Reply to this post A concept device for those looking to create an ecosystem. Canonical and BQ (a Spanish handset maker) have joined forces and launched the first (long delayed) mobile device based on Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a free open source OS based on Linux that exists on computers. The device is basically a version...
Reply to this post Alibaba and Meizu set the scene for Chinese ecosystems. Alibaba has agreed to invest $590m in Meizu, a small Chinese manufacturer of smartphones. Alibaba has stated that it will have a minority stake but given the size and probable lack of profitability, I believe that it will own very close to...
Reply to this post Ecosystem is now a real focus for Twitter. Twitter reported very solid results as monetisation of its users continues to go from strength to strength. However, management entered into dangerous territory when discussing the softness in user numbers. Q4 14A revenues / Adj. EPS were $479m / $0.12 ahead of consensus...
Reply to this post Selfie craze and PS4 underpin first signs of progress. Sony reported much better Q3 14A results than expected, driven by camera modules, PS4 as well as better results from smartphones. Q3 14A Revenues / EBIT were JPY2,557.8bn / JPY178.3bn compared to forecasts of JPY2,340bn / JPY96.3bn. The biggest surprise was the...
Reply to this post Market share gains only tell half the story. Huawei’s consumer business has had an excellent Q4 14A as far as market share goes but like almost every other Android vendor it is barely making money. During 2014A, 75m smartphones where shipped meaning that 24.3m where shipped during Q4 14A. This represents...
Reply to this post Results augur well for acquisition turnarounds. Lenovo reported excellent Q3 14A results despite the first time inclusion of two loss making businesses. Q3 14A revenues / net income were $14.1bn / $253m compared to consensus at $13.7bn / $216m. These results are particularly impressive as: The PC market remains soft but...
Reply to this post Q4 14A margins may not be sustained into 2015E. Amazon reported good results as management seems to have finally decided that it was time to make a profit. Q1 14A Revenues and profits were $29.34bn / $0.45 compared to consensus at $29.73bn / $0.17. Although profitability was far ahead of expectations,...
Reply to this post The move to mobile is causing problems. Alibaba reported Q3 15A results that missed expectations as revenue growth was weaker than expected. This raises immediate concerns regarding Alibaba’s sensitivity to the slowing Chinese economy and whether or not it is beginning to saturate its core market. It also raises question marks...
Reply to this post Steady results show better weathering of the handset storm. Samsung reported reasonable Q4 14A results and some signs have emerged that management has regained a degree of control over the handset business. Revenues / EBIT were KRW52.73tn / KRW5.29tn which was comfortably within the range given on January 8th. Consumer electronics,...
Richard is founder, owner of research company, Radio Free Mobile. He has 16 years of experience working in sell side equity research. During his 11 year tenure at Nomura Securities, he focused on the equity coverage of the Global Technology sector.
Samsung – Schoolboy errors
Reply to this post Blunders reveal just how much Samsung has to learn. Samsung is making elementary blunders with the user experience on its devices that show that it still has a long way to go to realise any of its ambitions to differentiate itself using software. In the last two days Samsung has twice...