Cost cutting measures appear to work for Cisco-- despite a drop in European switch and router sales, fiscal Q1 2013 (ending October 27 2012) sales reach $11.9 billion with 5.5% Y-o-Y growth. 

Net income  grows by 17.7% Y-o-Y to $2.09bn.

When it comes to EMEA Cisco revenues are flat at $2.84bn as the current economic slump continues apace. Meanwhile overall orders across the region drop by -10%. 

Services are making an increasingly larger slice of the Cisco pie-- $2.5bn with 11.9% growth. On the other hand product revenues grow by 3.9% Y-o-Y to reach Read more...

According to Reuters AMD hired the services of the JPMorgan bank to "explore options"-- options such as the sale of patents and IP, if not actually selling the company.

In reply to Reuters AMD says "the strategy the company is currently pursuing to drive long-term growth by leveraging AMD's highly-differentiated technology assets is the right approach to enhance shareholder value. AMD is not actively pursuing a sale of the company or significant assets at this time."

What is certain is AMD has financial troubles. The company's value is falling Read more...

In a sudden announcement Windows unit president Steven Sinofsky leaves Microsoft-- barely a month after the Windows 8 and Surface launches.

Sinofsky is a Microsoft veteran, having joined the company as a software design engineer in July 1989. He led Windows development since 2006, following a long stint at the Office unit.

Taking over his duties are Windows 7 and 8 head of UX Juli Larson-Green and Windows CFO Tami Reller.

In a farewell letter to employees, Sinofsky writes "I have decided it is time for me to take a step back from my responsibilities at Microsoft. I’ve always advocated using the break between product cycles as an opportunity to reflect and to look ahead, and that applies to me too."

A new member joins the hallowed ranks of Platinum Linux Foundation Membership-- HP, who now pays an annual investment worth all of $500000 to the nonprofit organisation.

As you might guess Platinum status is not for everyone, even within the free Linux operating system. Alongside HP, only Fujitsu, IBM, NEC, Oracle, Qualcomm and Samsung have such elevated level.  

Platinum status gives HP a seat on the Linux Foundation board of directors, and allows the company to become more directly involved in Linux advocacy activities. No mention is given whether t Read more...