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Comverse's reporting is now current; will business performance improve?

June 23, 2011

Analysis of:Comverse Technology Announces First Quarter Results | finance.yahoo.com

Yesterday Comverse Technology announced business results for the 1st quarter of fiscal 2011, concluding five (!) years during which full information about its performance was not released. With this filing Comverse is now current and may be relisted. See my analysis from June 1st 2011.In the release, one can see focus shifting from VAS towards BSS. While profitability seems improving, the Comverse segment is yet to prove that the shift of strategy leads to growth too.

Comverse Technology Announces Business Results; at the Verge of Becoming Current

June 1, 2011

Analysis of:Comverse files results of fiscal 2010 | finance.yahoo.com

Yesterday Comverse Technology announced business results for fiscal 2010, sending an “all clear” message regarding the cash position. In the release, Comverse gives insights into its operational performance and the mixture of revenues. In addition, positive rumors in the Israeli press were not denied by the company. With filing of Q1 results expected later this month, Comverse’s filing will be current and may be relisted. This may lead to several developments.

Comverse's CEO Dahan Steps Down - What's Next for Comverse?

February 28, 2011

Analysis of:Comverse Technology Announces CEO Transition | biz.yahoo.com

Comverse Technology (CMVT.PK) has announced the departure of CEO Andre Dahan. Dahan has been at office for approx. 4 years during which he focused his efforts on getting the company current in its SEC filing and relisted in NASDAQ. In the past weeks Comverse announced additional changes in its senior leadership team and reduced its staff significantly. The measures may imply a near sale of the Comverse segment.

Nokia - Operating Systems Days Are Over - Jump!

February 10, 2011

Analysis of:Nokia, Microsoft Talk Cellphones | online.wsj.com

Readers of Nokia Elop's strategy should not be surprised - Simbian and any other OS initiative from Nokia is doomed to fail - and at the low end Nokia has no advantage over cheap handset manufacturers. Allying with OS maker such as Microsoft Windows may prove too conservative an option; opening the excellent Nokia hardware platform to any OS may be the only way out.

Would Apple or Google Confirm a Friend Request from or Hit “Like” on Facebook?

December 17, 2010

Behind the naïve, nearly “Santa Claus” image Facebook is trying to project, hides a monster threatening to conquer the cyber world. Facebook reinforces free content consumption, and while on this front it is on the same side with Google, Facebook’s ability to harmonize the users profiling with the free content platform may harm the value derived from search engines and open-web usage profiling.

CSG Systems to acquire (again) a BSS company, this time it's Intec

September 27, 2010

Analysis of:CSG Systems to Acquire Intec Telecom | www.csgsystems.com

5 years ago, CSG Systems sold its GSS division and its flagship Kenan product suite for approx. $250 million. 3 years earlier, CSG Systems acquired Kenan from Lucent for approx. $300 million. So far, the financial sense of these transactions had not proven brilliant. Last week, CSG Systems announces planned acquisition of UK based BSS provider Intec for approx. $370 million. Is this just another bet or is CSG System looking at synergy and a real market opportunity?

Oracle Shopping List - Comverse as an Entry Pass to the Telecom Space

September 3, 2010

Analysis of:What will Oracle buy next? | tech.fortune.cnn.com

Oracle's attempt to conquer the Telecom's front office space has not shown the desired results. By acquiring Comverse's Network Systems unit, Oracle may find itself as a key front-office player overnight. At the same time, Oracle's strength, channel and SI partnership may address important challenges Comverse is struggling with.

Comverse Technology - Expect Interesting Assets at Bargain Prices

August 13, 2010

On August 13 Comverse Technology has admitted business in the first half of FY 2010 is lower than the previous year, and that cash pressure starts to build. While anticipating slight improvement during the second half, the Network Systems unit is taking aggressive cost cutting measures, and looking at alternatives to raise more cash. With target to start filing annual reports moving again, asset liquidation may remain the only short-term source of relief.

Nokia disappointing results are here to stay

June 17, 2010

Analysis of:Nokia Cuts Quarterly Outlook | online.wsj.com

The profit warning from Nokia earlier this week represents a change in the business ternd for Nokia. The introduction of Apple's iPhone not only threatens Nokia’s appeal to the high-end handset segment, but puts also pressure on Nokia’s share of feature phone and entry-level devices.

Mokia's cheese is moving in all directions

June 15, 2010

Analysis of:Nokia vows to defend smartphone territory | www.totaltele.com

The cheese has been moved for Nokia. The introduction of Apple's iPhone not only threatens Nokia’s appeal to the high-end handset segment, but puts also pressure on Nokia’s share of feature phone and entry-level devices.

Comverse Technolgy: Network Systems Unit Struggles; Filing Delayed Again

February 4, 2010

Analysis of:Comverse Technolgy Releases Preliminary Unaudited Results | biz.yahoo.com

The announcements made yesterday after closure by Comverse Technology shows the Network Systems unit lagging behind. Overall, it seems we'll have to get used to a smaller yet more predictable unit. The efficiency measures announced are a must to align the cost structure of the unit with the real volume of the business.Verint seems live and kicking, and makes noise of possible disconnect from the parent company's destiny.

With Belarus Market Close to Saturation, Velcom Focuses on ARPU and Margin

February 3, 2010

Analysis of:Telekom Austria unit granted Belarus 3G licence | www.totaltele.com

The basic mobile services are being commoditized and even regulated around the world, no reason to presume the picture will look different in Belarus. Revenue decline due to price erosion can be compensated with higher usage and additional services, which demand higher bandwidth and faster network. The rollout of 3G will help Velcom build efficient infrastructure to accommodate the increase in data usage. Growth will at least decelerate, though.

If You Can't Beat the Dual-Mode Device Trend, You Better Join the Game

January 31, 2010

Analysis of:WiFi key to LTE landgrab – BelAir | www.totaltele.com

Mobile data is perceived as an expensive and slow service, whilst psychologically WiFi fits in the cheap and fast home zone. Users carrying a dual-mode device that can connect to the Internet using both 3G or LTE and WiFi choose mobile service only when the WiFi alternative is not available or usable. Owning the WiFi offering can help the mobile carriers not only protect their brand but also balance the load on their network infrastructure.

Comverse's Journey towards "Profitable Growth" Takes Longer than Anticipated

January 24, 2010

Analysis of:Wave of layoffs hits Comverse | www.globes.co.il

The Israeli Globes claims Comverse to reduce 12 percent of its workforce worldwide, no confirmation from company officials, implying that revenues in fiscal 2009 (to be concluded end of this month) and outlook for fiscal in 2010 are not in line with prior expectations. Timing of this move may be related to the approaching reports, but could also indicate discussions with potential buyers are progressing.

Amdocs and Comverse - Overlapping or Synergetic?

January 21, 2010

Analysis of:Amdocs fiscal 1st-quarter profit rises 19 percent | finance.yahoo.com

Much was said and written about the relationship between the two telecommunication software companies. The raw facts reveal two companies that have leading positions in the telecom market, one started as BSS provider and expanded into OSS and VAS, whereas the other started as VAS vendor and expanded into OSS and BSS. Israeli ego helps coloring this relationship as a strong competition. However, looking at the DNA of the companies, one may find interesting synergy.

CRM - Success Depends on Management; not on Technology, Integration or Model

January 18, 2010

Analysis of:Cultivating a Customer-Focused Corporate Culture | www.crmbuyer.com

CRM implementation consumes large part of any corporation's resources. Huge amount of energy and management attention is given to the questions which technology partner to choose, what model (Hosted/SaaS or in-house), and what implementation partner to work with. Often, getting the "right" answers to all three questions does not guarantee success, and at the same time, getting the "wrong" answers to any of those questions does not necessarily lead to failure.

Getting closer to Limelights, Comverse Proceeds with Stable Cleaning

January 12, 2010

Analysis of:Voluntary Salary Reductions at Comverse | biz.yahoo.com

The voluntary salary reduction announced may represent marginal annual saving, but may as well be just the tip of the iceberg of further cost-cutting measures conducted in preparation for the intimacy of the company seeing the light of day again.The departure of the Human Resource executive (replacement not announced yet) is an indication for disharmony at the navigation bridge, but could also possibly stem from a leadership crisis at the ranks.

Synergetic Enabling Technology and Application; Where is the Market?

January 4, 2010

Analysis of:Nuance buys SpinVox for USD 102.5 mln | www.telecompaper.com

SpinVox founded its model around application and usability. Even with less-than-perfect technology, SpinVox built a model that augments the shortfalls of the technology with human assistance, while at the same time improving the database. Nuance, on the other hand, built its reputation around the enabling speech technology. Combining the two can help penetrate new segments and acquire share of a market, whose size and potential are not clearly understood.

Good News for Wireless Providers, Car-Maker's Value Yet to be Seen

January 1, 2010

Analysis of:Ford brings Wi-Fi to the highway | www.cnn.com

The technology behind net-enabling vehicles is straight forward. The business model needs to be carefully thought-of. learning from past experience and taking into account reality and regulations .

Comverse refocuses on Billing and Value Added Services

December 27, 2009

Analysis of:Form 8-K for COMVERSE TECHNOLOGY INC/NY/ | biz.yahoo.com

Some 3 years after acquiring NetCentrex, Comverse pulls back from its attempt to penetrate the communication infrastructure layer and refocuses on the billing and value-added services domains, where its leading position is unquestioned.

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