Acts of law

Last week again was quiet internationally in terms of major announcements. However, the usual flood of quarterly results started and there were more acquisitions than normal with the key one being that of Winternals Software by Microsoft. The local ICT scene was also quiet, but at long last, the Electronic Communications Act and the ICASA Amendment Act were passed into law.

* Excellent interim numbers from Micromega with revenue and profit both up over 150%.
* Tactical Software Systems` 51% investment in Inobits.
* A share repurchase by Telkom SA.
* A planned listing on AltX by Dialogue Group, a call centre company.
* The signing into law of the Electronic Communications Act and the ICASA Amendment Act.

* The appointment of Ahmad Farroukh as MD and CEO of MTN Nigeria.
* The awarding of Egypt`s third cellular licence to a consortium led by Etisalat.
* The Botswana government is looking for advisors to facilitate the privatisation of Botswana Telecommunications. It is intending to sell a 40%-49% stake in the company.

* Microsoft`s acquisition of Winternals Software, a provider of systems recovery and data protection tools.
* A strategic partnership between Microsoft and Nortel Networks re software-centric communications, ie business services combining Internet telephony, e-mail and other communications formats.
* Analyst upgrades for 3Com, Adaptec, ADC Telecommunications, Advent Software, Ansys, Apple, Applied Indl Technology, Baidu.com, Business Objects, Cablevision Systems, CDW, Cerner, Cognos, EchoStar Communications, EFI, Equifax, Forrester Research, Global Crossing, Google, Intel, Lam Research, Level 3 Communications, M-Systems Flash Disk, Microsemi, Monolithic Power Systems, Motorola, MTC Technologies, Nokia, Nvidia, Palm, PDF Solutions, Photronics, Qualcomm, SanDisk, Seagate Technology, Sina, SimpleTech, SunPower, Ultratech, Virage Logic and Western Digital.
* Analyst downgrades for AVX, Broadcom, China Netcom, Cognex, CSI, CT Communications, Dell, Insight Enterprises, Juniper Networks, Kemet, KLA-Tencor, LTX, Maxim Integrated Products, National Semiconductor, NetEase, Network Appliance, Rambus, SAP, Taiwan Semiconductor, Tech Data, Tekelec, Teradyne, Texas Instruments, Vishay Intertechnology, Vitesse Semiconductor and Yahoo.
* Positive results announcements from CDC and SimpleTech.
* Negative result warnings from ADC, Atos Origin, Concurrent Computer, Datacraft Asia, Dell, Intel, Onyx Software, Openwave Systems, Rambus, Sanmina-SCI, Techfaith Wireless Communications Technology and Vimicro.
* Job loss announcements from Unisys.

* A possible buy-out of AOL UK by BskyB.
* Advanced Micro Devices` possible acquisition of graphics company ATI Technologies.

The Botswana government is looking for advisors to facilitate the privatisation of Botswana Telecommunications.

Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners

* PC shipments in Q2 grew 11% over the same period last year to almost 55 million units, with Dell and HP continuing to hold the top spots, says Gartner.
* Mobile phone shipments in Q2 grew 22.5% over the same period last year to almost 240 million units, with Nokia and Motorola continuing to hold the top spots, says IDC.
* The compliance infrastructure market is expected to pass the $21 billion mark in 2010, increasing at a compound rate of 18.4% for the period 2005 through 2010, according to IDC.

* JSE All share index: Down 2.4%
* Nasdaq: Down 0.8%
* Top SA share movements: Faritec (-9.9%), Infowave (+20%), Labat Africa (-20%), Metrofile (-14.3%), Micromega (+16.7%), Synergy (-18.4%) and Vesta (+9.1%)
* Top international share movements: AirNet Communications (+115.4%), Boston Communications Group (+236.7%), Eagle Broadband (-29.3%), Isonics (-28.6%), Keane (+27.7%), PMC-Sierra (-27.2%), Proxim (+29%), Rambus (-32%), Simpletech (+30.2%) and Zhone Technologies (-28.7%)

Fortune Magazine has published its annual Global 500 listings. From a technology perspective the highest ranked companies were Siemens at 22 (although this is the total company position), NTT at 24, IBM at 28 and HP at 33. New arrivals on the list included America Telecom (Mexico), Apple and Quanta Computer, while departures included Seiko Epson, Solectron and TI.