No one really needs to be told the mobile and Internet-based technologies are hot. But Intuit's report of its financial results for the second quarter ended January 31 provides measurements of how fast the switch to these platforms is occurring. And in last week's earnings webcast, CEO Intuit Brad Smith spit out a string of double-digit increases in metrics in many of the company's lines of business that reflect the trend.

The number of tax returns filed for the tax season to date still lags last year. But with the Internal Revenue Service now accepting filings, the totals are rapidly catching up with the numbers of the 2012 tax season, according to Intuit CEO Brad Smith. While the impact of the late Congressional budget action and resulting delays have been greater in January than Intuit expected, Smith said, "Our results give us confidence we are on track."

Without spelling out what it means for its CCH operations, Wolters Kluwer has said it is starting a new brand strategy. The Dutch company, parent to CCH, late last week issued a statement it would have a single, worldwide brand. However, the company has been moving toward more visibility of the WK name with the CCH website offering a login to CCH for tax and accounting customers, but to Wolters Kluwer Law & Business for the other major segment of operations.