Business and Finance

Archive for September, 2010

Ultimately, venture capital firms are looking to make a divestiture of their share of your business within a three to seven year time line. This is not always the steadfast rule, but you need to remember that venture capital firms are in the business of providing their investors with significant returns through their pooled capital funds. When looking for venture capital is imperative to discuss the exit strategy wanted by a potential VC firm.

Many people feel that all venture capital firms are seeking to grow your business with the intent of having an initial public offering (or “IPO”). However, this is not often the case. Many venture capital firms, after a three to five year period, will seek to divest the profitable business to a larger firm that is seeking to consolidate or remove a competitor. With the recent economic downturn, the demand for new initial public offerings has waned among individual and institutional investors. As such, many venture capital firms have begun to act like their private equity counterparts by focusing on selling the business to a third party.

   Read more... (324 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

Loic Le Meur interviews Tim Ferris on how to manage your e-mail. www.fourhourworkweek.com

People who own and run small businesses may have been overlooked in the past. Not attracted to the big budgets and sophisticated requirements of big business, the security industry has not focused on providing small business security. Small businesses had to settle for inappropriate and overpriced security that resembled home security systems.

But there’s good news. Leading security industry manufacturers and providers are paying attention now. They’re beginning to understand that the unique needs of small business security require tailored security measures and systems.

Small business security does have one advantage. Needing smaller staff and experiencing less turnover than large businesses, small business’s risk for in-house theft is significantly less, reducing the need for inventory tracking and video monitoring for break rooms and storage areas. But small businesses still face serious risks for theft, vandalism, and violence.

Small business security needs are in many ways like those of corporations and individual homeowners. Common-sense security measures are important. Things like removing potential hiding places for would-be thieves by eliminating blind spots on building exteriors is a basic preventive measure. Lighting the building, inside and out, makes it possible for people outside the building to observe criminal activity at night and when the business is closed. Keeping entry points clear of obstructions and shadows is important to safety and security. Installing locks with security codes for individual employees prevents entry by unauthorized people.  Read more... (637 words, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

Blackberry bold 2 9700

With the reports of flagging Android sales this week and with RIM updating their flagship model with a sleeker and more powerful model – the Blackberry Bold 2 9700 – will we see Blackberry regain the market share of the business mobile phone market that they enjoyed for so long prior to the i-phones and other smartphone releases?
Featuring an improved processor and latest UI, can this phone really take the i-phone for a run for it’s money? And also from my personal view point – the HTC Desire?

With the bold, Blackberry tried to produce a model that was a viable cross over between the business and consumer user and it has worked well, but in this market there is a constant need for progression and that’s where the new BlackBerry Bold 2 9700 comes in.

The first thing that RIM have improved is the size – this phone is not only faster than its predecessor but it is lighter and smaller – 5mm shorter and nearly 1cm thinner – obviously an incredibly noticable difference.

The Blackberry Bold 2 9700 then has a smaller keyboard as it is a still endowed with a QWERTY. so can you still type effectively? hmm, i’ll come to that.  Read more... (1703 words, estimated 6:49 mins reading time)

The Nokia E72 is basically a straight upgrade of the Nokia E71 including a faster processor and a better camera. The E71 has been out in the UK since  June 2008 and is one of the best selling mobile phones for business users in the UK and overseas, so how does it size up to it’s older brother?

Nokia E72 business mobile Phone

It looks very similar to a typical Blackberry in terms of size, shape and the QWERTY keyboard but how does it really measure up to the other Smartphones on the market.

It is a very pretty phone as you will see from the video below, mind you, it’s not as nice as the new HTC Desire or for that matter the i-phone but i guess that is a matter of opinion; if you are a fan of the front facing QWERTY keyboard then you will probably find it quite a geeky turn on. It looks pretty business like with the silver rim running around the edge and simple style.

As with all of the Nokia E range there are the four short cut buttons under the screen for the home, calendar, contacts and email. Under these four are the call and end call buttons.

Between the short-cut buttons is a nice optical track pad for general navigation around the menu which is relatively responsive and nice to use.  Read more... (848 words, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)