Seattle-based RealNetworks, Inc., (NASDAQ:RNWK) provides digital media services and software, including the popular media player RealPlayer, online radio, the music service Rhapsody and RealArcade. The company also offers the Helix Server technologies to mobile service providers and communication companies, software and services that include applications for the iPhone and Facebook, videos and music on-demand, ring tones, and so forth. >>>
The strong results from storage and data management solutions provider NetApp, with annual revenue of $3.4 billion, and Red Hat, the open source giant with annual revenue of $652.6 million, reflect the improving market conditions and the fact that IT spending is easing up. >>>
It is not just the great three-dimensional sound effects in “Avatar” where you will hear the Dolby effect. Dolby today is everywhere, as part of, fittingly enough, its Dolby Everywhere campaign for Web-connected TVs, Blu-ray movie players, PCs, smartphones, set-top boxes, and game consoles. Let’s take a closer look at the company’s performance. >>>
The global toy market was around $78.09 billion in 2008. Sixty-five percent of the toy business comes from ten countries, with North America contributing 30% and Europe 29% of global sales. Asia’s contribution was 27% in 2008. The United States is the largest market for toys with sales of $21.7 billion. The toy market is expected to continue to grow as a result of strong demand in the emerging markets like Brazil, China, Russia, and India. Market research firm NPD expects the worldwide toy sales to be approximately $80.3 billion in 2012. The major players in the industry are Mattel, JAKKS Pacific, LeapFrog and Hasbro. >>>
The IT services and consulting space, which until mid-2009 was on a declining trend, seems to be stabilizing. Key players in the industry such as Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, IBM, Tata Consultancy Services, and Accenture are sounding more confident going into 2010 than they were six to nine months ago. The companies are making small to mid-sized deals in application maintenance and development, infrastructure outsourcing, risk management, cost takeouts, data analytics, and business process outsourcing (BPO). A pickup in the financial services vertical is another positive for the industry. The larger players are seeing business trickling in, and the continuing need for clients to rationalize costs will ensure that the outsourcing business grows in 2010. >>>
Last year was tough for the optical component manufacturers JDS Uniphase and Finisar as telecom operators reduced their IT spending. However, the two companies recently reported good quarters as the economy recovers. >>>
Last month, Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 results. It swung to a loss in the quarter as it faced a $192 million tax charge relating to its recent $1.8 billion Omniture acquisition. >>>
The year just ended must have been one of the worst for the semiconductor sector. However, the recent strong earnings results from Infineon, Micron, and National Semi indicate that 2010 may be more promising. >>>