NEWS

Volume 1 Issue 3

Microsoft Point of Sale

for Small Businesses

 

From:  Information Week 05/23/2005 issue pg. 55

 

This software is targeted towards “single-store retail business owners”, this software is easy to learn, use and is reasonable priced at $799.00 (MSRP).  Microsoft’s Point of Sale has lots of features, just to name a few: Inventory and Sales tracker, create and maintain customer information and other vital information pertinent to the sell of products in your small business.  The types of companies that can benefit are as follows (courtesy of www.microsoft.com):

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Wine Stores

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Gift/Novelty/Souvenir Shops

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Hobby/Toy/Game/Craft Stores

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Convenience food (Coffee shops, fixed item cafeteria)

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Tobacco Shops

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 Pet Stores

SES has plans to make a link especially for Microsoft’s Point of Sale and an affordable PC to use in your small business.  For more information directly from Microsoft:

Is Piracy on the Rise for

Microsoft Products?

 

From:  VARBusiness Magazine 5/30/2005 issue pg. 62

 

Microsoft is having problems with their system builders and partners “distributing counterfeit, illicit and unlicensed software products and components” to their customers and affiliates.  Other partners have been complaining about this and Microsoft has filed suit against 8 in response for their cry for help.  Partners who complained stated these partners distributing illegally are hurting their business.  Microsoft caught the partners selling illegally by purchasing software from the reseller and testing for authenticity and for white-box markers.  The companies involved with these lawsuits are as follows:

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Avantek of Florida

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M&S Computer Products of New Jersey

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Micro Excell of Alabama

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Signature PC of Rhode Island

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First E-Commerce of Texas

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Odyssey Computers of Maryland

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Abacus Computer and Technology One of California

Additional lawsuits have been filed in Canada against resellers for illegal product distribution.

 

Microsoft Playing with Others?

 

From:      VARBusiness Magazine 05/30/05 issue pg. 40

 

Last month Microsoft unveiled Virtual Server 2005 Beta 1 which among other thing provides interfaces with Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM).  This software also provides support for Linux, an open-source operating system previously shunned by Microsoft.  It is beginning to become clear that Microsoft is expanding its horizon to other software and understanding most businesses and individuals alike do not exclusively use Windows.  This is a huge step for this IT giant to share with others.

Microsoft Updates

Amanda Jackson, Software Engineering Services

Updated June 27, 2005