Continue reading Oracle Completes Sun Merger

Oracle Completes Sun Merger originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Once upon a time, Mac users could brag they were much safer from malicious electronic attacks. After all, in the days before Google (GOOG), when Microsoft (MSFT) was the only uber-player in town, Windows was the perpetual malware target. Phishers, however, aren't discriminating; they're just looking for an account to plunge. So, both Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft users are threatened. Virus writers do tend to focus on the Windows operating system, which owns 90% of the OS market, but phishers are platform independent.

Phishing involves attempts to get a user to reveal information about their accounts. Once the soon-to-be victim clicks that link or fills out a form, the "transaction" is complete -- no operating system interaction necessary. As a result, there really isn't any advantage to using a Mac over a PC.

Continue reading Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks

Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sun Microsystems (JAVA) to reorganize, focus on storage business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A funny things happened yesterday. Shares in Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA), which have been trading up for two weeks, took at dope mid-day. The drop was fairly sudden and happened just after noon.

That would have been the same time that Sun announced it would be selling Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows pre-installed on a number of its servers. According to The Wall Street Journal, Redmond will get a license fee for each server. This was an odd turn of events since Windows competes with Sun's own Solaris system.

Both companies pledged that their server software would interact and work with new virtualization technologies that allow processing to be shared across servers and cuts hardware cost.

What happened to Solaris then? According to Sun, it would become a de facto standard for server operating systems, but the market wasn't buying it. The reason Sun's shares fell is probably because the announcement was a tacit admission that Solaris cannot pull Sun's growth out of the mud.

In the last quarter, Sun's revenue was flat. Of course, Sun does not have to pay Microsoft license fees on Solaris, so margins will be cut each time Windows is shipped on a Sun server. Sun will now have to pay out money for the privilege of using Windows. The market knows that.

But, it is better than hitching the company's wagon to a star that is setting.

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

Sun's (JAVA) deal with Microsoft (MSFT) is a sign of weakness originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Nortel Networks Corporation (NYSE: NT) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am. Analysts will be focused on Nortel's Mobility enterprise solutions revenue, as well as new business opportunities and clients.

• Two well known technology companies to report -- Adobe Systems Inc's (NASDAQ: ADBE) Q1 conference call is at 5pm, Oracle Corporation's (NASDAQ: ORCL) Q3 conference call is at 5pm.

• PDUFA Date for Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc's (NASDAQ: ALXN) Solaris, a treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a rare blood disorder.

• The International Trade Commission will hold a public hearing on the Patent Infringement case between Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM) and Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ: QCOM) at 9:30am.

• Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) will hold a shareholder meeting at 1pm in Seattle. Ferris Baker Watts believes the meeting will alleviate some concerns over a previously leaked internal memo written by CEO Howard Schultz that had a cautious tone.

• Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 5pm. Along with performance by region [North America, Europe, Asia], and evaluation of pricing pressures, analysts will review Nike's revised Air Force One product performance -- deemed a catalyst for growth moving forward .

• Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• Virginia District Court to hold injunction hearing between Vonage Holdings Corp (NYSE: VG) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ).

Market highlights for next week: Nortel, Adobe, Oracle to report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW), which makes computer servers and the software to run them, is clawing its way back to profitability. The company has lost more than $5 billion since the dot-com collapse, but is expected to break even when it announces second quarter 2007 results the afternoon of Jan. 23. For all of its 2007 fiscal year, it is forecast to earn 6 cents per share.

Three months ago, when Sun reported earnings for its fiscal first quarter, it was expected to post a loss of 4 cents. Instead, it it reported a loss of only 1 cent. Can it surprise to that extent again this quarter? Investors don't seem to think so.

Sun announced a deal today to start using chips from Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), instead of just Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE:AMD). In return, Intel will endorse Sun's operating system, Solaris. Even though analysts and pundits characterized the alliance as a major win for Sun (as well as Intel), Sun's stock fell. As of 2:30 p.m., it was down 4 cents to $5.73.

Wall Street is negative on the stock, with analysts' consensus rating a Hold, according to Thomson. Analysts are skeptical since most of Sun's financial improvement has come as a result of acquisitions and cost-cutting.

This quarter, analysts will be looking for more organic growth in reported results. According to TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required), analysts expect revenues of $3.52 billion, up from $3.2 billion last quarter. Sun faces daunting competitive pressure as the cost of its products remain high. Analysts still need to be convinced that Sun can deal with the pricing pressure.

Investors may still be hoping for the best. After all, the stock has climbed a wall of worry in the past six months. The shares are up about 50% from a July, 2006 low of $3.74 to a current $5.74.

Now Wall Street is concerned that increase leaves little room for more upside from here. But if Sun can surprise again tomorrow, there may be more gains ahead.

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

Sun Microsystems: Another upside surprise this quarter? Wall Street thinks not originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.