China emerges as locus of new apps revolution
China is proving to be an immense, untapped reservoir of potential opportunity for mobile application makers, but getting a toehold in the highly competitive and loosely regulated sector is an uphill battle some developers would rather not fight. For companies that stick around and manage to dodge the hurdles -- such as Fotopedia, a developer of apps for photo travel magazines -- China is outpacing the U.S. as the primary growth market for mobile apps. "China is a really big deal for us," said Christophe Daligault, senior vice president of global business for Fotonauts, Fotopedia's parent company. The Wall Street Journal
(3/7)
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Siemens targets small businesses with turnkey UC platform
Siemens Enterprise Communications has introduced a turnkey unified communications solution designed to make it easier for small businesses to use next-generation enterprise-level collaboration tools. OpenScape Business mirrors the company's existing HiPath 3000 and OpenScape Office platforms and includes all hardware and software needed for SMBs to begin integrating comprehensive UC services including voice-over-IP, data and Web collaboration. eWeek
(3/6)
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U.K. begins search for new standard for low-level cybersecurity
The British government's Cyber Security and Resilience Team has begun soliciting input from the private sector on ways to bolster national cybersecurity that would put more responsibility on senior management to maintain adequate levels of protection. The move, which is part of the government's Cyber Security Strategy, will involve choosing a new organizational standard to protect businesses from "low-end methods of compromise" such as phishing and malware. Businesses have until April 8 to express interest in giving their opinions regarding the standard. The Register (U.K.)
(3/7)
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Former President Clinton: Technology is key to improving health care
Technology is essential for gaining efficiencies and saving money in the health care sector, and price transparency is a must, according to former President Bill Clinton. "The absence of technology, in part, means consumers have no way of knowing what they're going to be charged, what their options are, in place after place in America," Clinton said. Computerworld
(3/6)
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Why business continuity requires frequent attitude adjustments
To keep pace with market changes and ensure longevity, companies must be willing and able to periodically evolve their business goals and the means by which they realize them, George Bradt writes. According to Lyle Heidemann, chief executive of True Value, such a cultural transformation can take as long as five years and must include a complete assessment of a company's market context and a realignment of culture and attitude to make sure they are advancing the firm's strategic priorities. Forbes
(3/6)
CFOs, accountants are obstacles to innovation, research suggests
Chief financial officers and accountants can blunt businesses' innovation because they embrace accounting conservatism and often oppose changes that are disruptive but necessary, according to a research paper by Gilles Hilary, INSEAD associate professor of accounting and control. The fundamental problem is that accounting conservatism requires immediate recognition of possible losses but postpones recognition of revenues until they can be verified, the paper said. Knowledge.Insead.edu
(3/7)
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Researchers say legendary Viking "sunstone" is real and actually worked
The mythical "sunstone," which legend says the Vikings used to guide them across the high seas, may not be so imaginary after all, according to scientists who believe they've discovered one. Researchers at the University of Rennes in Brittany found the palm-sized calcite crystal in the wreckage of a ship that sank off the Channel Islands and determined it may have actually worked as a navigation aid. "It permits the observer to follow the azimuth of the sun, far below the horizon with an accuracy as great as plus or minus one degree," writes researcher Guy Ropars. The Independent (London) (tiered subscription model)
(3/6)
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Help SmartBrief cover SXSW Interactive!
SmartBrief will cover the South by Southwest Interactive Festival through Tuesday in Austin, Texas, and we need your help! SXSW has too many must-see events for our staff to cover, so we're turning to readers to help document the best panels as blog contributors. If you're headed to Austin and want to contribute to SmartBrief's blogs on social media, leadership, finance, food and beverage or education, check out our guest-post guidelines and send a note to Jesse Stanchak.
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It's been perceived in the past that unified communications has been for larger enterprises, but that's not true."
-- Susan Ericke, senior manager of global segment marketing at Siemens Enterprise Communications, as quoted by eWeek
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