At Deadline Briefs

Computerworld - Microsoft Delays CRM Ship Again

Microsoft Corp. once again delayed ship dates for its CRM 2.0 update, this time until the end of this year. The company disclosed the delay along with an announcement that it is expanding the software's feature set. The move came a week after Microsoft named an ex-PeopleSoft executive to head its CRM operation. The application was first scheduled to ship in 2004 and was delayed to mid-2005.

IBM Adds 64-Bit Xeon Servers

IBM today will unveil four eServer XSeries servers and one BladeServer based on Intel Corp.'s new 64-bit Xeon processors. IBM said the new systems will take advantage of two key 64-bit Xeon functions, Demand Based Switching and Execute Disable Bit. DBS should lead to decreased power consumption, IBM claimed. The systems will ship next month.

Dell Profits Lower On Tax Charge

Dell Inc. posted solid growth across its hardware businesses in its fiscal 2005 fourth quarter, but a one-time tax-related charge caused a decrease in net income.

DELL BY THE NUMBERS REVENUE PROFIT Q4 ’05 $13.5B $667M Q4 ’04 $11.5B $846M

Siemens to Increase R&D Staff in India

Siemens AG plans to hire 1,000 software engineers in India this year as part of an effort to expand its research and development activities in growth markets. The new hires will bring the number of software engineers Siemens employs in India to 4,000. Over the next three years, the company plans to invest $500 million in its Indian operations, which currently employ about 10,000 people.

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