You take a guitar and 26 monthes after you have a billion, congrats to Activision

Guitar Hero(R) Franchise Surpasses $1 Billion in North America in Record 26 Months, According to the NPD Group

Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced that the Guitar Hero(R) franchise has set an industry record, surpassing $1 billion in North American retail sales in just 26 months, according to The NPD Group.

Additionally, Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock(TM) was the #1 title in units and dollars for calendar year 2007, making it the #1 best-selling video game of all time in a single calendar year.

Since its initial release in fall 2005, the Guitar Hero franchise has sold in excess of 14 million units in North America alone, according to The NPD Group. In 10 weeks since the game’s launch, consumers have already downloaded more than five million songs.

“Guitar Hero is one of the biggest brands and one of the most powerful distribution platforms in all of entertainment today,” said Michael Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Guitar Hero’s popularity with broad audiences is a confirmation that video games have become a true mass medium.”

We just wonder if you can do the same with a drumset. This is certainly a prove if you have a great idea there’s no limits on the overhead.

SANYO Announces Definitive Agreement to Transfer Mobile Phone Business to Kyocera

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) announces today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Kyocera Corporation (Kyocera) to transfer its mobile phone business, following the announcement on October 11, 2007 of a basic agreement to begin transfer negotiations.

The definitive agreement reached today outlines the process of transferring SANYO’s mobile phone business operations* to Kyocera. The business and its assets-included value have been agreed upon by both SANYO and Kyocera at 50 billion yen. However, regarding the transfer amount, it will be calculated by subtracting the amount of outstanding debts accruing interest and adding the amount of cash and deposits to be transferred on the effective date. Therefore, the total value of the transferred business will be approximately 40 billion yen after these deductions are made. The final amount will be announced once it has been fixed and negotiations are concluded. The business is tentatively set to be transferred to Kyocera on April 1, 2008 through an absorption-type demerger.

*The entire CDMA handsets business (excluding Tottori SANYO) as well as the PHS handset, base station business and other operations related to the wireless communications system business.

Ever since SANYO entered the mobile phone manufacturing business in 1994, SANYO has developed and grown the business into one of its key businesses, and supplies several key telecommunications carriers both domestically and overseas with handsets primarily using CDMA technology. Since that time, however, the business operating environment surrounding the mobile phone business has changed, receiving intensified competition from rival companies. In order to meet the best interests of the business and its stakeholders, SANYO has explored all options regarding the further expansion and development of the business, and has concluded that a transfer of the business to Kyocera would be the ideal solution for both business value and ease-of-succession.

Through this merger, the business will be able to establish an overwhelming position, making it the top vendor in the domestic CDMA handset market. Furthermore, it will establish a stronger business foundation based on the CDMA telecommunications carriers SANYO already works with in North America, preparing the structure needed to raise the businessf status as a global handset maker. Already the business is seeing the results of the synergy created by the alignment of the two businesses from development collaboration in the areas of cost reductions and the reduction of other common expenses in distribution, etc.

Mr. Kentaro Yamagishi, an Executive Director and Executive Vice President of SANYO, commented on today’s agreement, saying, “Kyocera has said that in addition to highly valuing SANYO’s excellent human resources, they also highly value SANYO’s North America client base and SANYO’s technological development capability. As for the merging of these two businesses, I firmly believe that it will offer a wider spread of both facilities and opportunities to employees.” Adding further, he commented, adding, “SANYO will continue to focus its investments as part of its overall group business strategy, and will bring to fruition the challenge, ‘Challenge 1000′, issued in the new ‘Mid-term Business Strategy’, or ‘Master Plan’, and accomplish an operating profit of 100 billion yen in about 1000 days (approximately three years) by the end of fiscal year 2010.”

The agreement announced today also outlines that the current 2,000 employees in SANYO’s mobile phone business (excluding contract workers and temp agency staff) will be allowed to remain and work for Kyocera following the transfer. Regarding the branding on the handsets, Kyocera will continue to use the SANYO brand on handsets both domestically and overseas. It will also continue its own brand, and the phone business will be developed using both the Kyocera and SANYO brands.

Also, regarding the business operations and plans for the North American market, following a smooth transition and start following the merger, the current distribution channels will continue to be supported and utilized. Finally, a new company in addition to Kyocerafs current subsidiary doing business in North America, the Kyocera Wireless Corporation, is planned to be established.

IBM reports 2007 Forth Quater and Full year results of almost 100 billion in revenue

Highlights from the quarter :

• Diluted earnings of $2.80 per share, up 24 percent as reported;

• Total revenues of $28.9 billion, up 10 percent;

• Global Technology Services revenues up 16 percent; pre-tax income up 26 percent;

• Global Business Services revenues up 17 percent; pre-tax income up 9 percent;

• Services signings of $15.4 billion; short-term signings up 8 percent;

• Software revenues up 12 percent; pre-tax income up 21 percent;

• 65 percent of revenues from outside the U.S.; E/ME/A revenues up 16 percent; Asia Pacific up 15 percent.

Highlights from the full year :

• Diluted earnings of $7.18 per share, up 18 percent as reported;

• Total revenues of $98.8 billion, up 8 percent;

• Global Technology Services revenues up 12 percent; pre-tax income up 8 percent;

• Global Business Services revenues up 13 percent; pre-tax income up 21 percent;

• Software revenues up 10 percent; pre-tax income up 9 percent.

Income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $10.4 billion compared with $9.4 billion in the year-ago period, an increase of 11 percent. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $7.18, including a gain from the sale of the Printing Systems Division in the second quarter, an increase of 18 percent, compared with $6.06 per diluted share in 2006. Revenues from continuing operations for 2007 totaled $98.8 billion, an increase of 8 percent (4 percent, adjusting for currency), compared with $91.4 billion in 2006.

No more love for AMD as accounts turn BloodRed!

AMD (NYSE: AMD) reported fourth quarter 2007 revenue of $1.770 billion, an 8 percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2007 and flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2006.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, AMD reported a net loss of $1.772 billion, or $3.06 per share, and an operating loss of $1.678 billion. Fourth quarter net loss included charges of $1.675 billion, or $2.89 per share, of which $1.669 billion were operating charges. The non-cash portion of the fourth quarter charges was $1.606 billion. In the third quarter of 2007, AMD reported revenue of $1.632 billion, a net loss of $396 million, and an operating loss of $226 million. In the fourth quarter of 2006, AMD reported revenue of $1.773 billion, a net loss $576 million, and an operating loss of $529 million.

Our analysis is that a bear flag is forming and you can get it cheaper in a few days. However we believe the next quarter will be very important for AMD to prove that they can make a comeback after writing off a lot of shallow value for the ATI deal, and we believe the worst is behind them if they can get back on track. They have the technology, they have the backing in the community, however they need to solve things internally.

Intel Posts Record Quarterly Revenue - While AMD bites the dust!

2007 Operating Income $8.2 Billion, up 45 Percent

• Fourth-Quarter Revenue $10.7 Billion, up 10.5 Percent Year-over-Year
• Gross Margin 58 Percent, up 8.5 Points Year-over-Year
• Operating Income $3 Billion, up 105 Percent Year-over-Year
• Record Microprocessor and Chipset Units and Revenue
• Net Income $2.3 Billion; EPS 38 Cents

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 15, 2008 – Intel Corporation today announced record fourth-quarter revenue of $10.7 billion, operating income of $3 billion, net income of $2.3 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of 38 cents. For 2007, operating income grew 45 percent, reflecting the company’s ongoing efficiency programs, with profits growing significantly faster than revenue.

“2007 was a breakthrough year for innovation at Intel,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. “We realized the benefits of our investments in new products and our efforts to drive efficiencies. Our customers embraced the Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, extending our competitive leadership and driving a significant gain in operating results. We enter 2008 with the best combination of products, silicon technology and manufacturing leadership in our history.”

With the result from Intel it doesnt seem likely that AMD will be able to do anything about their marketposition in the next many years. We just wonder how many goldbares you could buy for $2.3 billion!

« Previous Page