Apple’s revenue to reach $200 bn mark soon (USA)
A group of researches believe that Apple Inc. can keep posting sales growth of more than 50% in the next two years as a mobile applications boom fuels demand for devices such as the iPad.
According to researchers, Apple sold almost 15 million iPads in its debut year and more than 90 million iPhones in its four-year lifespan. Demand for the devices has spawned a market for downloadable apps that let users shop, work, play games and handle other tasks on the go. That in turn keeps customers buying Apple’s products, and puts the company on course for higher revenue than International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co.
It is also expected that the company will be bigger than IBM next year, and they’ll be bigger than HP the year after that. At current growth rates, they’re going to be a $200 billion revenue company.
Hewlett-Packard had sales of $126 billion in the year that ended in October and IBM’s revenue was $99.9 billion last year, making them the largest technology companies, respectively, by sales. Apple ranks No. 1 by market capitalization.
Apple increases legal team for Patent Showdowns with Nokia, Motorola, HTC
Apple’s iPhone, one of the best-selling smartphones on the market is adding lawyers to the company.
Apple is squaring off against Nokia Oyj, the world’s largest mobile-phone maker, before the International Trade Commission. The dispute, in which each side alleges intellectual property violations, is also a precursor to Apple patent battles with Motorola Inc. and HTC Corp.
Cupertino, California-based Apple is trying to protect its right to import the iPhone, while shutting out rivals, particularly those whose phones are powered by Google Inc.’s Android operating system, the world’s most popular smartphone software. Android-based phones also are made abroad.
According to Lyle Vander Schaaf, an attorney at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione in Washington, who handles cases before the commission, these are very well-known, deep-pocketed, high-end manufacturers, usually you have one 800-pound gorilla going after a new entrant. Here you’ve got 800-pound gorillas fighting each other.
Apple has been the most-sued technology company since 2008; the year after the iPhone was introduced, topping Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., according to LegalMetric Inc., a compiler of litigation data based in St. Louis.
Acer Unveils Three Tablet Computers
The world’s second- largest computer maker, Acer has unveiled a lineup of three tablet devices to compete with Apple’s iPad.
According to Acer, two of the three tablets will be based on Google Inc.’s Android platform and feature 7-inch and 10.1-inch screens, while the third 10.1-inch-display device will run on Microsoft Corp.’s Windows software. Acer intends to capture about 10% of the market for tablets.
Acer is the latest PC maker to join the tablet PC bandwagon after Apple Inc.’s iPad attracted strong consumer demand. Many device makers including BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., have recently announced plans to introduce tablets to compete with Apple’s wildly popular product.
According to Jim Wong, Acer’s head of information-technology products, this is a market that’s still not fully known, not fully satisfied. The company expects 40 million to 50 million tablets will be sold worldwide next year.
The two Android tablets will be available in April and the Microsoft device will go on sale in February. All three will offer Wi-Fi connectivity and allow users to surf the Internet using a 3G connection. Wong said the tablets would likely be in the previously stated range of $299 to $699.
Acer has also released a smartphone with a 4.8-inch screen based on Android that they touted as a phone with the soul of a tablet.
Microsoft licenses Palm smartphone patents
Microsoft Corp has licensed a number of patents relating to competitor Palm Inc’s smartphones, the latest move in a complex web of deals and proceedings in the fast-growing phone sector. Microsoft, which has licensing deals with many technology companies, did not provide any details.
The world’s largest software company has licensed the patents from ACCESS Co Ltd and a unit of Acacia Research Corp. According to the companies, the portfolio of patents licensed covered inventions by Palm, Palmsource, Bell Communications Research, and Geoworks.
According to David Kaefer, Microsoft’s general manager of intellectual property and licensing, by focusing on efficiently licensing patented innovations from other companies, the company is free to develop great software and the company will be able to provide the partners and customers intellectual property peace-of-mind.
The licensing agreement should decrease the opportunity of lawful wrangling with Palm owned by Hewlett-Packard Co.
A number of companies have filed lawsuits against each other.
Apple May reveal another IPad in 2011: Goldman
Apple is planning to unveil its news IPad, the next year. According to analysts at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Apple Inc., which sold more than 3 million IPads in the first 80 days after the tablet’s debut, may introduce a new version in the second quarter of 2011.
According to the reports, the new iPad has a 9.7 inch display said to be slimmer and lighter, with a built-in camera and mini USB drive. The world’s largest contract maker of electronics, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. will probably be supplying the IPad.
The iPad touchscreen computer has become one of the Cupertino, California-based company’s top-selling products in its first year on the market. The tablet is in competition from parallel products by Hewlett-Packard Co., Samsung Electronics Co. and Research In Motion Ltd., which unveiled a 7-inch device earlier.
According to Goldman Sachs, sales of such tablet computers could reach 16 million units this year and 35 million in 2011.
IBM to provide cloud computing to SK Telecom
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Winning the battle against four of its largest rivals, International Business Machines Corp. will operate a cloud computing platform for SK Telecom Co., Ltd. As per the deal, IBM will provide the infrastructure to SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecoms operator with more than 50% of the market.
The networks will be used by SK Telecom and its business partners to test and publish telecoms applications in order for the applications to later to be rolled out on its networks for consumers.
IBM beat Hewlett-Packard Co., Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. (JAVA) in order to win the contract but the value of the deal was not revealed. The technology giant has focused recently on building out infrastructure in Asia for cloud computing.
Cloud Computing has tightened its grip recently especially with smaller customers as it enables significant cost savings.
