How wearable band shipments will hit 17m this year February 12, 2014 If you’re not one of the people who got a wearable band last year, you might well order one this year, as numbers look set to skyrocket. According to research firm Canalys, not only did basic and smart band shipments grow dramatically in the second half of 2013 to 1.6m, but 2014 will be the [...]
The 4 big things tech firms are set to unveil at Mobile World Congress February 10, 2014 Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the biggest event in the telecoms calendar. Starting on the 23 February this year and lasting all week, it has become the place to launch new mobile products. Samsung Samsung is widely expected to reveal its Galaxy S5 at its aptly named Unpacked 5 event on Monday 24 [...]
Google puts pressure on Sochi games with anti-discrimination logo February 7, 2014 Search giant Google has joined the ranks of those hitting out at Russia's dire record on civil liberties. Russian rules against "gay propaganda" have been widely critiscised for promoting hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender groups. Google's move to change its homepage logo follows comments from US Olympic team sponsor AT&T, who made clear [...]
London Time: Smart watches, we’re afraid to report, are here to stay February 6, 2014 YOU know how rude it seems when someone checks their wristwatch during a conversation? Well, things are about to get a lot ruder, thanks to 2014 being the year of the smartwatch. Just as the pocket watch proved itself useful enough to migrate to our wrists over the course of the 1930s, we are now [...]
Wolfson stung by changes in mobile market February 5, 2014 AUDIO semiconductor company Wolfson Microelectronics saw its shares plunge as much as 15 per cent yesterday morning, after it reported a loss during the quarter with dwindling revenues and gross margins. Cancellations from one of the Blackberry and Samsung supplier’s major customers have led to increasingly difficult trading for Wolfson over the last year. The [...]
Wolfson shares fall 15pc on $20m loss February 5, 2014 Audio semiconductor company Wolfson Microelectronics has seen its shares plunge 15 per cent this morning, after it reported revenues and gross margins dwindled in the fourth quarter as it turned a loss. The Edinburgh firm said revenue was hit by a "very volatile" phone market and faster-than-expected transition to 4G smartphones "benefitting a competitor". Revenue [...]
Chip king ARM hurt by phone sales slowdown February 4, 2014 BRITISH chip designer ARM said a slowdown in demand for Apple and Samsung smartphones was behind a smaller than expected rise in fourth-quarter royalty revenues. ARM, whose technology is in nearly every smartphone, reported processor royalties of £80.8m, up seven per cent, but shy of analyst forecasts of £84.5m. Shares in ARM closed down six [...]
Here’s how Microsoft’s new CEO pick signals a change in direction February 4, 2014 Microsoft’s new chief executive Satya Nadella comes from an entirely different background to the executives who led Microsoft previously. Steve Ballmer, who Nadella replaces, comes from a sales background having worked in the company’s Sales and Support division from 1992 to 1998 where he made his name as a prominent salesperson and evangelist of the [...]
Microsoft’s next CEO has 4 huge challenges to face February 4, 2014 As rumours surrounding Microsoft’s next chief executive continue to swirl, we take a look at the four big challenges they're set to face. 1. Mobile Microsoft’s success in mobile with Windows Phone has been mixed, on the one hand its share of sales in Europe is hovering around ten per cent, and on the other [...]
Best of the Brokers for 31 January 2014 January 30, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com CARPHONE WAREHOUSE Barclays keeps its “equalweight” rating and raises its target from 270p to 290p following the firm’s plan to open stores in collaboration with Samsung. The broker hopes Carphone will do further deals in the same vein across Europe. PUMA UBS has [...]