21.   Ten years ago, four Italian firms competed for premium international work.

22.   The big electronics firm Siemens can compete much better against Motorola and IBM if it is charging lower prices.

23.   The firm will be competing with other companies that provide information on the bond market, including Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg Business News.

24.   The firm is also competing against some well-entrenched companies such as Morton International Inc., whose chemical marker additive for gasoline companies, called Mortrace, is widely used.

25.   This is a well-meaning effort to legislate international morality, but it makes no commercial sense in the global marketplace in which U.S. firms compete.

26.   Though more investment firms compete for those customers, Eaton Vance has its claws on a big chunk of the market.

27.   Today, big European firms compete for capital internationally.

28.   Valley firms compete fiercely for employees.

29.   Yet the funny thing is that, until now, neither firm has really competed head-on against the other, even in databases.

30.   For instance, lawyers provide tax advice, and independent consulting firms like McKinsey compete for consulting assignments.