I used to think we should watch how vendors treat the customers they have on their proprietary systems, because they would treat everyone that way if they could get away with it. That was in the bad ...

Merchant-service providers with proprietary software or hardware systems, such as integrated point-of-sale systems or Apple Inc. iPhone applications, typically achieve higher client-retention rates ...

Though developing proprietary systems can help a merchant-service provider increase revenue and retain clients, it also can create sales and marketing challenges, observers say. "When developing ...

In the past couple of years I have had many opportunities to work with building owners and property managers on their HVAC systems. One subject that comes up frequently is dissatisfaction with the ...

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.—The debate over open systems versus proprietary systems is usually not a debate in the physical security industry. Open systems are generally thought of as better. Integrators want ...

In my recent article Integrating Traditional and Modular Instruments, I drew a contrast between traditional box instruments and open modular platforms, such as PXI, VXI, or AXIe. I briefly mentioned a ...