The French Government is switching to Linux, OpenOffice, and Firefox.  Apparently the number of computers is just over 1,000, but this is significant nonetheless.  À compter de la prochaine législature (juin 2007), les 1.154 postes informatiques des parlementaires n’intégreront plus Windows mais un OS Linux, ainsi que la suite bureautique OpenOffice, le navigateur Firefox et un client de messagerie libre. Source: Linux s’installe dans les PC des députés – Entreprise – ZDNet.fr Now I am not the one to back the French, and I have questioned their judgement before, like their attempt to build a search engine alternative to Google called … Continue reading Linux s’installe dans les PC des députés – Entreprise – ZDNet.fr

 I must be feeling really cynical today – perhaps its just those two books I just read … but this press release is a classic spider response to a starfish problem.  Absolutely Banks have a problem of legacy systems and inadequate response from web services and CRM to solve that.  But encapsulating the problem in a press release and linking yourself with a few partners is not an adequate answer.  Haislip: The Factory will provide architecture guidance, best practices and other information to help banks create a uniform environment for cross-channel integration. The goal is to provide better experiences for employees … Continue reading A classic Spider response to a Starfish problem: Microsoft’s aims to help banks integrate across channels

It has been fascinating to study this book at the same time as “Banker to the Poor”.  The insights are profound, and explain many seemingly inexplicable things such as: why eBay paid $2.4 billion for Skype why Google is leading the internet charge with nor apparent business model, beyond advertising why ING is blowing the doors off banking around the world why the US is incapable of beating Al quada (dangerous ground here!) why Microsoft, despite best efforts, cannot quite seem to “get it” why Toyota is #1, and why GM is going/ as gone down the tubes why music … Continue reading Book review: "The Starfish & the Spider" – Brafman/ Beckstorm

To the regular readers of this blog, I would be interested in the answer to a simple survey question: Describe the market for social lending? I will be most grateful for all contributions using the comments below, and any perspective is welcome.  I will summarise the results in a future post. Technorati tags: social+networks, social+lending Continue reading Describe the market for social lending?

I apologise in advance for images not displaying consistently on my blog. I have been going through the forums, trying to sort this out. Colin Continue reading Images problem on my blog

I have just reviewed the deck Steve presented at BAI, and it raises some good points. Consumer lending has become so commoditised, that market share is being left on the table by the Banks and the loan “channel” has essentially been given up to third parties and new entrants. Nov 13-16 – BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo, Las Vegas Steve Williams, “Consumer Lending: It’s Not Just a Transaction Anymore” Source: Cornerstone Advisors Steve makes the point, that the very commoditisation which has occurred has created an enormous pent up demand for better advice and service in the lending arena … Continue reading Cornerstone Advisors | Consumer Lending: Its not Just a Transaction Anymore