Helped by rising software sales, Informix, the fifth-ranked database software maker, posted a quarterly profit ahead of Wall Street estimates.
The rise of software that is so tied to the basic communications functions delivered by the Internet has resulted in some peculiar changes in the technology landscape.
This is evidenced by the rise in software cost for U.S. defense programs from $5 billion to $35 billion between 1985 and 1995.
But, as Firefox shows, that could change.The second trend confronting Microsoft comes from online applications and the rise of software as a service.
SAP's results were a stark contrast with last month's showing by Oracle, which reported a 7 percent rise in software revenues and a 10 percent drop in hardware revenues.
The rise of software based on open, internet-based standards means worries about lock-in have become much less of a problem.Clouding the pictureBut now there is the danger of a new form of lock-in.
But it's not just physical machines that are on the rise - software "bots" are also reshaping the workplace.
Whining about the technical "depth" of social sounds like hardware eng complaining about rise of software in 80s.
Bug Busters Rise Security software makers Symantec symc, Network Associates neta, McAfee mcsf and Computer Associates ca rose 4.38%, 25.84% and 2.13% respectively as the "I LOVE YOU" virus wrecked havoc around the world, causing an estimated $1 billion in damages.
