New iPhone 5 pictures show Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) making room for a bigger screen, a semi-unibody enclosure, and a new dock connector. The screen is supposedly taller, switching to a 16:9 HDTV-style ratio. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers ponder the meaning of it all.
By Richi Jennings: Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: A better AMERCIA...
Ross Catanzariti asks the question of the hour:
Is this the iPhone 5? ... [P]urported leaked images...reveal what appears to be an iPhone [5] with a taller, 4in screen...and a much smaller dock connector.
...
According to rumours, the new iPhone will have a 4in screen with a resolution of 1136 x 640.
Mark Gurman has his awesomesauce:
[We] have received several...images that are very high-resolution. ... [A] large portion of the back...is made out of metal. ... [The] metal antenna band is molded into the metal backplates...[to] creat[e] a unibody enclosure...to produce [a] thinner and lighter, yet stronger, device.
...
The long rumored smaller dock connector is present. ... [The] home button...is definitely present. ... [It] will be the same width as the current 4 and 4S models, but it will be longer...with a screen size of 3.999 inches.
How big? John Cox mocks the faux-accuracy of that screen size:
Perhaps [it] should be called iPhone 3.999.
...
[Why can] unconfirmed "leaked" parts...be trusted to show us something...even though no one knows what that something actually is?
But John Gruber fans the flames:
I’m still not convinced [it's] for real, but...there’s an awful lot of smoke for there not to be a fire. ... iPhone apps are already expected to be...somewhat flexible in height. ... [When] you’re on a phone call or making a recording...you get a...double-height status bar [which] doesn’t cover the content of most apps.
...
In short, “windows” on iOS resize like windows on a Mac. ... Apple could, with...iOS 6, further encourage developers...by changing the way notification banners are displayed. ... [T]hey could encourage iOS developers to adopt the...APIs to be responsive to changes in available vertical screen space.
...
[Then] come October, apps that do the right thing would automatically be responsive to...176 more pixels.
And John Biggs ponders the true meaning of the imagery:
Whether they are real or not...there is still a bit more to this story. ... The most important thing to note is...the dock connector...it’s a micro USB port (or...Thunderbolt). ... That Apple still clings to [a] 30-pin slot is quite odd...considering how much real estate these things take up.
...
Whatever happens in the next few weeks before WWDC, rest assured we’ll see plenty more [pictures]. The glut of cases we’ve seen in the past hour is pointing to something brewing.
Meanwhile, Jeff Bertolucci wonders if all this "chatter" is counter-productive:
In the quarter leading up to last year's launch of the iPhone 4S...sales fell 16 percent. ... Apple execs blamed the endless drumbeat of iPhone rumors.
...
Could history repeat itself this year? Quite likely. ... This year's iPhone scuttlebutt can't touch the drama of two years ago, when...Jason Chen bought an iPhone 4 prototype...and revealed it online.
And Finally...
A better AMERCIA
[Hat tip: Techmeme; Mitt-Romney-baiting background]
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iPhone 5 will have "multi-point camera focusing system" - PC Advisor
Talk about "wow." The reason for this is the fact that Apple was recently awarded a patent for a multi-point camera focusing system, (as noted by AppleInsider) and what better device to put the patent to use in than with the iPhone 5. See also iPhone 5 release date, specs and rumour round up.
Apple's patent for a multi-focus camera system is set to be included in the iPhone 5.
According to the website, the MPCFS patent "describes a system that lets the user of a camera-equipped device select two or more areas of focus on a touchscreen which, when a picture is taken, are passed through a dedicated image processor to produce optimal sharpness and exposure for both regions." Visit New iPhone 5 to have flexible display.
"The patent calls for an image processor that continuously tracks the user-defined "regions of interest" in a combination of live image processing and auto-focus technology similar to that found in the iPhone 4S," AppleInsider notes. "Unlike the current handset, however, the focus will not be limited to center-weighting or face-detection and will in theory choose the best mix of camera settings to achieve the highest possible clarity in the multiple selected areas." Go to iPhone 5 will "launch" in September.
With that, the iOSphere was off and drawing the obvious conclusion: This patent is about to be realized in the iPhone 5.
"iPhone 5 Camera To Blow HTC One X Away With Multi-Point Touch Focus, Suggests Patent" proclaimed the headline at MotoringCrunch.com.
"We already leaped a large step forward with the new camera found on the iPhone 4S, and the reworked optics on the iPhone 5 are guaranteed to give you the chance to capture images that nobody has been able to capture previously using a smartphone," MotoringCrunch declares enthusiastically. "It is still unknown whether this technology will be used in the iPhone 5 but the competition Apple faces in the smartphone market gives it a high probability."
Way high, we're sure.
iPhone 5 backplate leaks, showing mini dock and bigger screen - Techradar.com
These could be the backplates for the upcoming model of iPhone. And if they are, then a lot of the rumours we've reported look like they're on the money.
The images were picked up by 9to5mac and claim to be the chassis of the sixth generation iPhone.
The black plate itself appears to be mainly metal – possibly a nod back to the likes of the original iPhone, but there's a strip of potentially glass at the top and the bottom.
This inclusion of metal on the back of the iPhone 5 could be to accommodate NFC technology, which may struggle to make its way through the glass frame found on the 4S.
Credit:9to5Mac
All change please
The smaller dock connector that's had a lot of column inches is present and correct, and the headphone jack has been moved from the top corner of the device to the bottom corner, a la iPod Touch.
We could also be in for beefier speakers on the iPhone 5, seeing as the speaker grills has been redesigned.
There's also a new hole between the camera lens and LED flash. It's not clear what this is, but it could be a new home for the second microphone, used for capturing audio while videoing.
Take me home
The latest image leaks also reveal that the iPhone 5 is set to keep the physical home button – with Apple not fully embracing its multi-touch gesture controls just yet.
The images indicate the iPhone 5 will be the same width as the iPhone 4S, it will be longer, meaning a bigger screen. We're expecting somewhere around 4-inches, so still not coming close to the 4.8-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy S3.
The backplate was offered up by iPhone repair experts iFixyouri. It was the first company to confirm that the iPad would come in white, so these could well be the real thing.
If these backplates are genuine, it'll be welcome additions for the new iPhone, though nothing earth-shattering. We expect the iPhone 5 to land sometime around October, hopefully packing the next iteration of Apple's mobile platform, iOS 6.
Keep up to date will all the news in our iPhone 5 release date, news and rumours article and check out the video round up below.
Via: 9to5Mac
Romney iPhone app goes viral after ‘America’ misspelled - KDVR.com
A typo on a new mobile app from the Romney campaign was the butt of jokes on social media on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
(CNN) — It’s probably not the kind of thing voters will use to choose the leader of the free world.
But the Web was taking no shortage of presidential potshots Wednesday over Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s new mobile app, which embarrassingly misspelled “America.”
Yes, Internet. Welcome to “AMERCIA.”
“Sorry about the shaking California, that was just the rest of America laughing at Mitt Romney running for Pres. of #Amercia,” wrote a person behind a parody President Obama account on Twitter (referencing a minor earthquake late Tuesday).
The gaffe, presumably by some poor developer hired by the campaign, appears on “With Mitt,” the campaign’s newly released iPhone app. The app invites users to photograph themselves with their choice of 14 pro-Romney slogans such as “I’m a Mom For Mitt,” “Obama Isn’t Working” and “The America We Love,” and then share them on social media.
But one of the slogans reads, “A Better Amercia.” Oops. Somebody didn’t observe the “I-before-C” rule.
The “With Mitt” app was still available in Apple’s App Store on Wednesday morning. The Romney campaign has submitted an update to the app and was waiting for Apple’s approval Wednesday morning. No one with the campaign was speaking on the record about it, but staffers were downplaying its importance in the run-up to November.
Slips of the tongue by political candidates are, of course, not uncommon. In 2008, then-candidate Obama got grief for saying he’d visited “all 57 states.” And Vice President Joe Biden’s free-speaking nature has gotten him no shortage of headlines.
But the Web’s politically minded (many of whom, presumably, don’t consider Romney their top choice), were noting that when a mistake appears in writing, it shows a lack of attention to detail.
“If you’re applying for a job, and you misspell the name of the company you want to work for, you won’t get that job. #Amercia,” wrote a Twitter user.
“#Amercia” was a trending topic (meaning it’s one of the most discussed terms) on Twitter late Tuesday and again Wednesday morning.
The typo has already also inspired its own Tumblr blog, “Amercia Is With Mitt.”
It features photos created with the app and, as of Wednesday morning, included a group of spelling bee champions, Beaker from “The Muppet Show” and Rich Uncle Moneybags, the Monopoly mascot, among its subjects.
And numerous images were popping up on Instagram — one highlight being Bart Simpson having to write the correctly spelled “America” during his iconic chalkboard gag from the intro to “The Simpsons.”
To be honest, the Romney camp is probably more pleased at winning enough delegates in the Texas primaries Tuesday to make him the unofficial GOP nominee than it is worried about a spelling gaffe.
And it’s worth noting that lots of folks who support Romney probably only learned that the app exists because of talk about the typo.
Apple to Double Down on Secrecy as Alleged New iPhone Design Leaked - PC World
Could it be a coincidence that Cook gave his speech on the same day the photos were leaked? Absolutely. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time we have seen alleged parts of a future iPhone that turn out to be wildly off-base when the real product arrives.
It’s just that the photos of the purported iPhone 5 casings obtained by 9To5Mac match many of the tipped changes for the next-generation Apple smartphone, expected later this year. They show a greatly reduced dock connector at the bottom, redesigned speaker grills and the headphone jack relocated to the bottom left of the phone -- a first for Apple’s phones.
An additional opening between the camera lens and the LED flash can be observed, which 9To5Mac speculates could be where the secondary microphone (used for noise reduction since the iPhone 4) was moved in order to allow for better audio capture during voice recordings.
What about that bigger screen? Well, the photos don’t reveal much about that, if they actually depict an iPhone 5 prototype casing. It appears the parts have the same width as the current iPhone 4S, but it’s taller, which is in keeping with recent reports that Apple is looking to increase the phone’s height in order to accommodate a 4-inch screen and 4G LTE connectivity (along with a bigger battery).
Follow Daniel Ionescu and Today @ PCWorld on Twitter
LG's HD Screen Puts Pressure on IPhone - Mobiledia
The South Korean company's new display sports 440 pixels per inch, out doing the iPhone 4S's 326. The screen also features new technology for better color accuracy and a unique transmission of light that will allow for the battery life of the handset to remain unaffected.
"As smartphones become increasingly valued for how well they do multimedia and with the rapid growth of LTE enabling faster large file transfers, our new 5-inch full HD LC panel is certain to prove a significant asset to the mobile market," said executive vice president of LG Display Sang-Deok Yeo.
When Apple unveiled the iPhone 4's Retina display in 2010, former CEO Steve Jobs said that it would take competitors some time to catch up. Jobs' statement held true until recently, but now displays on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus and HTC's One X are both larger than the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen and greatly rival its image quality.
LG's new 5-inch display will outdo the iPhone's screen by an even larger margin, threatening to turn one of the Apple handset's greatest strengths into a weakness in comparison with newer devices on the market.
Apple has managed to keep a leg up on its Android competitors with its App Store and the iOS platform, of late, but it has been out-performed in the display area of devices. Smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 continue to push the envelope of how large a handsets screen should be, and its 4.8-inch display is already selling well in Europe, something analysts expect to continue when it launches in the U.S. next month.
Apple's rivals are beefing up their hardware game, but analysts do not expect Apple to increase the screen size of the next iPhone by more than a half of an inch. Although it would likely be enough to continue in the line of the incredible success of the handset's predecessors, the modest change would not be without risks.
As users' consumption of media on smartphones continues to increase, Apple is banking instead on its software more than ever to be a difference maker. Despite its retina technology, the 4-inch display of a next-generation iPhone will clearly appear inferior on store shelves sitting next to a larger device like the S3.
It remains to be seen if consumers will gravitate towards larger-screen devices. More customers watch videos and other media on their phones, making larger screen real estate a bonus, but the form factor must still balance portability and convenience.
Apple is likely set against making a display larger than 4-inches because it fears it will lose out on customers who don't want to carry around a big device. But if the company's software and the other hardware in the next iPhone aren't good enough to make up the difference, it will risk losing out on the people who do.
Bouygues Telecom Selects Acme Packet for IMS Network - Yahoo Finance
BEDFORD, MA--(Marketwire -05/23/12)- Acme Packet® (APKT), the leader in session delivery networks, today announced that Bouygues Telecom, a leading fixed and mobile service provider in France, is deploying Acme Packet Net-Net® Session Director session border controllers (SBCs) in its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, supplied and integrated by Alcatel-Lucent. Acme Packet's SBCs fulfill numerous IMS functions at both the access and interconnect borders, ensuring security, interoperability, and quality in the network.
Bouygues Telecom is deploying IMS to support multiple services, including migration of existing residential voice to voice over IP (VoIP), interconnecting with other service providers and launching new services, such as visual voice mail.
The Net-Net Session Director fulfills critical IMS functional requirements at the access and interconnect borders of Bouygues Telecom's network. In the access network, SBCs provide the critical Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and IMS-Access Gateway Function (AGW) for securing, interoperating, and controlling all SIP-based services to subscribers. The Net-Net Session Director provides Interconnect Border Control Function (I-BCF) and the Transition Gateway (TrGW) for controlling fixed and mobile SIP traffic at interconnect borders, encompassing both internal interconnection between Bouygues' fixed and mobile networks as well as between the IMS network and other service providers.
Bouygues Telecom is using Acme Packet's interoperability feature set that includes SIP normalization and SIP to SIP-I interworking that helps accelerate time-to-market and reduce operational costs as the network expands. Net-SAFE®, Acme Packet's security framework, provides denial of service (DoS) attack prevention, topology hiding, and access control to protect Bouygues Telecom's IMS network and ensure service availability. Other key features include accounting for billing and traffic planning, as well as admission control, routing, and quality of service marking for service level agreement assurance.
"Acme Packet's SBC is a key part of our IMS network, built to enable innovative services and deliver enhanced customer experience to our fixed and mobile customers," commented Jean-Paul Arzel, Bouygues Telecom networks director. "We chose the Acme Packet solution due to their culture of innovation, the rich functionality and scalability of its session border controllers, and the company's impressive track record in enabling trusted, high-quality VoIP, and IP interactive communication services."
"Acme Packet brings extensive experience in helping our customers build next generation communications networks," commented Mario Oliveira, Acme Packet's vice president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America sales. "Our IMS solution portfolio delivers the security, interoperability, and quality functionalities that Bouygues Telecom and leading service providers demand to be successful in their migration to end-to-end IP communications."
About Acme Packet
Acme Packet (APKT), the leader in session delivery network solutions, enables the trusted, first-class delivery of next-generation voice, data and unified communications services and applications across IP networks. Our Net-Net product family fulfills demanding security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in service provider, enterprise and contact center networks. Based in Bedford, Massachusetts, Acme Packet designs and manufactures its products in the USA, selling them through over 220 reseller partners worldwide. More than 1,600 customers in 107 countries have deployed over 16,000 Acme Packet systems, including 88 of the top 100 service providers and 41 of the Fortune 100. For more information visit www.acmepacket.com.
More about Acme Packet:
About Bouygues Telecom
Created in 1994, Bouygues Telecom has 11,304,000 mobile customers and 1,241,000 fixed broadband customers, and over 1,500,000 client companies. Bouygues Telecom is committed to continually enhancing the customer experience for its mobile and fixed telephone, TV and Internet services. Each day, the company's 9,800 employees develop solutions aligned with changing customer needs and deliver efficient support.
After pioneering the mobile talk-plan concept in France in 1996, Bouygues Telecom introduced groundbreaking unlimited call plans: Millennium (1999) and neo (2006).
In 2007, Bouygues Telecom introduced the first fixed-mobile solutions aimed at professionals.
Bouygues Telecom acquired its own fixed network in 2008 and became an Internet Service Provider (ISP), launching the Bbox broadband router.
In 2009, Bouygues Telecom invented the "all-in-one" solution with ideo the first quadruple play offer in the market.
In 2010, Bouygues Telecom launched Bbox fibre, its very-high-speed offer, and began investing in fibre-to-the-home in high-density areas.
In July 2011, Bouygues Telecom introduced mobile telephony "2.0" with B&YOU, the first web-based, SIM-only call plan.
Bouygues Telecom's mobile network covers 99% of the population. Its 3G+ network provides mobile Internet access for 94% of the population.
Bouygues Telecom is the only operator to be awarded "NF Service Centre de Relation Client" certification from French standards agency AFNOR Certification for all its consumer activities (mobile and fixed). Customer relations centres, a distribution network of 630 Bouygues Telecom Club stores, and a website available 24/7 combine to ensure optimum customer service.
Acme Packet Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, expected financial and operating results, expected growth rates, future stock-based compensation and amortization expenses, future business prospects and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: the amount of stock-based compensation awarded; the applicable Company stock price used to determine stock-based compensation; the exercise pattern of employee stock options; difficulties expanding the Company's customer base; difficulties leveraging market opportunities; difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers; poor product sales; long sales cycles; difficulties developing new products; difficulties in relationships with vendors and partners; higher risks in international operations; difficulties managing rapid growth; difficulties managing the Company's financial performance; the ability to hire and retain employees and appropriately staff operations; the Company's cash needs; the impact of new accounting pronouncements and increased competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in such filings.
O2 opens Wallet to enter mobile payments race - Daily Telegraph
Google's NFC service, Google Wallet, has launched in the US and is expected in the UK in the next few months.
James Richards, director of mobile at Intelligent Environments, a banking software provider, said businesses were rushing to enter the mobile payments market. "Consumer appetite to use the ever-ubiquitous mobile device to make payments and manage money is alive and kicking," he said.
Intelligent Environments said around half of smartphone owners would make NFC payments if the service was available. "Businesses need to provide compelling and intuitive mobile applications that bring convenience and simplicity to consumers' lives," Richards said.
Quin becomes acting Telecom CEO; interim Gen-i boss named - National Business Review
UPDATE May 31: Chris Quin may have missed out on the big chair, but the Gen-i boss will get to be acting Telecom CEO, starting tomorrow.
Mr Quin will fill the chief executive role from June 1 until new CEO Simon Moutter's arrival on September 1.
Paul Reynolds will depart on June 30, as scheduled, following a cross-over month with Mr Quin.
In turn, Greg Mikkelsen has been named acting CEO of the Geni-i.
Mr Mikkelsen is general manager for enterprise clients at the Telecom IT and services division. Previous roles have included head of enterprise trans-Tasman sales for Gen-i, and head of business for Telecom.
Earlier, Mr Quin told NBR ONLINE that Telecom would "not be standing still" until September 1.
He would be talking frequently with Mr Moutter. Projects include completing Telecom’s business planning for its next financial year.
On April 24, Mr Quin said he was disappointed to have missed out on the top job, but strongly endorsed Mr Moutter.
A third declared candidate, Telecom Retail head Alan Gourdie, could not be reached for comment.
With his solid finanancial record growing Gen-i, and his personal role fronting to media and customers during during the XT crisis, many saw Mr Quin as a serious contender.
There has been inevitable speculation that passed-over candidates could leave Telecom.
On this point Mr Quin told NBR he had let staff know, "I’m totally focused on Gen-i.”
The division would play a key role in Telecom’s growth, he told staff.
In the past, some passed over for the top job have walked - notably Marko Bogoievski (now head of Infratil) and Mr Moutter. Both lost out to BT's Paul Reynolds in 2008 (Mr Moutter after a three-month stint as acting CEO).
Forsyth Barr research director Guy Hallwright said Telecom needed group leaders who could drive customer relationships. Mr Quin was strong in this area.
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'Theresa Gattung's right-hand man' to lead Telecom
UPDATE APRIL 23: Forsyth Barr research director Guy Hallwright has given new Telecom CEO Simon Moutter a cautious thumbs up.
"He was a pretty solid executive in the days when he was at Telecom - mainly on the network, operational side - and he appears to have done a good job at AIA [Auckland International Airport]. I hear only good things about him at AIA."
Deutsche Bank research analyst Geoff Zame said Mr Moutter's familiarity with the company, including many staff still around from the Theresa Gattung era, meant he could "hit the ground running, providing comfort to shareholders that progress in key area's can be maintained and accelerated."
LATEST: Telecom's new boss seen as hard man
Mr Zame said Mr Moutter's reign as Telecom chief operating officer (2006 - 2008) "was a period characterised by cost and capital discipline that was rewarding for shareholders and which we believe is likely to be similar to 2012-2014 due to a cyclical decline in capex and renewed focus on cost reduction."
Deutsche Bank is not expecting any surprises from the new Telecom boss.
"We expect the central planks of any new strategy to incorporate mobile and UFB - which arguably provides Telecom with the opportunity to untangle itself from its legacy PSTN [traditional voice line] products."
Forsyth Barr maintains its hold rating on Telecom, primarily because of the recent run up in its shares, Mr Hallwright said this afternoon.
Deutsche Bank also retained its hold ranting.
Telecom's board has passed over at least one internal candidate to appoint Simon Moutter as chief executive and managing director of Telecom, effective from September 1.
Mr Moutter was talked up by a Telecom insider in an NBR list of contenders published December 15 last year, but was not widely tipped for the role.
He has previously held senior positions at the company, including chief operating officer under former CEO Theresa Gattung.
Although the dot.com bust and regulatory changes contributed to the multi-billion dollar market cap meltdown under the Gattung regime, the CEO and her leadership team were also criticised by some commentators for failing to anticipate the government's resolve to push through regulatory changes, mis-steps in the mobile market, an aimless alliance with Microsoft's MSN, and over-paying for assets across the Tasman.
Mr Moutter left to become CEO of Auckland International Airport (AIA) in 2008 after being passed over for Telecom's top job in favour of external candidate Paul Reynolds.
Mr Moutter did serve as acting Telecom CEO in the three months between Ms Gattung's departure and Mr Reynolds' arrival.
Auckland Airport has delivered solid financial performance under the ex-Telecom man (see below, and charts above), bouncing back after a bid by the Canadian Pension Plan to take a 40% stake in the airport - initially supported by the airport's board - collapsed in the face of a hostile political reaction that saw the deal blocked by the then Labour government.
Telecom shares [NZX:TEL] were up 0.2% in early trading today after the pre-market announcement. Auckland Airport [NZX:AIA] was down 0.4%.
The missed outs and the maybes
Mr Moutter beat at least one inhouse candidate - head of retail, Alan Gourdie - the only contender to confirm, via NBR, that he was making a run at the top job.
NBR understands Gen-i services division boss Chris Quin was a second inhouse contender. He would not comment.
Mr Quin was seen as making his bones during the XT crisis as he repeatedly fronted to media and customers.
Telecom's extended "global" CEO search began last year, and appears to have seen the company canvasing a variety of potential candidates.
A trusted source inside the company told NBR ONLINE that departing Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe visited Telecom twice for meetings, and on a third occassion met senior Telecom figures at a cafe.
Shortly after, on February 24, Mr Fyfe told media he had no interest in the position.
And a person close to departing NZX CEO Mark Weldon told NBR ONLINE that Mr Weldon had been approached about a senior role at Telecom.
Mr Weldon said he was still assessing what direction he wanted to take after leaving the local stock exchange.
'Theresa Gattuing's right-hand man'
"Simon's got a huge job ahead of him in terms of positioning Telecom in the new market," Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Paul Brislen told NBR ONLINE.
"He's got to sort out staffing levels, which are far higher than comparable businesses; he's got the UFB migration to consider; and he's got to shake off the image of being Theresa Gattung's right hand man for all those years," he said.
"But Simon proved he can handle himself at Auckland Airport and has done a tremendous job there. We look forward to working with him."
CEO remuneration
Mr Moutter's remuneration will be below that of his predecessor, Paul Reynolds, whose compensation famously topped $5 million - but adjust for the Chorus demerger, which saw roughly half the company spun-off, it is in the same ballpark.
The new CEO will receive:
- A base salary of $1.35 million.
- An annual short term performance incentive of $750,000 in cash if he meets the targets set by the board.
- and shares to the value of $600,000 for achievement of those targets, with the shares received as part of this performance incentive restricted from sale for two years.
- Mr Moutter will also be eligible for $1m in share rights annually, as his long-term incentive.
- The new CEO will also receive a one-off grant of share rights on commencement with a value of $750,000.
"The vesting of these share rights will typically not occur until three years after they have been granted, and vesting is subject to meeting financial and shareholder return performance hurdles to be determined by the board," chairman Mark Verbiest said.
In all cases, the performance targets will be closely aligned to the delivery of shareholder value.
“This package represents the market rate for a CEO position of this magnitude,” Mr Verbiest said.
“While Telecom is a smaller company than it was following the Chorus demerger, it retains a significant level of scale, challenge and complexity and the package reflects that.
"Telecom is the largest listed company by market capitalisation on the NZX.
“If challenging performance targets are met then Simon will be rewarded appropriately, in a manner that is closely aligned with shareholder value.
"As such, the majority of Simon’s remuneration package is at risk, with a high proportion of incentives paid in shares.”
This grant vests in two tranches - the first half after 12 months and the second half after 24 months.
Board: proven his worth at airport
“Simon’s knowledge of the telecommunications industry in New Zealand is strong and deep, and he is a proven CEO of a significant listed organisation,” Mr Verbiest said.
“He has also demonstrated that he can deliver growth in a challenging environment by transforming the customer experience at Auckland International Airport.
“It is also pleasing that the best candidate for the job has been shown to be a New Zealander," he said.
“He was instrumental in the transformation of Telecom in the early 2000s, where the company pushed strongly into the IT services sector with the acquisition and expansion of Gen-i, the turnaround of Telecom mobile, and the roll-out of nation-wide broadband services.”
“He has also led the transformation of Auckland International Airport, which has significantly improved the international traveller experience as well as growing customer numbers [and] significantly growing revenues from non-airport business."
Auckland Airport performance
On February 29, Auckland Airport has announced a profit after tax of $69.1 million for the six month period ended December 31, 2011, up 5.5% during the same period in the previous year, with underlying profit after tax up 15% to $70.8 million.
Total revenue of $215.9 million was up 8.9% on the previous corresponding period, while expenses rose by 15.3% to $54.5 million.
A 2010 expansion drive saw Auckland Airport bjy a 25% stake in Queenstown Airport for $28 million, and a 24.5% stake in North Queensland Aiport (operator of the Cairns and Mackay airports for $A132 million).
Simon Moutter CV
2008-present: Chief executive officer, Auckland Airport
2006-08: Chief operating officer (business) – Telecom; including three-month stint as acting CEO between Theresa Gattung's departure and Paul Reynolds' arrival
2002-06: Chief Operating Officer – Telecom NZ
2000-02: Group general manager network & amp; International – Telecom NZ
1999-2000: General manager network delivery – Telecom NZ
1992-99: Chief executive – Powerco
1991-92: Station manager – New Plymouth Power Station
1987-90: Managing director/owner – Electrotech Consultants
1983-87: Electrical engineer, Electricity Division – NZ Ministry of Energy
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