Small business in from the cold - New Zealand Herald- Topic: BuildingWebsiteNews

They employ the majority of hardworking Kiwis, but small and medium-sized businesses have largely been neglected when it comes to online and IT services aimed at making it easier to run their businesses. Wellington web-based accounting software maker Xero this week launched Xero Network, an initiative to encourage software-as-a-service vendors to make their products compatible with each other and therefore easier to use by small business owners. Telecom took the unusual step last month of meeting software-as-a-service providers to discuss partnering with them in an online venture aimed at its small and medium-sized customers. The details of the Wellington meeting aren't being disclosed, but in broad terms, Telecom has a three-pronged strategy for serving the business market that includes new broadband packages and modems, a new suite of services separate to the YahooXtra internet platform and unified communications products that will be offered through a tie-up with Microsoft. The aim is that small businesses can go to Telecom for IT services like web hosting, network security, email and online back-up as well as broadband and phone products. read more

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