Top Tech, telecoms take top spot

In a quiet week, apart from the continued job loss announcements and profit warnings, the acquisition of Vodafone`s Infostrada by Enel and the two Novell acquisitions were highlights in the international world of IT and telecommunications last week.

[VIDEO]At home, the proposed liquidation of Top Information Technology Holdings (Top Tech) and the various announcements by Datatec and Dimension Data as well as the government re the proposed new telecoms policy, stole much of the local headline space.

[Local]

Other local news included:

Over the past few weeks, the constitution of Top Tech`s board changed dramatically, with resignations from several directors, including the original MD and his successor.

Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners

There was also a major telecoms policy announcement that indicated that a second fixed-line operator would be appointed shortly with at least one more similar licence to be issued within five years.

Additionally, look out for the winner of the battle for control of Australia`s second largest telecommunications company, Cable & Wireless Optus, where Singapore Telecom has now become one of the front-runners in a race that also involves Vodafone and New Zealand Telecom. Also look out for the buyer of Navisite, the Web-hosting provider, which has been put up for sale by its parent company, CMGI.

[International]

Other international news included:

We saw excellent figures from Axon Group, Emblaze Systems (back in the black) and Micronas Semiconductor AG.

Good numbers were recorded by Analytical Graphics, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Carreker, Circa, Comverse Technology, ESI, Gadzooks, Navidec (back in the black), Paragon Technologies (back in the black) and QPR Software.

Satisfactory figures were posted by Adobe, Gilat Satellite Networks, Portugal Telecom SA and Wallace.

Mediocre returns came from Computacenter, Oracle, QAD, Tektronix, Trafficmaster, Turkcell and Verity.

Very poor results came from Bogen Comms, Faro Technologies (but back in the black) and Harvey Electronics.

Losses were reported by AlphaNet Solutions, Chinadotcom, CMGI, Datatec Systems, e-SIM, EchoStar Comms, Engage, Esker SA, Euphonix, FiberNet Telecom Group, Futuremedia, Geac Computer, GlobalNet, I-Sector, IndigoVision, Infobank International Holdings, Inprimis, InteliData, Intermedia Comms, iTouch, Meta Group, Metrocall, Microvision, Network Computing Devices, Optio Software, Orius, Patsystems, Printware, Ramtron International, RF Monolithics, TTR Technologies, Wave Systems, Wire One Technologies and Xybernaut.

Other financial news included profit warnings from Adobe Systems, Andrew, Artesyn Technologies, ASML, BindView, Cable & Wireless, Cabot Microelectronics, Chinadotcom, Compaq, Computer Sciences, CoSine Comms, Ericsson, FSI International, General Semiconductor, Hall, Kinion & Associates, Hummingbird, Intuit, ISS, M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers, Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG, Molex, Nextel Comms, Nuance Comms, Plink Comms, Oracle, Partner Comms, Photon Dynamics, SanDisk, Siemens, Silicon Storage Technology, Socket Comms, Standard Microdevices, STMicroelectronics, Technitrol, TeleTech, Video Network Comms, Virata and WJ Comms.

There were abandoned IPOs from Elateral, a software supplier, and Nextel International. Additionally, Star Telecomms has filed for federal bankruptcy protection.

Locally

CCH (-73.3%)
Crux (-30.4%)
Datatec (-27.6%)
ERP.com (-29.2%)
Explorer (+33.3%)
I-Solution (+41.2%)
Mustek (+40.9%)
Paradigm (-33.3%)
Stella Vista (+40%)
Synergy (+100%)

Internationally

Actinic (-65.5%)
Cable & Wireless (-38.7%)
CMGI (-34.8%)
Computer Sciences (-41.1%)
European Telecom (-50.6%)
Mercator (-36%)
NetBenefit (-49.6%)
Nextel Comms (-36.2%)
Rambus (-59.4%)
TeleTech Holdings (-37.9%)

According to Bitpipe, a syndicator of in-depth information technology, the top 10 IT topics for February were:

• CRM
• E-commerce
• Network management
• Firewalls
• Security
• Voice over IP
• IT management
• E-business
• ASPs, and
• Operating systems.