Isolagen of Exton raised $13.8 million. In addition to hopefully helping people who need it and producing a good return to investors, all this activity creates opportunities for IT
providers.


WiMax Backers See Broad Deployment In Two Years (Information Week)
But it may not make Wi-Fi obsolete.

Microsoft's New Agency Look (internetnews.com)
Roles of aQuantive and Avenue A|Razorfish explained.

Google's growth has come at a price (Mercury-News.com)
Is Google becoming as arrogant as Microsoft? Also discusses potential Google challenger Openads, a UK startup partially backed by Philadelphia's First Round Capital.

Philly spending $6.7M to replace billing system. (WaterTech Online)


Comcast sends phone users scrambling for service
Residents can choose the new AT&T or sign up for Voice-over-Internet.
(Jacksonville Times-Union)
I saw another article yesterday on the same thing happening in Michigan, so I guess this is a system-wide changeover for Comcast.

Verizon Wins Oregon Franchise
Telco Challenges Incumbent Operator Comcast (Multichannel News)


A very fast shot (phillyinc/Philadelphia Inquirer)
New from Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Labs in Cherry Hill.

Environmental Tectonics Corporation's Simulation Division Introduces Crash Truck Simulator for Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (PR Newswire)
Environmental Tectonics has lost revenues, seems to be branching out into other applications for its technology.

Local company puts records within reach (phillyBurbs.com)
About CapMed of Newtown.

Report calls for linking RFID and bar code technology (Healthcare IT News)

Web-based PACS a low-cost option (Healthcare IT News)
This company's approach appears similar to that of Philadelphia-based HX Technologies.


CTG rejects 2nd RCM offer (Buffalo Business First)


C-COR Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2007
(BusinessWire)


M&A Data Consolidation Made Practical by SingleVision Software from Business Development Solutions (BusinessWire)

Clarient Launches Next-Generation Internet-Based PATHSiTE(SM) Flow Cytometry Program
(PR Newswire)
Clarient, based in California, is a Safeguard Scientifics partner company.

Civil War Museum begins two tourism projects (pennlive.com)
Adding historical sites to Google Earth.

Rhapsody, MTV Urge services merging (Seattle Times)
Verizon to provide wireless access.

Finally: Verizon Wireless snags the Motorola Q9m (CNET News Blog)


Comcast knocking on AT&T's door
Company sees success with bundling telephone, cable and Internet services
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)


Comcast Posing as Big Ten Fans in Anti-BTN Astroturfing Campaign (FanHouse)
Funny


Workday: Forget ERP, start over (ZDNet Blogs)
More on startup Workday's new approach.


State looks at limiting scanning technology (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fears about RFID, from the left and the right.


Tracking technology ready for a new life (phillyBurbs.com)
More on RFID and local companies.


Devon IT President Discusses Growth, Development of Alternative Desktop Industry in Podcast
Executive outlines growth projections for hosted client computing, the implications of the HP/Neoware combination, IBM’s blade solutions, and more (BusinessWire)

Monster.com’s bad summer (The Browser/Fortune)
Not good news for Philadelphia Media Holdings, which has tied its employment advertising business to Monster.


Microsoft Completes aQuantive Acquisition (SearchEngineWatch)
Avenue A | Razorfish now part of new Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group


Top Building Material Retailer and Manufacturer to Improve Business Process Structure with DEACOM ERP Software (BusinessWire)

Innovation Philadelphia to Host the Region's First Creative Industries Career Fair (PR Newswire)


SEI Announces Oak Associates Contract Renewal (PR Newswire)

Primavera® Debuts Total Management Approach for Government (BusinessWire)
Probably trying to put a greater emphasis on competing with Deltek in the Federal market.


Bitter. Biting. Boundless.
Local sports fans don't hold anything back (delawareonline)
Impact of new media on fans, players.

Judge stops DirecTV’s high-definition TV ads in spat with Comcast (Associated Press via Philly.com)


Pass the Popcorn. But Where’s the Movie? (NY Times)
Cable companies ready to deliver movies on demand, but studios aren't cooperating.


Comcast sells $3 bln of debt in two parts - source (Reuters)


FCC, Verizon: Rejoice over your broadband connection (CNET News Blog)


Inquirer Building to be offered for sale (Philadelphia Inquirer)


Kenexa expands European reach with acquisition (Philadelphia Business Journal)



Latest Version of Kenexa's On-Demand Recruiting Solution Features Enhancements for All Users (PR Newswire)



Unisys on review for downgrade on liquidity, profitability woes - Moody's
(Thomson Financial via Forbes)
The Incredible Shrinking Company
One really has to question Unisys's strategy and purpose in continuing to operate as a stand-alone corporation. I'm sure parts of it would have some value to others, though I wouldn't expect it to get much of a premium.


Unisys Names Conway to the Board (Associated Press via Forbes)



AppLabs Names Makarand Teje as President & Chief Operating Officer (IT News Online)


South Jersey concern makes play for fellow IT company public (Philadelphia Business Journal)
RCM Technologies goes after Computer Task Group)


Leading Analyst Firm Finds SAP Market Share is the Fastest Growing Amongst Embedded Business Intelligence Platform Vendors (PR Newswire)


Migrating to specialized planning software (InvestmentNews)
Highlights eMoney Advisor of Conshohocken


Minnesota will require EHRs by 2015 (GovernmentHealth IT)


Thermo Fisher Scientific Named Readers' Choice Winner for Informatics Portfolio (PharmaLive)


Corzine pressed for high-tech tax break (Associated Press via Asbury Park Press)


Lease Management Software Firm, Odessa Technologies, Inc. Celebrates Its 100th Hire (PRWeb)

Philadelphia's WiFi Program Off to Shaky Start (NPR Audio)


Microsoft's Class Action (Fast Company)
Feature on Philadelphia's High School of the Future


SunGard, TIAA-CREF IT Slammed by Developers (eWeek.com)


Sprint Keeps Its Cable Partners Waiting
A venture with Comcast, Time Warner and other cable companies to offer wireless service under the Pivot brand is off to a slow start (Business Week)



Cisco Sees Growth As More Hospitals Go High-Tech (Information Week)


Workday unveils Financials and Work Tags (ZDNet Blogs)
New competitor to SAP, Oracle, in the small/medium enterprise market.


A Step Up From Working In PJ's (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Alex Hillman, co-working, and Independents Hall.


BioWizard: The start of ‘Digg for Medical Literature’? (davidrothman.net)


Comcast said to be thwarting Torrent sessions: Good, I say. You? (ZDNet Blogs)

Comcast seeks firm
PHILADELPHIA: Comcast Corporation is currently conducting an agency search for corporate communications support, PRWeek has learned. (PRWeek)
"looking for an agency to provide support for 'consumer media relations outreach surrounding three key projects,' scheduled to kick off this fall, 'as well as ongoing consumer, technology, and entertainment media relations support.' "


VoIP may soon be a staple of cellphones (NorthJersey.com)
Interview with Dick Lynch, CTO of Verizon.


A coast-to-coast vision
Drexel's Papadakis has driven growth. Some have found the ride too brisk.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)

You can be a Groupie!
(Viddler.com Development Blog)
Viddler introduces Groups.

A tour of Podcamp Philly (Viddler.com Development Blog)
Podcamp Philly will be held September 7 through September 9 at Drexel.

Leaving Philadelphia... (Search Marketing Thoughts)
Chris Boggs leaves Avenue A /Razorfish. Makes you wonder if there is going to be a post-acquisition "brain drain" there.


Motorola Completes Acquisition of Leapstone Systems (PR Newswire)
Leapstone becomes part of Motorola's Home & Network Mobility business, which is based in Horsham

A Challenger: The ClinPhone CTMS (ClinPage)
Interview with Michael Smyth of ClinPhone, a leading Clinical Trial Management Systems provider. ClinPhone's US headquarters is in East Windsor, NJ and it also has offices in West Conshohocken.

Another Proposal Floated for Philly Area Movie Studio (Associated Press via 6ABC)
Phillywood? This proposal for a Norristown site is entirely separate
from a proposal recently made by a California company. My guess is only one of them will move forward.


Mackler, Fisher, and Alta Communications Acquire HMP Communications (BusinessWire)


This item on SmarterAgent, the Camden-based real estate locator for mobile phones:

Director of Mobile Software Development

Job Description:

Smarter Agent is one of the few firms launching on-deck mobile GPS applications on multiple carriers in the US and abroad. We just closed a funding round and are expanding. Looking for a key person to manage the development of all of our mobile applications. You have to be a great programmer (JAVA, BREW), and can demonstrate you have managed the launch and quality improvement of carrier grade applications. You’ll hire your team, and you must be wonderful.

http://www.computerwork.com/jobsearch/rssjob.cfm?job_id=1529280

Don't know yet who funded them, and for how much.

Phila. exchange hires help for strategic opportunities (Philadelphia Business Journal)

SAP to provide more clarity on A1S hosted app on Sept. 19
New on-demand offering based on SAP's NetWeaver middleware is due to ship in early 2008 (InfoWorld)


Comcast, Big Ten battle over network (Chicago Tribune)
Sorry, Nittany Lion fans

Would EBAY Sell Skype To Comcast? (24/7 Wall Street)


Comcast: a Naked AT&T Is No Threat (Broadband Reports)


UPDATE: Philly.com Addition to Yahoo Newspaper Group No Surprise (ClickZ)

New Method For Mass Production Of Nanogap Electrodes Developed (Science Daily)
Research at Penn has potential future applications for Computer Science


OSU researcher leaving as he collects another award (Columbus Business First)
Young technology star leaving for Penn


Phila. region manufacturing stagnant in August (Associated Press via Newsday)


Accepting Universal Display's Dilution (Motley Fool)
Universal Display, based near Princeton, is a hot company right now in case you haven't noticed.


ProfitPoint purchases over 12,000 locations in gift card portfolio deal (The Green Sheet)

Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference Introduces New Networking Forum and Expands Entrepreneur Outreach (American Venture Magazine)


Advances in Information, Communications and Knowledge Management Support Systems for R&D (MailBucket)
Interesting two-day workshop on Knowledge Management Support Systems at Bryn Mawr College in October.

Philly's Network Gets a Boost from Remi Communications (PR Newswire)


Year after law, area cable race still not started Area's cable competition not heating up (Press of Atlantic City)