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the Free CMSWire NewsletterThis week, we had to look at Apple’s promised preferential iPad2 deal for SMBs, SAP sets itself up as a competitor to Salesforce in the SMB space, SMSs for customer relationship get an airing with Clickatell and Siemens offers a UC package for SMBs.
iPad2 Deal for SMBs
There was always going to be a lot of excitement around the launch of the iPad2. As a business tool, its value is obvious, but one of the places Apple (news, site) is aiming to go with it is into the SMB space.
In the weeks leading up to the launch, there were numerous reports that, along with iPad2, Apple would be also launching a joint venture for SMB iPad users, which is said to target SMBs by offering them preferential prices if they decide to invest.
We’re still going through all the launch material from Wednesday’s launch event, but there are now reports from retailers across the US that before the event they were briefed on this new offering.
The main drive of this joint venture is a pricing scheme that would encourage SMBs to invest. According to the reports, Apple is to charge US$ 499 for up to five users and $99 for each additional user/year and seems to specifically have companies with fewer than ten users in mind.
For that price, and with the joint venture, business users will get preferential support, have their iPads set up for them with software installed, connected to servers and email as well.
Users will also get personal setup data transfer, group training sessions (up to three sessions annually) and a scheduling website for phone support.
It’s not clear when this offer will come into play — it may already be in place — but if it’s not there now, then it will be soon. Enjoy your new iPad2!
SAP to Compete with Salesforce
SAP (news, site) too has been specifically targeting the SMB sector and has announced that it is expanding its cloud offerings and setting itself up here as a competitor for Salesforce.com.
SAP Sales OnDemand for SMBs is designed to help people working in sales collaborate on sales opportunities, manage customer information and improve cross-enterprise communication with a social media application that SAP says is similar to Facebook.
Like a lot of enterprise software that SAP is working on at the moment, it is based around the information management application Business ByDesign, enabling preconfigured functions such as customer relationship management, human resources management and even financial management.
When the application is launched, it is also expected to launch support for smart phones, iPhone, iPads and Blackberrys. The application is already doing the rounds of the trade shows, but as soon as it goes on general release, we’ll have a more detailed look at it. Should be out soon.
SMS, Clickatell
Clickatell (news, site), which specializes in Personalized Priority Messaging (PPM) across all media devices, has announced its US small business SMS messaging package to enable US companies to interact with and help customers via simple text messages.
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