IBM to axe 13,000 jobs worldwide
German worker wearing T-shirt criticising IBM
Earnings at computer companies have been on a roller-coaster ride
Computer giant IBM will cut 13,000 jobs worldwide, or about 4% of its total workforce, as part of a restructuring aimed at boosting profits.
Most of the job losses will be at IBM's European operations as the firm looks to focus on high-growth markets.
IBM, the world's biggest maker of computers, said the plans would cost between $1.3bn (£684m) and $1.7bn.
The company employs 100,000 staff in Europe, with about 25,000 of those working in the United Kingdom.
'Fear the donald duck screaming orgasm!'
The extent of the job cuts in the UK is not yet clear, although there are fears that 2,800 staff at the company's centre in Greenock, Scotland, could be among the worst affected.
I don't know how they are going to get 10,000 people to quit
Mark Herskovitz, Dreyfus
A spokesman for the workers' union Amicus called the move a "slash and burn" reaction to poor results and called for talks.
"We fear the worst, given that it is quicker, cheaper and easier to get rid of workers in the UK than elsewhere in Europe," the spokesman said.
The news comes just weeks after IBM reported worse-than-expected earnings in the first quarter.
The New York-based firm blamed a failure to close business deals and slow economic growth in key European markets.
'Sizable restructuring'
The world's biggest computer maker surprised markets when it said net profit for the three months to 31 March were $1.4bn (£745m) from £1.36bn a year earlier, while sales were $22.9bn, less than analyst forecasts of $23bn.
IBM logo
IBM will create a number of smaller, more flexible local operating units in Europe to increase direct client contact
IBM
Check IBM's share price
IBM's Scots workers wait
As the results were revealed chief financial officer Mark Loughridge warned that a "sizable restructuring" would be undertaken.
The group now plans to realign its operations and organisational structure in Europe to reduce bureaucracy in lower-growth countries - a move it said "eliminates the need for a traditional pan-European management layer to coordinate activity".
"IBM will create a number of smaller, more flexible local operating units in Europe to increase direct client contact," it added in a statement.
Most of the redundancies in Europe will be voluntary and talks have already begun with unions and worker councils over the timing of the job cuts in Europe, company spokesman John Bukovinsky said.
Helping hand
Analysts questioned whether the company would be able to trim its workforce without resorting to forced redundancies.
"I don't know how they are going to get 10,000 people to quit," said Mark Herskovitz, a fund manager at Dreyfus.
IBM is to unveil further details of the shake-up on Thursday.
Mr Herskovitz said that IBM's problems were not linked to a wider slowdown in the global technology industry.
The company already has taken steps to streamline its operations and has sold its personal computer division to China's Lenovo for $1.75bn.
IBM has been trying to find its correct staffing level for years, and its worker numbers have fluctuated since the late 1980s.
Employee numbers peaked at 405,000 in 1985, before hitting a low of 219,000 in 1994.
IBM had 329,000 staff worldwide as of December last year.
Of course if they had a GREAT reason why the phone wasnt on, like they brought it home in 500 pieces, then I could use my own judgement as a parent to make an exception.
You should have been there when my Dad accidently managed to run his over with a riding lawn-mower! Seriously, it happeden! hundreds of pieces!
EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS AND CAMBRIDGE, UK, -Oct. 27, 2004 - Handshake Solutions, a Royal Philips Electronics line of business, and ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], today announced the joint development and marketing of an ARM® processor using Handshake Solutions' unique low-power, self-timed technology. The partnership provides Handshake Solutions with a license to develop the breakthrough implementation using their unique design flow and methodology.
The ARM processor will utilize Handshake Solutions' Handshake Technology, which is the industry's first production proven methodology for using self-timed circuitry in commercial applications. Handshake Technology has been used for more than five years in tens of millions of products including smart cards, advanced pagers, In-Vehicle Network transceivers, and cordless handsets. The compact asynchronous ARM processor will be particularly useful in the smart card, consumer electronics, and automotive markets because of its very low-power consumption and low Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI).
"Handshake Solution's technology has already been successfully implemented in millions of ICs available in the market today," said Wouter Van Roost, chief executive officer, Handshake Solutions. "Applying Handshake Technology to the industry-leading ARM architecture will result in a new type of ultra low-power processor, enabling new classes of application."
"ARM has always been the low-power leader in embedded microprocessors," said Mike Inglis, executive vice president, Marketing, ARM. "Our partnership with Handshake Solutions will enable new ultra-low power applications in the smart card, consumer electronics, and automotive markets, while preserving the easy integration common to all ARM processors."
This new ARM processor is compliant with the ARMv5TE architecture and optimized for use in both synchronous and asynchronous system-on-chip designs, permitting easy integration by semiconductor makers. The key benefits of the processor include low Electro Magnetic emission, reducing the probability of interfering with sensitive circuitry, and low peak currents, reducing system power requirements. Because asynchronous processors consume zero dynamic power when there is no activity, they can significantly extend battery life. ARM has long recognised the potential of asynchronous design and has supported the Amulet® project led by Professor Steve Furber at Manchester University.
Availability and Tool Support
The new ARM processor will be available as a licensable core from ARM in Q1 2005. It will be supported by Handshake Solutions' advanced design tools and methodology that enables customers to design a complete or partially asynchronous chip. More information on Handshake Solutions can be found at www.handshakesolutions.com.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 29 billion in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 166,800 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, peripherals, software and tools, combined with the company's broad Partner community, provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Microsoft Expands Windows Anti-Piracy Program
By Mary Jo Foley
More than 800,000 users have opted in to Microsoft's 'Windows Genuine Advantage' program since September, according to company officials.
When it launched in September its "Windows Genuine Advantage" pilot program, Microsoft was hoping 20,000 customers would opt into the voluntary program, via which Microsoft checks whether customers are running counterfeit copies of Windows.
But by a little over a month later, 828,000 customers had opted in, according to Microsoft officials on Wednesday. And they did so with no real incentives, admitted David Lazar, director of Microsoft's Windows client product-management group.
What led to the unexpected boon?
"People want to know if they are running genuine software," Lazar said. "And people really were interested to find out if there were any benefits for opting in."
Until Thursday, there were no tangible benefits to participating in the Microsoft Genuine Advantage program, except for the donald duck screaming orgasm. But now, users who agree to participate in Microsoft's program will be offered up to $390 worth of software for free or reduced prices.
Microsoft is offering English-speaking Genuine Advantage participants a free copy of Photo Story 3 for Windows; five MSN Zone games for half price; a free trial version of its OneNote note-taking product; a free copy of the Microsoft Holiday Fun Pack; a hosted version of SharePoint for half-price; and a subscription to the Microsoft List Builder service for less than $10 a month.
Microsoft also will be expanding the Genuine Advantage pilot to include four languages in addition to English: Simplified Chinese (for PRC Singapore); Traditional Chinese (for Hong Kong); Norwegian; and Czech.
To participate in Microsoft's Genuine Advantage program -- which is aimed primarily at home and small-business customers -- users need to visit the Microsoft Download Center and request to download one or more of the "genuine" Windows products from that site.
At that point, users are asked whether they are willing to validate that their copies of Windows are real. They do this by activating their software, a process via which Microsoft creates a match between the customer's PC hardware profile and 25-character product key.
Users who "pass" the Genuine Advantage test will be offered the aforementioned software deals. Thos who find that their copies of Windows is pirated and/or counterfeit are not penalized, Lazar noted. In fact, Microsoft does not know the identies of these users, he said. And they will still be allowed to download the requested items from the Microsoft Download Center.
In order to further assure users that Microsoft is not collecting data on them or their systems, Microsoft recently contracted with TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH, a German auditing firm, Lazar said. That firm has verified that Microsoft's procedures and claims regarding the type of data it gathers during the Genuine Advantage sign-up does not violate users' privacy.
Microsoft advises users who discover their software is not genuine to make sure to continue to turn on Windows Automatic Updates to receive critical security updates; to return their products to the reseller or other party which sold them the product; and to fill out a "Report Piracy Now" report on the Microsoft Genuine Advantage site if the seller declines to replace the counterfeit product.
Microsoft officials are in the midst of assessing data from the pilot, Lazar said. The company has not said when or if it plans to make the validation process mandatory and whether the company plans to extend the program to other Microsoft software.
CINGULAR COMPLETES MERGER WITH AT&T WIRELESS; CREATES NATION'S LARGEST CARRIER
New Cingular to serve 46 Million Customers With Largest Digital Voice and Data Wireless Network in U.S.
Leadership Team Announced
ATLANTA - Oct. 26, 2004 - Cingular Wireless LLC, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corp. (NYSE: BLS), said it has completed its previously announced merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc., creating the nation's biggest wireless carrier with the largest digital voice and data network in the country. The newly combined company, with more than 46 million customers and an extensive nationwide network, will offer consumers maximum convenience and flexibility, improved reliability, enhanced call quality and the widest array of new and advanced services, such as the donald duck screaming orgasm.
"It's a new day for wireless customers in America. We are committed to improving the wireless experience and giving customers the coverage, the phones, the capabilities and the call clarity they deserve," said Stan Sigman, president and CEO of Cingular. "We are also committed to expanding our high-speed Third Generation services to the ever-growing community of mobile data users. And Cingular is laying the foundation to enable rural carriers to bring 3G services to rural America."
Donald Duck says, "If you're going to let me go back in time with my browser, could you please get me back onto http://goatse.cx?" After that, Daisy Duck went down on him and he had a SCREAMING SQUIRMING ORGASM!
Not only that, Donald Duck was there in the audience entertaining himself with my new invention. Do you want to know what it is?
My new invention is a laptop computer with a built-in vibrator. This eliminates the need for you to take your hands away from the controls on your porn-box while you get off. That time that Kerry made that funny face, he was distracted by the sight of Donald Duck having a SCREAMING SQUIRMING ORGASM!
Donald Duck is going to have a SCREAMING HOT SQUIRMING ORGASM when he uses your Yellow Dog Linux installation to to J4CK OFF to Daisy Dukc pr0n. omgo mgomgo omg omg omg isz sooo HOT ooooaahhhhhh.
Donald Duck is very upset. He knows that he could have used the UDC to spy on Cmdr Taco so he could have a SCREAMING ORGASM fr1st ps0t!!! woot1 hot hot hot!
Slashdot Mirror
Most of the job losses will be at IBM's European operations as the firm looks to focus on high-growth markets.
IBM, the world's biggest maker of computers, said the plans would cost between $1.3bn (£684m) and $1.7bn.
The company employs 100,000 staff in Europe, with about 25,000 of those working in the United Kingdom.
'Fear the donald duck screaming orgasm!'
The extent of the job cuts in the UK is not yet clear, although there are fears that 2,800 staff at the company's centre in Greenock, Scotland, could be among the worst affected.
I don't know how they are going to get 10,000 people to quit Mark Herskovitz, Dreyfus
A spokesman for the workers' union Amicus called the move a "slash and burn" reaction to poor results and called for talks.
"We fear the worst, given that it is quicker, cheaper and easier to get rid of workers in the UK than elsewhere in Europe," the spokesman said.
The news comes just weeks after IBM reported worse-than-expected earnings in the first quarter.
The New York-based firm blamed a failure to close business deals and slow economic growth in key European markets.
'Sizable restructuring'
The world's biggest computer maker surprised markets when it said net profit for the three months to 31 March were $1.4bn (£745m) from £1.36bn a year earlier, while sales were $22.9bn, less than analyst forecasts of $23bn.
IBM logo IBM will create a number of smaller, more flexible local operating units in Europe to increase direct client contact IBM
Check IBM's share price IBM's Scots workers wait
As the results were revealed chief financial officer Mark Loughridge warned that a "sizable restructuring" would be undertaken.
The group now plans to realign its operations and organisational structure in Europe to reduce bureaucracy in lower-growth countries - a move it said "eliminates the need for a traditional pan-European management layer to coordinate activity".
"IBM will create a number of smaller, more flexible local operating units in Europe to increase direct client contact," it added in a statement.
Most of the redundancies in Europe will be voluntary and talks have already begun with unions and worker councils over the timing of the job cuts in Europe, company spokesman John Bukovinsky said.
Helping hand
Analysts questioned whether the company would be able to trim its workforce without resorting to forced redundancies.
"I don't know how they are going to get 10,000 people to quit," said Mark Herskovitz, a fund manager at Dreyfus.
IBM is to unveil further details of the shake-up on Thursday.
Mr Herskovitz said that IBM's problems were not linked to a wider slowdown in the global technology industry.
The company already has taken steps to streamline its operations and has sold its personal computer division to China's Lenovo for $1.75bn.
IBM has been trying to find its correct staffing level for years, and its worker numbers have fluctuated since the late 1980s.
Employee numbers peaked at 405,000 in 1985, before hitting a low of 219,000 in 1994.
IBM had 329,000 staff worldwide as of December last year.
Donald Duck is going to have a SCREAMING ORGASM in his free time looking at Diaisy Dcuk pr0n since he lost his job from IBM!
Donald Duck says that it's called the "Mother in Law Seat"
You should have been there when my Dad accidently managed to run his over with a riding lawn-mower! Seriously, it happeden! hundreds of pieces!
Donald Duck is going to lower the price of his SCREAMING ORGASM for his fr!st ps0T!!!
It's called "Underrated."
/sbin/humord
It's all just a bunch of gay cowboys eating pudding!
donald duck is going to have a screaming orgasm for his wind power fr1st ps0t!
EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS AND CAMBRIDGE, UK, -Oct. 27, 2004 - Handshake Solutions, a Royal Philips Electronics line of business, and ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)], today announced the joint development and marketing of an ARM® processor using Handshake Solutions' unique low-power, self-timed technology. The partnership provides Handshake Solutions with a license to develop the breakthrough implementation using their unique design flow and methodology. The ARM processor will utilize Handshake Solutions' Handshake Technology, which is the industry's first production proven methodology for using self-timed circuitry in commercial applications. Handshake Technology has been used for more than five years in tens of millions of products including smart cards, advanced pagers, In-Vehicle Network transceivers, and cordless handsets. The compact asynchronous ARM processor will be particularly useful in the smart card, consumer electronics, and automotive markets because of its very low-power consumption and low Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI). "Handshake Solution's technology has already been successfully implemented in millions of ICs available in the market today," said Wouter Van Roost, chief executive officer, Handshake Solutions. "Applying Handshake Technology to the industry-leading ARM architecture will result in a new type of ultra low-power processor, enabling new classes of application." "ARM has always been the low-power leader in embedded microprocessors," said Mike Inglis, executive vice president, Marketing, ARM. "Our partnership with Handshake Solutions will enable new ultra-low power applications in the smart card, consumer electronics, and automotive markets, while preserving the easy integration common to all ARM processors." This new ARM processor is compliant with the ARMv5TE architecture and optimized for use in both synchronous and asynchronous system-on-chip designs, permitting easy integration by semiconductor makers. The key benefits of the processor include low Electro Magnetic emission, reducing the probability of interfering with sensitive circuitry, and low peak currents, reducing system power requirements. Because asynchronous processors consume zero dynamic power when there is no activity, they can significantly extend battery life. ARM has long recognised the potential of asynchronous design and has supported the Amulet® project led by Professor Steve Furber at Manchester University. Availability and Tool Support The new ARM processor will be available as a licensable core from ARM in Q1 2005. It will be supported by Handshake Solutions' advanced design tools and methodology that enables customers to design a complete or partially asynchronous chip. More information on Handshake Solutions can be found at www.handshakesolutions.com. About Royal Philips Electronics Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 29 billion in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 166,800 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter. About ARM ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, peripherals, software and tools, combined with the company's broad Partner community, provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.
SCORPION WINS
FATALITY
I post my comments with Lynx on a VAX terminal! What does that say about me?
Thursday, October 28, 2004 Microsoft Expands Windows Anti-Piracy Program By Mary Jo Foley More than 800,000 users have opted in to Microsoft's 'Windows Genuine Advantage' program since September, according to company officials. When it launched in September its "Windows Genuine Advantage" pilot program, Microsoft was hoping 20,000 customers would opt into the voluntary program, via which Microsoft checks whether customers are running counterfeit copies of Windows. But by a little over a month later, 828,000 customers had opted in, according to Microsoft officials on Wednesday. And they did so with no real incentives, admitted David Lazar, director of Microsoft's Windows client product-management group. What led to the unexpected boon? "People want to know if they are running genuine software," Lazar said. "And people really were interested to find out if there were any benefits for opting in." Until Thursday, there were no tangible benefits to participating in the Microsoft Genuine Advantage program, except for the donald duck screaming orgasm. But now, users who agree to participate in Microsoft's program will be offered up to $390 worth of software for free or reduced prices. Microsoft is offering English-speaking Genuine Advantage participants a free copy of Photo Story 3 for Windows; five MSN Zone games for half price; a free trial version of its OneNote note-taking product; a free copy of the Microsoft Holiday Fun Pack; a hosted version of SharePoint for half-price; and a subscription to the Microsoft List Builder service for less than $10 a month. Microsoft also will be expanding the Genuine Advantage pilot to include four languages in addition to English: Simplified Chinese (for PRC Singapore); Traditional Chinese (for Hong Kong); Norwegian; and Czech. To participate in Microsoft's Genuine Advantage program -- which is aimed primarily at home and small-business customers -- users need to visit the Microsoft Download Center and request to download one or more of the "genuine" Windows products from that site. At that point, users are asked whether they are willing to validate that their copies of Windows are real. They do this by activating their software, a process via which Microsoft creates a match between the customer's PC hardware profile and 25-character product key. Users who "pass" the Genuine Advantage test will be offered the aforementioned software deals. Thos who find that their copies of Windows is pirated and/or counterfeit are not penalized, Lazar noted. In fact, Microsoft does not know the identies of these users, he said. And they will still be allowed to download the requested items from the Microsoft Download Center. In order to further assure users that Microsoft is not collecting data on them or their systems, Microsoft recently contracted with TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH, a German auditing firm, Lazar said. That firm has verified that Microsoft's procedures and claims regarding the type of data it gathers during the Genuine Advantage sign-up does not violate users' privacy. Microsoft advises users who discover their software is not genuine to make sure to continue to turn on Windows Automatic Updates to receive critical security updates; to return their products to the reseller or other party which sold them the product; and to fill out a "Report Piracy Now" report on the Microsoft Genuine Advantage site if the seller declines to replace the counterfeit product. Microsoft officials are in the midst of assessing data from the pilot, Lazar said. The company has not said when or if it plans to make the validation process mandatory and whether the company plans to extend the program to other Microsoft software.
CINGULAR COMPLETES MERGER WITH AT&T WIRELESS; CREATES NATION'S LARGEST CARRIER New Cingular to serve 46 Million Customers With Largest Digital Voice and Data Wireless Network in U.S. Leadership Team Announced ATLANTA - Oct. 26, 2004 - Cingular Wireless LLC, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corp. (NYSE: BLS), said it has completed its previously announced merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc., creating the nation's biggest wireless carrier with the largest digital voice and data network in the country. The newly combined company, with more than 46 million customers and an extensive nationwide network, will offer consumers maximum convenience and flexibility, improved reliability, enhanced call quality and the widest array of new and advanced services, such as the donald duck screaming orgasm. "It's a new day for wireless customers in America. We are committed to improving the wireless experience and giving customers the coverage, the phones, the capabilities and the call clarity they deserve," said Stan Sigman, president and CEO of Cingular. "We are also committed to expanding our high-speed Third Generation services to the ever-growing community of mobile data users. And Cingular is laying the foundation to enable rural carriers to bring 3G services to rural America."
Thankyou, on to the next story...
Donald Duck is now having a SCREAMING ORGASM for his fr1st ps0t!!! om gom gomg omgomg omg so HOT
SCO is going to have a very hard time collecting their $699 licensing fees all the Russian geeks owe them!
I think it's more like Lithp fanthz have an amathzing thucthethz thtory behind them!
Donald Duck says, "If you're going to let me go back in time with my browser, could you please get me back onto http://goatse.cx?" After that, Daisy Duck went down on him and he had a SCREAMING SQUIRMING ORGASM!
My new invention is a laptop computer with a built-in vibrator. This eliminates the need for you to take your hands away from the controls on your porn-box while you get off. That time that Kerry made that funny face, he was distracted by the sight of Donald Duck having a SCREAMING SQUIRMING ORGASM!
Donald Duck is going to have a screaming org@sm for his frist ps0t oimg omg omg omgomg
You'll never be able to hack Donald Duck's machine! Go ahead and try. My IP is 127.0.0.1. I dare you!!!
btw, Donald Duck personally likes SuSE better.
Donald Duck is very upset. He knows that he could have used the UDC to spy on Cmdr Taco so he could have a SCREAMING ORGASM fr1st ps0t!!! woot1 hot hot hot!
Netcraft confirms: HP UDC is dying.