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Perhaps the most exciting tech battle to watch: Google's (GOOG) intensifying clash with fellow titan Microsoft (MSFT), as the two square off in almost every major line of business.

Click here to see 10 ways Google is trying to kill Microsoft →

The latest: In the last few months, each company has launched a direct attack on their arch rival's most important business. Most recently, Google announced that it was developing a desktop operating system, Chrome OS, and Microsoft launched a new search engine, Bing.

Google's success or failure with its operating system attack will be particularly interesting to watch, as it's Google's first attempt to disrupt Microsoft's most important business. Redmond has enjoyed many years (and billions of dollars) on top of the operating system market with DOS and Windows, and besides Apple, no one's been able to obtain share in the consumer market.

But Chrome OS -- starting with cheap, mobility-focused netbooks -- promises to be fast, simple, and -- important -- free to gadget makers, which are already facing paper-thin margins on netbooks, and pressure to cut costs. If Google can make a great user interface and link easily to cloud services like the Web, Google search, GMail, and Google chat, then the Windows juggernaut could be at risk.

Why does that matter? During Microsoft's last fiscal year, Windows contributed 25% of Microsoft's revenue and 53% of its operating profit.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is attacking Google's biggest business, search. Its most recent product launch, Bing, is a good product that's been just a modest success so far: Microsoft's share of the U.S. search market was 8.4% in June, up from 8.0% in May, according to comScore.

Perhaps more important: It looks like Microsoft is close to finally signing a search and advertising partnership with Yahoo. While that takes one of Google's enemies out of its sights, it means that its lone major rival will have more resources and motivation behind it.

Why does this matter to Microsoft? Because it's burned through billions of dollars over the last few years trying to be a big player on the Web, and it will have great hopes and expectations for its deal with Yahoo. And for Google, because search generates more than 90% of its revenue, and funds many of its unprofitable, maybe-Microsoft-killing projects, such as Google Apps, Chrome OS, and Android.

But those are just two of the many fronts in Google's war with Microsoft.

Click here to see 10 ways Google is trying to kill Microsoft →

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To keep up with customer demand, Sun Direct TV plans to implement a CRM platform for 6 million subscribers with the goal of reaching 10 million subscribers by 2010

NC News Network, July 23 2009, 1230 hrs

IBM has recently announced that it has signed a services deal to implement and manage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) related applications and services for Sun Direct TV (SDTV), part of Sun TV Group, based in Chennai, India. The multi-year deal signed in June 2009 includes end-to-end services, right from strategy through implementation.

With over three million subscribers since its launch in December 2007, Sun Direct TV looks to grow further and add more innovative features, services and channels in its offerings. To keep up with customer demand, it plans to implement a CRM platform for 6 million subscribers with the goal of reaching 10 million subscribers by 2010. To accomplish this, the company needed a dynamic infrastructure that would mitigate risks, reduce cost and effectively manage service levels in tune with their expansion plans.

“As we continue our aggressive growth plans, we will rely on IBM to help us tackle key issues surrounding billing and customer relationship management, as well as develop ways to get better insights on customer behaviors,” said Tony D’Silva, Chief Operating Officer, Sun Direct TV.

Under terms of the agreement IBM will build and maintain a dynamic infrastructure for SDTV that will leverage IBM Global Business Service’s extensive experience in the DTH market. In addition to providing SDTV with application management services, IBM will also help the service provider to expand its billing portfolio enabling it to efficiently handle rapid customer acquisition across India. The deal also includes IBM hardware and software including Power Systems, System x and Storage Systems.

The company has extended its Software Token solution SecurID for use on the iPhone, enabling the mobile device to be used as a two factor authentication device

NC News Network, July 24 2009, 1100 hrs

RSA has recently announced the availability of its SecurID Software Token for iPhone. The software will enable an iPhone to be used as a SecurID authenticator, providing convenient and cost-effective two-factor authentication for enterprise applications and resources. The software is currently available for download from the iPhone’s online App Store.

“We are further demonstrating our commitment to innovation and choice in authentication methods with the availability of the RSA SecurID software token for the iPhone for use within the enterprise,” said Tom Corn, Vice President of Product Marketing at RSA.

The application is engineered to generate a one-time password that changes every 60 seconds, thereby enabling secure access to enterprise applications and resources. Through a simple download from the App Store, the application can be easily installed on the user’s iPhone. The user can then enable the application with a unique software token seed provided by the IT organization and create a convenient, secure and cost-effective authenticator.

The use of software tokens on the iPhone is aimed at helping decrease total cost of ownership for organizations since they do not require any physical shipping and can be revoked and automatically redeployed even if the device is lost, eliminating the need for replacement tokens. Additionally, having the software authenticator on a device such as the iPhone can possibly reduce the number of lost or forgotten tokens, decreasing the number of costly technical support calls.

The SecurID Software Token for iPhone is designed for enterprise users whose organizations have the SecurID system implemented including its primary software component, RSA Authentication Manager. While the application is available on the App Store at no charge, the required SecurID software token seed and the RSA Authentication Manager need to be purchased and are available for purchase globally.

The company will offer F-Secure’s complete Mobile Security package, which includes virus protection, malware protection and an integrated firewall

NC News Network, July 24 2009, 1230 hrs

Tata Communications has recently announced its partnership with F-Secure to offer mobile phone security services in India. With this partnership, Tata Communications will offer F-Secure’s complete Mobile Security package, which includes virus protection, malware protection and an integrated firewall, to an estimated 50 million smart phone users in India.

“Mobile security must not be an afterthought. We are committed to provide customers with the easiest and the most comprehensive security solution for all devices (PC, Server, Mobile). We are pleased to be in association with F-Secure to offer mobile security solutions to our subscriber base, suitable for their needs,” said Mukul Sood, Vice President, Content and Applications, Tata Communications.

Mobile Security is designed to protect a mobile device from spyware and other espionage software that may monitor and record all actions on the device including voice calls, SMS, multimedia and e-mail messages. It can safeguard phones from unwanted billing (caused by viruses that are trying to propagate/infiltrate) and additionally protects the handheld device from becoming unusable due to malware.

The application is easy to install, and users can download it from the company website via GPRS directly on to their mobile devices. The suite supports all major mobile operating system platforms such as Windows Mobile, Symbian and UIQ, and offers real-time, invisible and automated safety with easy to use firewall rule sets and automatic over-the-air antivirus update. The firewall is designed to provide additional security for mobile devices that access public networks such as Wi-Fi.

Tata Communications has introduced a special limited period introductory offer under which subscribers can get 30 percent off on the Mobile security suite and a 30-day free trial.

InformationWeek’s Global CIO will conduct a daylong, online virtual event called ‘The Global CIO Summit: Driving Business Value and Customer Value in the Global Economy’ on July 29, 2009. During this event, dozen of the world’s top CIOs along with thought leaders from around the world will discuss the most challenging issues they face in a global economy. The focus will be on the three core themes of business value, customer value, and the global economy.

To participate, please visit www.informationweek.com/1236/event.htm

Program Agenda (Eastern US Time)

How dependent are you on e-mail at work or at home?

As a matter of policy some organizations take proactive initiatives to backup e-mail and contacts for all employees. E-mail and contacts are the pulse for business and workflow. Should you lose these, your work will come to a complete halt.

You might also want to take your contacts and some critical e-mail messages with you when you move on to the next company. There’s a smarter way to do that instead of forwarding all those messages to a Web e-mail account (a lengthy procedure).

I’ve written an article with step-by-step instructions that shows how to back up Outlook contacts and e-mail. You can read the article here: http://techwow.wordpress.com

London, July 26 (ANI): A new range of internet services have made it possible for users to now send e-mail greetings to their loved ones from beyond the grave.

These online services are being used to send birthday wishes to friends, congratulations on a graduation, and to keep spouses happy.

Before they die, internet users can programme the sites to fire off posthumous e-mails on key dates each year.

People using these services can even set up their own online memorial in advance.

The messages go live when the website is alerted to a subscriber's demise.

According to reports, these websites are part of a growing trend for "digital wills".

Though not legally binding, the online wills are aimed at ensuring that next of kin can gain full access to a dead person's musings on sites like Facebook and Hotmail, as well as passwords for internet banking and other e-documents.

One Simon Gilligan, 63, from Littleport, Cambridgeshire, has made a digital will on lastmessagesclub.co.uk, which launched this month, in tandem with a paper will.

"It has things like personal messages to my wife and children and various details of my bank accounts, e-mail and my Facebook account," Times Online quoted him as saying.

"I did it because I have heard of situations where people have died and it has taken a long time to get the information. This will make it easier for my wife and children.

"I would definitely consider setting it up to send another e-mail out to my family on a birthday. That would choke everybody up," he added. (ANI)