War and very little peace

The "war of words" between Bill Gates and Larry Ellison at Comdex, the Hewlett family "rejection" of the HP/Compaq deal, and the Novell reshuffle and other associated activities at Novell dominated the international world of IT and telecommunications during the last two weeks.

[VIDEO]At home, Absa`s decision to cut off non-clients from its free Internet service, and the Bidvest/Paracon deal rejection by the Competitions Board stole much of the local press space.

• we saw mediocre full-year numbers from UCS (revenue up but income down);
• poor year-end figures from Paracon Holdings (revenue well up but income down);
• a full-year loss from Maxtec (but revenue well up);
• disappointing interim figures from Datatec (revenue marginally up but earnings slightly down); and
• a profit warning from Vesta Technology Holdings.
• Additionally, Planit Technology Holdings asked for its shares to be suspended and has applied for provisional liquidation; and Sempres International, whose shares were suspended a few weeks ago, has finally closed its doors.

[Local]

Other local news included:

• Treacle`s increased investment in Datacentrix;
• the announcement by Vesta Technology Holdings that it had discontinued the operations of Vesta Software Solutions (UK);
• the appointment of several new directors at CS Holdings;
• the rejection by the Competition Board of the acquisition of Paragon Business Comms by Bidvest;
• the opening of a local office by Cellit Technologies and Embarcadero Software;
• the resignation of Rob Childs, CEO of Advtech;
• the incorporation of Telkom`s radio comms subsidiary, Q-Trunk, into its core business;
• the naming of AST chairman, Gerrie de Klerk, and arivia.kom CEO, Zeth Malele, as joint winners of the CSSA IT Personality of the Year award;
• the awarding of the CSSA CIO of the Year accolade to Alex Zwiegelaar of Sasol;
• the naming of Semela Tseka, MD of Choice Technologies, as the Forge Ahead BMI-T Black ICT Achiever of the Year;
• the resignation of several PTH directors;
• the appointments of Trevor Caddy as the new EMEA regional manager based in SA, and Angus MacRobert as CEO of Internet Solutions, for Crystal Decisions;
• the appointment of Lyndall Shope-Mafole as chairman of the Presidential National Commission on the Information Society and Development;
• the possible involvement of India`s Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited in the bid for the second network operator licence;
• the launch of a new interactive consumer IT exhibition called Pulse; and
• the appointment of Aqua Distributors, a subsidiary of Aqua Online, as the first worldwide distributor of International Merchant Service`s online casino software.

• we saw the rejection of the Compaq/HP merger by the Hewlett family;
• the on-going battle of words between Bill Gates and Larry Ellison, who were both addressing Comdex delegates in Las Vegas;
• the news that British Telecom may be forced to increase its stake in Blu, the Italian mobile operator;
• a reorganisation at Novell;
• the name change of Gentner Comms to ClearOne Comms; and
• the news that the Microsoft/DOJ anti-trust lawsuit has been split into two separate tracks, the one for the nine states that have decided to persue a court-imposed remedy and the other for the "settlers".

The Business Times Top 100 was published last week with Allied Technologies, at number eight, the only technology company to feature in the top 10.

Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners

Additionally, look out for the buyer of Lucent`s network services division; the buyer of Telecel, an African cellular operator, with MTN and Vodacom being tipped as potential names; the buyer of Belgacom`s French subsidiary; and the UK target for Dutch outsourcing company PinkRoccade NV.

[International]

Other international news included:

• the appointments of Ulysses Auger as president and acting CEO of Ardent Comms, Patrick Bultema as CEO of FrontRange Solutions, Adrian v Hammerstein as president and CEO of Fujitsu Siemens Computers, James Jaska as president of Tetra Tech, Arne Jensen CEO of Merkantildata ASA, Jack Messman as chairman of Novell, Michael Mitchell as CEO of ThinkEngine, John Ryan as chairman, president and CEO of ZixIt, and Paul Schaller as CEO of BrightLink Networks;
• the resignations of Tom Adolfsen, CEO of Merkantildata ASA, Eric Schmidt, chairman of Novell, and Carl Yankowski, CEO of Palm; and
• job loss announcements from Agfa, Agilent Technologies, Anderson, AT&T, Axcelis technologies, BEA Systems, BMC Software, Ciena, Getronics, Legend Holdings, Logica, Niku, Novell, OfficeMax, SBC Comms, Singapore Telecomms, Tellabs, Vitesse Semiconductor and Yahoo.

We saw excellent figures from COMRoad AG, I/OMagic (back in the black), Nvidia and Visual Analytics.

Good numbers were recorded by ACT Teleconferencing, Amdocs, Ansoft, CAM Commerce Solutions (back in the black), CGI, ClearWave NV (back in the black), DataWave (back in the black), DRS Technologies, Elbit Systems (back in the black), Electronic Systems Technology, euro909.com (back in the black), Eyretel Plc (back in the black), Focus Solutions group (back in the black), GCI (back in the black), Golden Telecom, Indonesia Telkom, KMC Telecom, MAI Systems, Maximus, Micro General, OAO Technology Solutions, OpenLink, Optelecom (back in the black), PinkRoccade NV, Pomeroy Computer Resources, Prophet 21 (back in the black), Provant, Singapore Telecom, Telesystem International Wireless (back in the black) and TTI Telecom.

Satisfactory results were posted by Alliance Imaging (back in the black), Autodesk, Cablevision Systems (back in the black), Crystal Decisions, GSE Systems (back in the black), Inflow, Invensys Plc., MTS Systems, Navidec (back in the black), Teknowledge, Telefonica, Telewest Comms, Terence Chapman Group, Tetra Tech, ThruPoint, Ultimate Electronics, Unilog SA and Wireless Facilities (back in the black).

Mediocre returns came from Agilent Technologies, ATEC Group (back in the black), CanWest Global Comms, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, CNT, Computerlinks AG, CyPost (but back in the black), Daktronics, Dell, Disc Graphics (back in the black), Entercom Comms, ePlus, Gemplus International SA, GFI Informatique, GTSI, Imaging Technologies, INRAD, IRIS, Matav, Maxim Integrated Products, Micros-To-Mainframes, Neon Systems (back in the black), Netsmart, NTT, Paragon Technologies, Pixar, Primus comms (but back in the black), Qualstar, Serena Software, SSGI (back in the black), Song Networks AB, Temenos, Univision and Ziff Davis Media.

Very poor results were posted by Choicetel Comms (back in the black), CII Technologies (but back in the black), Comtex, Comtrex Systems (but back in the black), GenTek, HP, Innodata, OPTi, Proginet, SYS, Systemax (but back in the black), Technisource, Trikon Technologies, Tyler Technologies, Vestcom and ViaSat.

Losses came from ACI Telecentrics, Active IQ Technologies, Adelphia Comms, Advanced Electronic Support Products, Advanced Lighting Technologies, Aether Systems, Aetna, Affinity Technology, Agile Software, AI Software Group SpA, AirNet Comms, Aladdin Systems Holdings, Algorithmics, Allied Riser Comms, Alpnet, AltiGen Comms, AM Comms, AOL Latin America, Apogee Technology, Applied Graphics Technologies, Applied Materials, Arel Comms, ARI Network Services, ASA international, Asia Global Crossing, Asante, Baldwin Technology, Barrister, BEA Systems, Beta Systems Software AG, Blue Zone, Bogen Comms International, Braun Consulting, BrightStar Information Technology, British Telecom, Broadview Media, Brooks Automation, Cable & Wireless, CacheFlow, California Software, Camtek Ltd., Carrier 1 International SA, CenterSpan Comms, chinadotcom, Cimetrix, Ciprico, Cisco, Cognigen Networks, Cognitronics, CompleTel, Concur Technologies, Conductus, CorVu, Covad Comms, Crayfish, Critical Path, Crosswave Comms, Crystal Systems Solutions, Cypress Comms, Danka Business Systems, Data Systems & Software, Datalex, DG Systems, Digi International, Digital Fusion, Digital Power, Ditech Comms, divine, DoCoMo, DSL.net, DTS, E-Sync Networks, Eagle Point Software, EasyLink Services, ECI Telecom, EFTC, Elcom International, Electric Lightwave, Energis, Entravision Comms, ExciteAtHome, Exodus Comms, Faro Technologies, Fastnet, FiberCore, FiberNet, Flag Telecom, Focal Comms, Fortel, Genus, GigaMedia, Gilat Satellite Networks, Global Crossing, GlobalNet, Globalstar, GoAmerica, GT Group Telecom, GTC Telecom, Heartland Technology, High Speed Net Solutions, Horizon PCS, Howtek, Hutchinson Technology, Hytek Microsystems, I-Link, I-Sector, I/NET, iAsiaWorks, iGate, ImageMax, Indigo, Infineon Technologies AG, Marconi, Infocrossing, Infonet, Integrated Information Systems, Innovex, Insight Comms, Integrated Business Systems & Services, InteliData, Intelli-Check, Intelligent Systems, InterCept Group, Interliant, Internet America, Internet Initiative Japan, Intuit, ISCO International, Jupiter Media Metrix, Kewill Systems, Key3Media Group, Knology, KPMG Consulting, Kulicke & Soffa, Level 8 Systems, Lightning Rod Software, Log On America, Loral Space & Comms, LTX, Luminent, Lycos Europe NV, Magic Software Enterprises, MasTec, McLeodUSA, Mediacom Comms, Medialink, MEMC Electronic Materials, Merrimac, Meta Group, Microcell Telecomms, Microtel, Microvision, MMT Computing, Mpower, MSX International, National TechTeam, NeoMagic, netGuru, Netia Holdings, Netlojix Comms, Netopia, NetSol International, Network Appliance, Network Engines, Nexus Telocation Systems, Niku, Notify Technology, Novo Networks, NTELOS, NTL, o2wireless Solutions, OfficeMax, OneLink, Optical Comms, Pac-West Telecom, PacificNet, ParkerVision, Paxson Comms, Perceptron, PerfectData, PixTech, PlanetCAD, Precision Optics, Primix Solutions, PSC, Ptek Holdings, Qualcomm, Raining Data, Rare Medium Group, Ravisent Technologies, RCN, Redbus Interhouse Plc., Rural Cellular, Sapiens, SBA Comms, Scan-Optics, Scandinavia Online AS, Scitex, ScreamingMedia, SEEC, Semotus, SEMX, Sentry Technology, SI Technologies, Siemens, Silicon Valley research, Siliconix, Sonic Solutions, SpectraSite, SPEEDCOM Wireless, Startec Global comms, Storage Area Networks, Storage Computers, Swan SA, SurfControl, Superior Telecom, Sycamore Networks, Syntel, T-Online International, TACT, Taitron, Talarian, Tarantella, Techdyne, TechTeam, Tekgraf, TeleCity Plc., Teltone, Teltronics, Terra Lycos SA, Time Warner Telecom, Triton PCS, TTI Industries, TTR Technologies, Tucows, UBICS, UnitedGlobalCom, US Unwired, Veramark Technologies, Vertel, VIA NET.WORKS, viaLink, Vicinity, Vishay Intertechnology, Vitrix, Vizacom, VNCI, Vodafone, Wave Systems, Western Wireless, Wind River Systems, Winland Electronics, Wire One, WM-data AB, Xeikon NV, XeTel, XKO Group Plc., XO Comms, Xybernaut and Z-Tel Technologies.

Other financial news included share buy-back announcements from Braun Consulting and Elite Information Group; and profit warnings from Applied technologies, CacheFlow, Ciena, Deutsche Telekom, Eastman Kodak, Japan Telecom, Novell, NTT, Oracle, ORBIT/FR, Siemens, Telecom Italia, Trintech Group and Vodafone (caused by write-downs). There was also share split announcements from CACI International, CSI, Epiq, ITG, Secureware, Tetra Tech and Vyyo; an abandoned IPO by Optical Access; and an announced IPO by Verizon Wireless. Additionally, Xeikon, the Belgian printing organisation, looks as if it will seek some form of bankruptcy protection.

Locally

Datatec (+48.7%)
Dimension Data (+62.4%)
Global Technologies (+52%)
Netactive (+33.3%)
Paracon (+37.3%)
Prada Technologies (+100%)
Prism (+36.7%)
Synergy (-50%)
Unihold (+35.9%)
Y2Ktec (-33.3%)
Y3K (-60%)

Internationally

Affinity Internet Holdings (+89.3%)
Applix (+110.6%)
Avanex (+82.6%)
Asia Global Crossing (+109.8%)
Exabyte (+98.4%)
Geoworks (+110.5%)
Scipher (+98.2%)
Tarantella (+113%)
VA Linux (+130.2%)
Williams Comms Group (+87.8%)

The Business Times Top 100 was published last week with Allied Technologies, at number eight, the only technology company to feature in the top 10. Dimension Data, which was number one in 2000 and 1996, has slipped to number 81.