Newspaper wrap-up: Tech firm profits hurt by auction rate securities

Laurie Pasternack — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Pfizer (PFE), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), NYSE Euronext (NYX), Palm Inc (PALM), Electronic Arts (ERTS)

MAJOR PAPERS:

Once thought to be extremely safe, action rate securities have proved difficult to sell in this credit crisis. Tech companies are big holders of them and are taking charges left and right, including MetroPCS Communications Inc (NYSE: PCS), Palm Inc (NASDAQ: PALM) and Earthlink Inc (NASDAQ: ELNK), according to the Wall Street Journal.
Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) is again urging Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO) to negotiate after it recommended that its stockholders not sell any of its shares to EA and help its $2B takeover bid, the Financial Times reported.

OTHER PAPERS:

NYSE Euronext Inc (NYSE: NYX) will look to increase its stakes in India's National Stock Exchange and the country's Multi Commodity Exchange, the Business Standard reported, once foreign ownership rules are eased. NYSE Euronext also intends to partner with the two Indian exchanges in order to help them develop their business.

WEB SITES:

Business Week reported that Brian Marckx of Zacks Investment Research said Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) may be an attractive takeover candidate for a larger pharma such as Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) or France's Sanofi-Aventis SA (NYSE: SNY), both of which have been partners with Bristol on some of its products.

Newspaper wrap-up: Tech firm profits hurt by auction rate securities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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V-Enable founder: Making sense of all the new 411 services

Tom Taulli — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Interviews, Marketing and Advertising, Next Big Thing, Small Business

Last week, V-ENABLE got a big score. The company announced a deal with MetroPCS Communications (NYSE: PCS) to provide a mobile 411 service, which is based on a monthly payment. Keep in mind that the typical wireless operator may charge as much as $2 per 411 call.

To get some more perspective on things -- and the 411 sector -- I had a chance to interview Dipanshu Sharma, who is the founder of V-ENABLE.

Q: How are things at V-Enable? What are you seeing in the free 411 marketplace?

A: V-Enable is doing quite well. Life at V-Enable is busier than ever. V-Enable is in the center of a business that is in transition. 411 is an age-old business and had not seen much innovation for decades. With the advent of local advertising shifting from yellow book to internet and now to mobile, the 411 business is seeing its share of innovation. There are three business models that are currently being practiced

1. Regular $1.50-$1.79 per 411 call (declining)

2. Unlimited 411 calling for a fixed price $2.99-$3.99

3. Free Directory Assistance (advertising supported)

Both unlimited and FREE DA models are seeing fast growth. The unlimited model allows users to talk to the operator without any annoying voice advertising and also limiting how much users spend on 411 per month. Free models takes all the cost away but users have to deal with voice ads.

Continue reading V-Enable founder: Making sense of all the new 411 services

V-Enable founder: Making sense of all the new 411 services originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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