Australia-based Reckon—battling in the low-cost software market in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom—reported a 33.9-percent drop in earnings on a 6.4-percent rise in revenue for the half ended June 30. Reckon, the former QuickBooks distributor in Australia, competes with MYOB and Xero in Australia and New Zealand and in May introduced its Reckon One in the U.K., where it battles against Xero and Sage.

Intuit is stepping up its message that its QuickBooks and professional tax software operations are part of the same system. In this week's earnings webcast for the year ended July 31, CEO Brad Smith emphasized the company's decision to forego regular price increase for its Lacerte, ProSeries and ProConnect Tax Online products in favor of building the prices into the accounting software lines.

Paige Erickson, who become VP of partner strategy and programs in October, is leaving Sage. Her move was announced internally by Nancy Harris, EVP of sales and partner programs. Harris will handle Erickson's duties until a successor is found. Her departure will be on September 2.