GRAND RAPIDS - U.S. Internet advertising surged 38 percent to a record $3.9 billion in the first quarter as marketers moved additional dollars to the Web, according to data released this week. The Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers surveyed leading companies that sell advertising space online, including Yahoo and Google, which are benefiting as consumers
LANSING - With the clock now ticking on the quickened demise of Michigan's controversial single business tax following the submission of some 372,000 petition signatures on Tuesday, legislative leaders began the process of coming up with replacement taxes for all or most of the $1.9 billion the current system produces. Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema
WOBURN, Mass. - Researchers at Kaspersky Lab have spotted what they believe is the first virus for OpenOffice, the open-source rival to Microsoft's Office productivity suite. The virus, dubbed Stardust, is capable of infecting OpenOffice and StarOffice, which is sold by Sun Microsystems, a Kaspersky Lab researcher wrote on the Russian company's Viruslist Web site
AUSTIN, Texas - Dell on Wednesday unveiled a so-called 20-pound luggable computer that's either a blast from the past or a leap into the future. The 20-pound XPS M2010, which starts at $3,500, incorporates a large-screen monitor with a small, flat PC, CNET News.Com reported. The computer, part of Dell's XPS luxury line, includes two
LANSING ? Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm believes there is a window of opportunity after the November election to work out a deal on a replacement to the Single Business Tax, don?t expect any new proposals this week at the Detroit Regional Chambers Mackinac Island conference. The governor does have an economic development plan and the
LANSING - Michigan is moving in the right direction with the creation of the 21st Century Jobs Fund, the CEO and chairman of Coherix told a legislative oversight panel on Thursday, but more programs that attract the investor's eye to the state are needed as Michigan looks to rebuild its economy. Dwight Carlson, who heads
SEATTLE - Don't expect Microsoft to talk much about the Basic edition of Windows Vista when the operating system ships. The software maker wants you to go Premium. Microsoft is readying its marketing efforts for Vista, the successor to Windows XP slated to be broadly available in January, CNET News.Com reported. In its consumer campaigns,
LANSING ? Michigan Treasurer Robert Kleine was subjected to half an hour of questioning by the Senate Government Operations Committee, but with none of the pointed questions that might have been expected from concerns raised when his appointment to the post was first announced. Instead, the committee unanimously supported his appointment with compliments from Senate
SPRING LAKE - MarketNet Services has promoted Jennifer Jurgens to vice president of client services, where she will manage the growth of the client base and expand the team of account executives. She also will be responsible for the overall management of MarketNet?s clients and corporate marketing while contributing to the future direction of the
LANSING - Michigan does collect more sales tax as gasoline prices increase, the Citizens Research Council said in a report released Tuesday, but the group said any gains there are offset by declines in other taxable purchases. Between fiscal year 2001-02 and 2005-04, sales tax on gasoline increased 70 percent to $546.1 million. But over