The New York Times reports that Spam is back, probably for good this time.
The average seven-day spam volume during the latter half of March is now at roughly the same levels as October of last year – around 94 percent of all e-mail – according to the antispam company Postini, a division of Google.
For the first time in 23 years Microsoft saw quarterly sales fall.
The company has had a difficult time combating slumping demand for its Windows operating system, as the economic slowdown has dragged PC sales down 7% to 9%, according to Microsoft’s estimates.
* CNN Reports: Microsoft’s quarterly sales fall
One of the factors listed in the CNN article was the Netbook phenomenon. Apple is absent from the Netbook party and yet seems to be doing quite well in light of the economy.
It broke last week that IBM is in talks to buy SUN. At first glance this is hard to understand, the two have competing operating systems and chip architectures. They operate in similar markets and SUN has considerable intellectual property and a consulting division which may be of interest to IBM.
Reuters: Sun talks to continue into next week
The Why:
Some analysts have said that IBM, with greater manpower and more effective management, may be able to make better use of Sun’s assets.
The What:
The merged company would hold 65 percent of the $17 billion market for Unix servers, which major companies and governments rely on for critical operations, according to market researcher IDC.
The How:
[...] could be worth $6.5 billion to $8 billion
In a surprise move Sun Microsystems has been purchased by Oracle. This means Oracle owns Java, MySQL, Solaris and all of Sun’s services and consulting business. Wither Oracle Unbreakable Linux?
Oracle Corp. snapped up computer server and software maker Sun Microsystems Inc. for $7.4 billion Monday, pouncing on an opportunity that opened up after rival IBM Corp. abandoned an earlier bid to buy one of Silicon Valley’s best known — and most troubled — companies.
* Reuters: Oracle to buy Sun Micro for over $7 billion
* The New York Times: Oracle Agrees to Acquire Sun Microsystems