Mobile Apps to Synchronize Small Business

Small businesses that are wrestling with the double whammy of higher input costs and softening demand seem to be finally letting go of their dread for mastering new riffs on mobile software. Steve Jobs has been repeatedly quoted saying AppleAAPL generated $30 million in sales the first month for the so-called App Store that sells downloadable software for the uber-chic iPhone. And cell-phone operators from VerizonVZ to T-Mobile to Sprint NextelS are answering by pushing business applications for mobile platforms with fresh vigor. I am finding, though, that the most interesting end of the mobile app market is the product lineup from smaller start-ups, which are creating easy-to-use mobile apps that are perfect for small businesses. Most of these are simple to install and sometimes free and can be used to quickly boost productivity and save a couple gallons of pricey diesel fuel.

Utah business under fire for questionable iPod service

After dozens of complaints the Utah Better Business Bureau down loaded a warning against Pleasant Grove based ikaput.com.“My iPod broke, it started freezing up all the time and not working," said Reshohnah Salazar. She did not buy the extended warranty so she could buy a new iPod for about the cost of having her old one repaired. But then a Google search brought her to an iPod repair company called ikaput.com. "The post office confirmed with me that it was delivered."But after a few weeks of watching the mail Salazar called to find out what happed to her iPod and the hundred bucks she sent them. "They told me, we don't have your iPod."Unfortunately, Salazar is not alone. The Utah Better Business Bureau has received more than 80 complaints about ikaput.com in the past year from iRate iPod owners in 32 states and Puerto Rico.

Lumera gets NASDAQ warning Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

Lumera Corp. said it’s received a letter from the NASDAQ stock exchange, warning that the company is in danger of being delisted because its shares don’t meet the exchange’s minimum bid price of $1.

The exchange is giving the Bothell company until Feb. 10, 2009, to regain compliance. But Lumera (NASDAQ: LMRA), which in March said it will merge with GigOptix LLC of Palo Alto, Calif., said it expects the merger will be completed before the end of the compliance period.

Lumera’s shares haven’t traded above $1 per share since late June.

Lumera makes electro-optic polymer modulators used in defense satellite and radar applications. The headquarters of the combined company will be located in California.

Business leaders: Make renewable energy cheaper

"Far worse, they're distractions from the deadly serious business of creating a new national energy policy."

General Electric chief executive Jeff Immelt did not attend, but said in a video presentation that the government and the business community need to move forward.

"The technology exists, the time is now," he said. "We need a call to action — not a call to go to another conference."

Former President Bill Clinton laid out a 10-point plan Monday that included expanded research for carbon dioxide storage and accelerating a shift toward plug-in hybrid electric cars.

Texas oil baron T. Boone Pickens also presented his plan to develop wind energy to generate 20 percent of the nation's electricity, then use natural gas to power cars until hydrogen or plug-in electric cars become widely available.

Business Customers Give Cox, Qwest High Marks: Survey

Cox is the top provider to small and mid-sized businesses (defined as companies with two to 499 employees) and Qwest was the top provider for large enterprise businesses (those with 500 or more employees). In each category, Verizon was a close second, according to the ranking firm.

Each provider in the study, the 2008 Major Provider Business Telecommunications study, was judged on six criteria: performance and reliability; sales representatives and executives; billing; cost of services; offerings and promotions and customer services. The table ranked providers of cable modem, digital-subscriber line, T1, T3/DS3, Ethernet and frame relay services.

Cox scored high in five of six of the attributes (offerings and promotions was the lower-scoring category). Qwest also was a top scorer in five of six categories, including the top-ranked company for customer service.