Computer Faire attracts 'quality` visitors

The continuing probes into technology companies` financial affairs by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the possible stake in Deutsche Telekom by Microsoft dominated the international world of IT and telecommunications last week.

The Brainstorm 2002 conference seems to have been excellent judging by the comments I have received, and I`m hopeful that this will become a "standard" feature for future events.

Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners

At home, the reports from the "new look" Computer Faire and the announcement that the invitation to apply for the 51% stake in the second national telecoms operator has been issued, stole much of the local IT/telecoms headline space.

* we saw good year-end figures from Softline (although overall revenue is down following the SVI "arrangement");

* a full-year loss from Datatec (revenue static);

* satisfactory half-year numbers from Elexir (revenue up and back in the black - just);

* a half-year loss from Spescom (revenue also down); and

* a quarterly loss from iTouch (but revenue up).

Local acquisitions, mergers, investments etc (see attachment).

Local Cautionary Notices (see attachment).

Local Result Summaries (see attachment).

Local Major Event Summary (see attachment).

[Local]

Other local news included:

* the announcement by SuSE Linux that it has appointed Mico to distribute its products and services in Southern and Central Africa;

* the name change of Internet service provider Citec, to MTN Network Solutions; and

* the Inside Trading Directorate fining Adriaan Dubbelman, ex-CEO of Technology Communications Holdings, nearly R300 000.

* marketing automation and interaction management software vendor, Xchange Applications, has reverted to private ownership;

* Comcast is intending to sell its entire stake in AT&T; and

* SAP has re-organised its US operations.

Additionally, look out for the possible sale to Microsoft of a stake in German Internet company T-Online; the possible sell-off by British Telecom of its Redcare unit to Numerex; and the buyer for the IT services arm of French defence contractor, Thales Group.

International acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures etc (see attachment).

[International]

Other international news included:

* the appointments of Bob Howard-Anderson as acting president and CEO of Occam Networks, Jim Chapman as president and CEO of NuCORE Technology, Alistair Cox as CEO of Xansa, Jerome de Vitry as CEO of CompleTel Europe NV, and Timothy Richardson as president and CEO of Micro Linear;

* the resignations of Hilary Cropper, CEO of Xansa, Steve Gardner, chairman and CEO of peregrine Systems, Steven Samowich, CEO of Infodata, Kumar Shah, CEO of Occam Networks, and Ofer Yuval, president and CEO of Elbit Vision Systems; and

* job loss announcements from Alcatel, IBM, Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Siemens and Telekom Austria.

We saw excellent figures from Go Online Networks (back in the black) and Nvidia.

Good numbers were recorded by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Quality Systems and Tengtu International (back in the black).

Satisfactory results were posted by Applied Signal Technology, California Amplifier, JD Edwards (back in the black), Tech Data, Ultimate Electronics and Viador.

Mediocre returns came from C&D Technologies, Legend, SemTech, TDS Informationstechnologie AG and Unify.

Very poor results were reported by Intelligence (back in the black - just) and XETA Technologies.

Losses came from 8x8, A Novo Broadband, Accrue Software, ADC, Agile Software, Applied Digital Solutions, Barak, CacheFlow, CCC GlobalCom, Ciena, CMGI, Comarco, Convera, Cordia, Credence Systems, Crossroads Systems, Descartes Systems Group, Deutsche Telekom, FirePond, Forecross, Furukawa Electric, GFT Technologies AG, IEC Electronics, IIJ, Imaging Technologies, ION Networks, KPN NV, Madge Networks NV, Marvell Technology Group, Metrocall, NetSol Technologies, Novell, o2wireless Solutions, Planet Zanett, PPT Vision, Pumatech, QAD, SED International Holdings, SEMX, SSP Solutions, Sycamore Networks, VA Software, Vicinity, Westell Technologies, Wizzard Software and Xplore Technologies.

Other financial news included profit warnings from Ciena, CMGI, Engage and SBS Technologies; share split announcements from Divine and Gtech; a satisfactory IPO from Computer Programs and Systems; a disappointing IPO from Altris; and an IPO filing from Schumberger Semiconductor Solutions. Additionally, Metromedia Fiber Network is to reorganise under a voluntary Chapter 11 filing; NII Holdings, a subsidiary of Nextel Comms, has filed for Chapter 11; KPNQwest has filed for bankruptcy protection; Advanced Switching Comms has filed its certificates of dissolution; and IXYS and Peregrine Systems are to re-state their financial results.

Locally

AdvTech (-20%)

Aqua Online (+14.3%)

Control (-14.1%)

Dectronic (+25%)

Explorer (-22.2%)

FrontRange (-18.1%)

Hicor (-14.3%)

Maxtec (-28.6%)

Sekunjalo (+19%)

Spescom (-20%)

Internationally

BRW (-34.1%)

Energis (-33%)

FLAG Telecom (+28.5%)

IS Solutions (-42%)

Inktomi (+44.9%)

LWIN (-27.3%)

Redbus Interhouse (+53.8%)

SVI (+27.7%)

Transware (-26%)

WorldCom (+30.2%)

Last week was the "new look" Computer Faire and ITWeb`s Brainstorm 2002 conference that was run in parallel with the exhibition. The feedback I had was very good for the faire, despite a lower number of attendees, although the quality of those visiting, and that is what matters, was significantly better.

The conference seems to have been excellent judging by the comments I have received, and I`m hopeful that this will become a "standard" feature for future events. Won`t it be great to be away from Gallagher Estate next year!