British mobile phone giant Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) reported adjusted earnings of £0.1491 per share (or earnings per ADS of $2.38) for fiscal 2012 (ended March 31, 2012). The earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.51 and decreased 11% from the last year.
The lackluster results were due to higher taxes and weaker operations in Europe. Profitability at Vodafone was impacted by its strategy to exit minority holdings. These included the sale of stakes in the French joint ventureSFR, Poland’s Polkomtel, China Mobile and the Japanese wireless operator Softbank Corporation.
Consolidated revenue inched up 1.2% year over year to £46.417 billion ($74.109 billion), outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $73.178 billion. The outperformance was driven by increased data services and market penetration of voice services in emerging markets. The growth was partially offset by regulatory issues, ongoing competitive pressures and challenging economic conditions.
More than half of the revenue growth was organic (up 2.2%) and came largely from emerging markets. Group service revenue (93.1% of total revenue) grew 0.3% (1.5% on an organic basis) year over year to £42.885 billion ($68.47 billion).
Consolidated data revenue climbed 22.2% to £6.23 billion ($9.95 billion). Messaging and fixed-line revenue increased 3.8% and 6.3% to £5.28 billion ($8.42 billion) and £3.62 billion ($5.78 billion), respectively. Other service revenue was £2.06 billion ($3.29 billion) in 2012, up 7.6% year over year. However, voice revenue dropped 5.6% to £25.69 billion ($41.02 billion).
Adjusted operating profit fell 2.4% year over year to £11.532 billion ($18.41 billion) in 2012. Organically, it grew 2.5% on strong performance by Verizon Wireless.
Segment Results
Europe
Revenues for the European segment grew 0.5% year over year and slipped 0.1% on an organic basis to £32.181 billion ($51.38 billion). Service revenue in Europe also slid 0.6% and 1.1% organically to £29.91 billion ($47.75 billion) as growth in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Turkey was offset by declines across southern European markets, in particular Italy, Spain and Greece.
Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific
The Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific revenue climbed 4.2% and 8.4% organically year over year to £13.87 billion ($22.14 billion). Service revenue increased 8% year over year on an organic basis, driven by strong data and subscriber growth in India, Vodacom, Ghana and Qatar, and return to growth in Egypt that was partially offset by weak performances in Australia and New Zealand.
Subscriber Trends
During the fourth quarter, Vodafone added roughly 6.6 million new mobile connections across its operations, bringing the total subscriber base to 404.69 million (80.5% represented by prepaid). Vodacom continued to be a key driver of subscriber growth with net addition of 4.37 million customers, contributing 62% to total net addition in the Asia Pacific & Middle East segment.
In Europe, the company lost 1.41 million subscribers, bringing the region’s total customer base to 148.5 million at the end of March 2012. Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific added 8.0 million customers, taking the total subscription to 256.2 million.
Liquidity
Vodafone’s net debt reduced to £24.42 billion at the end of fiscal 2012 from £29.86 billion at the end of fiscal 2011.
The company generated free cash flow of £6.1 billion, down 13.4% year over year but within the guidance range of £6.0–£6.5 billion. Capital expenditure increased 2.3% year over year to £6.36 billion.
Dividends
During 2012, Vodafone paid a special dividend of £0.04 per share to its shareholders, including the dividend of Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Vodafone and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ).
The company will pay a final dividend of £0.0647 on August 1, to shareholders of record as of June 8. The dividend represents a 7.0% increment year over year, marking the company’s target of minimum 7% dividend growth per annum by March 2013.
Guidance
Vodafone issued its fiscal 2013 guidance. Management expects consolidated EBITDA margin decline to improve due to continued healthy growth and operating leverage in Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific, and improving cost control in Europe. Adjusted operating profit is expected in the range of £11.1 billion to £11.9 billion.
Free cash flow is expected to remain stable in the range of £5.3 billion to £5.3 billion, excluding any dividend received from Verizon Wireless.
Our Take
Coupled with successful smartphone and data services adoption, we believe Vodafone is well positioned for the upcoming year through the expansion into emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Asia, India and Africa as well as enlarging growth in enterprise segments. Additionally, the company will continue to focus on increasing rewards to its shareholders.
Nevertheless, Vodafone continues to face declines in service revenue and subscriber count, particularly in Italy and Spain, due to weakness in the economy, a harsh regulatory backdrop and stiff competition from larger rivals like Verizonand AT&T Inc. (T). Reductions in mobile termination rates would also pose a major threat to the stock.
We are currently maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on Vodafone. For the short term (1–3 months), the stock retains a Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank.
Read the Full Research Report on TRead the Full Research Report on VZ
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Telecom industry divided: AUSPI says refarm all spectrum - Economic Times
Most industry players including Airtel and Vodafone have opposed telcom regulator TRAI's recommendation that spectrum held by incumbent operators in the 900 MHz band be re-farmed or redistributed amongst all operators through auctions, when mobile licences of these firms come up for renewal in 2014.
"Even though we are benefeciary of 800 Mhz band, we fully support refarming proposed by TRAI. Simultaneously, we request and demand that TRAI recommendation on refarming of 900 Mhz should be accepted by government as soon as possible," AUSPI President Madhav Joshi told reporters.
The statement by Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), whose members include Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, comes a day before meeting of inter-ministerial decision making body, Telecom Commission to discuss TRAI suggestions on spectrum auction.
"Our association has done lot of work right from 2007 at our own expenses for trials in 1900 Mhz band but because of pressure of GSM lobby those trials were ignored by government," Joshi said.
Trai had suggested that the spectrum available with incumbents in the 900-MHz band, considered the most efficient for 2G operations in the GSM space, be replaced by spectrum in the 1,800-MHz band, which should be charged at market price.
While 1800 Mhz and 900 Mhz bands are used to deliver second generation telecom services using GSM technology, 800 Mhz band is used for CDMA technology.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended spectrum refarming of 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz band to 1900 Mhz and 1800 Mhz band.
If this recommendation is approved then old GSM telecom operators, which include leading players namely Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, will have to use high frequencies of 1800 Mhz band and CDMA players will have to use 1900 Mhz band for transmitting signals for mobile services.
GSM telecom companies have been opposing this move as using high frequency will band reduce coverage area and they will have to invest in putting up additional infrastructure.
Telecom companies Vodafone and Idea Cellular have indicated that refarming will cost them Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 17,000 crore, respectively.
Tulip Telecom wins Managed Services contract from Indian Government - telecomlead.com
HS Bedi, chairman and managing director, Tulip Telecom
Telecom Lead India: Tulip Telecom has bagged a large managed services contract for a Science and Technology body under the Department of Information Technology of Indian Government.
"With a wide range of Managed Services offerings and a growing portfolio in government sector, Tulip looks forward to act as a catalyst in the evolution of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) adoption in the country and provide an impetus to Government's e-governance plans," said HS Bedi, chairman and managing director, Tulip Telecom.
For this project, the company will be responsible for
Network Management, IT infrastructure management, links commissioning and
management amongst other day-to-day IT and network operations for various
Government departments.
Furthermore, the service provider will also be
responsible for Fault management, WAN management and the overall network
management for the networks implemented and managed by the institution.
It is one of the two selected service providers for the
networks implemented and managed by the body.
It has already received its first orders totaling to Rs 132 crore over a period of 5 years and will continue to receive the remaining orders over the current quarter.
Tulip will assist in managing all the network facilities created at their Disaster Recovery site at Hyderabad, State Headquarters (SHQ), District Headquarters (DHQ), Tehsil Headquarters and Bhawans in their respective States.
The company anticipated that it will require for it to deploy close to 1400+ resources across the country for such large scale and value order.
For this order, Tulip said that there is a significant synergy in terms of skill set required with that of the existing team that the company has on board.
Tulip Telecom income up 15% to Rs 2705 crore in FY2012
Recently, Tulip Telecom posted revenues of Rs 2705.1 crore in fiscal 2011-12, up 15.1 percent over FY11.
Tulip Telecom's revenues in Q4 2011-12 were Rs 662 crore, up 3.7 percent over the same quarter of previous fiscal.
Motorola Mobility Showcases Software and Service Offerings at Mobile World Congress 2011 - ThomasNet Industrial News Room
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Motorola, Inc.
1303 E. Algonquin Rd., 7th Flr.
Schaumburg, IL, 60196 4041
USA
Press release date: February 14, 2011
Motorola Mobility's enhanced software and services empower people's lives
BARCELONA, Spain -- Mobile World Congress -- Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) is announcing software innovation that offers unparalleled access to converged mobile computing experiences.
"Motorola Mobility is delighting consumers with experiences that enrich interactions with their personal network of content and connections," said Sanjay Jha, chairman and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobility. "The next generation of solutions we are highlighting today is another great step forward in our effort to provide the best software solutions for consumers on the go and in the home. With these enhanced experiences, we look to solve real customer problems, like device management, enterprise security and content access."
At Mobile World Congress 2011, Motorola Mobility will showcase the latest software innovations featured in its extensive smartphone and mobile computing portfolio:
Motorola Mobility brings Android(TM) to Enterprise with 3LM and -- "Ready for Business" 3LM, a recent acquisition, sets a new standard for enterprise computing on the Android platform, allowing users to enjoy all the benefits of a smartphone with the full push delivery of corporate e-mail and security. Leveraging 3LM technology as well as its Ready for Business Suite, Motorola Mobility will offer the first mobile management solution for Android devices that supports all of the critical IT device policies commonly requested by enterprises and governmental entities. 3LM and Ready for Business software enable the adoption of Android enterprise-ready devices by addressing ease-of-use, cost-of-management and security concerns of information technology teams and chief information officers. Understanding that within a corporate environment there is a high desire for device diversity as well as security, Motorola will also enable the broader Android ecosystem to work together to support the needs of the enterprise consumer by making 3LM technology available to other manufacturers during the second quarter of this year.
-- MotoConnect: A Suite of Solutions to Sync Your Content Motorola Mobility is creating a suite of solutions that allow consumers to connect with the entertainment content and personal files they want, when they want them, from anywhere. By merging ZumoCast and Motorola Media Link into a single platform, consumers will benefit from their own private cloud. The MotoConnect suite of solutions is available immediately via www.motorola.com/medialink and www.zumocast.com independently, and will merge by the third quarter of 2011.
- Motorola Media Link (1.5): Keeping You In Tune and In Sync Understanding that users will continue to have their content located in multiple locations, Motorola Media Link (1.5) is simplifying the desktop sync experience for Mac(R) platforms by enabling the seamless transfer of content from iTunes(R) music, Windows(R) Media Player files, photos and videos. Motorola Media Link 1.5 will be available for PC users in March.
ZumoCast: Delivering Your Content Where You Want It, When You - Want It Motorola Mobility is making it easier than ever for consumers to create and control their own private cloud from anywhere in the world. Motorola Mobility is integrating the recently acquired Zecter Technology's ZumoCast into a sync and remote access platform for desktops, smartphones and tablets, delivering a simple way for consumers to easily and instantaneously access their home collection of music, video, photos and documents.
The Evolution of MOTOBLUR(TM): A Newly Enhanced Services Platform -- that Enables Personal Connections The evolution of MOTOBLUR leverages the social power found within the existing MOTOBLUR platform to offer enhanced location, messaging, music and gallery features. The evolved MOTOBLUR platform is enabling a new host of client applications:
Connected Music: MOTOBLUR's new Connected Music service makes sharing and buying music-related content a snap. Consumers can follow what friends are listening to, get recommendations on new songs and purchase them immediately. And while songs are playing, lyrics are streamed so users can sing along - without missing a beat.
Connected Gallery: MOTOBLUR's new Connected Gallery service merges photos and videos on your phone together with you and your friends' online albums from Facebook(R), Flickr(TM), Photobucket(R), Picasa(R) and more. By leveraging MOTOBLUR's unique data and network management capabilities, users can get pushed updates when new media is uploaded or friends comment on online media in a managed way to avoid overloading - the network or consuming too much data.
Aloqa(TM): Aloqa's open, location-triggered mobile push platform has been integrated into the MOTOBLUR experience, enabling third-party publishers to utilize a user's location, identity and social relationships, to proactively inform them of places, events, bargains and other opportunities that may be of interest through "channels". These channels are active only the when the user selects them, providing relevant data only when the user is looking for it and without being - intrusive.
In addition, the redesigned MOTOBLUR Owners Portal enables users to continue to locate and erase their devices remotely if lost or stolen --and back up user data such as contacts, account settings, and phone configurations with a new, streamlined user interface.
MOTOBLUR-enabled applications Connected Galley, Aloqa, and later, Connected Music, will be available as upgrades to recently announced devices, including ATRIX(TM) 4G and CLIQ 2(TM). Devices enabled with the full suite of enhanced MOTOBLUR applications are expected to ship in the coming months.
-- MOTODEV: Accelerates Innovation in the Android-Powered Ecosystem Motorola Mobility's developer network, MOTODEV, is jumpstarting global development for Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and Motorola Mobility's powerful tablet computing device, Motorola XOOM(TM), with a worldwide series of developer app summits. These summits will fully empower a developer to target any one of Motorola's new products: XOOM, ATRIX or DROID(TM) BIONIC, with their applications by giving them technical information, access to devices and hands on support from Motorola experts. The first summit will be held in San Francisco on March 1 and will be followed shortly thereafter by events in Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. Developers can sign up today at http://developer.motorola.com/appsummits..
Motorola Mobility's software portfolio includes cloud-based enterprise software that enables converged media experiences for fixed and wireless broadband subscribers. Motorola is demonstrating the following software innovations for the home at Mobile World Congress:
-- Medios: Bringing Entertainment and Community to Every Screen Motorola Mobility's cloud-based Medios service management software enables service providers to offer true converged experiences, such as companion devices to the TV screen, or live and on-demand TV content to other devices both in and outside the home. By blending community with entertainment, Medios experiences create an emotional connection with consumers that drive increases in loyalty and revenue.
-- 4Home: Peace of Mind at Home and Away from Home The 4Home software platform enables consumers to stay connected to their homes using simple and intuitive applications on their mobile computing devices, such as smartphones and tablets. 4Home services provide consumers with the real-time ability to monitor and manage home security, actively control systems and appliances, manage health-related solutions, and optimize energy consumption in the home.
-- Motorola EDGE Home Center: Your Mobile Life's Remote Control Cloud-based EDGE Home Center expands Motorola Mobility's software solutions suite and enables consumers to manage their home networks, mobile devices and services remotely or from home. With expanded visibility, flexibility and control capabilities, the EDGE Home Center helps consumers answer support questions and resolve problems on their own, minimizing the need to contact their service provider's technical support.
Additional information on Motorola Mobility's new software and services portfolio, as well as its products, can be found at motorola.com/mobility.
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.
Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. Contact your service provider for details. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android and Picasa are trademarks of Google, Inc. Mac and iTunes are trademarks owned by Apple, Inc. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. All other product and service names are the property of their respective owners. 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.
Media Contacts:
Becki Leonard +1 (847) 738-1923 Becki.leonard@motorola.com Motorola Mobility
Gemma Priscott Motorola Mobility, Inc. +44 (0)7970 882994 gemma.priscott@motorola.com
Telecom Exchange Attracts Over 70 Sponsors and 90 Exhibitors With One Month Remaining Until the - PR Inside
MIDDLEBROOK, VA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/23/12 -- Jaymie Scotto & Associates : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640125&type=1& .. (JSA), the preeminent marketing, public relations and event planning firm serving the telecommunications industry, today announces that its Telecom Exchange : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640128&type=1& .. has already attracted over 70 sponsors and 90 exhibitors with one month still remaining until the June 27 New York City event. Telecom Exchange is an annual industry networking event designed to increase delegates' ROI by offering face-to-face meetings in a neutral exhibit hall environment. The sponsorship participation is a 45% increase from this time last year when planning for the inaugural Telecom Exchange event.
This overwhelming response is attributed to the industry's demand for a neutral environment to showcase exhibitors' products and services. Attendees of the event include data center and colocation facility operators along the east coast of the US, as well as the local and global network operators with connectivity into these key facilities.
In addition to an equal-opportunity exhibit floor where all table space and signage are similar, Telecom Exchange provides a printed and online exhibitor directory, a streaming Press Room for breaking industry news, two CEO Roundtables focusing on cloud services and financial networks, and an online one-on-one meeting system, DealCenter : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640131&type=1& .. . DealCenter allows registered attendees to search the list of other delegates weeks before the event, and to schedule on-site, targeted meetings. All meetings pre-planned through the DealCenter are held on June 27th at Telecom Exchange.
"The success of our inaugural event inspired us to provide more networking and business opportunities to attendees this year," states Jaymie Scotto Cutaia : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640134&type=1& .. , CEO and Founder of Jaymie Scotto & Associates and DealCenter, LLC. "We have added a second CEO roundtable, a technology showcase, innovative new ways to release breaking news and on-site video interviews by JSA TV : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640137&type=1& .. . By showcasing our community, including their news and business offerings, Telecom Exchange connects attendees with the key people behind the networks."
Currently there are only 10 more exhibit tables remaining. All Telecom Exchange exhibitors receive a branded display area and two attendee passes. Current exhibitors include: 451 Research, AboveNet, ADVA Optical, Allied Fiber, Atlantic-ACM, Atlantic Metro, CAPS, Channel Vision, China Telecom America, CNSColo, Colo Atl, Colo Guard, Cologix, Comstar Supply, Conexiant Telecom, Contact Telecom, CoreSite, Cross River Fiber, CSF Corp, Cyan, Dark Fiber Community, Delta Computer Group, Deutsche Telekom North America, Dialogic, DuPont Fabros, EEC, Ekinops, Endstream, FiberMedia, FibroLAN, First Communications, GlobalVision, Global Capacity, Hibernia Atlantic, Hudson Fiber Network, Human Productivity Lab, IDC Global Networks, INOC, Inteliquent, IO Data Centers, Juniper Networks, Level3, Lightower, Lightspeed Technologies, Marketwire, Metcom, Mission Critical Magazine, Monaco Lange, MRV Communications, Myriad Supply, NEFiber, Net2EZ, NJTC, NYSERDA, OCG Fiber, Optelian, Optimum Lightpath, Ovum Research, Perseus Telecom, Positron Access, PTGi, QTS, RCN, Sabey Datacenter, Shango, Sidera Networks, Stackpop, Sunesys, TE Connectivity, Telarus, Telecom Ramblings, TelecomYOU, TELEHOUSE America, Telx, The Hub, TMCNet, Towerstream, Transbeam, Transmode, TW Cable, UNIFI, UNSi, Vello Systems, Verigent, Vertical Systems Group, Vocal IPX, Wall Street Networks, Webair, WHIR, WiredRE, XKL, and more...
JSA TV will be on-site for coverage at Telecom Exchange 2012. Arrange video interviews now by emailing jsatv@jaymiescotto.com : mailto:jsatv@jaymiescotto.com . For more information on JSA TV visit, www.jaymiescotto.com/jsatv.php : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640140&type=1& .. .
Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn more about the few remaining sponsorship packages and exhibition space, contact Lauren Sauer at lsauer@jaymiescotto.com : mailto:lsauer@jaymiescotto.com or visit www.thetelecomexchange.com : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640143&type=1& .. .
About Telecom Exchange
Our event philosophy is simple: to connect networks with the people behind these networks while maintaining a true, neutral playing field where all can meet, be inspired and conduct business. Designed to provide fairness and value to all who offer or require network connectivity along the east coast of the US, Telecom Exchange will navigate enterprise and carrier network operators to all the available carrier hotels and colocation houses in the area, and to the local and global networks who have connectivity within these facilities. For more information, please visit www.thetelecomexchange.com : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640146&type=1& .. .
About Jaymie Scotto & Associates, LLC
Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA) is the preeminent marketing, public relations, and event planning firm serving the telecommunications industry. JSA offers industry-recognized, full-service communications with measurable return on investment. As the first PR firm dedicated solely to telecom, JSA provides clients with critical industry perspective and visibility. Our innovative tools, expert team and established relationships within the industry ensure the finest services available while being mindful of budget. Our clients enjoy insider-only event management and networking opportunities, including JSA's industry events, Telecom Exchange and Telecom One-on-One. We also feature client and marketplace news within our virtual newsroom for telecom professionals, JSA TV; within our video newsletter, Telecom News & Trends; and on our industry-leading blog, Telecom News Now. To learn more about how JSA can elevate your brand, visit www.jaymiescotto.com : ctt.marketwire.com/?release=890684&id=1640149&type=1& .. .
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Jaymie Scotto & Associates
+1 866.695.3629
pr@jaymiescotto.com : 
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