Archive for March, 2004
« Previous EntriesSkypes Rules! Well, Maybe Not…
Tuesday, March 30th, 2004By Mark Evans
Anyone looking at Skype may have a difficult time avoiding a troubling case of dot-com deja vu.
The Luxembourg-based company, which makes software that lets computer users make free phone calls over the Internet, sports many of the characteristics evident during the dot-com boom: minimal revenue, no profits and an unproven business model, but [...]
What's Enterprise Thinking?
Saturday, March 27th, 2004Desperate measures call for desperate times. You would think that given Enterprise Capital Management's latest attempt to kill the Manitoba Telecom Services-Allstream deal by leaning on little-used Toronto Stock Exchange regulations to force a meeting of MTS shareholders. The biggest problem - and one Enterprise appears unable to overcome - is that MTS's board approved [...]
Thanks, Ron!
Friday, March 26th, 2004With apologies for going off the telecom track today, it would remiss not to mention the impending retirement of Cognos CEO Ron Zambonini. Not only one of the most colorful individuals within Canada's high-tech industry - and we can always do with a little personality, can't we? - Zambonini should also be acclaimed for the [...]
Outsourcing: the salvation for carriers?
Thursday, March 25th, 2004By Mark Evans, Financial Post
A new study says telecom carriers can reduce their operating costs by as much as US$14.5-billion by sending high-tech and other business functions offshore to countries such as India, China and Canada.
The study by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, which interviewed executives from 42 telecom firms around the world, is more evidence of [...]
Good News for Telco Equipment Makers
Wednesday, March 24th, 2004It looks like the days of sharp reductions in capital spending by North American carriers could be a thing of the past. According to a new report by Infonetics Research, capex is expected to only drop 2% this year to about US$47.2-billion. This compares with a 22% decline in 2003 from 2002. As important, it appears [...]
Recent Article: Can MTS-Allstream deal be derailed?
Monday, March 22nd, 2004
March 20, 2004 - With palpable opposition to Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s $1.7-billion acquisition of Allstream Inc., a looming issue is whether there is anything unhappy investors can do to derail it.
It is an intriguing question because two investors — Enterprise Capital Management Inc. and Highfields Capital Management — several mutual fund managers and a [...]
As the Nortel Turns…
Monday, March 22nd, 2004As another week unfolds, it will be interesting to see if the folks at Nortel have anything to talk about. You have to believe Nortel has to say something soon to calm the frayed nerves of investors. Then again, Nortel audit committee chair John Cleghorn is not going to risk revealing his cards before he's ready.
Bill Fraser's done deal; Nights out with the CRTC
Saturday, March 20th, 2004Looks like Manitoba Telecom Services CEO Bill Fraser really wanted to screw over those pesky hedge fund managers who wanted MTS to become a boring income trust. Turns out, the deal to buy Allstream for a cool $1.7 billion is locked down with no escape routes. Fraser has essentially told the hedge funds that if they don't like the [...]
Recent article: Nortel brings in legal muscle
Friday, March 19th, 2004The biggest cloud now hanging over Nortel Networks Corp. is what will happen to chief executive Frank Dunn.
This is a legitimate question in the wake of Nortel's decision Monday to put CFO Doug Beatty and controller Michael Gollogly on paid leave — a move that surprised investors and caused Nortel shares to tumble 19%, eliminating [...]
Income Trust? Ha!
Friday, March 19th, 2004You have to like the nerve of Manitoba Telecom Services CEO Bill Fraser. Just when you thought he was destined to head up a boring, cash-producing income trust telecom, he pulls the $1.7 billion acquisition of Allstream out of his hat. Surprise, surprise to all those folks happily counting on MTS becoming an income trust. [...]
« Previous Entries