InternetBusinesses Fail To Harness Full Potential Of Online Communities (TechWeb)

TechWeb - InformationWeek - The Deloitte survey found that businesses use online communities to generate ideas, discover products, and discuss brands, but many fail to draw a critical mass.

Businesses have begun to effectively use social media tools and online communities to promote interaction with customers and between employees, but they haven't realized the full potential of online communities, according to recent research. A Deloitte survey of companies sponsoring online communities found they use them to generate ideas, discover products, and discuss brands, but many fail to draw a critical mass. Deloitte's "2008 Tribalization of Business Survey," found that most communities have less than 500 active members. Half the respondents said their biggest obstacle is to get people engaged. More than 140 companies that maintain online communities responded to the survey, conducted with help from Beeline Labs and the Society for New Communications Research. Respondents include leading computer manufacturers, software, insurance, online auction, media companies, hotel chains, and start-ups. Their communities range in size up to 10,000 members. The survey found that 35% of enterprises supporting online communities have increase word-of-mouth for their brands and 28% have seen an increase in brand awareness. Twenty-four percent of the respondents said online communities help increase customer loyalty and bring new outside ideas in. Sixty percent of respondents said their online communities are open to public feedback. "Communities can extend the edge of the corporation... [ Read more on www.yahoo.com ]

InternetDell Upgrades Linux PCs To Ubuntu's Hardy Heron (TechWeb)

TechWeb - InformationWeek - The computer maker has launched two notebooks and a desktop with Hardy Heron, the version of Ubuntu Linux that was released in April.

InternetYahoo Could Nix AOL Plan, Gets Help Against Icahn

The Web portal may be able to turn to a deal with News Corp. to avoid a bidding war against Microsoft.