What part of last night's upbeat news from the software sector doesn't compute?
Siebel Systems
Like a soft-drink vending machine in a barren desert, the forgotten enterprise software sector is offering up a refreshing treat after two years of nothing but trouble. Once the economy began to go soft, software upgrades went out the window. Penny-pinching corporations held back on new purchases, the butter on the bread of the computer software industry. Software proved to be a hard sell, despite arguments by companies like Oracle that implementing their business solutions would save more money down the road.
That's why last night's roundup had to bring a smile to your face as you dropped your coins in the soda machine for a cool bottle of...
Pfffft! Sand!
Yes, there are no sodas in the desert. It's a mirage. Sure, Siebel cleared the bar, but its software sales still came in 37% lower than last year's showing. While Computer Associates managed to fare better than last year, it's also unscrewing the hydrant to hose down its current-quarter projections. And Oracle's struggling to sell its application software suites.
So just like Microsoft's