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the Free CMSWire NewsletterThere's no need to underline how bad the recession has been for SMBs. But there's light at the end of the tunnel as IDC predicts spending on IT is set to grow this year. Meanwhile, IBM is trying to grab the SMBs Microsoft has annoyed by discontinuing the Windows Essential Business Server.
SMBs Addicted To Mobile
In case you weren’t aware of it already mobile technology is really important to small businesses. In fact, according to the recent the Small Business Technology Poll from AT&T more than 20% of SMBs couldn’t survive without it, while a further 43% said it would be a major challenge to do so.
It also shows that 74% of SMBs depend more on mobile technologies than they did in 2007, a figure that is set to increase as nearly three quarters say they plan to use it more this year than before.
The top uses were:
- Checking email (+80%)
- Surfing the Web (57%
- Smartphones use (91%)
If you are interested in more, check it out at the AT&T website.
SMBs Get Ready To Spend
New research by IT consultancy IDC (news, site) shows that while spending on IT will not return to previous levels until at least next year, it will return to growth this year.
The research also shows that the recession hit SMBs harder than anyone had anticipated with the result that annual growth will remain at 5.5% annually, much lower than previously expected. Key findings from IDC's SMB forecast include the following:
- A US$ 17.4 billion IT spending increase in 2010
- SMB IT spending levels will not return to 2008 levels until 2011
- Spending will grow to nearly US $629.3 billion in 2014
- SMB spending on PCs and peripherals will experience greatest growth
- SMB IT growth will be greatest in developing markets
The study entitled Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business 2010–2014 Forecast is available from the website.
IBM Playing Footsie With SMBs
More jostling for space in the SMB market from IBM (news, site). This time it has announced that it has added more than 200 partners to its LotusLive cloud services sales channel.
A sales channel without incentives is not much use so IBM has also said it is extending the capabilities of Lotus Foundations by integrating DB2 Express database software into the core appliance offering free of charge, a sure pull for SMBs.
This means that there is no database size limit, no limit on the number of instances or databases per server and no restriction on the number of users. The move aims to pick up the debris after Microsoft announced recently that it was discontinuing its flagship SMB server Windows Essential Business Server.
IGLOO Offers Free Business Templates
Something else for free. Social software vendor IGLOO (news, site) has just announced the availability of the free edition of its online community software which is targeted specifically at the business community.
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