Google Matures Into A More Diverse Business

Search engine marketing firm Efficient Frontier estimates that Q3 paid search ad spending grew 19% over the year, making this the third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. While search remains Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) core business, the recent quarterly results shows that its non-search businesses are also doing well. >>>

Red Hat, Net App Surpass Expectations

A recent study conducted by Accenture on open source solutions found that two-thirds of the three hundred organizations studied anticipate increasing investment in open-source solutions during the year. Further, more than a third of these companies expect to migrate mission-critical software to open source within the next year. No wonder open source leader Red Hat (NASDAQ: RHT), is already witnessing strong growth in revenues. >>>

For Intel, Record Sales Amidst Fierce Competition

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), the largest semiconductor company with annual revenue of $35.1 billion, just reported a strong third quarter with record sales that exceeded $11 billion for the first time in its history. These results follow an action-filled quarter in which Intel acquired two large companies, security software maker McAfee for $7.68 billion and the wireless business of Infineon for $1.4 billion. Let’s take a closer look. >>>

Akamai Thriving

Both Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM) and Limelight Networks (NASDAQ:LLNW), content delivery network (CDN) providers, are expanding their services through acquisitions. Limelight Networks recently added video management and syndication to its services with the purchase of Delve Networks. Akamai in June announced its plans to acquire Velocitude, a startup that customizes websites for mobile devices with its software-as-a-service mobile platform. Let’s take a closer look.

Micron Signs Deal With Samsung

Micron (NYSE:MU), the largest U.S. DRAM maker, reached a 10-year patent cross-licensing deal with Samsung. Micron this week also reported lower-than-expected sales for the fourth quarter but swung to a profit for the fourth straight quarter. >>>

Two Companies Going Downhill

Early in the year, we saw that Garmin (NASDAQ:GRMN), which is known for its personal navigation devices (PND), was looking to launch more smartphones even after disappointing sales of its nüvifone. Now it is finally correcting its flawed strategy and looking to exit its smartphone business. Let’s take a closer look.
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Loss Of Symantec Does Not Slow Down Digital River

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of the current year grew 1.5% over the previous quarter to $37.2 billion. Compared with the previous year, e-commerce retail sales grew 13.7% and now account for 3.8% of total retail sales. However, over the same period, overall retail sales grew 7.5%. >>>

Private Cloud Analytics Is A Major Trend

Based on our TLCC interviews, it is evident that cloud analytics is a major trend. My conversations with IBM’s Ric Telford and Pat Toole clearly demonstrate IBM’s strategy of building a private cloud offering for analytics to cater to large enterprise needs. Today, we analyze Informatica’s prospects against this backdrop.

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