It was an extremely quiet Thanksgiving week internationally. At home, the proposed hefty increases in licence fees charged by ICASA stole much of the local ICT headline space.
Key local news
* The Independent Communications Authority of SA proposed that the annual variable licence fee be increased 30 times, to 3% of gross revenue.
* Very good interim numbers from MiX Telematics (ex TeliMatrix), with revenue up 34% and profit up over 50%; and Naspers, with revenue up over 30% and profit up over 50%.
* Good year-end figures from Reunert, with revenue up 14% and profit up 80%.
* Mixed year-end figures from UCS, with revenue up 14.5% but profit down 35.5%.
* Mixed interim figures from Labat Africa following the unbundling of TCS.
* Very poor year-end numbers from Sekunjalo, with revenue up 42% but profit down 95%.
* Satisfactory 18-month figures from Ideco following its year-end change.
* Open-Tec, a company that focuses on compliant data management, opened an office in SA.
Key international news
Look out for the possible merger of Facebook and Twitter.
Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners
* Toshiba acquired Advanced Visualisation Imaging System, a medical imaging company.
* Satisfactory quarterly results from HP and Intec Telecom Systems (back in the black).
* Quarterly losses from Blue Coat Systems and QAD.
Look out for
* A joint bid for Digital Plus, the satellite pay-TV business, by Telefonica and Vivendi.
* The possible merger of Facebook and Twitter.
Research results and predictions
* Worldwide sales of mobile phones reached 309 million units in Q3, up 6% over Q307, according to Gartner. Nokia remained in the number one position, followed by Samsung. There was very little difference in the numbers for Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG.
* Worldwide services spending will grow 5.2% in 2009, slightly down from its previous forecast of 6.7%, according to IDC.
* Netbook PC shipments are expected to reach 138 million units in 2009, up 11.3% from this year, says MIC, Taiwan.
Stock market changes
* JSE All share index: Up 17.9%
* Nasdaq: Up 10.9%
* Top SA share movements: Beget Holdings (-33.3%), Blue Label Telecoms (+18.8%), Celcom (+15.4%), Dialogue Group (+17.6%), DTH (+20%), Faritec (+17.2%), Huge Group (-39.2%), Ideco (+17.9%), Reunert (+20.5%) and Simeka (+17.9%)
Final word
This is my last Booth's Bites for 2008, although my annual review will be published next Monday. Booth's Bites will return on 12 January and cover the intervening period. May I take this opportunity of thanking all my readers for their support in 2008, and wish them the very best over the festive season and a successful 2009.
Share