More SaaS: Concur, Taleo, RightNow

Concur, the expense management software maker, released its earnings for the second quarter of 2008. Subscription revenue growth was the main driving force behind their robust earnings. The company posted net income of $4.5 million or $0.09 a share, compared with $1.8 million or $0.04 a share in the corresponding quarter last year. Total revenue is

Read Full Article »

Forbes Column 08: Mobile Microfinance

My new Forbes column, Mobile Microfinance discusses how startups are trying to use the cell phone to bring banking to the under-banked.

ST Microelectronics: Wireless Business

By Vijay Nagarajan, Guest Author The JV with NXP has given STM the scale to succeed in the mobile wireless space. Putting its weight behind the convergence movement, the company plans to leverage its full suite of wireless solutions to enable the advanced mobile devices coming out of the Nokia stables among others. Let us

Read Full Article »

ST Microelectronics: NXP JV

By Vijay Nagarajan, Guest Author In the last part of this series, we looked at STM’s strategic initiatives that are aimed at making the company more nimble and profitable. A very important part of this strategy was unveiled last month when the company decided to form a Joint venture with its wireless business and that

Read Full Article »

ST Microelectronics: Overview

By Vijay Nagarajan, Guest Author ST Microelectronics (STM) has been making steady progress in the wireless world. Last month, it decided to merge its wireless assets with NXP to form a JV that is now the third-largest wireless semiconductor company in the world. As we continue our vendor matrix study, we will dissect STM this

Read Full Article »

Qualcomm: Valuation Revisited

By Vijay Nagarajan, Guest Author It has been around six months since I wrote my Qualcomm valuation series. I had at that time valued the company at $44.60. Following the company’s fiscal second quarter 2008 earnings conference call I reviewed its mobile opportunities, strategy and also its product strategy for convergence and mobile computing in

Read Full Article »

Marvell: Mobile Strategy and Outlook

By Vijay Nagarajan, Guest Author In the last two parts of this series, we looked at Marvell’s position and strategy in the wireless connectivity solutions market. These solutions serve another important purpose – to make Marvell’s cellular and handheld products competitive and complete. In this part, we will take a look at whether Marvell can

Read Full Article »

Apple’s Dramatic Risks and Ambitions

News from Apple is often big news. Apple released its second quarter results yesterday. Revenue was $7.51 billion, down 22% q-o-q and up 42% y-o-y driven by strong demand for Macs and the ever-popular iPhone. Net income was $1.05 billion, or $1.16 per diluted share, up 36% y-o-y. International sales, which were 44% of the

Read Full Article »