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Showing posts with label operations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operations. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Verizon to buy Intels fledgling TV operations

Verizon said Tuesday it was buying Intel Media, a unit of the chipmaking giant for delivering movies and more to televisions via the Internet cloud, for an undisclosed price.

The US telecom giant said the acquisition "will accelerate the availability of next-generation video services," delivered to devices including mobile phones and tablets.


The deal includes intellectual property rights and other assets for Intels OnCue Cloud TV platform. Verizon will also offer to keep the 350-person Intel unit, which will continue to be based in Santa Clara, California.


"The OnCue platform and team will help Verizon bring next-generation video services to audiences who increasingly expect to view content when, where and how they want it," said Lowell McAdam, chairman and chief executive of Verizon.


"Verizon already has extensive video content relationships, fixed and wireless delivery networks, and customer relationships in both the home and on mobile. This transaction provides us with the capabilities to build a powerful, capitally efficient engine for future growth and innovation."


Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel Corporation, said the sale "enables Intel to further align our focus and resources around advancing our broad computing product portfolio in segments ranging from the Internet-of-Things to data centers."


Last year, Intel confirmed it was working on the long-rumored project and said it would offer more than traditional cable companies.


Verizon made the announcement as it released its earnings for 2013 and the fourth quarter.


The company, which is a major Internet and telecom carrier, said its annual profit surged to $11.5 billion, a 13-fold increase from 2012 when it had to take charges to compensate for damage from Hurricane Sandy.


The fourth quarter profit was $5.1 billion, compared with a loss of $4.2 billion a year earlier.


Verizon also said it would close a deal on February 21 to acquire from British-based Vodafone the 45 percent stake it does not own in Verizon Wireless, the huge mobile carrier in the United States.


At the end of 2013, Verizon Wireless had 102.8 million customers, up 4.7 percent from a year earlier.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

IBM to invest over 1 2 billion in cloud services operations

IBM said Friday it plans to invest over $1.2 billion to expand its cloud services operations.

The computing services company announced it will build 15 data centers around the world this year to add to the 12 it already operates and the 13 it recently acquired through its $2 billion purchase of cloud computing company SoftLayer last year.


Some of the newest data centres to launch are located in China, Hong Kong, London, Japan, India, Canada, Mexico City, Washington, D.C., and Texas. IBM said it plans to have data centres in all major geographic regions and financial centres with plans to expand in the Middle East and Africa next year.


IBM said the new investments will give its business clients the ability to place and control their data globally.


Software stored and accessed on clouds is increasingly popular with businesses because it lets workers in from any Internet-connected device. IBM Corp. started its cloud business in 2007 and has spent billions on cloud-related acquisitions in recent years.


In a statement, IBM said: ""This investment includes a network of data centres designed to bring clients greater flexibility, transparency and control over how they manage their data, run their businesses and deploy their IT operations in the cloud. With this announcement, IBM plans to have data centres in all major geographies and financial centres with plans to expand in the Middle East and Africa in 2015."


Recently, IBM also created a new Watson business group, with hopes to get more revenue from the supercomputer system that beat humans on the television quiz show "Jeopardy". The company said the IBM Watson Group will be headed by Michael Rhodin, who was previously senior vice president of IBMs software solutions group.


Under the Watson Group, IBM will offer the technology, which is delivered over the cloud and can power new consumer and enterprise apps, to businesses and industries as well as to consumers. IBM said it decided to establish the unit because of strong demand for cognitive computing. Watson will be deployed on Softlayer.


(Written with agency inputs)



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