IBM, And The Private Cloud, Will Get Here [View article]
I believe that IBM is way ahead of its competition with respect to looking at complete solutions including hardware, software, data management, analytics, historical analyzable data and self-learning technologies. IBM solutions are complex undertakings which the Company has been developing for years. The data IBM has is unique and impossible to match because the Company has been collecting it for a long time. If you read these analysts reports you see that each one addresses only a small slice of the total IBM pie -- how can you judge the Company when you are only capable of seeing and understanding a slice that is intertwined with all the other pieces? You can't IMO.
Nokia To Produce Solar Powered Lumia? [View article]
If they could patent this solar technology and hold off the competition that would be huge but not as huge as embracing Android as soon as they legally can. It's taking longer, with more ups and downs than I expected but I believe NOK will become a profitable #3. And yes, NOK / MS need a couple of killer apps NOW!
IBM roundup: 1) Following solid 2012 growth and an M&A binge, IBM expects to generate $20B in analytics/big data revenue in 2015, up from a prior forecast of $16B, says CEO Ginni Rometty. 2) Rometty also talks up IBM's emerging markets efforts: Big Blue is on track to double Chinese sales from 2010-2015, and grew its South American client base by 22% last year. 3) An NYT column looks at IBM's efforts to expand Watson's uses. Potential applications include drug development, predicting machine maintenance, and inventing recipes. IBM recently added Watson to a server line that starts at ~$6K. [View news story]
The IBM strategy to be the dominant player in the data, analytics and consulting business will boost margins and protect it from competitors. Once IBM accumulates the data, they have an automatic advantage over competitors because the more data one has the more accurate the analytics. By focusing on the hardware to store the data, IBM will have a total solution that is unique and extremely valuable. IBM is now selling ADDED VALUE INTELLIGENCE and no one is close to offering what they have -- NO ONE. With its movement into mobile computing, everyone will be a potential customer for its ADDED VALUE INTELLIGENCE services. In 5 years, IBM will be back on top in terms of most valued company on the planet and in 15 years it will be part of the fabric of our worldwide socio-economic system.
Clearwire (CLWR) has received an unsolicited $3.30/share buyout offer from Dish Network (DISH). That easily trumps Sprint's (S) $2.97/share offer. The proposal requires Clearwire sell Dish 24% of its spectrum for $2.2B and use the proceeds to pay down debt, as well as (with extra financing) agree to build a 4G network for Dish. Sprint has responded to the proposal by calling it "not viable ... in light of Clearwire's current legal and contractual obligations." Clearwire's board will "engage with Dish;" shares are halted. Sprint -2.5% AH. Dish -2%. [View news story]
I see a partnership between Sprint (with Clearwire) and Dish coming out of this and not a Dish acquisition. The AH drop in Dish is some measure of the viability of this offer.
Even as many fret about mobile monetization, eMarketer is hiking its 2012 U.S. mobile ad sales forecast to $3.84B from a prior $2.61B. Also, its 2013 and 2014 forecasts now stand at $6.97B and $10.94B. That could be lifting Millennial Media (MM +5.7%), whose 2013 and 2014 estimates are now at $138M and $199M, and Pandora (P +4.3%), which is at $347M and $496M. Market leader Google's (GOOG) U.S. sales are now expected to total $2.17B in 2012, $3.98B in 2013, and $6.33B in 2014. For Facebook (FB), the numbers are $339M, $851M, and $1.22B. (previous) [View news story]
Velti is under-played and under-valued. It's experience and patent portfolio puts it in a very competitive position. Recent actions showed management's commitment to increasing revenues, profit margins and share value.
Nokia To Issue Convertible Bonds - Does It Matter? [View article]
Elop is doing a lot of the right things - firing the marketing person in charge of the 920 launch was a good thing; delaying the pricing on the 920 was smart; convertibles to finance the turnaround also smart - and MSFT, as evidenced by the huge subsidies they are making wants very much for Nokia to win because of its global reach and reputation for excellent products over a wide spectrum of prices. T and Z will also benefit in their negotiations with APPL and Samsung if Nokia is a player; and they are doing their part as well. I am long and content to hold; I believe the stock 'can' quadruple in the next 18 months. And that's worth the risk.
Bernstein suggests the terms of Sprint's (S +0.1%) complex deal with SoftBank leave shares undervalued at current levels: the firms points out that if the newly capitalized Sprint is worth $6/share, current shares are worth $6.72 (~$1 above present levels) after accounting for the 55% of current shares that will be sold for $7.30, and the 45% that will be converted. SA's Ted Barac also sees a buying opportunity, particularly since the deal will strengthen Sprint's balance sheet while reducing its float. (more) [View news story]
I don't know either, maybe the brokers will serve as middle men who will ask us if we would like to sell or hold on a first serve basis. Brokers normally handle all tender offers. Good question!
Bernstein suggests the terms of Sprint's (S +0.1%) complex deal with SoftBank leave shares undervalued at current levels: the firms points out that if the newly capitalized Sprint is worth $6/share, current shares are worth $6.72 (~$1 above present levels) after accounting for the 55% of current shares that will be sold for $7.30, and the 45% that will be converted. SA's Ted Barac also sees a buying opportunity, particularly since the deal will strengthen Sprint's balance sheet while reducing its float. (more) [View news story]
I bought more yesterday for these reasons: 1) the phone suppliers want more competition to protect themselves from the two Goliaths; like the oil and insurance companies, T and VZ go easy on each other because they both have to stay in parity less there be a charge of monopolizing. 2) More rapid LTE roll out will accelerate S revenue growth as well as a more diverse product line will lead to profitability and sustain it; 3) less debt will reduce investor risk increasing profits and share value as will the reduction in float; 4) Son has a very solid reputation for reading markets and opportunities. I think $10 to $12 by July 1, 2013 is a decent bet.
IBM Earnings Preview: Old Tech Giant Should Report Decent Quarter [View article]
Like your thoughts on the IBM analytics / services strategy whereby they have created a uniquely powerful set of analytics that enable its professional services arm to offer high-value, high-margin recommendations for improving efficiency, revenues and margins in both the private and public sectors. It is my belief, and I may be stretching it, but IBM is positioning itself to be the 800# gorilla when it comes to hard dollar, bottom-line performance improvement amassing an unparalleled amount of data and growing significantly daily. They now have 80% of the world's medical data on Watson and THAT has got to represent a huge competitive advantage. Your thoughts please.
"I would like to have done better," says Nokia (NOK +0.2%) CEO Stephen Elop regarding the company's early Windows Phone (MSFT) sales: he thinks WP 7.5 didn't give Nokia enough room to stand out, and believes its marketing needed to be more effective. But Elop won't second-guess his decision to back WP instead of Android, a move that's increasingly questioned as Nokia's total smartphone sales plunge. He also claims to have "no indications" Microsoft is working on a smartphone, in spite of rumors. (HQ sale) (also) [View news story]
You may be right but let's see what happens after the phones start shipping and the retail salespeople and consumers get their say. Nokia, like Samsung, and unlike Apple, is not a one-trick pony. They have a stable of high quality products aimed at a diverse global market -- not just the high end US market. It's a big world and the Nokia offensive is still in the staging period.
32% of respondents to ChangeWave's September North American survey said they're "very likely" (19%) or "somewhat likely" (13%) to buy the iPhone 5 (AAPL) - that's up from the 21.5% who showed interest in the iPhone 4S in an Oct. '11 survey. Meanwhile, just 2% said they're "very likely" to buy a Windows Phone 8 device, while another 7% said they're "somewhat likely." The iPhone has been gaining share against Android in the relatively saturated U.S. even as the opposite holds for some other markets. [View news story]
Survey is meaningless until the Nokia ads start running and their phones get in the hands of the retailers and consumers. Reliability, durability, cameras, ease of use and speed are all important and Nokia will do well versus the iPhone -- very well. Plus Nokia has a spectrum of phones suited for the diverse global market and their overall volumes will lower their cost and make their phones more price attractive ala Samsung. Nokia will beat Samsung in all the above areas.
Nokia's Lumia 920 AT&T Exclusivity Is A Huge Mistake [View article]
The only thing I can come up with is that AT&T committed to a significantly higher subsidy and will have an exclusive as long as they meet specified volumes. Nokia needs the cash protection and AT&T probably wants Lumia to succeed so they can pressure Apple for lower iPhone subsidies. If AT&T doesn't meet its Lumia volume commitments to Nokia, expect to see Verizon and Sprint in the Lumia 920 / 820 distribution channels -- and we probably see that sooner rather than later..
"I would like to have done better," says Nokia (NOK +0.2%) CEO Stephen Elop regarding the company's early Windows Phone (MSFT) sales: he thinks WP 7.5 didn't give Nokia enough room to stand out, and believes its marketing needed to be more effective. But Elop won't second-guess his decision to back WP instead of Android, a move that's increasingly questioned as Nokia's total smartphone sales plunge. He also claims to have "no indications" Microsoft is working on a smartphone, in spite of rumors. (HQ sale) (also) [View news story]
I made a risky bet on Nokia for these reasons: 1) MSFT needs them to be successful and will be going the extra mile to make it happen; 2) they are focused on a variety of products for the GLOBAL market with a host of different price points; 3) they have spent a LOT of money on research and have a stable of valuable patents and the new products are great; 4) Windows 8 development has a high ROI since the apps are the same across the phone, tablet and PC devices; 5) the really important apps will be there -- the ones that have to be there for success; 6) AT&T, Verizon and the other providers would like to have at least 3 major suppliers to protect themselves by being kept hostage - they want Samsung to have competition so they will also go the extra mile; 7) announcing before the iPhone 5 without pricing was smart -- it made iPhone the me-too product and allowed them to come in under the iPhone pricing without giving away the store; 8) and lastly, their focus on cheaper handsets in India and China will pay big dividends -- IF -- their marketing is effective and broad. Nokia doesn't need to be Apple, it needs to be competitive with Samsung on a global basis and the stock will double, maybe triple, in the next year. I am hopefully confident!
IBM, And The Private Cloud, Will Get Here [View article]
Nokia To Produce Solar Powered Lumia? [View article]
IBM roundup: 1) Following solid 2012 growth and an M&A binge, IBM expects to generate $20B in analytics/big data revenue in 2015, up from a prior forecast of $16B, says CEO Ginni Rometty. 2) Rometty also talks up IBM's emerging markets efforts: Big Blue is on track to double Chinese sales from 2010-2015, and grew its South American client base by 22% last year. 3) An NYT column looks at IBM's efforts to expand Watson's uses. Potential applications include drug development, predicting machine maintenance, and inventing recipes. IBM recently added Watson to a server line that starts at ~$6K. [View news story]
Clearwire (CLWR) has received an unsolicited $3.30/share buyout offer from Dish Network (DISH). That easily trumps Sprint's (S) $2.97/share offer. The proposal requires Clearwire sell Dish 24% of its spectrum for $2.2B and use the proceeds to pay down debt, as well as (with extra financing) agree to build a 4G network for Dish. Sprint has responded to the proposal by calling it "not viable ... in light of Clearwire's current legal and contractual obligations." Clearwire's board will "engage with Dish;" shares are halted. Sprint -2.5% AH. Dish -2%. [View news story]
Even as many fret about mobile monetization, eMarketer is hiking its 2012 U.S. mobile ad sales forecast to $3.84B from a prior $2.61B. Also, its 2013 and 2014 forecasts now stand at $6.97B and $10.94B. That could be lifting Millennial Media (MM +5.7%), whose 2013 and 2014 estimates are now at $138M and $199M, and Pandora (P +4.3%), which is at $347M and $496M. Market leader Google's (GOOG) U.S. sales are now expected to total $2.17B in 2012, $3.98B in 2013, and $6.33B in 2014. For Facebook (FB), the numbers are $339M, $851M, and $1.22B. (previous) [View news story]
Nokia To Issue Convertible Bonds - Does It Matter? [View article]
Bernstein suggests the terms of Sprint's (S +0.1%) complex deal with SoftBank leave shares undervalued at current levels: the firms points out that if the newly capitalized Sprint is worth $6/share, current shares are worth $6.72 (~$1 above present levels) after accounting for the 55% of current shares that will be sold for $7.30, and the 45% that will be converted. SA's Ted Barac also sees a buying opportunity, particularly since the deal will strengthen Sprint's balance sheet while reducing its float. (more) [View news story]
Bernstein suggests the terms of Sprint's (S +0.1%) complex deal with SoftBank leave shares undervalued at current levels: the firms points out that if the newly capitalized Sprint is worth $6/share, current shares are worth $6.72 (~$1 above present levels) after accounting for the 55% of current shares that will be sold for $7.30, and the 45% that will be converted. SA's Ted Barac also sees a buying opportunity, particularly since the deal will strengthen Sprint's balance sheet while reducing its float. (more) [View news story]
IBM Earnings Preview: Old Tech Giant Should Report Decent Quarter [View article]
"I would like to have done better," says Nokia (NOK +0.2%) CEO Stephen Elop regarding the company's early Windows Phone (MSFT) sales: he thinks WP 7.5 didn't give Nokia enough room to stand out, and believes its marketing needed to be more effective. But Elop won't second-guess his decision to back WP instead of Android, a move that's increasingly questioned as Nokia's total smartphone sales plunge. He also claims to have "no indications" Microsoft is working on a smartphone, in spite of rumors. (HQ sale) (also) [View news story]
32% of respondents to ChangeWave's September North American survey said they're "very likely" (19%) or "somewhat likely" (13%) to buy the iPhone 5 (AAPL) - that's up from the 21.5% who showed interest in the iPhone 4S in an Oct. '11 survey. Meanwhile, just 2% said they're "very likely" to buy a Windows Phone 8 device, while another 7% said they're "somewhat likely." The iPhone has been gaining share against Android in the relatively saturated U.S. even as the opposite holds for some other markets. [View news story]
Nokia's Lumia 920 AT&T Exclusivity Is A Huge Mistake [View article]
Nokia's Lumia 920 AT&T Exclusivity Is A Huge Mistake [View article]
"I would like to have done better," says Nokia (NOK +0.2%) CEO Stephen Elop regarding the company's early Windows Phone (MSFT) sales: he thinks WP 7.5 didn't give Nokia enough room to stand out, and believes its marketing needed to be more effective. But Elop won't second-guess his decision to back WP instead of Android, a move that's increasingly questioned as Nokia's total smartphone sales plunge. He also claims to have "no indications" Microsoft is working on a smartphone, in spite of rumors. (HQ sale) (also) [View news story]
Nokia Could Soon Become A Synonym For Bear [View article]