Device Arena

The report predicts strong growth in usage levels of both single-user games such as slot machines, and of multiplayer gambling tournaments, fuelled by a raft of drivers including: market deregulation, greater 3G coverage and adoption, and – crucially - a greater availability of simple, intuitive mobile gambling products.

According to report author Dr Windsor Holden, “Many online casinos are now moving into the mobile environment, while bookmakers such as Ladbrokes and Coral have partnered with leading applications providers to launch own brand mobile casinos. Furthermore, the recent success of casino products from mobile-focused companies such as Probability demonstrates the latent demand for these kinds of services.”

However, the report cautions against over-optimism, observing that, recent deregulation notwithstanding, in many markets, including the US, remote casinos are prohibited.

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High Tech Computer Corp. (TAIEX: 2498) today announced its total revenues for October 2007 were NT$ 13,100 million, up 22.28% YoY, while total revenues from January to October 2007 were NT$ 92,670 million, up 6.43% YoY.

Sprint Nextel Corp. today announced that its board of directors has declared fourth quarter dividends for Sprint Nextel Common Stock. A dividend of 2.5 cents per share is payable Dec. 28, 2007, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 7, 2007.

Motorola today reported sales of $8.8 billion for the third quarter of 2007. The GAAP earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2007 were $0.02 per share, which includes net charges of $0.04 per share related to charges associated with previously announced workforce reductions and a write-down of intangible assets.

“We are pleased with the improvement in the financial performance of mobile devices and we look forward to building upon the progress we have made,” said Ed Zander, chairman and chief executive officer.  “We have strengthened our leadership position in broadband video, WiMAX, next generation government and public safety and the enterprise mobility markets. With our focus on these key opportunities and the initiatives we are taking in mobile devices we will further improve our performance and create long-term shareholder value.” 
  
“During the third quarter, we maintained our focus on increasing cash flow, enhancing profitability and driving growth,” said Tom Meredith, chief financial officer. “We are beginning to see improvements in our cash conversion cycle and operating cash flow which will lead to increased financial flexibility.”

Operating Results

Mobile Devices segment sales were $4.5 billion, down 36 percent compared with the year-ago quarter. Excluding highlighted items, the segment incurred an operating loss of $138 million, compared with operating earnings of $843 million in the year-ago quarter. Motorola’s share of the global handset market for the quarter is estimated to be 13 percent.

During the quarter, Mobile Devices:

• Shipped 37.2 million handsets — including more than 900,000 RAZR 2 devices.
• Introduced the MOTO U9 music device, a special edition RAZR 2 for the holiday season, seven new W-Series handsets, and the iC602 dual-mode iDEN/CDMA device.
• Expanded the Z6 line with the introduction of ROKR Z6m and Z6tv.
• Introduced an ultra high speed WiMAX chipset solution, optimized for both size and low power consumption.

Home and Networks Mobility had segment sales of $2.4 billion, up 6 percent compared with the year-ago quarter. Excluding highlighted items, operating earnings were $165 million, compared with operating earnings of $231 million in the year-ago quarter.

During the quarter, Home and Networks Mobility:

• Shipped its two millionth IPTV set-top device, just five months after reaching the one million milestone.
• Strengthened portfolio with several strategic acquisitions including Leapstone Systems, Modulus Video, and Terayon Communications.
• Conducted the world’s first WiMAX 802.16e mobile handoff during the WiMAX World Conference in Chicago.
• Announced plans to divest the embedded communications computing business for $350 million in cash.

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All numbers are preliminary and unaudited.

Ericsson expects sales of SEK 43.5 b., an operating income of SEK 5.6 b. and a cash flow of SEK -1.6 b. for the third quarter 2007. This is below the company’s own as well as current market expectations and primarily a result of an unexpected shift in the business mix.

"The unexpected development in the quarter is mainly due to a shortfall in sales in mobile network upgrades and expansions which resulted in an unfavorable business mix that also negatively affected Group margins," said Carl-Henric Svanberg, President and CEO of Ericsson. "All other businesses performed as expected. The effect of market dynamics is always a matter of judgment. This quarter we have underestimated the effects."

Ericsson’s networks business continues to develop most rapidly in regions where new network rollouts and break-in contracts are predominant. This is where competition is intense as it builds footprint for long-term profitable growth. So far the margin pressures from these business activities have been offset by higher margin sales such as network expansions and upgrades. Such expansions and upgrades have a short sales cycle and builds during the quarter.  This quarter, sales of these higher margin offerings did not materialize as much as in previous quarters. High margin software sales are also lower than normal.
 
The Professional Services segment continues to show b growth and stable margins. The Multimedia segment is expected to also show a b growth with operating income slightly above breakeven level, reflecting the continued investments in new business areas.
 
"In infrastructure scale is critical for success. Our strategy to regain scale advantage through increased mobile systems market shares has been effective. The present market dynamics are however working to our disadvantage from a short-term financial perspective. Now that we have reestablished our scale advantage from the pre-industry consolidation we will shift our focus slightly and capitalize on our market share gains," said Carl-Henric Svanberg

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Q3 Highlights:

• Year-on-year volume growth of 31%
• Continued volume growth driven by profitable lower priced phones
• Good market reaction to new slider form-factor of W580 Walkman® phone
• Successful launch of Sony Ericsson P1 smartphone
  

The consolidated financial summary for Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 is as follows:

Units shipped in the quarter reached approximately 26 million, a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. Sales for the quarter were Euro 3,108 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 7%. Income before taxes for the quarter was Euro 384 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 11%, which reflects the exceptional third quarter the company experienced in 2006. Net income for the quarter was Euro 267 million. In line with Sony Ericsson expectations, the increase in low- and mid-tier priced phones in the product portfolio in the third quarter resulted in a decline in Average Selling Price (ASP) to Euro 120. 

“The quarter has seen Sony Ericsson continue to generate significant year-on-year volume growth with a portfolio of products spread across the widest variety of price points in the company’s history. Low- and mid-tier priced models such as the W200 Walkman® phone and simple ‘talk and text’ range of phones have been key volume drivers during the quarter, while the high-spec P1 smartphone and W580 slider Walkman® phone have been well received and strengthen the portfolio at the higher-end,” said Miles Flint, President of Sony Ericsson. “We are confident that the remainder of the year will see us further capitalize on this new broader portfolio with flag-ship Walkman® phone models such as the W910 and W960 plus the much anticipated 5 mega-pixel Cyber-shot™ K850 camera phone launching in time for the holiday season.”

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Nokia will publish its third quarter financial results on Thursday October 18, 2007, at approximately 1 pm Helsinki time (CET +1).

The press release will be available on the Nokia website immediately after publication.

High Tech Computer Corp. announced that revenues for September 2007 totaled NT$ 10,551 million, up 18.73 % YoY. The Year to date revenue of 2007 reached NT$ 79,570 million with 4.20 % year-on-year increasing.

The company also announced its self-assessed revenues for Q307 totaled NT$ 29,108 million, increase 10.44 % YoY. Self-assessed net incomes before tax were NT$ 8,026 million, self-assessed net incomes after tax were NT$7,384 million, and self-assessed after tax earning per share of Q307 were NT$12.88 based on the current 573,134 thousand outstanding shares.

Research In Motion Limited (RIM) reported second quarter results for the three months ended September 1, 2007 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP).

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 was $1.37 billion, up 27% from $1.08 billion in the previous quarter and up 108% from $658.5 million in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 78% for devices, 15% for service, 4% for software and 3% for other revenue. Approximately 1.45 million BlackBerry® subscriber accounts were added in the quarter and over 3 million devices were shipped. The total BlackBerry subscriber account base at the end of the second quarter was approximately 10.5 million.

“RIM’s second quarter results were exceptionally strong on all metrics including revenue, subscriber account additions and net income,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at RIM. “This growth is fueled by the depth of the BlackBerry product portfolio and the continued diversification of our business across market segments and geographies. With over ten million BlackBerry subscriber accounts and over twenty million handsets shipped, we are pleased with our position in the market today and we expect recent product and market initiatives to extend our business momentum through the remainder of the fiscal year.“

Income for the quarter was $287.7 million, or $0.50 per share diluted, compared with net income of $223.2 million, or $0.39 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and net income of $140.2 million, or $0.25 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year. Please note that the earnings per share reflect the effective 3-for-1 stock split that was implemented in the quarter.

Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 ending December 1, 2007 is expected to be in the range of $1.60-1.67 billion. Subscriber account additions in the third quarter are expected to be approximately 1.65 million. Earnings per share for the third quarter are expected to be in the range of $0.59-0.63 per share diluted.

The total of cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $1.73 billion as at September 1, 2007, compared to $1.56 billion at the end of the previous quarter, an increase of $166 million over the prior quarter. Uses of cash in the quarter included capital expenditures of approximately $79 million.

Highlights of the Second Quarter Include: