Business tech bytes for Nov. 13, 2012

AT&T is offering small business customers the ability to use Microsoft Office 365, which features cloud-based services that allow access to office software via smartphones and tablets. According to the 2012 AT&T Small Business Tech Poll, half of small businesses expect to have all their employees using wireless technology to work remotely by the end of this year. Microsoft Office 365 features cloud-based tools designed to enhance productivity at a predictable monthly cost while providing security and access to the common business tools such as email and calendar sharing with Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other popular Microsoft Office productivity tools.

Analytics program gets upgrade

TULSA — Armada Consulting has released Acumen 2.0, an upgrade to its popular Acumen cost analytics software. The upgrade is designed to deliver improved performance management by rapidly delivering strategic cost management to the Tulsa company's clients. The software aims to deliver an improved user interface that allows users to model costs in less time. The software also includes an improved calculation engine that can process cost fact data up to 10 times faster than previous versions. “Costs should be the most controllable part of the profit equation,” Armada CEO Scott Wise said. “Using Acumen 2.0, our clients can accelerate their strategic cost management initiatives and respond quickly to changes in the economic environment to optimize profitability.”