Stuart J. Johnston

Technology today is so affordable that a small business ecommerce website can offer most of the features found on the websites of much larger companies. However, one area of ecommerce that often falls short for small business owners is the capability to process financial transactions electronically. Big businesses most often use automated clearing houses (ACH) […]

Video conferencing system vendor LifeSize officially announced this week new software and infrastructure updates meant to enhance the company’s low cost high-definition (HD) video conferencing systems for small businesses. A subsidiary of Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI, Lifesize released its latest system software (version 4.7), which adds the capability to share data such as spreadsheets and slide […]

As increasing numbers of small businesses hire employees who work from home at least part time, a new survey shows that what they miss about going into the office is easy access to data on their file servers. The study, which was fielded by virtual file server provider Egnyte, found that 48 percent of the […]

Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) often seems to be all about big business and big sales organizations, but this year’s event also holds some goodies for smaller firms as well. In an announcement at WPC 2010 in Washington on Monday, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) officials said they will release preview versions of two upcoming versions […]

Microsoft has started beta testing a new — and free — website development toolset this week that’s designed to make it easier for first-time site developers, small businesses and non-technical users to get started on small business Web design. Dubbed WebMatrix, the tool, which is available for download, aims to provide all of the components […]

To no great surprise, a recent survey of small and medium businesses that hire online contractors found that many companies are using freelance talent because of the flexibility and cost effectiveness it affords. In fact, 87 percent of survey participants view hiring outside talent “as a way to enhance competitiveness and profitability.” Rhymes With Freelance […]

eVoice, a phone service for small businesses, last week announced it is shipping a mobile app that lets customers use their BlackBerries with the company’s service. The service already offers a mobile app for the iPhone, and in early June eVoice added a mobile app for Android devices as well. Adding BlackBerries to the list […]

A leading technology research firm reported Thursday that deploying Windows 7 can save IT decision makers at small and medium-sized business (SMB) significant time and money. The IDC study, which was commissioned by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), found that SMBs could recoup their investments for deploying Windows 7 in as little as seven to eight months. […]

As the Internet access device of choice for many consumers rapidly shifts from their desktops to their smartphones and other mobile devices, many small businesses find a sudden need for their websites to present not just a compelling experience for home users but also for mobile users on the run. The main problem to date, […]

Many small business owners have known about, and dealt with, email marketing firm Constant Contact for years. After all, the Constant Contact (NASDAQ: CTCT) launched its first product in 1998. Today, in addition to email marketing, it offers event marketing and social networking marketing, as well as online survey and Internet marketing tools. Tuesday, the […]

Microsoft announced its begun beta testing a new release of Windows Live Hotmail, the company’s popular, and free, Web-based email service, although it’s likely to take some time for the beta to roll out to users around the globe. The software giant first previewed the new Hotmail service last month. The beginning of the beta […]

Microsoft is making Office 2010 generally available to retail customers, including consumers and small businesses, on Tuesday — a little more than a month after the company released it to corporate customers. On May 12, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced the release of Office 2010 for enterprise users in a gala held for analysts and the […]