Yesterday was the first time I was home for the opening day of the tournament in five years. Know how many games I watched? Zero. Now how much of it I missed? Zero. Maybe it is because my Cincinnati Bearcats choked royally down the stretch and were left out of the NCAA and NIT, or maybe it is because I find college basketball a bit boring. Whatever the reason, I didn't watch and I didn't miss. Actually, let me couch that statement, I saw snippets of the Butler/LSU game as I waited for the FightBus to get its oil change at the dealership. Thing is, while I was glancing at the TV I saw in-game ads for VitaminWater and General Motors ... what happened to letting the game play? It reminded me of Wednesday night when I was watching my BlueJackets play. Fox Sports was showing the sponsored save of the game, and missed a goal by the Jackets!

Continue reading JockStocks: A look at the Madness of March

JockStocks: A look at the Madness of March originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

"I'm like Ma Bell, I got the ill communication." -- Beastie Boys

When considering these two particular companies, it is important to note their roots as offspring of the famous "Ma Bell" network. The Bell System, which has produced the most complex ongoing series of mergers and break-ups in the history of the United States, is the origin of the companies that are now AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), as well as competitor Qwest Communications International (NYSE: Q). A lot has changed since those early times -- remember, after all, that the second "T" in AT&T stood for Telegraph. Now phones are the latest devices to be made supercomputers. AT&T has its exclusive deal with the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone, while Verizon slings the Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry.

Since wireless is the way of the future, the wireless divisions of these companies is the most hotly contested, and the focus of this "Battle of the Brands." It is important to note that despite Verizon Wireless bearing solely Verizon's name, it is not owned by just them, it is a 55%-45% joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD). It is also important to note that AT&T Mobility is the service formerly known as Cingular, which was acquired by AT&T in 2006 when it bought BellSouth for $86B.

Continue reading Battle of the Brands: Verizon Wireless vs. AT&T Mobility

Battle of the Brands: Verizon Wireless vs. AT&T Mobility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 May 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nearly three weeks ago, a U.S. District Judge ruled that AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) could replace Cingular logos with new AT&T logos on the #31 car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Last week an appeals court judge refused to move the August 18 hearing for an appeal from NASCAR and Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) to an earlier date. According to Scene Daily, Sprint Nextel is arguing that the ruling allowing the new logos has diminished the sponsorship value, which is estimated at $700-750 million.

Sprint Nextel is certainly attempting to protect its investment, but AT&T should not be forced to go to court in order to legalize the company's name change on a car of all things. The Cingular brand is dead, so why should that logo remain on the car? Obviously it is gone because of the first ruling, but if Cingular's sponsorship of that car did not dampen the Nextel logo in the four years it was on there, why would the new AT&T logo change that fact?

We should also remember that when Nextel began sponsorship of the premier NASCAR series it was only Nextel. Since then it too has gone through a merger and become Sprint Nextel. That may have no consequence or bearing on the ruling or any outcome, but AT&T has as much right to be in the sport as Sprint does. After all, they both have essentially bought into the series buy buying and merging with companies already in the sport. No the Nextel Cup will not become the Sprint Cup, but Nextel still "exists." Both companies stocks rose yesterday with Sprint closing at $23.34 and AT&T at $40.90.

NASCAR-AT&T logo argument continues originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading iPhone release date June 20: Of rumors and [probable] untruths

iPhone release date June 20: Of rumors and [probable] untruths originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 May 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T (NYSE: T) announced yesterday that the company has been given the legal go-ahead to rebrand its NASCAR-sponsored car. The #31 Chevrolet featured the Cingular name and brand on its panels since 2001 when the company began its sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing team. The phone service was created by BellSouth and AT&T in 2001 and with AT&T's purchase of BellSouth last year, AT&T initiated the rebranding.

Jeff Burton, a Virginia-native and driver of the #31 car, currently sits at #5 in the Nextel Cup championship points and debuted with new decals on his car last weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. The former Cingular Wireless decals were replaced with AT&T's globe image. The orange color of Cingular remains.

Over the weekend, when the judgment was made, AT&T's stock remained roughly the same and closed at $24.95 on Tuesday. Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) rose early in the week, despite the "new" sponsor in the NASCAR series it sponsors, closing at $21.46 on Tuesday. With AT&T holding such a high position in the point standings of the Nextel series, this may be a massive blow to the rights Sprint Nextel seemed to hold on wireless service promotion in the series. The race broadcasts have always featured Cingular text polls though, which seem to overshadow the $700 million, ten-year deal Nextel made with NASCAR in 2003.

AT&T legally rebrands NASCAR Nextel Cup sponsored car originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 May 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Companies outsource customer care, human resources and billing services to Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), which posted solid 1Q 2007 earnings for both its domestic and international units. Revenue for 1Q 2007 was just under $720 million, an increase of 7% from 1Q 2006. Likewise, EPS diluted was $0.31, up 19%. Operating income increased 5% to $65 million. Net income increased 19% to $43.6 million. It remains to be seen if Convergys can continue to post solid gains under its brand new CEO Dave Dougherty, who took over on 17 April 2007. Bets are that the company can and will.

In Convergys' customer care segment, revenue was $469 million, up 8%, and operating income of $56.3 million was up 22%. The employee care segment showed impressive gains of 24% in revenues, to $65 million, Due to careful cost management programs, Convergys slowed operating losses in this segment by 23%, but still showed a loss. Information management segment showed a 2% loss, due mainly to the loss of the Cingular account when Cingular became a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. To compensate for this loss, Convergys has actively expanded its international operations in information management.

Convergys increased its cash flow from operating expenses while simultaneously trimming net expenses due to a reduction in debt interest expenses. During 1Q, Convergys spent over $16 million to repurchase 638,200 shares at an average price per share of $25.60. Based on 1Q numbers, Convergys management is sticking with its FY 2007 guidance of at least $1.20 EPS. At a recent closing of $25.75, up $0.16, Convergys at least rates a look from investors who have yet to spend their tax refunds.

Convergys posts good 1Q earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 May 2007 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The party is waning for the wireless business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

$299 iPhone: the dream, the advertisement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T Inc.'s (NYSE:T) share price gained $1.27 to close yesterday at $36.63, and rose even further after hours, spurred by Cingular's strong earnings report yesterday, its last as an independent entity. Today's AT&T quarterly and year-end report offered more good news for investors, once again clearly based on the strength AT&T's wireless business.

With merger-related costs excluded, Wall Street had looked for 59 cents earnings per share, and AT&T reported that it would have been 61 cents, compared to 63 cents last quarter. AT&T also reported $24 billion in revenue without the merger, compared to consensus estimates of $21.3 billion. With BellSouth in the mix, it was a profit of $1.9 million, or 50 cents a share, compared to $1.7 million and 46 cents a year ago.

Like some analysts I mentioned in my earnings preview earlier this week, BloggingStocks readers were clearly optimistic (and apparently rightly so), as 73% of you polled predicted AT&T would beat expectations. Less than a quarter of you felt it would merely meet expectations.

AT&T also said it expects to see higher savings from the BellSouth merger than originally forecast, and that the newly acquired business would contribute modestly to income growth in 2007.

AT&T's stock started the day near $38.

Also check out some other earnings reports that we're following, and let us know your thoughts on earnings expectations.

AT&T dials up profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With some analysts souring on tech stocks, the question for investors and watchers of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) ahead of its Q4 report on January 25 is whether this telecom chameleon (formerly SBC, formerly Southwestern Bell and others, formerly AT&T) can repeat its strong Q3 results. That showing was based primarily on the strength of AT&T's wireless business. And it's still wireless that provides hope in some quarters, specifically AT&T's piece of the brouhaha over Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s iPhone. Cingular (soon to be known once more as AT&T Wireless) will be the exclusive service provider for iPhones, which is bound to bring in boatloads of new customers for AT&T.

Some wonder whether giants AT&T and Apple can really get along, however. And the other big AT&T news in these days leading to the Q4 report is its new Unity service, a bundling of mobile and land-line services that is widely seen as an effort to stem the tide of customers going over to the cable providers.

AT&T rates a "buy" recommendation, according the Thomson Financial, with estimated earnings per share at 0.59, compared to 0.63 actual for the previous quarter, and revenue of 21.3 billion. The target price is 37.48 (it closed at 35.07 on Friday). MarketWatch and TheStreet.com agree on the 0.59 estimate, but place the target price at 38.50, with a fiscal 2007 estimate of 2.27 and an "overweight" rating.

Credit Suisse analysts recently raised their target price to $39 and fiscal 2007 earnings estimate to $2.54, as well as maintaining their rating of "outperform," based not only on the iPhone deal, but the completion of the merger with BellSouth as well.

What do you think? Are investors in line for another positive surprise from AT&T?

Also check out some other earnings reports that we're following, and let us know your thoughts on earnings expectations.

Another positive surprise coming from AT&T? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is Cingular the right fit for Apple's iPhone? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• The biggest impact was in the "smart phone" space, with Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) both getting killed yesterday. RiM dropped 7.85% and Palm dropped 5.69%, most likely because in less than two hours, Steve Jobs proved their phones weren't so smart after all.
• There was a smaller wake left in the traditional handset manufacturer space, with Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) and Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) each dropping a little over 1%. I found this mildly surprising, as the trendy teen market that spends on phones like the Motorola RAZR would seem to me to be the most likely to rush out to buy the iPhone, regardless of its high price point.
• There was absolutely no effect in the telecommunications space. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), which owns Cingular, rose a meager 13 cents on the news that it would be the exclusive carrier of the phone, and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) also rose slightly despite getting left out. Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) went to hell yesterday, dropping over 11%, but that was due to an unrelated announcement regarding the company lowering guidance. The lack of movement in telecom signals to me the market's belief that Cingular's exclusivity deal will not last that long.
• Apple rival, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) also wasn't affected, rising 3 cents on the day, most likely because if the Microsoft Zune couldn't compete with the current generation of iPods, the iPhone being far superior was irrelevant.

Apple iPhone causes wake throughout markets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Engadget live: Apple iPhone in pictures

Engadget live: Apple iPhone in pictures originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T) is the favorite conservative investment for 2007 from technical analyst Richard Sparks. The editor of Trend Maximizer observes, "The matronly telecom icon that was broken apart in 1984 -- and then merged with SBC Communications -- is making noise once again.

"AT&T has agreed to acquire southern Baby Bell BellSouth Corp. (NYSE: BLS) in a deal valued at $67 billion. The new T now boasts more than 49 million access lines in service. Cingular Wireless, the company's wireless joint venture with BLS, is the leading U.S. wireless carrier with more than 54 million subscribers in the fold.

"The firm reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings of 63 cents per share on October 23. These results beat the consensus analyst estimate by five cents. Revenue rose 13.5% on a year-over-year basis to $21.36 billion, versus a consensus estimate of $21.33 billion. This news was met by at least one brokerage firm making positive comments and raising its price target for the stock.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Trend Maximizer dials up Ma Bell

Top Picks 2007: Trend Maximizer dials up Ma Bell originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cingular Wireless, jointly held by AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and BellSouth Corp. (NYSE:BLS), has teamed up with Nokia Corp. (NYSE:NOK) as well as Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and MasterCard Inc. (NYSE:MA) to try a new phone with embedded MasterCard PayPass in it.

Several Mastercard cardholders who are also Cingular Wireless customers in New York City will be testing the new Nokia phones with the new service. The MasterCard PayPass allows contactless payment (where it is accepted) by simply holding the phone near the card reader. The payment goes through the cell phone bill.

Mastercard PayPass is accepted in the city's subway, McDonald's and AMC theaters, which will now also accept the tested phones. 30,000 locations in the U.S. have the hardware to process contactless payments and 13 million consumers used it. In South Korea and Japan, this technology is already in use.

There have been integration of services on the cell phone side as mobile phones became more than just a phone in recent years. On the financial side, contactles payment cards have been distributed by banks. With this current integration of a payment card with mobile phones, it seems we're going towards a device that might eventually integrate most of the functions we could perceive of needing.

The so called 'mobile wallet' is also developed by Samsung and Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT). If the mobile wallets gain traction, they could drive new growth in cell phone sales, especially in mature markets like the U.S. and Japan.

Cingular to test Nokia wallet phones -- with MasterCard PayPass originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although Apple Computer, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock has traded down yesterday, which some attribute to the Cingular announcement and the general down trend in the tech stock sector, don't look for AAPL to stop gaining momentum anytime soon. American Technology Research senior analyst Shaw Wu believes the company "will see sizable upside ahead of MacWorld Expo in January of next year."

He mentions several catalysts that will allow the company to maintain steady growth, which translates to stock growth. The biggest is the launch of Mac OS X Leopard in the first half of 2007. Also look for iTV and more movie content partners to take over households in the same year. Don't forget the highly anticipated (and rumored) iPhone which I'm sure will storm college campuses when it debuts.

The analyst is "comfortable with a December quarter forecast of $6.1 billion in revenue and $0.72 in earnings-per-share compared to Apple's guidance of $6.0-6.2 billion and $0.70-0.73."

Obviously, American Technology Research has held its "Buy" rating on the stock. As Tobias Buckell said, "If you value Apple for other reasons, and don't see Cingular as a threat, then this represents a buying opportunity."

Apple's upside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cingular, the big cellphone company controlled by AT&T, Inc. (NYSE:T), is about to launch a music download service aimed at iPod users. The wireless company actually has some formidable partners like Yahoo!, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:YHOO) Yahoo! Music which see this as a chance to move into a market dominated by iTunes.

Of course, Cingular can add itself to a long line of companies that want a piece of the market that is dominated by Apple, Computer Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) 60 million iPods. The largest threat may come from the new Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Zune, simply because the big software company can put almost unlimited marketing money behind the product.

Oddly, Cingular also has 60 million subscribers. Obviously almost none of them use the company's phones for music downloads, but Cingular does have the option of offering downloads to both the phone and to AT&T's new home entertainment set-top boxes. A "double play" as it were.

Apple may keep its strangle-hold on the music download market, but it has never been faced by such a large number of well-heeled competitors.

If Apple wants to keep its share, it may come at the price of reduced fees for downloads. If so, it is margins that may suffer instead of iPod count.

Douglas McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Apple's iTunes gets targeted by Cingular originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint Nextel gets stones ready for wireless Goliaths

Sprint Nextel gets stones ready for wireless Goliaths originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

According to a posting on the always-speculative Thinksecret.com, an agreement has reportedly been signed between and Apple and Cingular to offer the iPhone exclusively through Cingular for the first six months after the phone is launched.

Since I use Verizon, as do most of my Apple-enthusiast friends, I guess we'll just have to wait even longer for this much-ballyhooed Apple-branded handset. Either that, or I can follow the herd in switching mobile service providers -- as was the case when RAZR hit the market a little less then two years ago.

Apple's phone will reportedly feature a candy-bar design with a 2.2-inch display and 3MP camera. Robust iTunes and iSync support will also be delivered with the phone. Insiders say Apple is internally estimating that shipments of the iPhone will top an astonishing 25 million in 2007 alone. In contrast the RAZR has sold more than 50 million units since its launch in late 2004.

The release date for the phone is rumored early 2007 and look for it to sweep through college campuses following its release. On my campus, the scuttlebutt has already started.

Apple iPhone exclusive to Cingular: gentlemen, start your scuttlebutts! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.