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publicized its objections to open source software, citing its apparent disregard of intellectual property rights and licensing, as well as the business industry's reliance on tradi- tional models for commercial soft- ware. The company is advocating what it calls a "shared-source philos- ophy," in which it makes its source code available to its customers but protects its rights to that code. While the debate between College of Business, for example, partnered with IBM last August to become a national technology hub for U.S. universities. Not only will all students have access to their own Linux server, but they also will be able to "simulate all information technology functions that currently exist in business today," according to an IBM press release. For its part, Microsoft Corp. has open source's biggest player, Linux still is running second in distribution of server software—27 percent to Microsoft's 42 percent, according to one study. But its low startup costs are winning many over in business and higher education. Colorado State University's India Offers the World IT Services A new industry in India is offering job opportunities to its young gradu- ates—and valued IT services to com- panies outside its borders. According to a story from Reuters, Indian com- panies are becoming the "back- offices" for companies around the world. Called "e-enabled services," tele- industry. The National Association of Software and Services Companies predicts revenues to increase from 40 billion rupees in 2000 to 810 billion rupees in 2008. By 2008, it predicts the workforce in this industry to increase from 68,000 now to 1.1 million. Business Law Hits 'Cybercourt' With companies such as American Express and British Airways setting up shop with such Indian "call cen- ters," the country is at the beginning of a boom in the e-enabled services prises are using Linux in their IT infrastructures, which has a direct relationship to business school cur- ricula," she says. "Giving students experience with these applications is important, so that they will be able to go into business and immediately contribute." Microsoft and open source advocates continues, however, market watchers will be keeping their eyes on open source companies' efforts to capture a greater market share. Open source promises to have significant impact on businesses in the future, empha- sizes Harnett. "More and more business enter- More Women Buying Online For the first time, more women than men are shopping on - line, according to a study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. In the past, most Internet users were male. However, that trend is reversing. Between November 22 and December 25 last year, 58 percent of online buyers were women. As online shopping becomes more streamlined, the study concludes, more women and men are finding it a more convenient, pleasant experience. marketing, accounting, payroll, and other functions are increasingly being given to off-site vendors. Although vendors in other countries have offered these services in the past, India is becoming a prime supplier because of its "cheaper, English- speaking, and IT-savvy workforce," Reuters reports. This is no small phenomenon. Following the lead of other courts in the United States, the state ofMichigan is developing a business "cybercourt" system, which integrates into its process technologies such as video conferencing, wireless communica- tion, and electronic recordkeeping to expedite lawsuits between companies, Computerworld reports. State offi- cials estimate that its cybercourt will be up and running by October. In courts where the D ATA B I T technology is already in use, such as in Greensboro, North Carolina, judges hear testimony from wit- nesses and lawyers in different locations via videoconferencing, while the electronic filing of documents further streamlines the process. At present, there are no juries in busi- ness cybercourt. At $25,000 to $50,000, business In the U.S., investment in IT has gone from an 11 percent growth rate in the period between 1987 and 1995, to a 20.2 percent growth rate in the period between 1995 and 2000. Growth in worker produc- tivity during the same time periods also has shifted, from 1.4 percent to 2.5 percent, respectively. cybercourts can be cost-prohibitive to start, North Carolina's Superior Court Judge Ben Tennille told Computerworld. But it's definitely the direction that courts are headed. Once it's up and running, he says, "it's more efficient, and it's simply more economical."■ z BizEd MARCH/APRIL 2002 57