My calendar

InfoWorld – Mixing together a m??lange of services, software and marketing, IBM’s announcement this week of its Cloud Services Initiative is about putting an organizing construct around all of its cloud offerings, according to one IBM executive.

Reuters – IAC Corp’s Ask.com is overhauling its Web search engine to deliver faster results and improved relevance as it bids to win share from market leader Google Inc.

NewsFactor – IBM is getting in the cloud. After a string of announcements over the past few weeks from Citrix, Red Hat, VMware, Cisco and Hewlett-Packard, Big Blue is launching an initiative to extend its traditional software delivery model toward a mix of on-premise and cloud-computing applications with new software, services and technical resources for clients and independent software vendors (ISVs).

Reuters – A Portuguese online bank unveiled a novel interest rate deal Monday by letting clients bet on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

AP – The Supreme Court refused Monday to disturb a $74 million judgment against Dish Network Corp. for violating a patent held by TiVo Inc. involving digital video recorders.

AP – Business software company SAP AG said Monday that it saw a sudden drop in business at the end of September as global market turmoil escalated. Its shares plunged.

Reuters – Spending on Internet advertising in Britain grew 21 percent in the first half of 2008, propping up the total ad market which fell as cash-strapped companies cut back on marketing, a key report said.

NewsFactor – The Facebook duo is no more. One of Facebook’s two cofounders is leaving the popular social-networking site.

CNET – Microsoft wants SQL Server to scale new heights, and it is hoping an add-on code-named Kilimanjaro will help.

Reuters – Software group SAP has seen business drop off abruptly, which means third-quarter revenue from software and software-related services was now expected to rise only 13-14 percent, it said on Monday.