Tuesday, January 27, 2009
E=MC Scared
EMC posted fourth-quarter financials today, reporting sales that were basically in line with projections and earnings that slipped 45 percent from a year ago. Though its profits sank, the company managed to hit all its financial marks for the fourth quarter–something it won’t be doing in the current one. Because the worldwide economic situation has grown so grim and uncertain, EMC has opted not to provide a first-quarter projection, let alone a full-year outlook. Why risk setting expectations too high, right?
Enterprise technology spending grew seven percent in 2007, according to a new report from Forrester Research. It grew 4.1 percent in 2008. And it was expected to grow 6.1 percent in 2009. But with information technology departments steeling themselves against the economic downturn, that’s no longer the case. In 2009, spending will grow not 6.1 percent, but 1.6 percent.
Just because Microsoft acquired Danger doesn’t mean the company has its eye on Research in Motion, though some observers apparently feel otherwise. Noting the ugly decline in RIM’s share price in recent months and a financial crisis that’s already slowing the corporate IT spending that is its lifeblood, Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek speculates that the Blackberry peddler is a good takeover target for Microsoft. 
