Continue reading Ancestry.com explores an IPO

Ancestry.com explores an IPO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The latest litigation has Intel Inside.

The State of New York is going after Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) over antitrust allegations. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is accusing the largest chip manufacturer in the world that it is trying to secure a global monopoly for microprocessors.

For several years, Cuomo said that Intel has pushed the likes of Dell (NYSE: DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to agree to the exclusive use of Intel's gear in exchange for billions of dollars in payments. The hefty cash outlays have given what Cuomo called a "stranglehold" on the market.

Continue reading Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust

Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: All I'm asking for is rigor

Cramer on BloggingStocks: All I'm asking for is rigor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) has been working hard to manage its marketplace in a trying economy, its PayPayl business has been growing comfortably and could become the company's biggest earner. For the past two years, eBay has focused on improving the look of its website and helping buyers and sellers to get along in a virtual world built entirely on trust.

In the background, though, the segment of the business that moves money from Point A to Point B has been on fire. Even with payment processing competition from Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), PayPal has been able to do more than hold its own.

Continue reading PayPal on track to lead eBay, opens doors to outside developers for more growth

PayPal on track to lead eBay, opens doors to outside developers for more growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google Apps project has gained steam (and customers) since its introduction a few years ago. Although it's not yet a true competitor to Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office juggernaut, it is making headway.

The "software as a service" camp is doing nothing but speeding up, as small and large businesses would like to offload expensive software installations and just use the Internet as a vehicle for getting things done across boundaries and time zones. Microsoft, though, is not capitulating just yet.

Continue reading Microsoft cuts software as a service prices to match Google Apps

Microsoft cuts software as a service prices to match Google Apps originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading TeleNav IPO: On a collision course with Google?

TeleNav IPO: On a collision course with Google? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google unveils new competitive threat to online real estate listings

Google unveils new competitive threat to online real estate listings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

An article in Barron's suggests that Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is on the verge of regaining some of its former mojo. The company recently offered a solid outlook for the remainder of the year, and it could garner new business after debuting two smartphones featuring Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system -- namely, the Droid and the Cliq.

The author cites analyst Ed Snyder of Charter Equity Research, who believes Motorola is on the cusp of "an extended upswing in handsets ... over the next several quarters." Snyder believes that the firm's ailing handset division could achieve break-even results as soon as the second quarter of 2010.

Continue reading Barron's, Citigroup bet on a comeback for Motorola

Barron's, Citigroup bet on a comeback for Motorola originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) makes it easier to search for websites, e-mail messages, passages from books and videos. Where you haven't heard much about Google's search capabilities -- or Google in general -- is the music business.

But, that's about to change. On Wednesday, the search giant announced that it was partnering with music services such as Pandora, Lala, News Corp's (NASDAQ: NWS) MySpace, and Rhapsody by RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK) to help users find, listen to and ultimately buy music on the web.

Continue reading Google wants eardrums, not just eyeballs

Google wants eardrums, not just eyeballs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK) is profitable again! The online media company that provides music and other entertainment cut its way into the black, getting rid of the costs that were getting in the way. It wasn't much of a profit, only $1.5 million for the third quarter, not even a full cent per share, but it's a hell of a lot better than the $4.5 million loss it sustained in the third quarter of 2008.

Revenue fell 8% last quarter to $140.3 million, just shy of the analyst average of $140.9 million. This trend is likely to continue through the fourth quarter. Music, technology product and game revenues were down. The profit was instead eked out of the supply chain and headcount.

Continue reading RealNetworks cuts to profits, eyes future with Google

RealNetworks cuts to profits, eyes future with Google originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google Voice ruffles AT&T's feathers yet again, along with many telecom operators

Google Voice ruffles AT&T's feathers yet again, along with many telecom operators originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unless you already have a major foothold in the search engine market - or an amazing, disruptive technology that can make the world take notice - there isn't much point in staying. Competing with Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is hard enough, even when you're Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) or Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) ... and, apparently, when you're IAC/InterActive Corp (NASDAQ: IACI). Barry Diller is ready to give up Jeeves, but only if asked nicely.

Diller's presence in the search space is Ask.com, ranked #4 behind Google, Yahoo and Microsoft's Bing. With a substantial gap between first and second, fourth barely registers at all. Ask.com has only a 2% U.S. market share, according to Hitwise, more than 60 percentage points behind the industry leader.

Continue reading Would anybody buy Jeeves? Ask might go on block

Would anybody buy Jeeves? Ask might go on block originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Your e-mail account is a goldmine. Technology companies push hard to keep your data secure, but there are plenty of scumbags out there who always seem to find a new way to gain an edge over the guys in white hats. Phishers, in particular, are eager to find new ways to profit from your identity and information, and they're getting some new tricks.

Phishing scam activity was quiet at the beginning of this year, according to a report in USA Today, but these attacks surged 200% from May through September, says the X-Force team at IBM (NYSE: IBM). Webmail, social media and gaming accounts are their primary targets. E-mail access, in particular, is highly sought after, since they can be use to push out spam ... while bypassing filters.

These "virgin" e-mail accounts command top dollar: a digital criminal can pick up as much as $2 for a clean account from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Live, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Gmail, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) YahooMail or AOL (NYSE: TWX). This is more than twice the amount typically paid for a stolen credit card account, according to Fred Rica, principal in the security practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Many webmail users actually do half the criminals' job for them, with 33% using just one password online and 48% using only a handful.

Continue reading Phishers using new lures

Phishers using new lures originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) issued Q3 data on Monday. According to the press release, the telecommunications entity made, on an adjusted basis, 60 cents per share. Disappointing, since that's six pennies less than last year's comparable number. However, it was a penny ahead of analyst expectations, according to Reuters.

Of course, when discussing Verizon, what tends to receive focus is cash flow. As we all know, the company is a famous dividend play. Many investors consider this angle to be not only valuable, but an added safety element as well.

Continue reading Verizon tops Q3 profit estimate, but it's all about the dividend

Verizon tops Q3 profit estimate, but it's all about the dividend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), China's leading search engine, sold off during Monday's after-hours session after the earnings report for the third quarter was issued. When you're a theoretical growth company like Baidu, missing estimates on the guidance side is never a good thing to do.

Nevertheless, Baidu delivered in Q3 itself. Sales skyrocketed 39%. Net income per share exploded over 40% to the upside, coming in at $2.07 per share on a GAAP basis. Adjusting for items, the company earned $2.16 per share. Earnings.com gives an expectation of $1.81 for per-share profit.

Continue reading Baidu reports third quarter data: Buy stock on pull-back?

Baidu reports third quarter data: Buy stock on pull-back? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Traditional retailers haven't exactly embraced online sales channels. Sure, they all have websites, and they sell varying amounts of merchandise through them, but they've been slow to tap into the potential. When I was watching the space as an analyst at a major consulting firm (admittedly, back in 2007), many retailers equated a website to a new store opening. Finally, however, this industry is starting to see the potential of this venue, particularly when it comes to tracking consumer behavior.

When the CEO of Macy's (NYSE: M), Terry Lundgren, says that online sales are only good for 6% of last year's total sales, it's a hint. The translation: "We focus on where the revenue is" is much different from "We focus on where the revenue could be." Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO), on the other hand, sees the upside of playing in the online space, which is where it saw revenues spike 85% last year. Aeropostale has seen increases in traditional venues too, but nothing like what it's realized on the web.

So, maybe there's something to this internet, after all.

Continue reading Consumers dislike web tracking, but not enough to change behavior

Consumers dislike web tracking, but not enough to change behavior originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Where do you tweet? When? More important, what's normal? Are you some kind of freak?

A recent Gadgetology study by Retrovo.com, a consumer electronics shopping site, seeks to ascertain where the line in the sand is in regards to social media use (and overuse). If you're 35 or younger, regular use of sites such as Twitter and Facebook is common (big shock, right?). It looks to Retrovo like a new addiction may be taking root.

Continue reading Do you tweet after sex?

Do you tweet after sex? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sergey Brin claims that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) didn't try to buy Twitter. The co-founder of the search engine giant made a surprise appearance at Web 2.0 Thursday, where organizer John Battelle asked point blank if he'd made a move for the popular microblogging website.

Of course, Brin revealed his fluency in corporate speak, continuing, "But if companies approach us we definitely consider any opportunities to buy," according to Reuters. A denial doesn't always mean a denial, especially if there were agreements to keep negotiations confidential.

Continue reading Did Google try to buy Twitter?

Did Google try to buy Twitter? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Believe it, because it's true. Net sales may have declined 14%, and diluted earnings per share, which came in at 40 cents, may have also dipped 17%, but it didn't matter. According to Reuters, the bottom line beat the estimate of 32 cents by a wide margin. Also, it was reported that the top line went beyond the expected number. This was probably even more important than the profit performance. In addition, cash from operations experienced a super boost.

Continue reading Microsoft breaks out on Q1 release

Microsoft breaks out on Q1 release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's tough to take on Google (NASDAQ: GOOG). The search engine behemoth owns 65% of the U.S. search market and has a commanding brand presence. Yet, the software maker up the coast isn't known to give up easily. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has cut a deal with microblogging site Twitter that should give it an edge in the battle to harness data and make it easier to find. A new deal will feed all those tweets into Bing, the Microsoft search engine.

Twitter is giving Microsoft full access to its data, in a deal announced Wednesday. Bing will provide search functionality for Twitter that you won't find in Google, which seems to have been outbid for the rights to the "tweet-stream." Under the deal, Bing will be able to index and display the tweets almost immediately as they are posted.

Continue reading Microsoft now in bed with Twitter

Microsoft now in bed with Twitter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.