Barney Robison Blog

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple(R) today

announced financial results for its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter ended

September 27, 2008. The Company posted revenue of $7.9 billion and net

quarterly profit of $1.14 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share. These

results compare to revenue of $6.22 billion and net quarterly profit of

$904 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross

margin was 34.7 percent, up from 33.6 percent in the year-ago quarter.

International sales accounted for 41 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

In accordance with the subscription accounting treatment required by

GAAP, the Company recognizes revenue and cost of goods sold for iPhone(TM)

and Apple TV(R) over their economic lives. Adjusting GAAP sales and product

costs to eliminate the impact of subscription accounting, the corresponding

non-GAAP measures* for the quarter are $11.68 billion of Read more

BARCELONA — Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N97, the world’s most advanced mobile computer, which will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. Designed for the needs of Internet-savvy consumers, the Nokia N97 combines a large 3.5″ touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard, providing an ‘always open’ window to favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. Nokia’s flagship Nseries device introduces leading technology – including multiple sensors, memory, processing power and connection speeds – for people to create a personal Internet and share their ‘social location.’

“From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries. “Together with the Ovi services announced today, the Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world Read more

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and DALLAS — Sprint (NYSE:S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the availability of Samsung Rant(TM) and Samsung Highnote(TM), both exclusive to Sprint. Both devices represent the value packed into Sprint’s Now Network, which features Simply Everything’s unprecedented worry-free pricing and Sprint Mobile Broadband’s immediate access to exclusive content including NFL Mobile Live.

Samsung Rant costs just $49.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Samsung Highnote is priced at $99.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Both devices can now be purchased at www.sprint.com, 1-800-SPRINT1 and additional Sprint retail channels.

Samsung Rant and Samsung Highnote are among the first devices to feature Sprint’s new One Click customizable user interface, which was awarded Best Overall Product of CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2008. Samsung Rant Read more

GUILDFOR, U.K. — Avaya (NYSE: AV) and Nokia today announced the next phase of their strategic collaboration with a solution that provides users of Nokia Eseries business devices with one number access and advanced enterprise telephony capabilities as they travel across private Wi-Fi and public mobile networks. With a single mobile device, workers can “handoff” phone calls at the click of a button, using dual mode communications, as they travel from inside a company building (Wi-Fi) to the outside environment (mobile) – and vice versa. This gives workers a more convenient and productive way to manage their communications, while giving organisations a more cost-effective approach to enterprise mobility.

The solution – Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode Edition – combines Internet protocol (IP)-based applications with Nokia Eseries business devices – the Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 models – to deliver the full benefits of FMC. Read more

ESPOO, Finland — With a sleek stainless steel design, the Nokia 6301 phone launched today is not only stylish, but offers consumers seamless voice and data mobility across GSM cellular and WLAN networks via Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology. The Nokia 6301 phone uses UMA technology to integrate the benefits of landline and a mobile phone, including seamless indoor coverage, sound quality and affordability.

“The convergence of mobile and fixed/land-line technologies means consumers are looking for products that can help make their lives easier,” said Peter Ropke, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “With the Nokia 6301 utilizing UMA technology, worldwide triband GSM coverage is combined with superior indoor WLAN coverage to create a device that people can use in virtually any situation.

With UMA technology, the consumer can use the GSM network or a broadband Internet-connected WLAN network for mobile services. This can ensure Read more

NEW YORK — To make it easier for businesses and government agencies to enhance employee mobility and productivity, Verizon is introducing three new fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services. The services help on-the-go professionals seamlessly bridge wireline and wireless networks.

The services, unveiled today at the NXTcomm trade show in Chicago, are:

Wireless Office, PBX Mobile Extension and Mobile Conference Connection.

Features include: a single phone number that simultaneously rings to an office, home and cell phone; a unified mailbox that consolidates voicemail from multiple devices; and instant conference calls that can be organized and initiated with just a few clicks on any Research in Motion BlackBerry or Microsoft Windows Mobile smart phone or PDA.

The new services are part of Verizon’s overall mobility strategy, which builds on the power of the company’s expansive, world-class wireline and wireless networks and advanced Read more

CAMPBELL, Calif. — Sylantro Systems, the leading provider of multiplay application feature servers for converged communication applications, expanded its Synergy Application Feature Server offering. The latest Synergy Release 4.2 is now available as three, new end-to-end editions for the hosted VoIP, mobile, and the emerging “Voice 2.0″ markets.

“Over the past year our Synergy Application Feature Server and Synapps Web Services have seen significant success when deployed as a common capability across fixed-line networks, mobile (IMS) networks, and in real-time Web communication and collaboration interactions, validating our multiplay capabilities,” said Marco Limena, president and chief executive officer of Sylantro Systems. “We are the only application feature server to demonstrate a single-vendor investment by a carrier that is being leveraged across multiple networks, and with multiple best-of-breed network equipment providers. Release Read more

WESTFORD, Mass. and CHICAGO — Sonus Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONS), a leading supplier of service provider Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions, announced today at NXTcomm 2007

(Booth#4215) that the company entered into an agreement with PCTEL, Inc.

(NASDAQ:PCTI), an industry leading supplier of IMS-ready Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) client software for converged devices. Under the agreement, the companies completed interoperability testing between the customized PCTEL Roaming Client – Voice Enabled (VE) solution and the Sonus Broadband-Mobile Convergence (BMC) solution. The joint solution will enable the seamless handoff of mobile calls between Wireless Local Area Networks

(WLANs) and traditional cellular networks and delivery of broadband-mobile converged services through dual mode handsets. The combined solution is now available to carriers worldwide.

Sonus’ BMC solution is IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready and is based Read more

WATERLOO, Ontario — Research In Motion (RIM) announced today the BlackBerry 8820, the first dual-mode BlackBerry handset, that combines EDGE/GPRS/GSM cellular service with Wi-Fi connectivity for data access and voice support. The new BlackBerry 8820 seamlessly switches between cellular networks and Wi-Fi connections, enabling users to access email, Instant Messaging, organizer, Internet and other mobile applications via Wi-Fi networks in the office, at home and in public hotspots for optimal wireless coverage.

To meet security requirements, the BlackBerry 8820 is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols, including WEP, WPA, WPA2 and Cisco Compatible Extensions. In addition, the BlackBerry 8820 includes software for several VPN corporate network restrictions.

Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; Toronto: RIM) Read more

TORONTO — Redknee (AIM: RKN), a leading provider of innovative infrastructure software that monetizes and personalizes services and content for mobile operators, today announced that two of its monetization products have been selected by Far EasTone Communications Co., Ltd. (4904:Taiwan Stock Exchange), a leader in converged mobile communication and Internet services, as part of Redknee’s strategic reseller agreement with CommVerge Solutions Holdings Inc. The deal constitutes the first phase in a multi-phase project.

Far EasTone currently serves over 6 million subscribers and is actively moving forward with its strategy to provide a converged fixed-mobile service environment. The implementation of Redknee’s next-generation network service capabilities will enable Far EasTone to introduce competitive bundled offerings and improved service quality across its subscriber-base, in addition to delivering operating and capital cost efficiencies.

Jeffrey Gee, Read more