*hyperLINK***hyperLINK***hyperLINK***hyperLINK***hyperLINK* Here is this week's hyperLINK, your window on the local, national and international IT sector, brought to you by Canterbury Software Inc and editor Carol Webb. It includes news on the next CSI Tech BBQ and other CSI events, as part of promoting success through connections for IT products, services and people.
See the full version at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm Sign-up options at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/news.htm + Please forward this newsletter. You can freely re-use the feature stories, provided you acknowledge the credited feature story writer and hyperLINK as source. ############### FRIDAY TECH BBQ AUGUST 8: XO CLUB, upstairs above Azure Bar at 128 Oxford St (The Strip). The new proprietors of the XO Club have invited us back to savour the venue's ambience and terrific wine list. AUGUST 15: At 5.30pm at the Canterbury Innovation Incubator (200 Armagh St). It's BYO drinks and nibbles, and follows Canterbury Software Inc's AGM which starts at 4pm. For further information (and to see who got snapped by the CSI paparazzi at recent events) go to the Tech BBQ page at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/bbq.htm + Canterbury Software Inc is keen to promote the Friday Tech BBQ as a meeting point for all-comers from the Christchurch tech community. The BBQ is an informal social and networking event that takes place every Friday, 5.30pm to around 7.30pm. It's a chance to meet other similar people in a relaxed environment, talk shop, network and get to know each other better. ############### hyperLINK contents: Issue 14, August 7 2003 + Outsider�s perspective helps growth push + CSI pivotal in software sector progress + Tech Newsbytes from all around + Incredibly useful website of the week + Online with CSI + Hot topics at the forum + Contact us, subscribe/unsubscribe etc ############### *FEATURE* OUTSIDER�S PERSPECTIVE HELPS GROWTH PUSH By CAROL WEBB As e2-media managing director Chris Lee steers his company into a new growth phase, he�s quick to acknowledge the value of outside advice. And when he is not working on e2-media�s growth plans, he finds time to share his experiences with younger companies as part of a mentoring programme. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature1 ] ------------------------------ *FEATURE* CSI PIVOTAL IN SOFTWARE SECTOR PROGRESS By CAROL WEBB Make no mistake, says Canterbury Software Inc chairperson Keith Cowan, the future looks good for the Canterbury software sector. And he says CSI approaches its second annual meeting next week confident that its policies are helping ensuring its outstanding member companies get noticed nationally and globally. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature2 ] ------------------------------ *NEWSBYTES* CSI SETS THE PACE: Since its first annual meeting as an incorporated society late last year, Canterbury Software Inc has been in growth mode. It has launched the widely read hyperLINK (circulation 700-plus), gained a part-time facilitator, run a series of popular and useful workshops, started the monthly elevator cafes, picked up organisation of the Friday Tech BBQs, lobbied Government for a better deal for Canterbury software suppliers, and has been acknoweldged as a key contributor to the ICT Taskforce process (see details of chairperson's report in feature above). The pace is set to continue in the year ahead. Come along to the 2003 annual meeting on Friday August 15 to have your say on CSI directions. Diary it now for 4pm at the Canterbury Innovation Incubator (Cii), 200 Armagh St with the Tech BBQ to follow). Membership information packs are available at the Cii. Check your membership status with CSI facilitator James Saruchera [EMAIL PROTECTED] or join now at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/join.htm. JADE CUTS: Newly appointed Jade Software chief executive Rod Carr has been quick to announce a programme to reduce operating costs at the Christchurch-based company by up to a quarter, by cutting staff numbers, and product and market development activities in areas that been slow to achieve revenue growth. Jade will also further postpone plans for a share market listing and will recapitalise privately. Founder and president Gil Simpson said the recapitalisation, and a restructuring of the business, will help ensure the company has a sustainable future. Carr, former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, said conditions in Jade�s key markets this year had been very difficult with widespread deferment and delay of information technology spending. PAYGLOBAL PLUS: Christchurch-based PayGlobal has formed a strategic partnership with AXS-One to achieve further growth in the Australian market for its people management software products. PayGlobal has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London and Hong Kong, as well as Auckland and Christchurch. AXS-One is a major provider of supply chain management products for service industries and has a worldwide network of offices. Under the new agreement AXS-One will add PayGlobal Payroll, Time & Attendance, and HR Self-Service applications to its Enterprise Financial solution. The applications will be rebadged under the AXS-One umbrella. FINDING THAT FUNDING: Last week�s CSI-hosted workshop on getting funding for tech businesses was well attended, and a lot of valuable information disseminated. The Powerpoint slides used by the presenters and a summary of all the NZ Trade & Enterprise schemes, with contact points etc, are available to CSI members on the website. If you�re looking for the right sort of assistance to grow your tech business, take a look at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/resourcesworkshop.htm. If you�re not already a member, go here to join CSI http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz/join.htm EXPATS IN CONTACT: Christchurch-based RealContacts has been appointed by the Kiwi Expat Association (KEA) to help match New Zealand-based businesses and research institutes with New Zealanders overseas who can provide advice, contacts and skills. A jobs application service will be implemented first, enabling KEA members to post or apply for job opportunities within the KEA network and their personal networks. Other services to follow later in the year will allow KEA members to help New Zealand companies with sales leads and distribution channels; advise New Zealand companies on how to enter overseas markets; and organise events worldwide for New Zealanders living overseas. RealContacts has a special jobs service that is run in conjunction with CSI at http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz/jobs.htm SPAM SURGE: The volume of pornographic spam distributed worldwide increased four times from June to July, while the spam levels have reached half of all email, according to a new report by mail security firm Message Labs. The company said it had scanned 156.6 million emails from around the world for spam during July, with more than 79.7 million being intercepted. The number intercepted in July was 10 million higher than was blocked for all of 2002. The company also scanned 123.7 million emails for pornography, with more than 200,000 of those messages found to contain porn of some kind. While this resulted in a ratio of only one message in 589, the number of porn emails quadrupled between June and July, the company said. FEWER MIGRANTS: The number of ICT-skilled migrants seeking work in Australia has fallen by a third in the past 12 months, according to Department of Immigration figures. The decline in ICT applicants seeking permanent residence was attributed to a soft employment market, suspension of priority processing for ICT applicants, and tightening of ICT graduate skills criteria. Of 37,792 independent visas granted under the General Skilled Migration category, just 29 per cent of applicants had ICT skills, the department's figures show. In 2001-2, 43 per cent of approvals were ICT-skilled. TYCO GROWS: US-based Tyco Electronics has invested $3 million in a new 5000 square meter factory at Heathcote, east Christchurch, that will be the Australasian centre for its electrical harness components manufacturing operations. The plant now employs 160 staff and that could increase by up to 100. About 75% of its production is sold within New Zealand, for automotive electronics, white goods, computers and other electrical products, while the rest is exported. PRESTIGE LECTURE: The IEEE/IPENZ 2003 Prestige Lecture will be given in Christchurch by Pulse Data International CEO Russell Smith. Canterbury University School of Engineering, Room E6 AT 7.30pm on Wednesday August 13. Tel 379 6333. ------------------------------ *EXPORT FOCUS* MARKET SELECTION Selecting which markets to enter can be one of the most challenging parts of exporting. You may have a preference based on knowledge of your product or service, world trends in your industry or your intuition about potential new markets. It makes sense to test and confirm your preference using a mix of formal and informal measures. The market selection process requires you to: collect information about potential export markets; make comparisons; and make decisions. http://www.marketnewzealand.com/common/files/marketselection-cl.pdf >From a series of checklists prepared by Trade NZ to help companies work through the export planning process. NEXT WEEK: Making an effective presentation ------------------------------ *WEBSITE OF THE WEEK* GEEKZONE New Zealand-based site that has loads of reviews, special offers, a forum, and a shop run in conjunction with Amazon.com. It has a strong focus on mobile technologies and BlueTooth seems to feature prominently. Geekzone is the baby of Wellington telecomms specialist Mauricio Freitas. Article submissions are welcomed. http://www.geekzone.co.nz + Tell the editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) about any sites you'd like to share with hyperLINK's readers ------------------------------ *CSI WEBSITE HAPPENINGS* SEEN ON THE SCENE There's no shortage of paparazzi opportunities at CSI's Friday Tech BBQs, Elevator Cafes, Workshops and other events. Check out the action at the Scene on the Scene page of Canterbury Software's website. You never know who you might spot. http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/seen.htm ------------------------------ *MEANWHILE, AT THE FORUM* The Forum is your online community, where you can: + air your problems and concerns about marketing your software internationally + get rapid and effective suggestions from others like you,who've already done it + raise and discuss subjects of general concern to members Go to http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/forum.htm ------------------------------ CONTACT US ... SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE hyperLINK email options: http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/news.htm Contact the editor, Carol Webb: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ --> via Canterbury Software email forum: Success through Connections Email your messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Searchable list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] Leave or rejoin the list: http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/forum.htm
