Internet Explorer 6 will simply not die

Looking at the web browser usage statistics reported by Coremetrics across our retailers Internet Explorer 6 usage (16%) is greater than that of FireFox 3 usage (15%). In fact Internet Explorer 6 usage is greater than that of, Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer 8 combined.

According to Wikipedia, Internet Explorer 6 was launched on 27th August 2001. The technology is nearly 8 years old! Why people do not upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer or install another web browser I will never understand. Modern web browsers provide a far superior experience and are much safer.

Web developers everywhere wish that Internet Explorer 6 would just die so they no longer have to develop ugly hacks.

eCommera wins second retailer outside of the UK

We have just won a deal to power the ecommerce website for a Norwegian retailer. We now have retailers in four countries.

Samsung NC10 died

A few weeks ago my Samsung NC10 died. I called the support line and they arranged for UPS to pick it up. Three days later it was returned with a new motherboard. All seems to be well so far.

eCommera CoreCommerce now supports SMS’s

I have recently signed an agreement, on behalf of eCommera, with mBlox in order to offer our retailers the ability to send SMS’s to their customers. Mblox is the world’s largest mobile transaction network.

Sending SMS’s to customers can improve the customer experience whilst reducing costs, e.g. WISMO (Where IS My Order) calls.

New Knowledge Base and Collaboration System

We have just launched a new knowledge base and collaboration system.

Phase 1 launched on 20th April introduces the new Knowledge Base. Users are able to sign up to be notified when changes are made to articles or even when changes are made to particular areas.

Phase 2 (to be launched within weeks of Phase 1) will introduce the new document management / collaboration system. This will allow eCommera and its retailers to collaborate even more effectively. Because the system is based on a Wiki (Atlassian Confluence) anybody with the appropriate permissions is able to view and/or edit documents albeit maintaining a fully history of changes.

The new system is closely linked with the eCommera Incident Management System (Atlassian JIRA).

Bazaarvoice

The eCommera CoreCommerce platform now integrates with Bazaarvoice. Our first retailer to go live with Bazaarvoice did so late last year. Shoppers are now able to sort by Rating, read reviews and submit reviews. Reviews have been proven to increase conversion and reduce returns.

Samsung NC10 Netbook

On New Years Day my father in-law asked me if I would help him buy a new PC. So off we went to PC World because he needed it there and then and setup before I left. We ended up buying him a Packard Bell PC. Good value for money although the graphics performance would not impress gamers.

Whilst at PC World waiting for the assistant to collect the PC from their store room I started looking at the Netbooks. I had been thinking about buying one for some time because I travel on business quite a bit but had a nagging doubt in the back of my mind whether they would be fast enough or whether I would have to toss it in the bin (garbage) after a couple of uses. Anyhow the assistant was gone long enough that I convinced myself that at £320 if it was worth a try. I bought a Samsung NC10 because it had a larger screen (10.2”) and keyboard then any of the other Netbooks that they had in stock. The Samsung NC10 is well equipped with, Windows XP Home (shame it wasn’t Windows XP Pro), 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Wireless, Bluetooth, 3 x USB sockets, external VGA, built-in webcam, built-in microphone, headphone socket and microphone socket and SD slot.

Whilst setting up my father in-laws new Packard Bell PC (and all-in-one Epsom printer) which mostly included removing all the rubbish that came pre-installed (McAfee, Google Desktop, Google Toolbar, BT internet, etc), I setup the Netbook. To my surprise there was very little rubbish installed and I was very impressed with the performance of the device. I contemplated installing OpenOffice and an Open Source email client as I was concerned performance might be an issue if I installed Office 2007 due to the 1GB of RAM installed in the Samsung NC10. However after spending some time looking at various Open Source email clients and considering the nightmare that would be migrating my data and keeping my main machine and my Netbook in synch for emails, calendar and contacts, I decided to take the risk and install Microsoft Office 2007. I need not have worried. Microsoft Office 2007 runs perfectly well on the Netbook.

I have been using the Netbook everyday for a couple of weeks now and I have just come back from a week long business trip and didn’t miss my main machine at all. I will still carry on using my main machine when I am in the office however I now exclusively use my Netbook whenever I am travelling to and from work and when I am travelling on business. The battery life on the Samsung NC10 is fantastic and it hibernates and resumes very quickly. It’s a great little machine.

Google Terminates Offices and Services

Even the mighty Google doesn’t appear to be recession proof. On the 15th Jan Google announced it was letting employees go, closing offices and terminating six services.

The 10Ps of ecommerce

Michael Ross cofounder of eCommera has setup a blog for his 10P’s ecommerce framework.

eCommera wins first retailer outside of the UK

We have just won a deal to power the ecommerce website for a European retailer.