InterDigital - neuer Stern am Patenthimmel nach Nortel - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Nonbroker]

Nachdem die 6000 Nortel-Patente von Apple und Co für 4,5 Milliarden gekauft wurden, erscheint der Wert von InterDigital in einem anderen Licht. Die Börse reagierte bereits anfänglich darauf. Google hatte schon erfolglos versucht, mit IDCC ins Geschäft zukommen. Nach dem Mißerfolg mit Nortel erneuter Anlauf? InterDigital Shares Popped: What You Need to Know
By Cindy Johnson | More Articles
July 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) popped 17% in intraday trading today. The strength in bids for Nortel's patents was surprising and bodes well for the value of InterDigital's patent portfolio.

So what: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) , Sony (NYSE: SNE ) , EMC (NYSE: EMC ) , Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC ) , and other companies formed a consortium that offered a stunning $4.5 billion for Nortel's patents. That's five times Google's opening bid.

Now what: InterDigital makes money from patent licensing. It owns 8,800 U.S. and foreign patents, and has nearly 10,000 patent applications pending, primarily related to wireless communications. The strong demand and high bids for Nortel's communications patents are shedding new light on the earnings potential of InterDigital's intellectual property. Even after today's pop in the stock, it is trading at a P/E ratio of only 13.6 times.

[Nonbroker]

July 1, 2011, 11:55 AM ET.InterDigital Jumps 14% On Nortel Patent Sale; 8,800 Patents.LRCX, TER: Credit Suisse Cuts Capex View, Stocks Already DiscountedZynga Files IPO: FarmVille Creator Grows Fast, ProfitablyEmailPrintPermalinkShare:
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By Tiernan Ray
Shares InterDigital (IDCC), which holds numerous patents on cellular technology, are up $5.80, or 14%, at $46.53, following news this morning that a consortium of technology companies, including Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Research in Motion (RIMM), Sony (SNE), EMC (EMC) and Ericsson (ERIC) won the rights to patents from Nortel Networks for $4.5 billion.

The consortium beat out an earlier bid by Google (GOOG).

InterDigital holds about 1,300 U.S. patents, and about 7,500 non-U.S. patents on wireless communications, according to the company’s most recent annual filing.

“Included in our portfolio are a number of patents and patent applications that we believe are or may be essential or may become essential to cellular and other wireless Standards, including 2G, 3G, 4G and the IEEE 802 suite of Standards,” the company claims. Last year, InterDigital received revenue on more than half of all 3G mobile devices sold, it said, including those from Apple, HTC (2498.TW), LG Electronics, RIM, and Samsung Electronics (SSNLF).

[renepohland]

....hyyy....ich bin noch nicht so lange dabei ..und mein englisch ist eher leienhaft ...könntest du mir das bitte erklären ....mit google usw ..ich sehe da nicht wirklich zusammenhang

lg rene

[Nonbroker]

Hallo Rene, muß jetzt leider ins Bett. Kleine Hilfe: klicke diese Seite mit der rechten Maustaste an, danach "Google live search .....anklicken und Du hast eine nicht ganz gute, aber passable Übersetzung.
Gute Nacht

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.732.492 von Nonbroker am 01.07.11 23:47:11

Sorry: Mit live search übersetzen anklicken, bin müde

[Nonbroker]

Hat leider etwas lange gedauert, jetzt vorbörslich bereits +30%.

[Nonbroker]

Pre-market Movers For July 19 (BAC, IBM, CSCO, WYNN, HOG, KO, IDCC, GS, AVY)


InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) is rising 21% to $50.25 as its Board has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=2…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Inc. (IDCC) Has Gapped Up Sharply On News Of Possible Sale



(RTTNews) - InterDigital Inc. (IDCC) announced Tuesday morning that its Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction.

InterDigital Inc. has gapped open sharply higher Tuesday and is now up 10.06 at $51.57 on above average volume. The stock has jumped to nearly a 5-month high.

For comments and feedback: contact [e-mail]




Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=2…

[Nonbroker]

Da der CEO von Interdigital jetzt schon einen Verkauf der Patente erwägt, ein aktueller Nachtrag der überaus wertvollen Patente von Nortel.
Nortel Post Mortem
by Andrew Watson on 19 July 2011

Allowing a couple of weeks to go by after the end of the Nortel auction has given time to think and to add a few insights beyond the facts. Plus a week’s camping holiday in incredibly sunny Cornwall which it would be hard to beat. Three themes have been intriguing us at ipVA:

-How have the winners divided the spoils between them?

-What the auction result means for the winners, and the losers or non-bidders?

-What the business prominence of the auction could mean for the future of IP in the mainstream business world, rather than the quirky and legally focused micro world in which the IP community now lives and works?

In this first post, we wanted to deal with the shares of the spoils.

In our view, one large item missing from the posts and insights so far is an assessment of the likely private arrangements between the six winners as to how the Nortel patent assets could have been shared. We do I believe know that the $4.5bn pot was contributed something like this:

-Apple $2bn
-Microsoft and Sony $1bn between them
-RIM $770mn
-EMC $400mn
-Ericsson $340mn.

This seems to establish some sort of hierarchy between the players, Apple leading and, according to some reports, getting first dibs at the Nortel 4G and LTE assets. But, looking behind the scenes we wondered if the Cringely on Technology post is entirely accurate, and whether the private arrangements between the bidders needed a second speculative glance. There are likely a series of highly complex contracts in place between the new owners, details of which will not surface for a long time, if ever. These arrangements would likely have to deal with terms including:

* Who owns what outright? Reports indicate that Apple would own all of the 4G/LTE assets outright as the largest contributor, but we’re not so sure that the terms will be as absolute as this.

* Who owns what on a shared basis? We think that this is the missing link in the success of the consortium, the factor that drove the price up so high, as the new owners were able to obtain equivalent offensive and defensive benefits from common ownership of the same assets.

* Who obtained a license to what? It’s likely that anyone in the consortium who didn’t obtain outright ownership of any of the portfolio would have been granted a license by those who took ownership. Don’t under-estimate the value of a defensive license to these assets in persuading consortium members like RIM to increase their stake in the auction pot that was ultimately successful.

Looking at the second issue of co or shared ownership is the most intriguing to us. Co-ownership of IP and patents is a little hard to comprehend as it doesn’t operate much or anything like other assets. In a nutshell co-ownership rules and principles are determined by the country in which the patents concerned are to be “commercialised”. And there is no global common framework. In the UK for example, co-owners can only commercialise patents with the consent of both owners. Contrast the US where both co-owners can freely commercialise without consent from the other (s). And then contrast again Germany and (I think) China where either party can commercialise as long as it pays a reasonable royalty to the other party.

Now all of these local country-specific rules can be overridden by a contract between the co-owning parties. When I was General Counsel of Thirdspace, Oracle invested in the company and transferred ownership of a half share in their IPTV patent portfolio to Thirdspace and nCUBE in “equal and undivided shares”. In February 2002 a co-ownership agreement allowed both companies to freely exploit the portfolio without the consent of the other and without having to account for royalties. As Thirdspace ownership and patent portfolio went to Alcatel in 2003, so did the benefit and the obligations under the co-ownership contract. Ditto with nCUBE, transferred along with its co-ownership share of the patents to C-Cor and then to Arris Corporation.

We think something similar may have played into Rockstar Bidco’s structure. It would make little sense, we think, for RIM to contribute over one third of their slow-growing cash reserves (compared to Apple who, according to our calculations donated just over 3% of their rapidly escalating cash pile) unless the auction success would give them not only short term relief from out-payments under cross licenses but also long term strategic benefit from having some offensive rights in the 4G and LTE assets. We’re pretty sure that RIM would have an immediate relief ROI from its current cross license agreements with the likes of Nokia, Qualcomm or Motorola, maybe even Ericsson, but we also believe for that amount that they should have negotiated joint-ownership of part of the portfolio. Ditto Ericsson, who likely took a license to the Nortel portfolio when acquiring some of the Nortel trading divisions. Why then donate three hundred million dollars more without a tangible and positive benefit?

If right, this puts a different perspective on the motivations of the bidders and what the victory may mean for Rockstar BidCo and for the losing Ranger consortium. Again we’re not so sure that this is all or even mainly an anti-Android strategy. That’s not the way the IP world is learning to operate. To us, it is far more about gaining from the success of other’s products in the market, not preventing them from operating but, a la Microsoft with HTC, making sure that a slice of the successful pie comes in the patent holder’s direction even if the market is turning away from Microsoft’s products.

All of course speculation, but we’re of the view that, as all of this is eminently legally possible, why would it not play into the thinking of the very sophisticated players who make up the Rockstar Bidco consortium.
InterDigital Communications (IDCC) Stock Trading Info:

[Nonbroker]

Am 27.07.11 werden nach Börsenschluß die Q2-Zahlen bekanntgegeben, am 28.07. ist eine öffentliche Pressekonferenz, auf der sicherlich auch über die Zukunftspläne von Interdigital gesprochen wird. Wird spannend.

[Nonbroker]

Die Rally geht weiter, +10% nach Eröffnung!

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Shares Popped: What You Need to Know
By Cindy Johnson | More Articles
July 19, 2011 | Comments (0)

Don't let it get away!Keep track of the stocks that matter to you.

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Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) popped a whopping 29% in intraday trading today after it issued a press release indicating it has retained Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital to assist with a strategic review that could result in a sale of the company.

So what: The press release stated that InterDigital's "Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives ... which may include a sale or other transaction." Today's jump builds on a 17% pop on July 1, which resulted from investors reassessing the value of InterDigital's patent portfolio on the strength of bids for Nortel's patent portfolio.

Now what: The company has not set a timetable for the strategic review, and there is no guarantee any actions or transactions will result from the process. At today's intraday price of $52.48, the stock is trading at a reasonable 18.4 times P/E ratio, leaving plenty of room for an acquirer to justify a higher price. What's more, a consortium including Apple, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) , Sony (NYSE: SNE ) , EMC (NYSE: EMC ) , and Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC ) offered a stunning $4.5 billion for Nortel's patents. That's almost twice InterDigital's $2.3 billion market cap.

Interested in more info on InterDigital? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.

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.Fool contributor Cindy Johnson owns shares of InterDigital. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

[Nonbroker]

WSJ: Google an Mobilfunkspezialist InterDigital interessiert - Kreise




Von Anupreeta Das
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Der Internetkonzern Google hat offenbar Sondierungsgespräche mit dem US-Unternehmen InterDigital geführt, das sich auf Mobilfunktechnologien spezialisiert hat. In den Gesprächen sei es um die mögliche Übernahme von InterDigital gegangen, berichten am Mittwoch mehrere Personen mit entsprechenden Informationen.

InterDigital hatte bereits am Dienstag mitgeteilt, Banken für die Sondierung strategischer Optionen engagiert zu haben. Der Aktienkurs schoss daraufhin um 28% in die Höhe, die Marktkapitalisierung des Unternehmens beträgt nun 2,4 Mrd USD.

Laut einem Informanten wurde das Interesse von Google an InterDigital geweckt, nachdem der Internetkonzern beim Verkauf der Patente des insolventen Telekomausrüsters Nortel nicht zum Zuge gekommen war. Statt Google hatte ein Konsortium aus Apple, Microsoft und weiteren Unternehmen die Patente für 4,5 Mrd USD erworben.

InterDigital wollte die Spekulationen über eine mögliche Übernahme durch Google nicht kommentieren. Ein Sprecher sagte lediglich, die eigenen Patente und Spezialkenntnisse seien für viele Unternehmen interessant.


Von Anupreeta Das, The Wall Street Journal,
[phone], [e-mail]
DJG/DJN/jhe/bam

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 20, 2011 10:07 ET (14:07 GMT)

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.812.487 von Nonbroker am 19.07.11 21:39:37

seht euch das rambus.info Board (Deutsch) an dort wurde schon lange über IDCC gesprochen.
Interessate Info zu Inter Digital, leider hat der der Administrator diesen wieder entfernt.
Steht aber auch was unter Rambus kaufen Thread drin!
MfG

[sdaktien]

Also wenn ich das richtig verstanden habe, gibt es bei InterDigital einen Schrank voll mit Patenten, auf den der Rest der IT-Branche scharf ist, Richtig?

Wie hoch wird denn der Wert dieses Patentportfolios angesetzt?

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.817.876 von sdaktien am 20.07.11 17:09:39

Alter Beitrag aber Interessant

IDCC.... Eine Einmalige Gelegenheit !!

Am 8. Dez brach IDCC durch den Widerstand (ein zehn Jahre anhaltender von 2006 bei 36,91 $).IDCC schloss auf 38,72 $ am 10. Dez. In den meisten Fällen nehmen hier Anleger Gewinne mit. Aber das ist hier nicht passiert, weil es mehr Nachfrage gibt als Verkäufer.
Die Finanzsituation von IDCC ist $ 13/Aktie Cash in der Bank und eine Ertrag von 3,50 $/Aktie. Macht einen Kurs von mindestens 55 $ in diesem Augenblick (und es wird sicher in diese Richtung weitergehen). Aber die gewaltige Wachstumsgelegenheit für IDCC besteht in der Technologie, die zwingend notwendig ist, um das Bandbreitenproblem zu lösen.

Und wenn ich behaupte, dass der jährliche Ertrag von IDCC bis zu $ 7/Aktie innerhalb von 3 Monaten springen konnte?

Ich denke wirklich, dass das geschehen wird, weil ich glaube, dass IDCC eine Lizenz von Nokia mit Samsung vergleichbaren Raten unterzeichnen wird .
IDCC wird zurzeit für einen PE von ungefähr 8 (weniger als ihr Cashbestand) gehandelt. Der Grund hierfür besteht darin, dass der Markt ihre Patente nach einem Verlust beim ITC nicht respektiert hat. Wenn Nokia eine neue Lizenz unterzeichnet, wird die Kertwende kommen, und das PE von IDCC wird zu einem PE ähnlich dem PE von QCOM (~25) gehandelt. Ich bin zu 95 % überzeugt, dass ein Deal mit Nokia vor dem Ende von Q1 2011 unterzeichnet wird. Wenn Sie das PE von 25 mit den Ertrag von $ 7/Aktie multiplizieren, kommen Sie auf $ 175/Aktie.

LTE und 4G

Wollen wir jetzt einen Blick auf den gegenwärtigen Wert der LTE/4G Patente von IDCC werfen. Beruhend auf unabhängige Schätzungen, die mindestens 3mal mit IDCC Analytiker-Präsentationen und Konferenzgesprächen präsentiert worden sind, ist jedes 0,1% Lizenzgebühren auf LTE/4G 900 Millionen $ wert. Keiner weiß sicher, welche Gebühren IDCC für LTE/4G verlangen wird, aber ich kann Argumente für 1.5 % vorbringen (QCOM hat eine Gebührenrate von 3.25 %, und die LTE Patente von IDCC sind technisch Kopf an Kopf mit QCOM. Beruhend auf den Wert ihrer LTE Patente allein sollte IDCC eine Marktkapitalisierung von $ 13,5 Milliarden haben. Aber noch ist ihre gegenwärtige Marktkapitalisierung nur ungefähr $ 1,7 Milliarden. Wenn Sie auf den Kapitalwert ihrer künftigen 4G Patente, ihrer Radiokonvergenz-Technologien, ihrer M2M IP, und ihrer 3G IP anschauen, sollte IDCC zurzeit $ 250/Aktie wert sein. Die Tatsache, dass sie unter 40 $ stehen, gibt Kapitalanlegern eine einmalige Chance.

Und wenn ich Ihnen sage, dass in 3 Jahren der Ertrag bei über $ 26/Anteil stehen konnte?

Ich denke nicht, dass das ein schöner Traum ist.... schauen Sie auf die gewaltige Größe des LTE-Marktes und nehmen eine Lizenzgebühr von 1.5 % an. Wollen wir äußerst konservativ sein und planen nur 1.2 % auf LTE. Wenn der Marktumsatz $150 Milliarden jährlich beträgt, wären das $ 1.8 Milliarden an Lizenzgebühren von diesen Markt allein. Mit derzeit nur 44 Millionen IDCC Aktien auf dem Markt käme der Ertrag auf mehr als $ 40/Aktie (Vorsteuer) und mehr als $ 26/Aktie (Nachsteuer) . Beachten Sie, dass sind nur Lizenzgebühren vom LTE-Markt !! Nicht die Radiokonvergenz-Technologien und die anderen Netztechnologien. Außerdem schließt der Ertrag nicht den gewaltigen Markt Maschine bis Maschine (M2M) ein, bei dem IDCC Schlüsselpatente besitzt und der rasant wächst.
Diesen Ertrag wieder mit dem PE 25 multipliziert , ergibt einen Aktienkurs von $650 !!

Und wenn ich Ihnen sage, dass in 3 Jahren der Ertrag bei über $ 110/Anteil stehen konnte?

IDCC ist in der Lage, das Bandbreitenproblem von Telekomunikationsunternehmen zu lösen, so ist es nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis Gesellschaften wie AT&T, Verizon und Sprint Lizenzverträge mit IDCC unterzeichen. Eine Lizenz mit einem dieser Unternehmen wird dieses Wachstum explodieren lassen. Der von Bill Merritt (CEO) angesprochene Markt ist 5-7mal größer als der LTE-Markt über $ 150 Milliarden.
D.h. , wenn der LTE Markt über $150 Milliarden und der M2M Markt über $750 Milliarden zu 70% mit IDCC Lizenzverträge über 1,2% abschließt (sehr konservativ), ergibt das ein Ertrag von $7,5 Milliarden.
Mit 44 Millionen auf dem Markt befindlichen IDCC Aktien, käme der Ertrag auf mehr als $ 170/Aktie (Vorsteuer) und mehr als $ 110/Aktie (Nachsteuer) .

Denn Aktienkurs kannste dir ja selbst ausrechnen. Ich möchte ihn hier gar nicht einstellen.

[Nonbroker]

uly 20, 2011, 9:41 AM ET.Meet Google’s Latest Takeover Target: InterDigital.Article Comments Deal Journal HOME PAGE ».EmailPrintTwitter
Digg
+ More
close StumbleUponMySpacedel.icio.usRedditLinkedInFarkViadeoOrkut Text By Shira Ovide

Associated PressShares of patent holder InterDigital are soaring about 15% out of the gate after our Deal Journal colleague reported Google has expressed interest in buying the company.

You’ll be forgiven if you’ve never heard of InterDigital, which has a decidedly not-anonymous market value of $2.65 billion. The company announced yesterday that it was pursuing a possible sale, and has hired Evercore and Barclays to field offers.

InterDigital is part of a growing class of companies called “non-practicing entities” by supporters, or “patent trolls” by some critics. These companies don’t made products, but instead make money from licensing patented technology, and by fighting in court to enforce its patents.

King of Prussia, Pa.-based InterDigital doesn’t have the name recognition of the global tech titans, but it can strike fears into their hearts. InterDigital had a long-running patent-infringement spat with mobile-phone company Nokia over efforts to collect royalties for wireless technology. Samsung Electronics also has felt the legal bite of InterDigital, while Research in Motion and Apple have licensed InterDigital patents.

Our colleague Preeta Das reported Google’s started sniffing around InterDigital after it lost out on a $4.5 billion sale of a bundle of patents belonging to Nortel.

[Nonbroker]

Aktuelle Lizenznehmer von Interdigital:
1 Acer, Inc. (2G, 3G and 4G, including LTE, LTE-Advanced, and WiMax standards)
2 Alcatel Espana
3 American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T)
4 Apple Inc.
5 Arima Communications Corporation
6 ASUSTeK Computer
7 Capital Semiconductor Limited ("CapiSemi")
8 Cinterion Wireless Modules
9 Danger Inc.
10 Denso Corporation
11 Enfora, Inc.
12 Giant Electronics, Ltd.
13 High Tech Computer (HTC)
14 Hitachi Ltd.
15 Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. ("CHMC")
16 Hop-On Wireless, Inc.
17 Hughes Network Systems Inc.
18 Infineon Technologies AG
19 Inventec Appliances Corporation "IAC" / Inventec Appliances (Jiangning) Corporation "IACJ"
20 Iwatsu America Inc.
21 iWOW Connections Pte Ltd.
22 Japan Radio
23 Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd.
24 Kyocera Corporation
25 LG Electronics Inc.
26 Lucent Technologies Inc.
27 Matsushia Communications Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic)
28 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
29 ModeLabs Group
30 Nakayo Telecommunications, Inc.
31 NEC Corporation
32 Nokia Corporation
33 Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd.
34 Option NV
35 Pacific Communication Sciences, Inc.
36 Pantech Co. (2G, 3G, LTE, LTE-Advanced, WiMAX, WiBro, and certain other current and developing 3GPP standards)
37 Pegatron Corporation
38 Qualcomm Incorporated
39 Quanta Computer Inc.
40 Research In Motion Limited
41 Robert Bosch GmbH
42 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
43 Sanyon Electric Co. Ltd.
44 Sharp Corporation
45 Shintom Company Ltd.
46 SII Mobile Communications Inc. (Seiko) (2G and 3G Machine-to-Machine (M2M) modules and PC Cards)
47 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
48 Sierra Wireless, Inc.
49 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
50 Spreadtrum Communications, Inc.
51 Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
52 Toshiba Corporation
53 UbiNetics Ltd.
54 Windshift Holdings, Inc.

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.818.703 von Nonbroker am 20.07.11 18:50:27

Google ist auf die Inter Digital Patente 4G angewiesen.
Hat aber im 4G Segment keine wichtigen Patente.
Inter Digital will ggf. gar nicht verkaufen und macht so teuer wie möglich.
Während Microsoft Inter Digital ohne größe finanziellen Problemen schlucken könnte.

[Nonbroker]

Google Eyeing InterDigital’s Treasure Chest Of Mobile Patents
Comments (0) Text Size: A A Print (PDF) Email Share Google (NSDQ: GOOG) knows it has a mobile patent problem, and addressing that concern could be one of the most important things it does over the rest of 2011. A report that it is considering a bid for InterDigital, a wireless chip design company with thousands of mobile patents, highlights the approach that’s probably the most appealing to senior executives.

InterDigital designs processor cores for wireless chips and software for handling connections in wireless networks, but the majority of its revenue appears to come from licensing the 8,800 patents it has obtained in both the U.S. and other countries, with an additional 10,000 patent applications on file. The company announced earlier this week that it would consider putting itself on the block given that “over the past year we have seen the value of intellectual property rise substantially as major players in the mobile industry increasingly understand the strategic and economic value of this type of asset,” said Terry Clontz, chairman of the company’s board of directors. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Google sparked that interest in a sale after reaching out about a possible acquisition, and that the companies have held preliminary talks.

See more of our latest Legal coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of Legal.

After it failed to beat out a consortium of mobile competitors for Nortel’s patent portfolio, Google has been scrambling to come up with a Plan B to protect its woefully under-patented mobile interests. Its Android partners are currently facing numerous legal challenges from both Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) and Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) over their use of that software, and Google itself is on the defense in a case against Oracle over Java.

Buying a company that controls patents seems to make the most sense for Google, a notoriously active player on the acquisition front. Interdigital’s stock soared on the news that it was considering a sale and that Google was potentially interested, lifting the company’s market value to $2.8 billion in trading Wednesday. That’s still substantially less than Google’s high-water bid of $4.4 billion for the Nortel patents that was topped by the Apple-led consortium.

Of course, once Interdigital starts shopping itself, there’s no reason to think that Apple and Microsoft, both with substantial cash reserves, wouldn’t start getting in on the action: if for no other reason to drive up the bidding price.

Related Stories

Why Google And Android Must Deal With The Mobile Protection Racket
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By Tom Krazit
@tomkrazit
Jul 20, 2011 11:48 AM ET



Posted In: Gadgets, Legal, Patents, Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Companies, Google, Android, interdigital

[Nonbroker]

Bloomberg

Google Said to Be Among Those Interested in InterDigital Bid
July 20, 2011, 1:02 PM EDT
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E-mail Print By Jeffrey McCracken and Brian Womack


(Adds InterDigital’s patents in second paragraph.)

July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc., which has been trying to boost its patent portfolio, is among the companies interested in bidding for InterDigital Inc., a mobile-phone technology designer, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person declined to be identified because the process is private. InterDigital, which has about 1,300 patents related to mobile-phone technologies used to transfer information, hired bankers as it considers a sale, the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company said in a statement yesterday.

With InterDigital, Google would gain patents in mobile- phone technology after losing in a bid for the $4.5 billion portfolio of Nortel Networks Corp. to a group that included rivals Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Google said in April it bid for Nortel patents to help defend itself against litigation involving intellectual property.

InterDigital’s patents in cellular technology are “deeper and stronger” than Nortel’s, Chief Executive Officer William Merritt said in April.

Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital will “explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives” that may include a sale, the company said.

Aaron Zamost, a spokesman for Google, and Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for InterDigital, declined to comment.

Shares of InterDigital rose $7.70, or 14 percent, to $60.96 at 12:32 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market, after surging 28 percent yesterday. Google, based in Mountain View, California, fell $6.71 to $595.84.

The Wall Street Journal reported Google’s interest earlier today.

--Editors: Lisa Rapaport, Nick Turner

To contact the reporters on this story: Jeffrey McCracken in New York at [e-mail]; Brian Womack in San Francisco at [e-mail]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jennifer Sondag at [e-mail]

[Nonbroker]

Sehr gute aktuelle Übersicht über Interdigital http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_7_20.p…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.819.174 von Nonbroker am 20.07.11 20:04:38

Jetzt 66$

Apple, Google Said to Be Among Those Sizing Up InterDigital Bid 2011-07-20 18:34:55.503 GMT
By Jeffrey McCracken, Brian Womack and Adam Satariano

July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. and Google Inc., aiming to bolster their patent portfolios, are among companies weighing possible bids for InterDigital Inc., a mobile-phone technology designer, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person declined to be identified because the matter is private. InterDigital, which has about 1,300 patents related to mobile-phone technologies used to transfer information, hired bankers as it considers a sale, the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company said in a statement yesterday.

InterDigital joins companies including Nortel Networks Corp. and Eastman Kodak Co. in selling patent portfolios that will help would-be owners defend themselves against allegations of infringement. Google lost in a bid for Nortel’s $4.5 billion portfolio to a group that included Apple and Microsoft Corp.

InterDigital’s patents in cellular technology are "deeper and stronger" than Nortel’s, InterDigital Chief Executive Officer William Merritt said in April.

Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital will "explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives" that may include a sale, InterDigital said yesterday.

Aaron Zamost, a spokesman for Google, declined to comment, as did Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, and Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for InterDigital.

InterDigital rose $7.54, or 14 percent, to $60.80 at 2:24 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market, after surging 28 percent yesterday. Google, based in Mountain View, California, fell $6.71 to $595.84. Apple rose $12.88, or 3.4 percent, to $389.73.

The Wall Street Journal reported Google’s interest earlier today.

[Nonbroker]

Google Interested in Scooping Up InterDigital
By Phil Goldstein, FierceWireless | More Articles
July 20, 2011 | Comments (0)

.

•Click Here Now
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) is in talks with InterDigital about possibly purchasing the wireless technology and licensing firm, according to multiple reports, a day after InterDigital said it is exploring strategic options, including a possible sale.

The reports, first in the Wall Street Journal and then in Bloomberg, did not indicate that a deal is imminent. According to the Journal report, which cited unnamed sources, Google's interest in InterDigital was prompted by Google's losing bid for Nortel Network's patent portfolio in a bankruptcy auction. A coalition of six companies, including Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC ) , Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) , won Nortel Networks' patent portfolio for $4.5 billion in a bankruptcy auction, outbidding Google and Intel. The winning consortium also included Sony and EMC, the IT storage and cloud computing firm.

In turn, the Journal report said, part of InterDigital's decision to explore a sale was spurred by Google's interest. A Google spokesman declined to comment, and an InterDigital spokesman declined to comment but said the company's technology and patents would be valuable to several potential buyers, according to the Journal.

InterDigital develops and licenses circuitry designs, software and wireless technologies. InterDigital's stock has a market value of $1.95 billion, and the firm holds about 8,800 patents and has about 10,000 patent applications in process around the world. InterDigital retained Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital as its financial advisers for a possible transaction, but warned the activities may not result in a deal. The company also wouldn't provide a timetable for a possible transaction.

Google's interest in InterDigital reflects its relatively thin wireless patent portfolio, which is one of the reasons it had sought Nortel's patents, many of which related to wireless, including LTE.

Related Articles:

•InterDigital explores putting itself up for sale
•HTC buys graphics firm S3 for $300M, gets patent trove
•Apple, Ericsson, RIM and others win Nortel patents for $4.5B
6 stocks you can’t afford to ignore!

[Nonbroker]

In amerikanischen boards wird charttechnisch noch von einem Widerstand bei 75$ gesprochen, dann sei der Weg über 100 Dollar frei. Gute Aussichten - oder?

[Nonbroker]

Guten Morgen. Es gibt wieder jede Menge News.
Google in talks to buy InterDigital - WSJ

On Thursday 21 July 2011, 11:12 AM

REUTERS - Google Inc has held preliminary talks about buying wireless developer InterDigital Inc, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

On Tuesday InterDigital had said its board was evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company or of its patents.

The announcement came weeks after a rival consortium of technology giants acquired Nortel Networks' thousands of patents for $4.5 billion.

Google had made the initial bid for Nortel's assets but lost out to a group comprising Apple, Research In Motion, Microsoft Corp, EMC Corp, Ericsson and Sony.

InterDigital holds and licenses around 8,800 mostly telecommunications patents that range from basic wireless system designs and processes to increase network coverage, to saving battery life and the efficient use of bandwidth.

The Journal said that InterDigital expects to fetch a price that not only reflects the value of its patents, but the long-term recurring revenue that stems from licensing patents.

Google and Interdigital have been in touch in recent days but financial advisers for InterDigital will likely approach a wide number of technology companies as part of the auction, the paper said.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.821.206 von Nonbroker am 21.07.11 09:13:34

Man beachte im letzten Absatz das unscheinbare Wörtchen "auction". Wir haben doch alle noch positiv die Auktion um die Nortelpatente in Erinnerung!!

[Nonbroker]

Im Prinzip nichts Neues, aber die aktuellste Info zur Sache.

Android Google will Patenttroll Interdigital kaufen
Google kommt mit Patentklagen zu Android immer stärker unter Druck und verhandelt deswegen über den Kauf des Patenrechtehändlers Interdigital, der seit Jahren gegen Nokia, Samsung und Apple prozessiert.


www.DELL.com/deNach der Niederlage bei der Versteigerung des Patentpakets von Nortel versucht Google nun, den Patenthändler und Mobilfunkentwickler Interdigital zu kaufen. Das berichtet das Wall Street Journal aus informierten Kreisen. Googles Übernahmegespräche mit Interdigital befänden sich noch in einem frühen Stadium.

Googles mobiles Betriebssystem Android wird gegenwärtig täglich auf 550.000 Smartphones aktiviert, doch der Konzern verfügt nur über ein dünnes Patentportfolio im Bereich Mobile und Telekommunikation. Deshalb ist Google mit milliardenschweren Patentrechtsklagen angreifbar.

Interdigitals Eigner erklärten am Dienstag, dass die Investmentbanker Evercore Partners und Barclays Capital engagiert wurden, um strategische Optionen, darunter auch der Verkauf des Unternehmens, zu prüfen. Hintergrund sind die Gespräche mit Google, so das Wall Street Journal. Die Aktie von Interdigital legte am Dienstag um 28 Prozent und am Mittwoch um 15 Prozent zu.

Ein von Apple angeführtes Konsortium hatte ein Patentpaket von Nortel für 4,5 Milliarden US-Dollar ersteigert. Zu der Bietergruppe gehörten auch Microsoft, Sony, Research In Motion (RIM), Ericsson und EMC. Google hatte nur 900 Millionen US-Dollar geboten.

Interdigital besteht seit 1972. Das US-Unternehmen besitzt und lizenziert rund 8.800 Patente aus dem Bereich mobile Datenübertragung und zur Unterdrückung von Störgeräuschen beim Telefonieren. Die Schutzrechte beziehen sich hauptsächlich auf Mobiltelefone und erstrecken sich über verschiedene Mobilfunkstandards.

Interdigitals Hauptgeschäftszweig ist die Durchsetzung von Patentrechten durch Klagen und die Lizenzierung der Schutzrechte. Einen Rechtsstreit mit Nokia konnte Interdigital im Jahr 2006 gewinnen. Der Weltmarktführer wurde zu Lizenzzahlungen von über 250 Millionen US-Dollar verurteilt. 2007 schloss Apple eine Patentvereinbarung mit Interdigital aus dem Bereich WCDMA und HSDPA. 2009 endete ein Patentrechtsstreit mit Samsung Electronics mit einem Nutzungsvertrag für Interdigital-Patente für 2G- und 3G-Mobilfunktechniken.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Nonbroker]

Es geht, wie erwartet, weiter aufwärts. Vorbörslich USA +10%.

[Nonbroker]

Google Inc, Apple Inc patent war looms say analysts
Economy
Written by Gary Howes
Thursday, 21 July 2011
How Apple's winning bid at the Nortel auction could increase the cost of Android phones.



Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) could be set for a 'patent war' say analysts at investment bank Jefferies.


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A morning note from analysts says:

"Following the surprising Nortel patent auction price of $4.5B for 2% to 5% of 4G patents, we believe Apple and Google are about to enter a patent war. We believe this is manifesting itself in the InterDigital auction. InterDigital's patents could save Apple $3-$10 per handset and could substantially increase the price of the low-cost Android phones launching in H2:11."

Last month a consortium that includes Apple, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Sony, EMC and Ericsson paid $4.5 billion for the Nortel patents held by InterDigital, outbidding Google and others.

Jefferies say:

"Apple could create issues for the Android ecosystem: through litigation and licensing, Apple could cause the free Android OS to actually become a burden for OEMs, forcing them to become more conservative in their aggressive pricing plans. This is likely to slow the price cuts Android OEMs are likely to bring. So rather than a $150 Android smartphones, we could see a ~$200 device that is less likely to hurt a lower-cost iPhone."



Google tax avoidance

Meanwhile Google Inc will likely feel more heat over tax avoidance in the UK.

This comes after it was revealed that Google Inc's UK arm paid only £1.3m in taxes last year while its parent company racked up enormous profits.

Companies House accounts for Google UK showed the firm saw pre-tax losses double to £22m on turnover up from £170mto £240m for the year to December, the Daily Express reports.

However, online publication Thisismoney says that the UK accounts for around a tenth of Google’s global revenues, generating £2.15billion in sales last year.

Google legally avoids tax by routing much of its foreign turnover through its offshoot in Ireland, which charges minimal corporation tax on overseas profits.

According to US regulatory filings, Google was able to shave around £2billion from its tax bills over three years by channeling the bulk of foreign profits to Ireland, then the Netherlands and finally to the Bermuda tax haven.

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.819.174 von Nonbroker am 20.07.11 20:04:38

Vorbörslich 76,8 $
AAPL soll mitmischen, weiß irgendjemand was ?

[cell1]

Bieterschlacht im vollen Gange

Apple and Google may be in a bidding war over InterDigital patents
by Chris Rawson Jul 20th 2011 at 11:30PM

Thanks to the patent system, the tech market is looking more like Parker Brothers' "Monopoly" game every day. According to Bloomberg, Apple and Google are two of the companies reportedly interested in purchasing mobile tech designer InterDigital for its 1,300 patents related to information transfer.

Google recently lost a bid for Nortel's patent portfolio, a bid that Apple, Microsoft, and other companies won. InterDigital's patents are supposedly "deeper and stronger" than Nortel's, however, which makes it a keen target for the major players in the mobile industry.

It's kind of sad that we've reached the point where every time a tech company passes "Go" in Silicon Valley, they have to sweat over landing on someone's patented hotel space and cough up billions of dollars if they want to keep playing. Since that's apparently how the game is played these days, though, it'll be interesting to see who winds up with InterDigital's US$3.1 billion portfolio after the bidding is over.

[Nonbroker]

Beitrag geht in die gleiche Richtung: It's All About Patents; InterDigital (IDCC) Could Be Worth $10 Billion to Apple (AAPL)

July 21, 2011 9:55 AM EDT
Ever since InterDigital, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC) disclosed that it is exploring a sale a few days ago shares have been on an absolute tear.

Up 28 percent Tuesday, up 29 percent Wednesday and now up another 15 percent today to $79.

The company is being courted by some of biggest names in tech, with Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) named as potential buyers.

Today analysts at Jefferies commented on the situation that is developing over InterDigital, calling it a "patent war".

Jefferies attests that following the surprising Nortel patent auction price of $4.5B for 2% to 5% of 4G patents, a patent war is manifesting itself in the InterDigital auction between Apple and Google.

"InterDigital's patents could save Apple $3-$10 per handset and could substantially increase the price of the low-cost Android phones launching in H2:11," Jefferies analyst Peter Misek stated.

InterDigital has ~180 engineers, >18,000 patents (awarded and pending), and ~16% of the essential LTE patents versus ~3% for Nortel, Misek notes. OEMs representing 40% of handset shipment license from InterDigital and LG and Nokia, neither current licensee, have paid fees to InterDigital in the past. "This indicates that InterDigital's patent portfolio is broadly accepted. Its owner would likely easily be able to sign cross-licensing deals with other patent holders", he said.

A bulk of the company's patents don't expire unit 2020 or later.

InterDigital could be worth up to $10 billion to Apple, Misek estimates. "We estimate Apple will ship ~500M phones in the next four years. Assuming a 5% unit CAGR thereafter and a 10% discount rate, the InterDigital portfolio could be worth between $3B and $10B to Apple," he said.

If Apple gains control of InterDigital is could create an issue for the Android ecosystem. Apple, through litigation, "could cause the free Android OS to actually become a burden for OEMs, forcing them to become more conservative in their aggressive pricing plan." Rather than a $150 Android, we could see a $200 device, Misek said.

[Nonbroker]

Das Neueste von Interdigital und Gutes für die shareholder!


Interdigital Can Force the Future to Pay for the Past
| by: Dana Blankenhorn July 21, 2011 | about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, GOOG, QCOM
It doesn't work that way in tech any more. Tech moves so quickly that the 17 year run of a patent leaves the future open to taxation by the past for obsolete technologies.

An example is Interdigital (IDCC). Once it was a contender. Once Interdigital was in a close race with Qualcomm (QCOM) to set global mobile standards. Qualcomm won. Interdigital languished.

But along the way it ran to the patent office many, many times. That was the business model, to set standards and to license them. As Ben Strubel noted last month the company is a “non-practicing entity.” All it does is patent stuff.

As he notes:

InterDigital owns more than 8,600 patents and has an additional 10,000 on application. The patents cover a broad variety of wireless and wire line communication, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE, as well as IEEE 802.

Now, like Kodak (EK) and Nortel, Interdigital wants to cash out. Interdigital shareholders are in for a huge payday, as Google (GOOG) fights with Apple (AAPL) for the rights to the past, rights that could determine the future.

Having lost Nortel, this is a fight Google has to win. The current Interdigital market cap is $3.1 billion, but the 1,300 patents now on offer are said to be worth even more than those of Nortel, because they're more central to the way modern networks work. Apple took the Nortel prize, in concert with Microsoft (MSFT) and others, for $4.5 billion. And after this auction Interdigital will continue to have patents for sale.

Google could create a coalition with its largest OEMs, like Samsung (SSNLF.PK) and HTC, companies under current legal attack, to gain the patents and then make patent peace. Or it could go it alone. Either way, it has to go for it. Forget the price. If Apple bests Google to the line this time, it's very, very likely that company could squash any efforts by Google in mobile, killing Android with lawyers, killing all its competitors with someone else's work.

This is not the way the patent system was designed to work. But Interdigital shareholders are mighty glad it does work that way now. It has the Roberts Court to thank for its refusal to make a firm ruling in Bilski vs. Kappos.

But those are political arguments. Since it became obvious this was how things would play out, IDCC has gained nearly 100% in value. You can call it unfair, but that's a political argument. IDCC is a screaming buy at these levels.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.828.040 von Nonbroker am 22.07.11 07:42:08

Als Kommentar auf den oben wiedergegebenen Artikel kam ein sehr fundiertes Schreiben, das mir als shareholder natürlich sehr gut gefällt.

My wheels are spinning. So, I thought I'd throw it out there to see if it floats, plus it is kind of along the lines of your question. But, before I digress, let me say that EK's patents are mostly for digital imaging and MMI's are nowhere near the importance of IDCC's. For 4G/LTE alone, IDCC has somewhere between 20% and 27% (depending on the source) of all the essential patents for the protocol. This isn't even taking into account their IP for Cloud, M2M, bandwidth expansion, etc. Do some research and you will find that IDCC is the wireless IP king ... a fact, not an assumption.
Now, on with the scenario:
What if GOOG, or APPL, or .... buys 1300 essential (the same amount that NT sold off) IDCC patents for the same price of $4.5B. IDCC keeps the rest (including M2M, Bandwidth, etc), and doles out a $78 per share ($3.5B) special dividend in cash. The company would then have a warchest of $1.75B ($1B leftover, plus $500M cash on hand, plus $250M from recent convertible offering), all the rest of the patents (6500, plus 10K pending) and their continued cash flow, and the rest of the enterprise (including the 200+ engineers who come up with these patents). I don't think it is reaching too far to see this scenario happen.
What would the PPS be after the special dividend? IDCC would be sitting on $39 per share in cash, plus the continued value of their business and their IP. You'd have to think $80 to $90 per share would be a very conservative estimate.
Thoughts anyone? 21 Jul, 11:20 PM

[Nonbroker]

Wenig Neues, aber sehr aktuell

Apple und Google wollen Interdigital-Patente
Schon beim Verkauf der Nortel-Patente befanden sich Apple und Google in einem Bieterwettbewerb. Nun hegen beide Konzerne ein Interesse an den Patenten von Interdigital.




(22.07.2011, 09:50) Vor wenigen Wochen kaufte ein Konsortium rund um Apple ein Patentpaket von Nortel für insgesamt 4,5 Milliarden Dollar. Apple zahlte für seinen Anteil an den Nortel-Patenten 2,6 Millionen US-Dollar. Auch Google zählte damals zu den Mitbietern, konnte sich gegen die Konkurrenz aber nicht durchsetzten. Anscheinend befinden sich Apple und Google erneut in einem Wettbewerb, denn US-Medien zufolge, hegen beide Konzerne Interesse an den Interdigital-Patenten.


Interdigital besitzt rund 8.800 Patente die sich auf Mobiltelefone und Mobilfunkstandards beziehen. Google ist schon seit längerem auf der Suche nach Patenten im Bereich Telekommunikation. Der Kauf eines Patentpakets würde dem Unternehmen den Rücken gegen die laufenden Patenklagen stärken.


Seit bekannt wurde, dass Apple und Google Interesse an dem Patent-Portfolio von Interdigital haben, stieg die Aktie des Patenthändlers an. Derzeit wird der Marktwert von Interdigital auf 3,1 Milliarden Dollar geschätzt.

[Nonbroker]

Ein aktueller Überblick über Interdigital aus Bloomberg:


PRICE: 74.270 USDInterDigital Inc/PA (IDCC:US)
Industry: Wireless Equipment • NASDAQ GS • Currency: USD
- InterDigital Inc/PA (IDCC)
Fundamentals
Shares (Millions) 45.357
Market Cap (Millions) 3,368.682
Float (Millions) 44.764
Return on Equity 58.783
Short Interest 4,505,837.000
Last Dividend Reported 0.100 Regular Cash
Dividend Yield (ttm) 0.404
Relative Dividend Yield 0.213

[Nonbroker]

Apple Hoards $76 Billion, Looks to Bolster Patents, Cloud
By Joe Arico | Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:31 pm

Apple is sitting on a $76 billion cushion, more cash and investments than any other tech company, leaving it plenty of ammo to acquire start-ups and bolster its patent portfolio.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company's second number represents over $12 billion dollars in cash, with the rest mostly in marketable securities.

Some investors want Apple to return some of that money to stockholders in the form of dividends. But Steve Jobs addressed the company's resistance to do that in a conference call last year, saying Apple wanted the money available to further expand business in the future.

The company has not stated exactly how it will spend its safety net, but over the past several months, Apple has made business moves that demonstrate the kind of expenditures where the reserves may come in handy.

Patent litigation has become one of the company's primary concerns of late. The patents formerly held by the Toronto-based Nortel, which filed bankruptcy in 2009, recently sold for $4.5 billion. Apple was part of the group that won an auction for the patents, and it contributed more than half of the amount paid at approximately $2.6 billion.

The battle over the Nortel patents is likely to lead to even more expensive patent battles in the future. Apple and Google are already eyeing the company InterDigital, a firm that owns over 9,000 wireless design patents and has 10,000 more pending. Companies now have a lot to gain by acquiring patents, as it protects them in patent infringement cases with competitors. Apple is engaged in plenty of legal battles, including an ongoing imbroglio with Samsung, involves patents both sides may have violated when making their smartphones and tablet devices.

While the case may prove costly for both sides, it has also threatened to dismantle the companies' lucrative relationship with each other as supplier and consumer, illustrating the several layers of damage these patent disputes can inflict. Current court cases show patent lawsuits seem to be increasing, creating another front for companies to monitor and maintain.

In addition to fending off patents, Apple has a few other long-term projects demanding resources. The company has poured millions of dollars into a massive data center in North Carolina to support its new iCloud data service. The basic iCloud service will be free for customers, and while Apple has made strides signing on industry labels, it will likely have to continue to rely on its extra cash to build upon it, and keep ahead of the competition.

Apple also has announced plans to build a new campus to accommodate the company's growth. Just the land alone for this project is estimated to have cost Apple over $300 million. As this project moves forward to its anticipated 2015 completion, CEO Steve Jobs has hinted at Apple's plans, which includes a revolutionary and costly new design.

Apple may have a lot of money left over, but as the industry and mobile market in particular become more competitive and new points of battle open up, the company may find itself with a lot more places to spend its extra cash.

[Nonbroker]

War alles nicht beunruhigend heute, vom Widerstand bei 75$ abgeprallt (wie gestern), Gewinnmitnahmen vor dem Wochenende (ich hoffe, am Montagmorgen kommt nicht schon die Hammernews, die den Kurs stark hochtreiben wird, wäre schade für die, die jetzt raus sind). Ich rechne mit wichtigen Neuigkeiten aber erst am Mittwoch nach Börsenschluß (USA) oder am Donnerstagmorgen (USA). Könnte sich im Extremfall aber noch einige Wochen hinziehen, bis die kurstreibenden Neuigkeiten kommen, aber kommen werden sie! Schönes Wochenende.

[Nonbroker]

Langer Artikel von heute aus Forbes, der direkte Bezug zu IDCC ist rot.
NUTS: Apple and Google Tackle Legal Matters
Jul. 24 2011 - 10:04 am | By MOBILEDIA
Apple’s strong second quarter performance momentarily overshadowed its legal difficulties, while Google dealt with growing lobbying bills from its own courtroom troubles.

Apple’s Legal Matters

Apple faced a couple defeats in the court room. The International Trade Commission upheld its earlier ruling that Kodak did not infringe upon any of Apple’s patents for digital cameras or software, leaving Apple with a disappointing end to at least one of its patent suits.

The ITC didn’t shut out Apple completely. It ruled in favor of the iPhone maker in its copyright case with HTC, stating the Taiwanese company copied two of Apple’s multimedia processing and data detection patents in its Android phones. HTC’s stock fell seven percent after the news, and the company will likely have to pay royalty fees to Apple for every device sold that violates the patent.

While two cases are coming to an end, another stays strong. The company’s battle with Samsung is far from over. Apple faced a minor setback as Judge Lucy Koh would not grant the company’s request to expedite the trial. Apple wanted the injunction verdict to take place September 8, but will instead have to wait until October 13.

Samsung announced it will begin selling its Galaxy S2 smartphone in the U.S. in August. The South Korean company hopes the device will take Apple’s iPhone 5 to task head on. The phone has been wildly successful in other countries and analysts believe it represents a real threat to Apple. The handset also happens to be one of the devices that could be banned in the U.S. if judge Koh rules in favor of Apple this fall.

Apple is also seeking more lawyers to help the company fight its legal battles, signaling the company’s many lawsuits may not come to any real end for a long time.

Apple Looks to Expand

Apple’s second quarter sales topped analyst predictions. The company moved more than 9 million iPads and over 20 million iPhones. Apple said it could thank strong international sales for its performance, pointing specifically to the Chinese market.

Even though Apple performed better than usual this quarter in China, the country still remains a largely untapped mobile market for the Cupertino, Calif.-based company. Chief operating officer Tim Cook sat down meetings with China Mobile, the country’s largest wireless company, about bringing the iPhone to the carrier, but it’s unclear whether that will happen.

Customers in the Chinese market prefer prepaid phones instead of contracts. Low-end Android based phones currently rule the market in China, but analysts say the rumored prepaid iPhone 3GS would help Apple cut in to Android’s success there.

Apple’s continued financial success left it with $76 billion in cash and marketable securities that it says it is saving for future ventures and possible acquisitions. The company won’t have to wait too long to start dipping into that pile of cash though. Apple plans to open a retail store in New York City’s Grand Central Station and should receive approval next week.

Apple’s Bad News

Foxconn, the manufacturer best known for making iPhone and iPad devices, dragged Apple back into the news this week when one of its 21-year-old employees killed himself outside his on-site dormitory. It’s not known if the suicide was related to pressure from work, but Apple received criticism earlier this year for not doing anything to fix the poor working conditions in Foxconn’s factories.

But Foxconn isn’t the only ones giving Apple a bad name. A fake Apple Store has emerged in Kunming, China that looks shockingly like one of the company’s authorized retailers. The store has been selling thousands of dollars in products it claims are official merchandise. Apple hasn’t responded to the store’s existence yet, but analysts predict Apple will take legal action against the owners.

Lastly, the subject of Steve Job’s health once again came to the forefront after the release of the company’s second quarter results. Apple’s board of directors is reportedly talking to executive recruiters about a CEO succession plan. Jobs has been on medical leave since January. He has remained somewhat active in the company but a full return date is still uncertain.

Google’s Legal Battle Intensifies

Google hinted it may want to settle its current lawsuit with Oracle. The move to settle indicates Google may understand its operating system is in a vulnerable position in the case.

The move to settle with Oracle also shows Google may be willing to free itself of whatever legal issues it can to save on costs. The software giant’s quarterly report revealed it spent a record $2 million on lobbying in Washington.

Google may soon find itself spending even more, as it goes head to head with Apple in a bidding war for InterDigital. InterDigital owns nearly 9,000 wireless chip design patents and has 10,000 more pending. Google and Apple value the company’s patents so highly because InterDigital may help them stay out of future patent lawsuits.
And, as if Google didn’t have enough legal battles of its own to fight, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt announced the company will support HTC in its legal battle with Apple. Google’s supporting HTC makes sense, as the company makes many smartphones that run Google’s Android OS.

Google to Expand

Google CFO Patrick Pichette defended the company’s high operating budget and spending, arguing the Google still considers itself a start-up that needs to expand as it focuses on long term growth. Pichette offered the defense after critics said the company needed to find ways to generate more revenue.

Google+ has already hit 20 million unique users. The statistic is even more impressive given that people can only join if they are invited by a friend. The service isn’t expected to go completely public until late this year.

The company also announced it may be begin offering verified accounts to attract celebrities. Twitter uses this model, verifying celebrities’ accounts to assure fans of their identities.

Even as Google+ expands, Google Labs was shut down due to the company’s high operating budget. The section was a testing ground for Google’s new projects, but the company closed it down to save money. It has moved many of the working projects to other divisions within the company but abandoned others entirely.

Facebook Versus Google+

Facebook may still have 700 million more users than Google+, but it is starting to feel the new social network’s ripple effect. Facebook banned one app developer’s advertisement that sought connections for his Google+ page. The ad was up for a few days before Facebook ordered it down.

A new report shows just 66 percent of Facebook users are completely pleased with the service. The number was up two percent from the same report last year, but indicates Google+ may have an opening to capitalize on unsatisfied Facebook users.

In the wake of Google+’s growing popularity, Facebook closed a deal with NBC to simulcast the final GOP debate before the New Hampshire primaries. The move could benefit both sides as the Grand Old Party panders to younger viewers on Facebook, and the social network will likely see increased traffic.

Hackers Cause Problems, Get In Trouble

Hacker group Anonymous announced plans to create its own social networking site after Google+ took down its page. The group said its own social network, which it promises to release soon, will be uncensored.

While hacker group Anonymous focused on social networking, the group LulzSec infiltrated Rupert Murdoch’s “The Sun” tabloid website in the wake of a phone hacking scandal now rocking the U.K. The group had been in retirement, but said they couldn’t sit by and watch Murdoch “clowning around,” subsequently posting a fake article about the media mogul’s death on his own tabloid.

Continued hacks may be a headache for those attacked, but they are making cyber-insurance much more popular. Businesses like Traveler’s Companies and Chubb are capitalizing on companies fearful of hacks who are lining up to buy insurance policies against cyber-infiltration.

But the cyber-insurance market could take a big of a hit after the U.K. and U.S. governments made efforts to strike back against hackers.

U.K. authorities captured 16 individuals in a raid, one of whom may be a LulzSec leader and others who allegedly targeted PayPal for blocking WikiLeaks payments last December. Meanwhile in the U.S., the FBI arrested over a dozen hackers. Agents raided locations in several states and seized computers and accessories from hackers’ homes.

Despite government retaliation, hackers vowed to continue attacks. A joint letter from Anonymous and LulzSec said the groups’ plan to up the ante on attacks against government and corporate websites. The reason for continuing the campaign, they say, is to expose governments’ lies and promote freedom of speech online.

Mobile Payment Alliances Form

The mobile payment market is heating up. Sprint customers can soon access American Express e-wallet services through “Sprint Zone,” a digital payment platform. Serve will allow qualified Sprint customers to make purchases at businesses that accept American Express and pay for goods and services like phone and utility bills.

Meanwhile, Isis, the mobile payment venture backed by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, teamed up with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover to support mobile payments on future Isis-powered devices. Isis is slated to launch in Salt Lake City and Austin in the beginning of 2012.

Isis will reportedly offer software that turns smartphones into e-wallets, allowing customers to pay for goods by swiping their phone at special terminals.

For the players, including Apple and Google, the stakes are lucrative. Competitors aiming to replace credit cards with cell phones, using payment technology called near-field communication, or NFC, are scrambling to get a piece of the market. And no wonder, as it is set to hit $1.13 trillion in 2014, according to Gartner, making the competition particularly fierce.

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital, Inc. under Investor Investigation over possible Buyout
An investigation on behalf of investors of InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) in connection with takeover rumors was announced and NASDAQ:IDCC stockholders should contact the Shareholders Foundation at [e-mail]


The announcement by InterDigital, Inc. that it is exploring strategic alternatives, including but not limited to also a sale of the company prompted an investigation on behalf of investors of InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) concerning whether a potential takeover would be unfair for IDCC stockholders and whether certain Inter Digital directors breach their fiduciary duties in the event of an acquisition.






If you purchased shares of InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) shares prior to the announcement, you have certain options and you should contact the Shareholders Foundation at [e-mail] or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.






The investigation by a law firm is at a preliminary stage and monitors a possible takeover. It concerns whether InterDigital Inc., certain of its officers and directors, and/or others breach their fiduciary duties owed to InterDigital (IDCC) investors in connection with the takeover rumors or in the event of a takeover.






On July 19, 2011, InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction.






Since InterDigital, Inc. announced that it is exploring potential strategic alternatives NASDAQ: IDCC stocks grew from $41.56 on July 18 to as high as $81.99 per share during Thursday’s trading.






However, InterDigital has performed well for its stockholders in the past. Its annual Total Revenue rose from $234.23million for 2007 to $394.55million for 2010. Its Net Income increased over the same time frame from $20.00million to $153.62million.






Additionally, shares of InterDigital, Inc. (Public, NASDAQ:IDCC) grew at a substantial growth rate. NASDAQ: IDCC stocks increased from as low as $17.39 per share in February 2008 to $48.37 in February 2011.






Therefore the investigation by a law firm questions whether a potential sale process and the potential price would be unfair to the shareholders of InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC). The investigation focuses whether the InterDigital board of directors will undertake an adequate and fair sales process to obtain fair consideration for all shareholders of InterDigital (IDCC) and will breach their fiduciary duties to InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) shareholder by failing to adequately shop the Company before entering into any transaction.






In addition the investigation seeks also to determine if any officer, director or any insiders violated any laws in connection with the takeover rumors.






The investigation concerns also whether the acquirer would underpay for NASDAQ:IDCC shares, thus unlawfully harming InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) investors. A potential class action lawsuit would seek to maximize the amount of money and information NASDAQ:IDCC shareholders would receive in a buyout, so the law firm.






Those who are current investors in InterDigital, Inc. (Public, NASDAQ: IDCC) common shares, and/or have any information relating the investigation, have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation at [e-mail] or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.






Contact:
Shareholders Foundation, Inc.
Jacob Rosenfeld
3111 Camino Del Rio North - Suite 423
92108 San Diego
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.ShareholdersFoundation.com

[Nonbroker]

Die Reaktion der Shareholder Foundation bezieht sich auf die Meldung von Interdigital vom 19.07.2011, in der unter anderem die Möglichkeit eines Firmenverkaufs auf geführt war. Ich gebe hier die Orginalmeldung wieder.

InterDigital Exploring Potential Strategic Alternatives
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced that its Board of Directors
has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or
other transaction.
"We continue to be optimistic about the prospects for the company under its current business plan," stated Terry Clontz,
Chairman of InterDigital's Board of Directors. "That said, over the past year we have seen the value of intellectual property rise
substantially as major players in the mobile industry increasingly understand the strategic and economic value of this type of
asset. As a result, the Board believes it is an appropriate time to explore potential strategic options that may enhance
shareholder value."
The company has retained Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital as its financial advisors to assist with the strategic review
process. In making the announcement, InterDigital® stated that there can be no assurance that this strategic review process
will result in a transaction. The company has not set a timetable for completion of the review process, and it does not intend to
comment further regarding the review process unless a specific transaction is approved by the Board of Directors, the review
process is concluded or it is otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate or required by law.
About InterDigital
InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services
worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient
broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and
strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies.
InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.
For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 regarding the company's current beliefs, plans, and expectations as to its current business plan and its exploration and
evaluation of potential strategic alternatives. Words such as "believes," "expects," "may," or similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those
expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) the
risks and uncertainties of any strategic alternative, including whether any strategic alternative will be identified or, if identified,
whether it will be pursued or consummated; (ii) unanticipated delays, difficulties or acceleration in the execution of patent
license agreements; (iii) the company's ability to leverage its strategic relationships and secure new patent license and
technology solutions agreements on acceptable terms; (iv) changes in the market share and sales performance of the
company's primary licensees, delays in product shipments of its licensees and timely receipt and final reviews of quarterly
royalty reports from its licensees and related matters; (v) the failure of the markets for the company's technologies to
materialize to the extent or at the rate that it expects; and (vi) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards
or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with
legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such legal proceedings. The company has not made a decision to pursue any strategic
alternative, and there can be no assurance that the exploration of potential strategic alternatives will result in a sale of the
company or in any other transaction. InterDigital undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking
statement for any reason, except as otherwise required by law.
InterDigital, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Janet Point, [phone]
[e-mail]
Source: InterDigital, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media

[Nonbroker]

5 of Last Week's Biggest Winners
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz | More Articles
July 25, 2011 | InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) $72.96 70% Add
Source: Barron's.

InterDigital is hiring an investment banker to smoke out suitors, and that's enough to get investors drooling at the buyout possibilities. It's the perfect time for InterDigital to consider punching out through this "strategic review," given its patent-rich portfolio at a time when intellectual property in the wireless communications realm is going through the roof.

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Communications (IDCC) NewsBite - IDCC Q2 Earnings Preview
Posted: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:46 AM EDT

InterDigital Communications (NASDAQ: IDCC) opened at $71.87. So far today, the stock has hit a low of $69.00 and a high of $72.89. IDCC is now trading at $72.54, down $0.42 (-0.58%). Over the last 52 weeks the stock has ranged from a low of $24.39 to a high of $82.50. IDCC is scheduled to report Q2 earnings on Wednesday. Analysts expect the company to post a profit of 36 cents per share on revenue of $69.24 million, compared to a year-ago profit of 78 cents per share on revenue of $91.15 million. Technical indicators for the stock are bullish and S&P does not currently have a STARS rating for IDCC. If you are looking for a hedged play on IDCC the stock seems like it could be a candidate for an August out-of-the-money bear-call credit spread above the 85 range. [ABR-Seven Summits Strategic Investments NewsBite]

[Nonbroker]

IDCC - New Perspective: InterDigital As A Weapon

2011-07-25 13:44:51.356 GMT

With its proven licensing capabilities, we believe that the current IDCC portfolio could represent a 0.8% per annum swing in margin for an acquirer.

Based on industry projections of 3G devices and tablets sold until 2015 and 4G/LTE devices sold until 2013, we have estimated the NPV of 3G and 4G/LTE licenses discounted by 18% after-tax per annum to be worth approximately $9.0B, or $193.50 per fully-diluted share. This assumes that an acquirer can extract royalties from, or cross-license with, all manufacturers. We believe that our 18% discount rate mitigates some of the potential licensing risk. We have also assumed an annual decline in licensing cash flow of 10% beginning in our terminal year. Based on a potential acquirer licensing 85% of the market, we derive a per share value of approximately $167.00. (M Partners - 416.603.7381)

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=65&mn=52434&pt=ms…

[Nonbroker]

News by Jefferies July 21 2011 Apple Inc. (AAPL) Patent Wars
Following the surprising Nortel patent auction price of $4.5B for 2% to 5%
of 4G patents, we believe Apple and Google are about to enter a patent war.
We believe this is manifesting itself in the InterDigital auction. InterDigital's
patents could save Apple $3-$10 per handset and could substantially increase
the price of the low-cost Android phones launching in H2:11.
InterDigital background: InterDigital has ~180 engineers, >18,000 patents (awarded
and pending), and ~16% of the essential LTE patents versus ~3% for Nortel. Currently OEMs
representing 40% of handset shipment license from InterDigital. LG and Nokia, neither of
which is a current licensee, have paid fees to InterDigital in the past. This indicates that
InterDigital's patent portfolio is broadly accepted. Its owner would likely easily be able to
sign cross-licensing deals with other patent holders.
InterDigital patents: InterDigital’s patent filings picked up significantly in the last ten
years, meaning that the bulk of their patents (and especially the core 3G patents) do not
expire until 2020 and later. In addition to the core wireless patents, InterDigital is testing
a video compression technique that requires only a fraction of the normal bandwidth but
does not degrade video quality. This would be of high interest to Apple and Google.
Apple's cost savings: purchasing this portfolio and signing cross-licensiing deals would
allow AAPL to save $3-$10 per handset, based on our quick analysis. We estimate Apple will
ship ~500M phones in the next four years. Assuming a 5% unit CAGR thereafter and a 10%
discount rate, the InterDigital portfolio could be worth between $3B and $10B to Apple.
Apple could create issues for the Android ecosystem: through litigation and
licensing, Apple could cause the free Android OS to actually become a burden for OEMs,
forcing them to become more conservative in their aggressive pricing plans. This is likely
to slow the price cuts Android OEMs are likely to bring. So rather than a $150 Android
smartphones, we could see a ~$200 device that is less likely to hurt a lower-cost iPhone.

[Nonbroker]

MORNINIG NOTE by M/Partners July 25 2011 Sehr interessanter Beitrag!

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_7_25.p…

[Nonbroker]

Silicon Valley’s interest in wireless patents doesn’t end with Nortel
by Kevin FitchardJuly 25th, 2011
Apple has shelled out $2.6 billion for Nortel’s intellectual property, according to an SEC filing, making it the largest stakeholder in the consortium that won for $4.5 billion the now defunct Canadian vendor’s communications technology patent portfolio (CP: Nortel patent go for $4.5 billion to consortium). But Apple and its competitors’ interest in telecom–particularly wireless—intellectual property may not yet be slaked. An even bigger potential bonanza of mobile patents is up for grabs as InterDigital is exploring the sale of its extensive patent holdings.
The Wall Street Journal named Google as the best candidate for a blockbuster deal for InterDigital, given its loss to Apple in the bidding war for Nortel’s IP. Unlike Nortel, InterDigital is a publicly traded company that doesn’t need to auction off its pieces in bankruptcy. Google can approach the deal like a regular acquisition, though InterDigital is sure to court other suitors given the rising value of wireless patents in today’s litigation-prone environment.

InterDigital is also a much different animal than Nortel’s patent group. Apple, Microsoft, EMC, Ericsson, Sony and Research in Motion essentially bought patents on paper—a big bulwark against IP lawsuits but hardly a commitment to future innovation. InterDigital was one of the premier technology firms contributing to global wireless standards, and though its primarily a licensing vehicle today, it’s still developing new technologies. Today, InterDigital is working on the generations of wireless networking science beyond LTE, focusing on key areas like coordinated multipoint (Comp), which allows devices to connect to multiple cells simultaneously, and relay antennas, which boost connection speeds within the cell.

If Google, Apple or another Silicon Valley firm gets its hands on InterDigital it get much more than a file cabinet full of patents. InterDigital has a full complement of engineers and scientists, doing critical research and development in future wireless technologies and sitting on key standards boards.

The question is whether those Silicon Valley companies value InterDigital merely for its current intellectual property or for its potential for future innovation. An Apple might buy InterDigital’s patent portfolio as a defensive measure, protecting itself from future lawsuits while wiping its hands of its current R&D activities. Apple has innovated tremendously on the device, but it has shown little interest in wireless networks themselves. Google, on the on the other hand, has already branched far into fields beyond its core Internet services competency. It’s trying to build a quantum computer and exploring the driverless car. Distributed wireless networking might be right up its alley—and it may be willing to pay a premium beyond the value of InterDigital’s patent portfolio to get at that technology.

[Nonbroker]

Noch ein Artikel aus Kapitall:

http://community.nasdaq.com/news/2011-07/momentum-ideas-stoc…

[Nonbroker]

Schöner neuer Artikel von Bloomberg.


InterDigital Appreciates 50% With Apple-Google Rush for Patents: Real M&A
QBy Danielle Kucera, Zachary Tracer and Rita Nazareth - Jul 26, 2011 5:25 AM GMT+0200 .
Patents are becoming so valuable that Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG) may have to pay a 50 percent premium to buy InterDigital Inc., even after a decision to put itself up for sale sparked a 72 percent jump in the stock.

InterDigital, whose engineers invented some of the technology for high-speed mobile phone networks now used by the world’s biggest handset makers, has gained $1.4 billion since saying last week it hired banks to explore options including a sale. The $3.2 billion company, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, may cost more than $5 billion, Algorithm Capital and Dougherty & Co. said. That would be the most expensive deal in the wireless equipment industry relative to earnings in more than a decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Apple and Google are vying to obtain exclusive rights to the inventions used in almost every device from the iPhone to Google’s Android-based handsets and Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM)’s Blackberry as smartphone demand is forecast to more than double by 2015. Owners of InterDigital, worth just $1.2 billion a year ago, now stand to profit from the company’s 8,800 patents after Google lost a bidding contest last month for bankrupt Nortel Networks’ licenses. A group including Apple agreed to pay $4.5 billion -- a fivefold increase from Google’s initial bid.

Apple and Google “know the stakes are incredibly high when it comes to the mobile space,” Chris Marlett, chief executive officer of MDB Capital Group LLC, the Santa Monica, California- based investment bank specializing in intellectual property, said in a telephone interview. Patents have been “traditionally undervalued. To whatever extent you can fortify your armament with additional patents, you need to do it. The pressure’s got to be very high right now,” he said.

Gaining Leverage
Janet Point, a spokeswoman at InterDigital, declined to comment on whether it had been approached by Apple or Google, or at what price the company would agree to sell itself.

Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, and Aaron Zamost of Google in Mountain View, California, both declined to comment on whether they were interested in acquiring InterDigital.

Google’s General Counsel Kent Walker said in an interview yesterday that “we want to be disciplined about how we approach” buying patents. He also declined to say whether Google will bid for InterDigital.

Handset makers are trying to buy more patents to gain leverage over their competitors as wireless technologies become increasingly complex, as well as to protect themselves against allegations of infringement, according to Philippe Zera, an analyst at Santa Clara, California-based Algorithm Capital.

Patent Protection
“What’s very clear is that you need a frontline of patents to be able to offset your opponents’ frontline of patents,” Brian Barish, Denver-based president of Cambiar Investors LLC, which oversees about $8 billion, said in a telephone interview.

About 15 percent of InterDigital’s patents are related to mobile-phone technologies used to transfer information. They may be worth more than those Nortel auctioned in June because it has more fourth-generation wireless technology patents, Charlie Anderson, a Minneapolis-based analyst at Dougherty, said in a telephone interview. Parts of its portfolio also haven’t been licensed, leaving more control to the buyer, he said.

InterDigital, whose technology is also used in second- and third-generation wireless networks, generated 94 percent of its sales last year from patent licensing royalties, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Shareholder Value

The company has rallied more than 70 percent since saying it hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Plc to “explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives” that may include a sale, according to the company’s statement on July 19.

“We have seen the value of intellectual property rise substantially as major players in the mobile industry increasingly understand the strategic and economic value of this type of asset,” Terry Clontz, chairman of InterDigital’s board of directors, said in the statement.

Apple and Google are among the companies weighing bids for InterDigital, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who declined to be identified because the matter is private. InterDigital closed at $71.30 yesterday, versus $41.51 prior to the announcement, when it was valued at $1.9 billion.

Algorithm’s Zera says InterDigital may be worth as much as $120 a share. That’s equal to $5.4 billion in equity value. Dougherty’s Anderson estimates InterDigital may get more than $5 billion in a takeover, adjusting for the company’s net cash.

Acquisition Price
A $5 billion acquisition would equal 23 times InterDigital’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the last 12 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, the most expensive of any wireless equipment deal over $500 million since 1999.

“It’s really, ‘How bad does the buyer want it?’” Matt McCormick, a money manager at Cincinnati-based Bahl & Gaynor Inc., said in a telephone interview. His firm oversees $4 billion. “Absolutely, people would pay more in this environment” for this type of company.

InterDigital isn’t the only company trying to profit from patents. Eastman Kodak Co. (EK), the 131-year-old camera company based in Rochester, New York, said last week it may sell more than 1,100 digital-imaging patents. Billionaire Carl Icahn also urged Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. to explore alternatives for its patents, which he said are “substantially larger than Nortel Networks’ and includes numerous patents concerning 4G technologies,” according to a filing last week.

Hard Sell
Still, Ron Epstein, chief executive officer at Epicenter IP Group LLC, a Redwood City, California-based patent brokerage, says that expectations of analysts and investors of how much money patent sales will garner may be too high.

“I don’t think anyone, other than the small number of potential strategic buyers, understands the value of the actual portfolios,” he said in a telephone interview. Financial investors “may have a hard time given the difficulty of understanding the scope and quality of patents and understanding how the strategic buyers like Apple and Google use them.”

InterDigital’s move to sell itself comes as smartphones sales are forecast to almost double to $1.1 billion in 2015, according to estimates from Gartner Inc., the Stamford, Connecticut-based research firm.

While the projections show that Google will become the dominant mobile-phone platform, it may now be at a disadvantage after losing the Nortel auction, which was won by six companies including Apple, Dougherty’s Anderson said.

‘A Little Naked’
The purchase gave the winners control over more than 6,000 patents and applications that cover wireless and Internet technologies. The auction ended after 19 rounds with a final price that was five times more than the $900 million that Google agreed to pay before the process started.

Nortel showed that both Apple and Google “are a little naked on the intellectual property side,” said Cambiar’s Barish. “So what’s $4 billion or $5 billion or even $10 billion to inoculate them against patent attack? It’s an expense you have to make.”

Both Google and Apple can afford to pay up. Google had $39 billion in cash and short-term investments at the end of June, while Apple had $28 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

For Google, buying InterDigital could help it fend off lawsuits such as those from Apple, which is suing HTC Corp. (2498), the Taoyuan, Taiwan-based handset maker that uses Google’s Android.

‘A Thousand Cuts’
The U.S. International Trade Commission found on July 15 that HTC infringed two patents owned by Apple. If the decision is upheld, HTC may be prevented from importing some of its phones to the U.S. Apple also has cases against other makers of Android devices, including Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. and Motorola Mobility of Libertyville, Illinois.

Google’s “motivation seems to be to buy patents to use as defense because what you can do is go into these cases and cross license,” Anderson said. InterDigital’s “largely unlicensed group of 4G patents would accomplish that,” he said.

Apple could save $3 to $10 per handset by acquiring InterDigital’s patents, Peter Misek, an analyst at Jefferies Group Inc. in New York, wrote in a report to clients July 21. Based on his estimate for Apple’s future phone shipments, the portfolio could be worth $3 billion to $10 billion, he said.

“You’re going to die a death of a thousand cuts unless you have the ability to inflict the same sort of damage on your competitors,” said MDB’s Marlett. “The better equipped you are to go to battle, the better, because it’s going to be a battle. There’s no way around it.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Danielle Kucera in New York at [e-mail]; Zachary Tracer in New York at [e-mail]; Rita Nazareth in New York at [e-mail].

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Katherine Snyder at [e-mail]; Tom Giles at [e-mail].

[Nonbroker]

Blooberg ist heute sehr eifrig.

Patents ‘Gumming Up’ Innovation: GoogleQBy Susan Decker - Jul 26, 2011 6:01 AM GMT+0200 .
Morris/Bloomberg
Google Inc. General Counsel Kent Walker said the smartphone industry is using patents in an arms race that hurts consumers, leaving the company trying to “sort through the mess” of litigation.

“It’s hard to find what’s the best path -- there’s so much litigation,” Walker said in an interview. “We’re exploring a variety of different things.”

Google is seeking to buy patents that would put it on a level plane with its rivals, and the company will continue to push to have the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office take a closer look at issued patents that are being used in litigation, Walker said. Congress and the Federal Trade Commission also need to do more to rein in software patents and lawsuits, he said.

“The tech industry has a significant problem,” Walker said. “Software patents are kind of gumming up the works of innovation.”

Google, which had $39.1 billion in cash and short-term investments as of June, put in an initial $900 million offer to buy the patents of bankrupt phone-equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. It was outbid by a group that includes Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Research In Motion Ltd., which all make devices that compete with phones running Google’s Android operating system.

More Discipline?

Walker declined to say whether Mountain View, California- based Google will bid on InterDigital Inc., the digital-imaging patents of Eastman Kodak Co. or any other specific portfolio. He said it’s unclear if the $4.5 billion winning bid for the Nortel patents is a sign that other sales will be equally large.

“We want to be disciplined about how we approach all this stuff,” Walker said. “We’re looking for a reasonable alternative, but we want to make sure Google and the companies Google partners with aren’t shut out of the opportunity to bring great new products and features to consumers.”

Google rose 75 cents to $618.98 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have climbed 4.2 percent this year.

Google’s Android software is now the most widely used mobile operating system, with 38.9 percent of the worldwide smartphone market, compared with 18.2 percent for Apple’s iPhone, according to research firm IDC.

Apple has patent cases against Samsung Electronics Co., HTC Corp. and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. over their Android- based phones, and each of them has filed patent suits against Apple. Microsoft and Motorola Mobility also have filed patent suits against each other, and the Redmond, Washington-based software maker has a pending complaint against Barnes & Noble Inc. over the Nook reader.

‘Mutually Assured Destruction’
The cases have been filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, which has the power to block imports of products found to infringe U.S. patents.

“Each side can blow the other up on some level --everybody can block the other’s products from coming to market,” Walker said. “You create this mutually assured destruction scenario, but it’s very expensive to get all those munitions.”

Google has been hesitant to use patents to file suits against other companies, he said.

“Buying patents so you can hit the other guy, it’s not good form,” Walker said. “You hate to unilaterally disarm here, but we haven’t in our history.”

The company is providing support and technical help to companies that make products for the Android operating system and are being sued, either by rival companies such as Apple and Microsoft, or by small patent owners that don’t make products.

“We’ll be fine,” Walker said. “We have the resources to balance the scales here.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at [e-mail]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Allan Holmes at [e-mail]; Tom Giles at [e-mail]

[Nonbroker]

RTTNews July 26 2011:


InterDigital Files Complaint With ITC Against Nokia, Huawei, ZTE - Quick Facts



(RTTNews) - InterDigital Inc. (IDCC) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiaries InterDigital Communications LLC, InterDigital Technology Corp. and IPR Licensing Inc. have filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission or ITC against Nokia Corp. (NOK) and Nokia Inc., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and FutureWei Technologies Inc. d/b/a Huawei Technologies (USA) and ZTE Corporation and ZTE (USA) Inc.,collectively, ZTE and together with Nokia and Huawei called as "Respondents".

According to the complaint, Respondents have engaged in unfair trade practices by making for importation into the United States, importing, and selling after importation, certain 3G wireless devices.

InterDigital noted that it has also filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that Respondents' 3G wireless devices infringe these same InterDigital patents.

InterDigital's complaint with the ITC seeks an exclusion order that would bar from entry into the U.S. any infringing 3G wireless devices (and components) that are imported by or on behalf of Respondents, including wireless mobile phones, USB sticks, mobile hotspots, and tablets capable of operating with a 3G WCDMA or 3G cdma2000® system.

For comments and feedback: contact [e-mail]

[Nonbroker]

Eine sehr lange Abhandlung schwerpunktmäßig über Google und das Verhältnis zu Patenten, ich hab´s nur quergelesen und den direkten Bezug zu Interdigital gerötet.

The 4 Big Problems With Google's Anti-Patent Stance
Florian Mueller, FOSS Patents | Jul. 26, 2011, 12:19 PM |Kent Walker, Senior Vice President & General Counsel at Google.


The purpose of this present blog is and will continue to be analysis, not advocacy. I want to be right in terms of describing what's going on and predicting as accurately as possible what's going to come out of this, as opposed to pushing for reform. I dropped out of the fight against software patents in October 2006 and I've moved on definitively. But there are exceptional situations (such as this one) in which policy issues mix with the disputes and transactions I monitor.

Last evening, TechCrunch published an exclusive interview with Google's General Counsel Kent Walker, who condemned the patent system in by far the strongest terms any IT executive ever has to the best of my knowledge. According to TechCrunch, he "said that innovation itself is in danger", and here are a couple of verbatim quotes:

"A patent isn't innovation. It’s the right to block someone else from innovating."

"Patents are government-granted monopolies. We have them to reward innovation, but that's not happening here."

"An average patent examiner gets 15 to 20 hours per patent to see if it's valid. It can take years to go back and correct mistakes. It has become a kind of lottery."

At the highest level, "patents are not encouraging innovation," he says.

MG Siegler's very well-written TechCrunch article raised some good questions and connects those statements with the reality of what Google is doing as well as with possible reasons and motivations.

From my vantage point, those statements (even though I largely agree with them) have four rather serious credibility issues. Those relate to

1.Google's history,
2.a taste of "sour grapes"

3.the fact that Google's respect for other people's and companies' intellectual property rights is doubtful, and

4.Google's failure to support Android app developers against Lodsys and other trolls.

I will elaborate on those issues in this post. But before I get there, let me explain why I believe the most obvious credibility problem in many people's eyes -- Google's incessant efforts to buy patents -- is actually not an issue.

Non-issue: Google's efforts to buy patents

It may appear counterintuitive to say that Google's new anti-patent stance and its continued efforts to bolster its patent portfolio through acquisitions are unrelated. But that's the way I view it because I try to be pragmatic.

I'm already on the record saying that "Google must keep trying to buy strategic patent assets" in response to a Reuters question concerning Google's purported interest in patent holding company InterDigital. I believe it would make a lot more strategic sense for Apple to acquire that particular company, and I'd be surprised if Apple didn't outbid Google once again, but in general, Google must make an effort to address its strategic weakness in terms of patents. It should have been making such an effort for a much longer time, in fact -- long before the prices for such purchases skyrocketed.

When I wrote in January that "Google is patently too weak to protect Android", I was apparently the first one to raise this issue in the media, and I encountered disbelief. Now, about six months later, there's no more doubt since Google itself has admitted on several occasions a need to do something about it. What it does now could end up being too little too late for Android. But at least they must try.

I don't dispute anyone's right to try to perform well in a game under the existing set of rules while advocating change. If a particular soccer team makes use of the offside trap (meaning that in certain defensive situations they move up all players so that an attacking striker is in an "offside" position and not allowed to score), its leaders, members and fans still have every right to promote the abolition of the offside rule.

I do know that this perspective is not supported by many people in the free and open source software community, but even their organizations (such as the FSF and its various satellites) have no qualms about receiving most of their funding from pro-patent sponsors. That's really bad because those companies heavily influence the agenda. I also find it disturbing that the Open Source Initiative's favorite law firm files lawsuits on behalf of patent trolls. By comparison, I don't object at all to Google participating in patent auctions.

Credibility issue #1: Google is the biggest IT company ever built on a software patent

The first problem Google faces with its dismissal of software patents is that it's the biggest entrepreneurial success story owing to a software patent. Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP -- none of them was built on a software patent. Those companies started before software was patented on a noticeable scale. They are now big in the patent business, but they don't owe their initial success to a software patent -- unlike Google. The Wall Street Journal recently mentioned that Google's founders received funding without even having a business plan in place:

You would have needed uncanny foresight or powerful pharmaceuticals to envision Google's success in 1999. Or maybe just money to burn. Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital had something, because the two venture capital firms invested $12.5 million each, leading cynics in the Valley to define "Googling" as "getting funding without a business plan."

They may not have had a business plan, but the very basis on which Google's founders were able to start was U.S. Patent No. 6,285,999 on a "method for node ranking in a linked database", invented by Lawrence (Larry) Page and filed for on January 9, 1998. It was assigned to Stanford University, which later gave Google's founders an exclusive license. And it was an extremely broad one. Look at its claim 1:

A computer implemented method of scoring a plurality of linked documents, comprising:

obtaining a plurality of documents, at least some of the documents being linked documents, at least some of the documents being linking documents, and at least some of the documents being both linked documents and linking documents, each of the linked documents being pointed to by a link in one or more of the linking documents;
assigning a score to each of the linked documents based on scores of the one or more linking documents and processing the linked documents according to their scores.

Good luck trying to work around that one if you want to build a competitive search engine...

Of course, some may claim that perhaps Google might have succeeded even without patent protection. There's also no doubt that Google developed a whole lot of technology to manage large server farms that wasn't expressed in or by that particular patent. But Google as a company was built on the PageRank patent. The fact of the matter is that they had a software patent before they had a business plan, and there's at least a strong possibility that the patent played a key role in Google's ability to attract funding.

Interestingly, one of Google's investors and current board members, Kleiner Perkins partner John Doerr (widely considered Silicon Valley's and the world's most influential venture investor), recently raised on Twitter the question of what to do about software patents:

hmmm... how shd we fix patent system? ban or shorten sw patent life? see onforb.es/rpzdwZ and oreilly.com/news/patent_ar.... And LMK @johndoerr

But back when he invested in Google, it's quite possible that he viewed the patent as a key asset and might not have invested without it.

The broad PageRank patent may also have helped deter competitors from matching Google's quality especially in its critical early years. By now they're the dominant player in the search engine business and, as a beneficiary of strong network effects, have bigger problems with antitrust regulators than with potential imitators. Nevertheless, even a relatively recent SEC filing by Google states the following:

Intellectual Property

We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the U.S. and other jurisdictions as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary technology and our brand. We also enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants and confidentiality agreements with other third parties, and we rigorously control access to proprietary technology.

The first version of the PageRank technology was created while Larry and Sergey attended Stanford University, which owns a patent to PageRank. The PageRank patent expires in 2017. We hold a perpetual license to this patent. In October 2003, we extended our exclusivity period to this patent through 2011, at which point our license will become non-exclusive.

Circumstances outside our control could pose a threat to our intellectual property rights. For example, effective intellectual property protection may not be available in every country in which our products and services are distributed. Also, the efforts we have taken to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective. Any significant impairment of our intellectual property rights could harm our business or our ability to compete. [...]

The passages quoted above are not justifiable with the same arguments as Google's efforts to build a retaliatory arsenal as a deterrent for other patent holders. They stand in direct contradiction to the statements quoted by TechCrunch because those passages from an SEC filing underscore the value of patents to Google's business, based on such concepts as "exclusivity" and "proprietary technology". Also, note that Google's discussion of its intellectual property rights starts with patents. They could have started with copyright, trademarks and trade secrets, putting patents last. No, they put them first.

So are they against patents? It seems they like their own patents very much (including the absurd Google Doodle patent, which they spent ten years fighting for) and are only against other people's and companies' patents.

If you ever hear them denounce their PageRank patent as a youthful mistake or as an impediment to innovation, please let me know.

Credibility issue #2: a taste of sour grapes

Google would have had much more credibility as a critic of the patent system if it had spoken out at a time when it was either a winner or at least not a loser of the patent game.

Back in 2004, when I started the NoSoftwarePatents campaign in Europe (which I managed until the spring of 2005), Google was not willing to speak out against software patents. The CEO of one of the companies sponsoring my campaign contacted Eric Schmidt, then Google's CEO, and while Schmidt acknowledged receipt of the email, nothing ever came out of that contact. The same sponsor talked to Google co-founder Sergey Brin at a conference about software patents, and the answer he got was that they hold patents and consider them valid and valuable.

In June 2005, less than two weeks before the European Parliament's decisive vote on a proposal for software patent legislation, a fellow activist (Erik Josefsson) and I met in Brussels with a Google lobbyist and a Google programmer from the Netherlands. The lobbyist forwarded to various of her political contacts an activist group's proposed amendments to the bill. But to forward something is not the same as endorsing it. The European anti-software-patent movement didn't have any big company officially on its side. If Google had spoken out unequivocally at that point, it would have had major impact. They could have been honest and said that they did benefit from the PageRank patent but now that they've analyzed the issue more broadly, they must conclude that the impact of software patents is negative on the bottom line. Instead of doing that, Google's excuse was that the process was already at a late stage and they didn't want to join the debate at that point. But in a democracy there's nothing that would have had to prevent them from chiming in even on the day of the parliamentary vote.

The really disappointing part of that conversation was that Google's only real interest in connection with that European software patent bill was to ensure a so-called interoperability privilege. They only wanted to make sure they could continue to index PDF files without being deemed to infringe Adobe's patents. I told them that my view was the opposite one: software shouldn't be patentable in the first place, but if it is patentable, then there's no reason why Adobe shouldn't hold and enforce PDF-related patents.

In connection with the famous Bilski case, Google also stopped short of advocating abolition. Google basically told the U.S. Supreme Court that patents aren't bad but there are some bad patents out there. The alternative would have been for them to argue that the patent system is out of control and fails to "promote the progress of science and the useful arts", the purpose for which the U.S. Constitution allowed patents in the first place. Google's General Counsel now says that patents don't encourage innovation. Google's Bilski brief wasn't unequivocal. It was -- once again -- a lot more like "our patents are good but other people's patents are bad". But it was certainly a more patent-skeptical position than the one Google took in connection with that EU process six years ago.

The day after the Bilski decision I listed the top ten losers besides the "inventors" whose patent application was rejected. Number 7 on my list was Google's foray into new markets (Andoid, WebM). If I had to redo that top ten list today, it would certainly move up from #7 -- possibly all the way up to the top spot. But at that point, Google's problems with other companies' patents were already visible.

There really is a correlation between Google's problems with entrance barriers put up by others and its stance on patents. That's normal, but it does nothing to enhance Google's credibility. In particular, the statements Mr. Walker gave TechCrunch smack of sour grapes. Let's compare them to how he actually sought to justify Google's participation in the Nortel auction after Google won a pre-auction test bid to become the "stalking horse" bidder. Let me quote and comment on a few passages from the related blog post dated April 4, 2011:

The tech world has recently seen an explosion in patent litigation, often involving low-quality software patents, which threatens to stifle innovation.

He's right on the explosion of patent litigation, but the complaint about "low-quality software patents" was still pretty much like Google's Bilski brief: some software patents are bad because their quality is low, as opposed to claiming that all software patents must be abolished (arguing that most of them have a low quality so that the field as a whole doesn't lend itself to patenting).

Some of these lawsuits have been filed by people or companies that have never actually created anything

That isn't an argument against software patents. It's an argument against trolls, and a rather weak one, because if something is considered a legitimate invention deserving of patent protection, there's nothing wrong with a certain division of labor, with some focusing on inventions, others helping them with enforcement, and another group building products based on patent licenses.

Moreover, if they now buy patents, they also obtain protection without having created the technologies to which those patents relate.

Google is a relatively young company, and although we have a growing number of patents, many of our competitors have larger portfolios given their longer histories.

This distracts from the real issue. It's not that Google just has fewer patents because it's a young company. Patents have a term of validity of 20 years from the filing of an application, and Google is 13 years old. Google's founders were apparently also aware of the availability of patents even before they started their company. If this was just about Google's shorter history, then its run rate of new patent applications would have to be high, but it's still not at a very high level. Google simply doesn't do much of the kind of innovation that the patent system rewards. I like a number of Google services, very much in fact (including Google Plus, where you can find my profile at this address), but Google doesn't do much of the hardcore kind of R&D that companies like Apple and Microsoft spend more money on.

The last two sentences of that blog post are the most telling ones:

If successful, we hope this portfolio will not only create a disincentive for others to sue Google, but also help us, our partners and the open source community—which is integrally involved in projects like Android and Chrome—continue to innovate. In the absence of meaningful reform, we believe it's the best long-term solution for Google, our users and our partners.

Look at what he said: "the best long-term solution". He didn't say that it's a short-term fix under the circumstances. He had apparently given up on what he calls "meaningful reform", and instead wanted to buy a massive patent portfolio out of a bankruptcy estate (regardless of whether Google ever created any telecommunications equipment itself) -- again, as a "long-term solution". "Long-term". And now that this didn't work out, he takes a much broader anti-patent position.

Again, there's nothing wrong with trying to buy patents. But the position he took back in April would be much more consistent with the one he took yesterday if he had not presented that envisioned transaction as a "long-term solution".

Credibility issue #3: strong suspicions of willful infringement

When I was campaigning against software patents, the kinds of allies I was most uncomfortable about were those who were not only against software patents but had a broader anti-IP agenda. There were some in that movement who hoped that doing away with software patents would be the beginning of the end (or the end of the beginning, if you will) of a wider-ranging effort to weaken intellectual property rights. Not only did they have plans that would put me at loggerheads with them sooner or later (since I'm clearly in favor of copyright, and I'm not against all patents, though against many) but they also adversely affected the whole movement's ability to gather political support. A broad anti-IP agenda works only far left of the center. Center-left and (even more so) center-right politicians abhor it.

Google's track record in respecting intellectual property rights is problematic to say the least. Think of YouTube or Google's aggressive approach to its Google Books project.

In a very recent blog post I mentioned the latest statements by Judge William Alsup, the federal judge presiding over Oracle's lawsuit against Google:

Google may have simply been brazen, preferring to roll the dice on possible litigation rather than to pay a fair price.

The same judge previously raised the question of Google's suspected willful infringement of Oracle's Java-related intellectual property rights. I uploaded the related formal notice to Scribd.

That's a circumstance that casts serious doubt on Google's implicit assertion that Android's intellectual property problems are just due to the shortcomings of the patent system (combined with Android's success). It seems more likely to me that those problems are a combination of various factors, and some of those are Google-specific. That doesn't mean that there aren't also very general problems with software patents -- it's just that a company suspected by a judge of totally reckless, willful infringement is not in the best position to advocate intellectual property reform.

Credibility issue #4: Google's failure to speak out on the Lodsys mess

A patent troll named Lodsys has sent out infringement notices to numerous mobile app developers, including many Android app developers, and keeps sending out more all the time.

Lodsys is already suing a number of mobile app developers. Initially Lodsys sued seven -- mostly rather small -- app developers. That original lawsuit filed in late May already attacked one Android app (Labyrinth for Android) among mostly iOS-based apps. Lodsys just amended that complaint last week and also added Angry Birds for iOS as well as Angry Birds for Android to the list of accused products.

The fact that Lodsys asserted its rights against Android developers was raised in an Android developer discussion group post on May 26. Two months later, Google still hasn't spoken out. There was no reply even to the questions raised by Android app developers on Twitter, such as this message to Google's Android boss Andy Rubin, which was retweeted many times:



Read more: http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/07/googles-new-anti-pat…

[Nonbroker]

Die letzte Bloomberg - Meldung:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-27/google-interdigital…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.846.874 von Nonbroker am 26.07.11 16:35:20

Nokia will sich wehren



Nokia Says Will Defend Itself Against InterDigital's Patent Complaint



HELSINKI -(Dow Jones)- Finland-based handset maker Nokia Corp. (NOK) Wednesday said it would defend itself against a patent complaint filed against it with the U.S. International Trade Commission by wireless-technology developer and licenser InterDigital Inc. (IDCC).

"Nokia will take whatever steps are needed to protect its rights," Nokia spokesman Tomi Kuuppelomaki told Dow Jones Newswires.

In addition to Nokia, InterDigital also filed complaints against Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp., saying all three companies engaged in unfair trade practices by importing certain 3G devices, including mobile phones, mobile hotspots, tablets and components that infringed seven of the company's U.S. patents. A separate complaint was filed in federal court alleging the companies' 3G wireless devices infringe the same patents.

In June, Nokia won all patent litigation with U.S.-based rival Apple Inc. (AAPL), with both companies withdrawing their complaints.

-By Helsinki Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; arild.moen@ dowjones.com

(Tess Stynes contributed to this article.)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-27-110338ET


Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=2…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.846.874 von Nonbroker am 26.07.11 16:35:20

Die chinesische Antwort

http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/news/categorized_news_detail_…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.844.400 von Nonbroker am 26.07.11 10:28:29

Nokia war mal Branchenprimus und hat einige Entwicklungen verschlafen.
Nicht umsonst haben sie dieses Jahr ein Werk in Kakifornien gekauft, Patententwicklung.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.852.052 von cell1 am 27.07.11 14:02:00

Stimmt, das hat Nokia jetzt davon

Nokia’s Debt Rating Cut to Two Steps Above Junk
By Diana ben-Aaron - Jul 27, 2011
Nokia Oyj (NOK1V), the world’s biggest maker of mobile phones, had its debt rating cut to two steps above junk by Moody’s Investors Service, which cited “a severe weakening” of the Finnish company’s market position.

The senior debt rating was reduced by two steps to Baa2, the second-lowest among 10 investment-grade rankings, with a negative outlook, Moody’s said in a statement today announcing its second downgrade of Nokia in four months. The change affects about 3.5 billion euros ($5.1 billion) in senior debt.

etc.

[Nonbroker]

Ist zwar bereits gepostet, jetzt aber mal auf Deutsch

InterDigital klagt wegen Mobilfunkpatenten gegen Nokia, Huawei und ZTEvon Roger Cheng und Stefan Beiersmann, 27. Juli 2011, 14:06 Uhr

InterDigital klagt bei einem Bezirksgericht im US-Bundesstaat Delaware sowie bei der Außenhandelsbehörde ITC gegen Nokia, Huawei und ZTE. Die drei Firmen sollen unerlabut geschützte 3G-Mobilfunktechnologien des US-Unternehmens in ihren Produkten verwenden.

Unter anderem fordert InterDigital ein Importverbot für 3G-Handys, USB-Modems für Laptops, mobile Hotspots, Tablets und andere Mobilfunkkomponenten von Nokia, Huawei und ZTE. Nach Angaben des Unternehmens endeten Gespräche mit den drei Herstellern über ein Lizenzabkommen für die sieben eingeklagten Patente ohne eine akzeptable Lösung.


Die Patentklage ist eine von vielen, mit denen sich Technologiefirmen derzeit gegenseitig überziehen. Unter anderem streiten Apple und HTC sowie Apple und Samsung und auch Kodak und Apple um Schutzrechte, die in mobilen Geräten Anwendung finden. Die Zahl der Firmen, die die ITC anrufen, hat in den vergangenen Jahren stetig zugenommen. Die Aussicht auf ein Importverbot zwingt die Streitparteien normalerweise dazu, einen Vergleich einzugehen.

Weder Nokia noch Huawei oder ZTE sind stark im US-Markt vertreten. Während Nokia schon seit Längerem versucht, mit seinen Mobiltelefonen in Amerika Fuß zu fassen, sind Huawei und ZTE erst seit Kurzem in den USA aktiv. Ihre Bemühungen auf dem US-Markt könnten durch die Klage einen Rückschlag erleiden.

Es ist nicht das erste Mal, dass InterDigital gegen Handyhersteller vorgeht. 2008 legte Samsung eine Klage gegen Zahlung eines nicht genannten Betrags bei. Die Koreaner erhielten damals im Gegenzug Nutzungsrechte für InterDigitals 2G- und 3G-Mobilfunktechniken.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.852.809 von Nonbroker am 27.07.11 15:40:48

Noch eine deutsche Version zum gleichen Thema:

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/InterDigital-macht-3G…

[Nonbroker]

IDCC ist ganz schön negativ volatil heute, das liegt an fehlenden Neuigkeiten und am Allgemeinmarkt.


Intellectual Property: Potentially the Biggest Opportunity of the Decade
by: Lou Basenese July 27, 2011

Back in May, I put you on alert that Wall Street was about to unlock trillions of dollars of untapped value.

Unknown to many, this value is tied up in intellectual property (IP) or patents on corporate balance sheets.

I shared VirnetX Holding Corp. (AMEX: VHC) as early proof of this imminent trend.

Since the company was formed in 2006, with the sole purpose of monetizing a portfolio of 19 patents from SAIC, Inc. (NYSE: SAI), management has turned a $35 million investment into a $1.7 billion treasure.

In recent weeks, though, I’ve seen even more proof of the patent trend. And it’s unfolding much quicker than I anticipated, so the investment opportunity is much more urgent than before.

Here’s the proof – and most importantly, two compelling ways you can play this trend…

The Biggest Patent Auction in History Just Went Down

In January 2009, North America’s largest maker of telephone equipment, Nortel Networks (NTL), filed for bankruptcy protection.

You’d think that would’ve immediately wiped out the company’s value, right?

Wrong!

Earlier this month, the company’s portfolio of 6,000 wireless and internet technology patents and patent applications fetched $4.5 billion.

To put that figure into perspective, Nortel only received $3 billion for selling off most of its businesses in bankruptcy. In other words, the company’s ideas ended up being worth 1.5 times the value of its actual operations.

As David Descoteaux, Managing Director of Lazard, sums it up, “This [deal] has woken up the world to what IP means and how companies think about ways of monetizing intellectual property.”

I’ll say! And last week, we got another big wake-up call…

Google Refuses to Lose

A consortium of tech giants (including Apple (AAPL), Research in Motion (RIMM), Microsoft (MSFT), EMC, Ericsson (ERIC) and Sony (SNE)) ended up winning the auction for Nortel’s patents. Heck, they even managed to send the early front-runner, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), home empty-handed.

But Google didn’t give up. Instead, the company went on the hunt for other attractive patents. And early last week, news broke that the company had its sights set on InterDigital, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC) – a company that boasts 8,800 patents and 10,000 patents pending.

The result?

InterDigital shares soared 98.7% higher. And that’s before any deal has been finalized.

Of course, longtime readers will remember that in November 2010, I profiled InterDigital, stating that with its attractive valuation and extensive patent portfolio, “I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if it received an unsolicited takeover offer.”

Those who saw the value of patents early and acted on my advice to “pick up a few shares before they take off” are now sitting on a 147% gain – and counting.

If those gains – and Google’s latest maneuvers to secure patents – don’t prove to you that there are profits to be made by investing in this trend, maybe an endorsement from legendary investor and corporate raider, Carl Icahn, will help…

It’s Motorola’s Turn to Profit From Patents

In an SEC filing last Thursday, Icahn, Motorola’s Mobility’s (NYSE: MMI) biggest shareholder, revealed that he wants the company to monetize its portfolio of 17,000 patents and 7,500 pending patents.

Icahn said Motorola’s patent portfolio is “substantially larger” than Nortel’s. And he warned management against spending too much time focusing on its operating businesses instead of maximizing the value of its patents.

With good reason, too. Because ultimately, he believes that if management unlocks the value of the company’s patents, the company would be worth $13 billion, or about $44 per share.

That’s roughly 80% more than its current value!

Since the final value of Nortel’s patents significantly exceeded initial estimates, it’s safe to assume that the same will hold true for any future deals for InterDigital or Motorola Mobility.

Bottom line: Start positioning your portfolio to profit from patents immediately. If you wait, I’m convinced you’re going to miss out on one of the biggest opportunities of the next decade.

[Nonbroker]

Eine weitere positive Spekulation vor Veröffentlichung der Quartalszahlen heute nach Börsenschluß in den USA.



Apple: Formidable Bidder For Any IP Trove, Says Barclays Posted by Tiernan Ray
In case you missed it, Apple (AAPL) last week filed its 10-Q for the fiscal Q3 that ended in June, and that the company reported last Tuesday.

Barclays Capital’s Ben Reitzes the other day weighed in with observation regarding that filing: Apple paid $2.6 billion to Nortel Networks as its share of the $.4.5 billion collective bid for the Nortel telecom patents, which Apple is buying along with EMC (EMC), Microsoft (MSFT), Ericsson (ERIC), Sony (SNE) and Research in Motion (RIMM).

(Reitzes’s note is actually dated Monday, July 25th, so my apologies to getting to this belatedly.)

Following that train of thought, Reitzes remarks, “With the Nortel sale, other companies are also examining wireless IP sales including InterDigital (IDCC) and Eastman Kodak (EK). We expect Apple to be involved in many of these discussions. With a cash balance of over $76B, the company would be a formidable bidder for any IP it covets.”

I would note that InterDigital reports earnings this afternoon. It should be interesting to see if they have anything further to say on the matter of monetizing their patents. Apple shares today are down $4.71, or 1.2%, at $398.70. InterDigital Communications (IDCC) Stock Trading Info:

[Nonbroker]

Neuigkeit, die aber nicht wertbewegend ist.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/282223-companies-with-more-t…

[Nonbroker]

Nicht kursbewegend, aber Neuigkeit:


InterDigital Flaunts Its Wireless Patents in Delaware and ITC Infringement Suits Against Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE

Nate Raymond ContactAll Articles
The American Lawyer

July 28, 2011

© Rido - Fotolia.com


Did wireless provider Interdigital Inc. hire Latham & Watkins and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosat to file infringement claims this week at least partly as a marketing tool sell its patent portfolio—or the whole company—to Google Inc. or an IP-starved rival?

That's the question we're asking ourselves this week, after InterDigital accused Huawei Technologies, Nokia Corporation and ZTE Corporation of infringing its patents in separate suits filed Tuesday in Delaware federal district court and the U.S. International Trade Commission. The company lodged its claims just one week after announcing that it was exploring "potential strategic alternatives," including a sale, in light of the intellectual property boom.

InterDigital boasted in its press release announcing Tuesday's infringement suits that it owns about 1,400 U.S. patents and 8,000 non-U.S. patents, with thousands more applications pending. Most of those patents, including the ones it's asserting against Huawei, Nokia, and ZTE, relate to "digital wireless radiotelephony technology," the company claims.

In the wake of the heated $4.5 billion auction of Nortel Network's patent portfolio, it's hardly a secret that the tech world is mired in an arms race to acquire litigation-ready patents. Earlier this month HTC paid $300 million to acquire the chip-designer S3 Graphics less than a week after S3 won an ITC ruling that Apple had infringed two of its patents for compression technology. Eastman Kodak, meanwhile, announced last week that it was exploring a sale of part of its portfolio of digital imagining and storage patents.

Whatever the merits of InterDigital's infringement claims, the ITC and Delaware suits give the company a nice opportunity to flaunt its IP assets. "I believe they want to demonstrate the breadth of their standards-related patents in connection with 3G just as they put the company on the selling block," said Florian Mueller, our go-to smartphone wars commentator, IP activist, and blogger at FOSS Patents. Google has reportedly had preliminary discussions already about buying InterDigital.

A spokesman for InterDigital said said the company would not comment "on any speculation, nor can we elaborate on the on strategic alternatives process beyond what was stated in the PR."

The InterDigital suits appear to be reuniting Wilson Sonsini with part of a six-partner group that defected in March for Latham. The Latham partners involved in the litigation, Ron Shulman and Michael Ladra, had been at Wilson Sonsini up until that move. Shulman declined to comment, and Wilson Sonsini partner David Steuer didn't respond to a request for comment. None of the defendants responded to our requests for comment.


Subscribe to The American Lawyer

[Nonbroker]

July 27, 2011 11:31 AM PDT

Huawei 'puzzled' at InterDigital patent complaint
by Roger Cheng
Huawei Technologies said today it is "a little bit puzzled" by allegations that it was illegally using InterDigital's wireless patents.

Huawei was in the middle of what it thought were "good faith negotiations" with InterDigital when the claims were made, said William Plummer, vice president of external affairs for the Chinese company.

InterDigital, which develops and holds patents on a lot of valuable wireless technology, said yesterday that it filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission and a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, alleging that Huawei, along with Nokia and ZTE, were in violation of its patents related to 3G technology.

ZTE previously said it hadn't seen the complaint, and wouldn't comment. Nokia wasn't available to comment on the complaint.

Huawei, meanwhile, said it is confident in its patent position and plans to protect itself.

"We're pretty confident in terms of our leadership in intellectual-property rights and the commitment to respecting the rights of others," Plummer said. "We'll do whatever it takes to defend our interests."

He added it is premature to discuss whether the companies would cease talking.

The ITC complaint, a favored tactic of technology companies looking to throw their patent weight around, carries the threat of a ban on the importation of a company's goods. But rarely does the ban get enforced; companies typically come to an agreement.


(Credit: InterDigital)
The complaint also comes as InterDigital said last week that the company is exploring strategic alternatives, business-speak for selling itself. The value of a rich patent portfolio has never been higher; Apple and a consortium of technology companies recently paid $4.5 billion to purchase wireless patents owned by Nortel Networks.

Apple and Google have reportedly expressed interest in the patents.

.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20084316-94/huawei-puzzled-…

[Nonbroker]

Zur Information:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/16025f76-b868-11e0-b62b-00144feabd…

[Nonbroker]

Dient der Übersicht:

http://ipwatchdog.com/2011/07/26/google-claims-patents-block…

[Nonbroker]

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/07/27/3-stocks-sh…

[Nonbroker]

Gerade sind die Zahlen gekommen, stelle sie sofort rein, muß sie aber auch noch lesen.

InterDigital Announces Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results
Interdigital, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:IDCC)
Intraday Stock Chart

Today : Wednesday 27 July 2011
Click Here for more Interdigital, Inc. (MM) Charts.

InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Highlights for second quarter 2011:

Revenue of $69.9 million
Net income of $17.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share
Ending cash and short-term investments totaling $701.1 million.

“Our second quarter 2011 results reflect a number of factors,” commented InterDigital’s President and Chief Executive Officer, William J. Merritt. “On the revenue side, we continued to see strong smartphone sales royalties from our key customers, offset by the expected decline in royalties from our Japanese customers, which is anticipated to be temporary, and a decline in our fixed fee royalties resulting from the expiration of our agreement with LG, with whom we continue to be in license renewal discussions. The expense side showed continued discipline in managing our costs even though our intellectual property enforcement costs increased in the quarter as a result of the recently filed ITC action. We ended the quarter with a very strong cash balance and continued optimism about the future prospects for the company.”

“In addition, the company has taken two important steps strategically,” continued Merritt. “First, on July 19, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction. The industry is witnessing considerable interest in intellectual property. In addition to our very strong patent portfolio, InterDigital® also has a very strong capability in developing fundamental wireless technologies and managing patent assets with a well-regarded licensing program, the combination of which differentiates us from many other companies. Given the current industry environment, the Board believes that it is an appropriate time to undertake this strategic options evaluation process.”

“Second, as disclosed in our press release of July 26, 2011, we have commenced new patent litigation against Nokia, Huawei and ZTE,” said Merritt. “While we do not often need to bring lawsuits against parties to protect our intellectual property, we will do so when such action is necessary. In this case, we believed the time had come to bring litigation, but only after months of attempts to negotiate a license on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.”

Second Quarter 2011 Summary

Total revenue in second quarter 2011 totaled $69.9 million, a 23 percent decrease from $91.2 million reported in second quarter 2010. The decrease in revenue year over year was driven primarily by a $16.5 million decrease in patent licensing royalties from $85.1 million in second quarter 2010 to $68.6 million in second quarter 2011, attributable to the absence of $14.4 million in fixed fee royalties associated with the license agreement with LG Electronics, Inc. (“LG”) and the impact of $4.9 million in past sales recognized in connection with the second quarter 2010 renewal of a patent license agreement. Additionally, technology solutions revenue decreased $4.8 million from $6.1 million in second quarter 2010, primarily due to the elimination of revenue under technology solutions agreements that concluded in 2010 and lower royalties recognized on the company's SlimChip modem IP as a result of an ongoing arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. As of June 30, 2011, the company has deferred $18.7 million of revenue in connection with this arbitration. The decreases were partially offset by an increase in aggregate per-unit royalties of 11 percent, or $3.4 million, from $31.6 million in second quarter 2010, due to strong sales from customers with concentrations in smartphones. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $69.9 million of second quarter 2011 total revenue were Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (“Samsung”) (37 percent), Research in Motion Limited (“RIM”) (16 percent) and HTC Corporation (“HTC”) (11 percent).

As a result of the decrease in revenue, the company’s second quarter 2011 net income of $17.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, declined 51 percent from net income of $35.0 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, in second quarter 2010.

Second quarter 2011 operating expenses of $40.1 million increased $2.0 million, or 5 percent, from $38.1 million in second quarter 2010. This increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase of $2.1 million in personnel-related costs due to increased personnel levels within the company’s patents, licensing and advanced research groups. In addition, intellectual property enforcement costs increased $1.9 million ($4.3 million in second quarter 2011 versus $2.4 million in second quarter 2010) primarily associated with the recently filed ITC action and non-patent litigation costs increased $0.7 million primarily due to costs associated with an arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. These and other increases were partially offset by an aggregate decrease of $1.8 million for consulting services and sublicense fees, primarily due to lower levels of patent due diligence and technology solutions agreements that concluded during 2010, respectively. In addition, the company experienced lower levels of commissions and long-term compensation costs.

In second quarter 2011, the company reported net other expense of $3.4 million as compared to net other income of $0.9 million in second quarter 2010. The change between periods primarily resulted from the recognition of $3.6 million of interest expense associated with the company’s 2.50% Senior Convertible Notes issued on April 4, 2011 (the “Notes”) and the recognition of $0.3 million for investment impairment in second quarter 2011.

The company’s second quarter effective tax rate was approximately 35 percent, level with second quarter 2010.

As previously disclosed on April 4, 2011, the company completed the offering of the Notes and related transactions, which resulted in a $211 million increase in cash.

Six Months 2011 Summary

The company’s first half 2011 revenue totaled $148.3 million, a 28 percent decrease from $207.3 million reported in first half 2010. The decrease in revenue year over year was primarily driven by a $53.4 million decrease in patent licensing royalties from $198.9 million in first half 2010 to $145.5 million in first half 2011. This decrease is attributable to the absence of $28.8 million in fixed fee royalties associated with the license agreement with LG and the impact of an unusually high level of past sales revenue of $40.7 million recognized in first half 2010. These past sales in first half 2010 related to: (i) a new license agreement with Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (“CHMC”); (ii) the renewal of a license agreement; and (iii) the resolution of a routine audit. Royalties from past sales totaled $2.7 million recognized in first half 2011. Additionally, technology solutions revenue decreased $5.6 million in first half 2011 from $8.4 million in first half 2010, primarily due to the elimination of revenue from technology solutions agreements that concluded in 2010 and lower royalties recognized on the company's SlimChip modem IP as a result of an ongoing arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. The decreases discussed above were partially offset by an increase in aggregate per-unit royalties of 21 percent, or $12.9 million, in first half 2011 from $61.5 million in first half 2010 due to strong sales from customers with concentrations in smartphones. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $148.3 million of first half 2011 total revenue were Samsung (35 percent), RIM (16 percent) and HTC (10 percent).

As a result of the decrease in revenue, the company’s first half 2011 net income of $40.5 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, declined 52 percent from net income of $83.8 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, in first half 2010.

First half 2011 operating expenses of $81.2 million increased $1.6 million, or 2 percent, from $79.6 million in first half 2010. This increase in operating expense was primarily due to an increase of $3.4 million in personnel-related costs within the company’s patents, licensing and advanced research groups. Additionally, non-patent litigation costs increased $1.0 million, primarily due to costs associated with an ongoing arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. These and other increases were partially offset by decreases in commission expense, long-term compensation, sublicense fees and intellectual property enforcement. Commission expense decreased $1.8 million primarily due to the decline in revenues. Long-term compensation expenses decreased by $1.5 million primarily due to a first half 2010 charge of $1.8 million to increase the company’s accrual rate for the long-term compensation cash incentive period covering January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010. Sublicense fees decreased $0.9 million due to technology solutions agreements that concluded during 2010. Additionally, intellectual property enforcement costs decreased $0.9 million ($8.0 million in first half 2011 versus $8.9 million in first half 2010).

In first half 2011, the company reported net other expense of $4.3 million as compared to net other income of $1.5 million in first half 2010. The change between periods primarily resulted from the recognition of $3.6 million of interest expense associated with the Notes and the recognition of $1.6 million for investment impairment in first half 2011.

The company’s first half 2011 effective tax rate was approximately 36 percent, compared to an effective tax rate in first half 2010 of approximately 35 percent. This year over year increase was primarily driven by non-deductible investment impairment charges recognized in first half 2011.

In first half 2011, the company used $46.2 million in free cash flow1 compared to $66.6 million generated in first half 2010. This change in free cash flow was primarily related to the $100 million and $33 million cash receipts from Samsung and CHMC, respectively, in first half 2010.

Company Update Regarding Quarterly Conference Calls and Guidance

Due to the company’s announcement that the Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, the company is suspending regular quarterly conference calls, including the company’s previously announced call scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10:00 am ET, and financial guidance until further notice.

About InterDigital

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit the InterDigital website: www.interdigital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include information regarding our current beliefs, plans and expectations, including, without limitation: (i) our belief that the decline in revenues from Japanese customers will be temporary; (ii) our continued optimism about the future prospects for the company; (iii) our exploration and evaluation of potential strategic alternatives; and (iv) our belief that it is an appropriate time to undertake this strategic options evaluation process. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” variations of any such words or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those identified in this press release, as well as the following: (i) the risks and uncertainties of any strategic alternative, including whether any strategic alternative will be identified or, if identified, whether it will be pursued or consummated; (ii) unanticipated delays, difficulties or acceleration in the execution of patent license agreements; (iii) our ability to leverage our strategic relationships and secure new patent license and technology solutions agreements on acceptable terms; (iv) changes in the market share and sales performance of our primary customers, delays in product shipments of our customers and timely receipt and final reviews of quarterly royalty reports from our customers and related matters; (v) the failure of the markets for our technologies to materialize to the extent or at the rate that we expect; and (vi) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such legal proceedings. We undertake no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

1Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the company’s ability to invest in its business, make strategic acquisitions and fund share repurchases, among other things. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company’s cash balance for the period. InterDigital defines “free cash flow” as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, technology licenses and investments in patents. InterDigital’s computation of free cash flow might not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). A detailed reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release.


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2011 2010 2011 2010
REVENUES:
Per-unit royalty revenue $ 34,950 $ 31,579 $ 74,400 $ 61,579
Fixed fee amortized royalty revenue 33,201 48,604 68,402 96,678
Past sales 400 4,920 2,711 40,651
Technology solutions revenue 1,322 6,050 2,818 8,432
Total Revenue 69,873 91,153 148,331 207,340

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Patent administration and licensing 16,756 14,707 32,704 32,530
Development 15,763 16,364 33,187 32,528
Selling, general and administrative 7,547 7,008 15,327 14,527
40,066 38,079 81,218 79,585
Income from operations 29,807 53,074 67,113 127,755

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME (3,381 ) 889 (4,323 ) 1,489
Income before income taxes 26,426 53,963 62,790 129,244
INCOME TAX PROVISION (9,270 ) (19,000 ) (22,295 ) (45,454 )
NET INCOME $ 17,156 $ 34,963 $ 40,495 $ 83,790
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC $ 0.38 $ 0.80 $ 0.89 $ 1.91
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC 45,369 43,971 45,338 43,794
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED $ 0.37 $ 0.78 $ 0.88 $ 1.88
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED 45,843 44,706 45,858 44,546
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.10 $ 0.00 $ 0.20 $ 0.00



SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2011 2010 2011 2010

Net income before income taxes $ 26,426 $ 53,963 $ 62,790 $ 129,244
Taxes paid (20,758 ) (16,000 ) (23,806 ) (32,500 )
Non-cash expenses 10,075 6,513 18,894 13,437
Increase in deferred revenue 18,131 43,922 35,469 52,497
Deferred revenue recognized (57,324 ) (72,286 ) (118,934 ) (133,643 )

(Decrease) Increase in operating working capital, deferred charges and other
(2,600 ) (7,266 ) (5,670 ) 52,513
Capital spending & patent additions (7,350 ) (7,659 ) (14,952 ) (14,956 )
FREE CASH FLOW (33,400 ) 1,187 (46,209 ) 66,592

Tax benefit from share-based compensation 117 360 681 1,342
Payments on long-term debt, including capital leases (95 ) (80 ) (141 ) (434 )
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net 221,985 - 221,985 -
Purchase of convertible bond hedge (42,665 ) - (42,665 ) -
Proceeds from issuance of warrants 31,740 - 31,740 -
Dividend paid (4,536 ) - (9,062 ) -
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options 340 1,870 2,952 8,465
Unrealized gain on short-term investments 186 70 163 24
NET INCREASE IN CASH
AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS $ 173,672 $ 3,407 $ 159,444 $ 75,989



SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)

June 30, 2011

December 31, 2010

Assets

Cash & short-term investments $ 701,113 $ 541,669
Accounts receivable (net) 29,734 33,632
Current deferred tax assets 51,754 35,136
Other current assets 10,850 9,119
Property & equipment and patents (net) 141,708 138,649
Other long-term assets (net) 104,863 116,438
TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,040,022 $ 874,643

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current portion of long-term debt $ 301 $ 288
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, taxes payable & dividends payable 31,517 43,468
Current deferred revenue 132,962 134,804
Long-term deferred revenue 250,551 332,174
Long-term debt & other long-term liabilities 203,050 10,793
TOTAL LIABILITIES 618,381 521,527
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 421,641 353,116
TOTAL LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,040,022 $ 874,643


RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW TO NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

In the summary consolidated statements of cash flows and throughout this release, the company refers to free cash flow. The table below presents a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2011 2010 2011 2010
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (26,050 ) $ 8,846 $

(31,257
) $ 81,548
Purchases of property, equipment (895 ) (646 ) (1,826 ) (1,088 )
Patent additions (6,455 ) (7,013 ) (13,126 ) (13,868 )
Free cash flow $ (33,400 ) $ 1,187 $

[Nonbroker]

Zahlen sind nicht so gut, war ja vorher schon bekannt gegeben worden. Aber das ist jetzt wichtig: After Hours z. Zt. 73,20$, +4,92% http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/ExtendedTradingTrades.aspx…

Company Update Regarding Quarterly Conference Calls and Guidance

Due to the company’s announcement that the Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, the company is suspending regular quarterly conference calls, including the company’s previously announced call scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10:00 am ET, and financial guidance until further notice.

[Nonbroker]

Wird morgen ein spannender Tag, ab 16.00 Uhr unserer Zeit, hoffe, wir sind danach alle zufrieden. Gute Nacht, schlaft gut.

[MexxSuccess]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.855.980 von Nonbroker am 28.07.11 00:57:54

Danke für Deine Informationen und Einstellungen !

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.855.993 von MexxSuccess am 28.07.11 01:29:24

Guten Morgen, Danke Mexx Success



InterDigital Shares Up 6% After Q2 Profit Tops View, Despite Sharp Decline



(RTTNews) - Shares of digital wireless technology solutions provider InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) rose nearly 6 percent in after-hours trade on Wednesday after it reported a profit for the second quarter that topped analysts' expectations, despite a sharp decline. Meanwhile, quarterly revenues also dropped 23 percent, but topped analysts expectations.

The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company reported net income of $17.16 million or $0.37 per share for the second quarter, sharply lower than $34.96 million or $0.78 per share in the prior-year quarter.

On average, three analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.36 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Total revenues for the quarter declined 23 percent to $69.87 million from $91.15 million in the same last year, and topped three Wall Street analysts' consensus estimate of $69.24 million.

The company attributed the revenue decline to a $16.5 million drop in patent licensing royalties and lower technology solutions revenues, partially offset by an increase in aggregate per-unit royalties of 11 percent.

On Tuesday, InterDigital filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Nokia Corp (NOK), Huawei and ZTE, alleging that certain 3G wireless devices that were imported into the U.S. by the respondents infringed seven of InterDigital's U.S. patents. It also filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, with respect to the same complaint.

InterDigital also announced on July 19 the initiation of a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which might include a sale or other transaction. The company retained Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital as its financial advisors to assist with the strategic review process.

Meanwhile, following that announcement, InterDigital had been reported to have had preliminary talks with Google Inc. (GOOG) about a possible acquisition. There were also reports that Apple Inc. (AAPL) is also considering a bid for InterDigital.

IDCC closed Wednesday's regular trading session at $69.77, down $4.24 or 5.73% on a volume of 1.87 million shares. However, the stock rose $4.08 or 5.85% in after-hours trading.

For comments and feedback: contact [e-mail]




Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=2…

[Nonbroker]

Aktueller IDCC-Ticker von Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=IDCC:US

[Nonbroker]

Langer Artikel über Google, Patente etc. IDCC kommt auch drin vor.


http://financialbin.com/2011/07/28/google-on-the-nortel-loss…

[Nonbroker]

The Problem with Patent Trolls
Written by Gene Quinn
President & Founder of IPWatchdog, Inc.
Posted: July 28, 2011 @ 7:24 am

http://ipwatchdog.com/2011/07/28/the-problem-with-patent-tro…

[Nonbroker]

Die bekannte MORNING NOTE VON MPARTNERS vom 28.07.2011

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_7_28.p…

[Nonbroker]

Gerade von IDCC als Alert gekommen:

http://ir.interdigital.com/secfiling.cfm?filingid=950123-11-…

[Nonbroker]

Habe gerade in einem amerikanischem board die Frage gelesen, ob bereits Inhalte aus der Pressekonferenz bekannt wären. Die Pressekonferenz von heute ist abgesagt worden. Ich stelle die Nachricht aus meinem Alert noch einmal rein.

Company Update Regarding Quarterly Conference Calls and Guidance
Due to the company’s announcement that the Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, the company is suspending regular quarterly conference calls, including the company’s previously announced call scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10:00 am ET, and financial guidance until further notice.

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.860.303 von Nonbroker am 28.07.11 17:22:51

@NonBroker
Kleiner Absturz von 82$ FTC mischt mit.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.863.872 von cell1 am 29.07.11 11:15:59

Guten Morgen, habe extremen Zeitstress gehabt, deshalb kein post von mir in den letzten Tagen. Cell1, stimmt sicherlich auch, gut ist nur, daß der Widerstand bei $65 gehalten hat.

Es haben sich in den letzten Tagen keine Neuigkeiten ergeben, bemerkenswert ist, daß das Interdigital board bei Investorshub das am zweitmeisten gelesene Board ist!

Durchgehende Meinung in den amerikanischen boards ist, daß die Aktie heute steigen wird, ohne dafür allerdings eine schlüssige Begründung zu finden.

Die Bewertung der Aktie reicht bei den Board Lesern von 75-300$ und mehr, ich stelle noch einmal einen meiner Meinung nach gut begründeten post von "NukeJohn" vom July 19 2011 ein, ohne hier zuviel pushen zu wollen.



Why I think IDCC is a $300 Stock (in waiting)

First, let’s forget that Apple/Microsoft/RIMM paid $4.5 Billion for the Nortel patent portfolio and Nortel's portfolio is less than 20% of IDCC's portfolio (with a lot less essential patents on 4G). Instead, let's look at the current value of IDCC's LTE/4G portfolio from another angle. Based on independent estimates that have been presented at least 3 times in recent IDCC analyst presentations and conference calls, for each .1% royalty on LTE/4G handsets, the Net Present Value is $1 Billion (maybe Bill will reiterate the NPV for LTE/4G IP in the upcoming CC) . No one knows for sure what rate IDCC will ultimately be paid on LTE/4G, but the LTE standards from ETSI have incorporated numerous IDCC essential patents. I could easily make the case for a 1.5% royalty rate (QCOM has published a FRAND rate of 3.25% and I believe IDCC's LTE and LTE advanced patent portfolios are neck and neck with QCOM).

This recent report by ZTE (a Chinese mobile phone and infrastucture equipment manufacturer) thinks that IDCC has 24% and QCOM 13% of the essential LTE patents…but you will see these numbers vary all over the place. So, the Chinese think IDCC is number one in LTE/4G patents by a large margin. But to be conservative, we will just estimate that QCOM is #1 and IDCC is #2 or #3 and IDCC will have to settle for significantly less than 3.25% (say 1.2%).

Based on the value of their LTE portfolio alone, IDCC should have a current market cap of $12 Billion if they get a 1.2% royalty on LTE, yet their current market cap is only about $2.4 Billion. In essence, if you just looked at the net present value of their LTE/4G IP portfolio alone, and ignored any value associated with their Wireless Convergence Technologies IP, their Machine to Machine (M2M) IP, their new digital compression technologies, their bandwidth aggregation technologies and their current 3G IP....then IDCC should be selling right now for about $270/share. The fact that they are about $53/share gives investors a unique opportunity.

Let’s look at the future LTE revenues from another angle. In the past few months, we have seen all the major wireless providers announce their moves into LTE. It will take a few years, but soon everyone will want LTE phones to take advantage of the higher speed LTE networks. I have seen projections of 180 Billion dollars per year in LTE handsets in three years. What rate will IDCC get on those phones? If QCOM is getting 3.25%, I think IDCC should pursue 2% to 2.5% royalties or more, but based on comments in recent conference calls, I think IDCC management would be very happy with 1.5%.

However, if you think a 1.5% royalty is too high, then let's be extremely conservative and project that IDCC will only get 1.2% on LTE/4G. If the market size is 180 billion annually (as has been stated), that's over $2 Billion dollars in royalties from the handset market alone. With only 44 Million shares outstanding, that is $44/share in earnings (pretax) and over $28/share (post tax). Keep in mind we are only talking about royalties from the handset market and not the Wireless Convergence Technologies and other Network of Network technologies that I believe the carriers will have to license in order to solve the bandwidth crunch they are already facing. Those royalties could easily add another $10-15/share annually to earnings. Also, this does not include any upside from the Machine to Machine (M2M) market where IDCC has a virtual lock due to their head start. This new M2M market is just starting to ramp and will be growing in leaps and bounds...and the standard is based on IDCC IP.

IDCC has been working on the bandwidth issue for several years and they have developed IP that is on the cutting edge for solving the bandwidth crunch that carriers are already facing. It's just a matter of time before we see companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint signing deals with IDCC. A license with a major carrier (domestic or international) will immediately propel this stock into triple digits. This is the market Bill Merritt (IDCC CEO) has spoken of that is 5-7 times larger than the $150 Billion dollar handset market.

I was reviewing the Feb 2010 Conference Call recently (courtesy of Seeking Alpha) and these questions jumped out at me (highlights mine). Stop and run a calculator on Bill Merritt's comments about this 1 Trillion dollar market. Even at .2% ...it's a huge number, and the analysts have not taken this into consideration as they have valued IDCC. I have no idea what royalty rate IDCC will capture on the Carrier market (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.)....but make no mistake, everyone will need IDCC's IP to solve the bandwidth crunch. Once one carrier (operator) signs...they will all be forced to sign to keep up with the competition.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/190729-interdigital-inc-q4-2…

[Nonbroker]

Aktueller Kommentar:

Reuters Breakingviews

A Patent Fever Over SmartphonesBy ROBERT CYRANPublished: July 31, 2011

A battle has recalibrated the market for smartphone DNA. With Apple, Google and Microsoft jostling for control of the mobile market, each needs or desires more and better patents for supremacy. Without them, their devices are vulnerable to shakedowns for royalties or, worse, demands to stop using the innovations. This has led to a mad dash to acquire such portfolios for use as both a saber and a shield.

The auction of some 6,000 patents from the bankrupt Nortel in late June lighted the fuse. Google’s stalking-horse bid set a floor price of $900 million. When the gavel came down, a group including Apple and Microsoft, as well as Ericsson, Research in Motion and others, walked off with the portfolio for an unexpected $4.5 billion.

Since then, InterDigital, an owner of wireless intellectual property, put itself up for sale. Carl Icahn, the 75-year-old billionaire, has pressured Motorola Mobility to sell its patent portfolio. And Google recently bought over 1,000 patents from I.B.M. covering multiple areas of technology to bolster its relatively weak war chest.

The valuation calculus has quickly changed. Such patents, which cover everything from app icons to address books, could very well dictate the future of the rapidly growing smartphone market. Though once appraised almost exclusively based on their royalty streams, mobile-related patents now command healthy strategic premiums.

Qualcomm, the maker of wireless chips, illustrates this. The company owns an important collection of patents for next-generation 4G handsets. But with a $95 billion market capitalization, a takeover looks unlikely. Its value — and therefore presumably that of its patent portfolio, too — has hardly budged since the Nortel auction. Yet InterDigital’s has soared more than 60 percent and Motorola Mobility’s rose more than 20 percent on Icahn’s demand, before falling back somewhat.

Potential buyers secure two major benefits from adding patents. First, the new owner pays fewer royalties and can protect itself against lawsuits. More important, tolls can be levied on rivals.

Microsoft is asking Samsung to pay as much as $15 for each device using Google’s Android software because of accusations of infringement. With so many millions of phones being manufactured monthly, the cash can add up.

The fees can also reduce a phone’s consumer appeal. An iPhone, say, might wind up costing less than a rival device or have more features because of fewer patent considerations. More significant, in lieu of earning a small patent royalty fee from a customer buying a rival phone, Apple could instead perhaps pocket 10 times as much profit upfront from an iPhone sale, and earn potentially much more from advertising, music, app and other sales.

The winner-take-all nature of technology also plays a part. If control of intellectual property can nudge customers toward a particular smartphone, it might establish the shape of the market for a decade. That could be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Just look at what the introduction of the iPhone did to Apple’s market capitalization.

That explains why Google might dig deep to acquire InterDigital’s or Motorola’s intellectual property, and why Microsoft and Apple could pay to keep it out of the hands of rivals. The three tech giants combined have more than $160 billion of cash on their balance sheets.

It’s no wonder Mr. Icahn has pushed Motorola to sell its portfolio and InterDigital is shopping itself. Motorola has more than 17,000 patents, mostly in wireless. InterDigital, meanwhile, has 50 percent more patents than Nortel did, yet its market value is less than $3 billion when adjusted for its cash.

Even with the renewed fever for patents, there may yet be roadblocks to acquisitions. Motorola is an operating company. Selling its portfolio could leave its handset operations without protection against lawsuits from rivals. Structuring a deal could prove exceedingly knotty.

As for InterDigital, and other similar patent holders, it’s a question of whether the inventions are sufficiently important. Can they, for example, be used to block Nortel’s?

Assessments vary. After all, analyzing thousands of patents is a complex undertaking and the future of smartphones is still rapidly evolving.

Either way, the final answers will almost certainly come from the executive suites of Google, Microsoft and Apple. Where they go, the future value of patents will follow. ROBERT CYRAN

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/business/a-patent-fever-ov…

[Nonbroker]

Mr. Market Ignored InterDigital's Earnings
By Anders Bylund | July 29, 2011

| Snap, crackle, pop!

That's the soundtrack to InterDigital's (Nasdaq: IDCC ) stock chart lately. The collector, wrangler, and enforcer of wireless patents has seen its shares gain 67% in the last month in a series of sharp jumps and slow declines.

Wireless patents are hot, hot, hot right now after a treasure trove of Nortel patents sold for a whopping $4.5 billion. The ragtag yet ritzy consortium of buyers includes unlikely allies Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) , as well as mobile oddball EMC (NYSE: EMC ) .

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) put in an early bid but lost big-time, perhaps in more ways than one -- the only reasonable explanation for that team to come together and buy patents would be to attack Big G's Android platform. So if anyone's likely to buy InterDigital for its patent hoard, Google would be it. Patents can be used for defense as well as offense, you know. And InterDigital has made it clear that it would love to get buyout offers.

Given the buyout electricity crackling around InterDigital, you'd think that an earnings report might not make much of a difference to the stock -- and you'd be right.

Second-quarter revenue fell 23% year-over-year to $70 million, mainly due to a one-time back payment from LG Electronics in the year-ago period. Earnings dropped about 50% to $0.37 per share. None of that mattered, and share prices shot up 6% in early trading only to settle down at a small one-day loss later on.

Google is clearly hungry for defensive patents, having just bought a basket of more than 1,000 technology patents from IBM (NYSE: IBM ) . The Big Blue technologies are mostly related to the kinds of memory and other chip hardware you might find in computer systems -- probably including mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

It's a strategy of mutually assured destruction. "Sue us and we'll sue you right back," followed by back-and-forth negotiations and perhaps a settlement. Woe betide those who come to this gunfight equipped with anything less than a howitzer.

Will InterDigital become Google's little friend? Investors seem to think so, and it does make a ton of sense.

[Nonbroker]

Ein Anfang für Google, die brauchen aber noch viel mehr

Google Buys IBM Patents To Bolster Portfolio

(RTTNews) - Google Inc. (GOOG) has acquired a batch of technology patents from International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) to bolster its portfolio and also to protect itself from patent litigation, according to media reports on Friday.

Google has reportedly acquired 1,030 patents from IBM in mid-July. The patents acquired by Google are said to cover a broad range of technologies, including fabrication and architecture of memory and microprocessor chips, server and router design, and software programming such as relational databases and object oriented programming.

Google faces patent lawsuits for many of its services, including its Android mobile-device operating system. Several mobile companies have sued Android partners for patent infringement and Google itself faces a patent lawsuit from Oracle Corp. (ORCL) over Java.

Google currently has nearly $40 billion in cash, giving it the flexibility to make purchases. However, Google was outbid in early July, when a coalition of companies that include Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Research In Motion (RIM, RIM.TO) and Sony Corp. (SNE), agreed to buy a portfolio of over 6,000 patents owned by Canadian telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. (NRTLQ.PK), for $4.5 billion.

In April, Google Inc. (GOOG) initiated a stalking horse bid for the assets with a $900 million offer. The Nortel patents cover a host of technologies ranging from data networking to wireless 4G now being deployed and known as LTE, and such applications as Internet search and social networking.

Meanwhile, Google has also reportedly held preliminary talks with InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) about a possible acquisition. Pennsylvania-based Interdigital, which develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide, said earlier this month that it has initiated a process to explore potential strategic options, which may include a sale or other transaction.

InterDigital on Tuesday filed a patent infringement suit against Nokia Corp. (NOK), ZTE and Huawei earlier this week, alleging that certain 3G wireless devices that were imported into the U.S. by the respondents infringed seven of InterDigital's U.S. patents.

In Friday's trading, GOOG is trading at $612.55, up $1.61 or 0.26 percent on a volume of 1.13 million shares.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=2…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.872.484 von Nonbroker am 01.08.11 10:47:53

What Google Wants With All Those IBM Patents

By: Darryl K. Taft
2011-08-01

Google acquired more than 1,000 patents from IBM, gaining patents that can help the search giant prevent and fight lawsuits as well as to develop new technologies.

Google has acquired more than 1,000 patents from IBM in a move to bolster its patent portfolio as the search giant girds for battle over Android.

As first reported by the SEO by the Sea blog, on July 11 and 12, Google recorded the assignment of 1,029 granted patents from IBM covering a range of topics including relational databases, object-oriented programming and business processes. The patents also covered such things as “the fabrication and architecture of memory and microprocessing chips, to other areas of computer architecture including servers and routers as well,” said Bill Slawski, author of the SEO by the Sea blog.

"Like many tech companies, at times we'll acquire patents that are relevant to our business," a Google spokesman said in a statement.

Slawski listed several patents Google acquired that are related to search and search engines, including:

System And Method Of Using Data Mining Prediction Methodology
System And Method For Web-Based Querying
System And Method For Imbedding Hyperlinked Language Grammar Notation In A “Literate” Programming Environment
System And Method For Maintaining Up-To-Date Link Information In The Metadata Repository Of A Search Engine
System And Method Of Ranking And Retrieving Documents Based On Authority Scores Of Schemas And Documents
In a July 29 post, Slawski lists all of the 1,029 patents Google acquired from IBM.

“Google acquired a number of additional patents from IBM earlier this year and last year as well,” Slawski wrote in that post. “I included those in my February post, Google Patents, Updated and Google Self Driving Cars Get Jumpstart from IBM Patents.”

And in a July 31 post, Slawski wrote about other patents Google has acquired recently.

“Some other recent patent acquisitions by Google include patents from Exbiblio, from Widevine, the phone patents from Myriad Group, more phone related patents from Verizon, and a number of memory chip related patents from Metaram, amongst others,” Slawski said.

However, Slawski also discovered Google’s acquisition of two patents from Successes.com for “a system and method for story creation workflow management” and “system and method for content development management,” according to the abstracts for the patents.

“The patents show a richly detailed online process for building case studies, corporate biographies, and other content,” Slawski said.

Slawski noted that the two patents acquired from Successes.com are less likely to be used to help protect Google from patent litigation or to help them develop new technologies.

Overall, the acquisition of new patents will help Google fend off potential lawsuits, as the company increases the number of patents that cover technologies in its possession.

Technology patent watcher Florian Mueller, author of the FOSS Patents blog, said one possible early use for the patents Google acquired from IBM could be to try to negotiate some kind of cross-patent deal with Oracle that could hasten a settlement to the lawsuit Oracle has leveled against Google over the use of Java in Google’s Android mobile operating system.

In a July 29 post, Mueller said:

“In the near term, one of the most obvious ways to put them to use would be to pick some that may read on important Oracle products and propose to Oracle a cross-license that would resolve the Android IP dispute on more favorable terms than Google could negotiate without such leverage. Many of the transferred patents cover fields of technology that are key to Oracle, though this doesn't automatically mean that Oracle infringes any valid ones of them.”

And although he could not say to what degree exactly, the new patens from IBM definitely make Google stronger. Said Mueller:

“This is difficult to assess from the outside, but my feeling is that this deal can help Google to defend itself against other patent holders if it's sued directly. It can serve to deter some companies from suing Google directly. But it's hard to imagine that this deal puts Google into such an incredibly powerful position that it can give an intellectual property guarantee (including indemnification) to its device makers.”

There is irony in Google acquiring patents from IBM, in that Forbes recently published its list of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies.” Google is number 7 on that list and IBM does not even make the list of 100 companies. Yet, when it comes time to beef up its patent portfolio, Google turns to the Forbes-proclaimed non-innovative IBM. Obviously, Big Blue was not considered innovative enough for Forbes, but apparently IBM is plenty innovative to Google.

In January, IBM announced that its inventors received a record 5,896 U.S. patents in 2010, marking the 18th consecutive year it has topped the list of the world’s most inventive companies. IBM became the first company to be granted as many as 5,000 U.S. patents in a single year.

[Nonbroker]

Weiterer "Patentartikel"


http://www.breakingviews.com/2011/07/29/patents.aspx?sg=nyti…

[Nonbroker]

Meine Gründe für das bisherige heutige Minuszeichen: Fehlende Neuigkeiten + Allgemeinmarkt +

http://www.benzinga.com/news/11/08/1821957/negative-chatter-…

-halte es für ein Gerücht.

[Nonbroker]

Artikel mit IDCC - Bezug:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/283560-in-a-clash-of-the-tit…

[cell1]

San Francisco. Google wächst im Online-Markt für Schnäppchenangebote. Der weltgrößte Suchmaschinen-Anbieter kaufte nach eigenen Angaben am Montag das US-Portal The Dealmap. Kaufpreis sowie andere Details wurden nicht veröffentlicht.

Das Geschäft mit Online-Rabatten boomt. Auf dem Markt tummeln sich mehr als 400 Anbieter. Laut dem Marktforscher BIA/Kelsey könnte die Industrie bis 2015 bis zu 6,1 Milliarden Dollar umsetzen. Groupon ist vor LivingSocial Nummer eins der Branche.

Google, die ursprünglich selbst Interesse an einem Kauf von Groupon hatten, war in diesem Jahr mit dem eigenen Dienst „Google Offers“ in das Geschäft eingestiegen. The Dealmap wurde im Mai 2010 gegründet und hat seither mehr als zwei Millionen Nutzer gewonnen. Die mobile Anwendung des Unternehmens ist mehr als eine Million Mal auf den iPhones von Apple und Android-Handys heruntergeladen worden.

Na das ist doch auch Platz für IDCC ?

[Nonbroker]

Interessanter Beitrag zur Rolle der Shorties bei IDCC

Are Shorts Watching InterDigital?
By Seth Jayson August 1, 2011

There's no foolproof way to know the future for InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result. Rest assured: Even if you're not monitoring these metrics, short-sellers are.

A cloudy crystal ball
In this series, we use accounts receivable and days sales outstanding to judge a company's current health and future prospects. It's an important step in separating the pretenders from the market's best stocks. Alone, AR -- the amount of money owed the company -- and DSO -- the number of days' worth of sales owed to the company -- don't tell you much. However, by considering the trends in AR and DSO, you can sometimes get a window onto the future.

Sometimes, problems with AR or DSO simply indicate a change in the business (like an acquisition), or lax collections. However, AR that grows more quickly than revenue, or ballooning DSO, can also suggest a desperate company that's trying to boost sales by giving its customers overly generous payment terms. Alternately, it can indicate that the company sprinted to book a load of sales at the end of the quarter, like used-car dealers on the 29th of the month. (Sometimes, companies do both.)

Why might an upstanding firm like InterDigital do this? For the same reason any other company might: to make the numbers. Investors don't like revenue shortfalls, and employees don't like reporting them to their superiors.

Is InterDigital sending any potential warning signs? Take a look at the chart below, which plots revenue growth against AR growth, and DSO:


Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. FQ = fiscal quarter.

The standard way to calculate DSO uses average accounts receivable. I prefer to look at end-of-quarter receivables, but I've plotted both above.

Watching the trends
When that red line (AR growth) crosses above the green line (revenue growth), I know I need to consult the filings. Similarly, a spike in the blue bars (DSO) indicates a trend worth worrying about. As another reality check, it's reasonable to consider what a normal DSO figure might look like in this space.

Company
LFQ Revenue
DSO

InterDigital
$70
34

Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM )
$3,623
19

Nokia (NYSE: NOK )
$13,466
69

Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC )
$8,690
105


Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. DSO calculated from average AR. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. LFQ = last fiscal quarter. Dollar figures in millions.

Differences in business models can generate variations in DSO, so don't consider this the final word -- just a way to add some context to the numbers. But let's get back to our original question: Will InterDigital miss its numbers in the next quarter or two?

The numbers don't paint a clear picture. For the last fully reported fiscal quarter, InterDigital's year-over-year revenue shrank 23.3%, and its AR dropped 81.3%. That looks OK, but end-of-quarter DSO decreased 75.6% from the prior-year quarter. It was up 49.5% versus the prior quarter. That demands a good explanation. Still, I'm no fortuneteller, and these are just numbers. Investors putting their money on the line always need to dig into the filings for the root causes and draw their own conclusions.

What now?
I use this kind of analysis to figure out which investments I need to watch more closely as I hunt the market's best returns. However, some investors actively seek out companies on the wrong side of AR trends in order to sell them short, profiting when they eventually fall. Which way would you play this one? Let us know in the comments below, or keep up with the stocks mentioned in this article by tracking them in our free watchlist service, My Watchlist.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/01/are-shorts-…

[sdaktien]

IDCC ist in den letzten wochen ja schön hochgeschossen. Ich denke, die Aktie wird jetzt ein wenig verschnaufen (vielleicht so bis 60$) und dann schau'n mer mal.

Das Quartalsergebnis war zwar schlechter als vor einem Jahr, aber 1cent besser als erwartet.

Die grosse Unbekannte ist immer noch das Patentportfolio. Ich hab jetzt gelesen, dass das 3G Portfolio zwischen 3 und 10Mrd Wert sein soll. Das ist'ne ordentliche Spanne.
Wo würdest du diesen Wert ansiedeln?

[cell1]

Samsung Is Said to Examine InterDigital Patents
By Jeffrey McCracken - Aug 2, 2011
Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s second-largest maker of mobile phones, is examining InterDigital Inc.’s patent portfolio after being approached to make a bid, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

Samsung is looking at the patents along with Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc. (GOOG) and other potential bidders, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. InterDigital, which holds patents related to mobile technologies used to transfer information, said last month that it hired bankers as it considers a sale.

[Nonbroker]

Guten Morgen, muß leider im Augenblick diese Diskussion aus Zeitmangel etwas vernachlässigen, vielleicht könnten einige Andere sich etwas mehr engagieren?
sdaktien, zu Deiner Frage nach dem Wert der Patente könnte man nur rein spekulative Zahlen wiedergeben, neben den 3G spielen sicherlich für die Zukunft die LTE/4G Patente eine gravierende Rolle. Fest steht jedoch eins, Interdigital ist mit einer aktuellen Marktkapitalisation von 2,872 Milliarden völlig unterbewertet (meine Meinung).
Cell1, ich setze die Fortsetzung des interessanten von Dir eingesetzten Artikel noch rein.
Zur allgemeinen Lage ist zu sagen, wenn wir nicht bald gravierende Neuigkeiten bekommen, können wir charttechnisch jetzt noch tiefer fallen. Doch wer traut sich jetzt zu verkaufen und damit evtl. den erwarteten starken Kursanstieg zu verpassen? Ich nicht.

Samsung Is Said to Examine InterDigital Patents
QBy Jeffrey McCracken - Aug 3, 2011 8:56 AM GMT+0200 .

Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s second-largest maker of mobile phones, is examining InterDigital Inc.’s patent portfolio after being approached to make a bid, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Samsung is looking at the patents along with Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc. (GOOG) and other potential bidders, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. InterDigital, which holds patents related to mobile technologies used to transfer information, said last month that it hired bankers as it considers a sale.

InterDigital’s engineers invented some of the technology for high-speed mobile phone networks now used by the world’s biggest handset makers. The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company may fetch more than $5 billion, according to analysts at Algorithm Capital and Dougherty & Co. Other companies including Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) are also selling patent portfolios.

Should Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung pursue a bid, it would vie against Apple and Google to purchase all or part of a portfolio of about 8,800 patents on inventions used in devices ranging from the iPhone to Google’s Android-based handsets and Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM)’s BlackBerry. Smartphone sales are forecast to almost double to 1.1 billion in 2015, according to estimates from Gartner Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut.

“InterDigital has a lot of key patents,” Lee Seung Woo, a Seoul-based analyst at Shinyoung Securities Co., said by telephone. “The fight between Apple and Samsung is getting serious, so if the assets go to Apple, it could be pretty risky for Samsung. To hedge the risk, Samsung could go ahead with bidding, although they may have to pay a big premium.”

Apple, Google Bids
Samsung is involved in patent lawsuits with Apple since the iPhone maker sued the South Korean company in April, saying the Galaxy devices “slavishly” copied its products.

InterDigital has gained 52 percent since July 18, the day before it disclosed plans to explore a sale. The stock fell $3.91 to $63.21 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Samsung fell 2.2 percent to 833,000 won in Seoul trading today.

Apple and Google are weighing possible bids, a person familiar with the matter said last month.

Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for InterDigital, declined to comment. Adam Yates, a U.S.-based spokesman for Samsung, didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Smartphone Supremacy
During the second quarter, Apple and Samsung became the top two makers of smartphones after their shipments trumped those of Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) for the first time, research firm Strategy Analytics said last week. Apple’s iPhones accounted for 18.5 percent of global smartphone shipments, followed by Samsung’s 17.5 percent and Nokia’s 15.2 percent, according to the researcher.

Samsung ranks second behind Nokia in terms of overall mobile-phone shipments.

Evercore Partners Inc. (EVR) and Barclays Capital will “explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives” that may include a sale, InterDigital said last month.

Google, whose Android operating systems runs smartphones that compete against the iPhone, lost in a bid for Nortel’s $4.5 billion portfolio to a group that included Apple and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) InterDigital’s patents in cellular technology are “deeper and stronger” than Nortel’s, InterDigital Chief Executive Officer William Merritt said in April.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jeffrey McCracken in New York at [e-mail].

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at [e-mail]; Jennifer Sondag at [e-mail].

[cell1]

Bieterschlacht im vollen Gange Teil 2
Jetzt meldet sich ein Weltmarktführer (Nr.2) im Mobilfunk Samsung.
Butter bei die Fischen, heute sollte die Aktien aber die 70$ locker knacken.

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt News:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/samsung-co…

[Nonbroker]

Ein neuer Kommentar, läuft gut heute, Aktie ist nach oben ausgebrochen.

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-samsung-said-to-join-goog…

[Nonbroker]

Alle guten Dinge sind drei:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20087532-38/report-samsung…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.887.660 von Nonbroker am 03.08.11 19:43:57

To All, At 1:10 CST or 2:10 EST CNBC will interview someone about IDCC.
Morgen ?

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.888.129 von cell1 am 03.08.11 21:12:47

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=65&mn=53378&pt=ms…

118 bis 167 $ laut PDF "MPartners"

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.888.129 von cell1 am 03.08.11 21:12:47

Ich saß vor dem Fernseher - Beitrag fiel aus, weil Obama ganz aktuell ein Statement abgab. Ist in den amerikanischen Boards aber positiv aufgenommen worden, nach dem Motto, dann kommt das Interview über IDCC morgen und die Aktie geht morgen weiter hoch!! Uhrzeit morgen ist aber nicht bekannt. Jeder mit Satschüssel kann im Übrigen CNBC empfangen, also morgen gucken.

Der Link nochmal zu M/Partners zum Anklicken:

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_intraday_note_2011_8_3.p…

[Nonbroker]

via twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/markflowchatter/status/988255462297518…


Artikel unterstreicht noch einmal den Wert der Patente für Google:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html

[Nonbroker]

Vielleicht doch ausnahmsweise einen Chart? Aktualisiert sich selbst.

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.888.814 von Nonbroker am 03.08.11 23:45:18

Ganz interessanter Artikel zu den Ausführungen von President Drummond:

http://blog.patentology.com.au/2011/08/apple-v-samsung-googl…

[Nonbroker]

Die Thematik beherrscht heute die Medien.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/04/google-idUSN1E7722…

[cell1]

Wann CNBC Interview über IDCC in einer Stunde ?

[cell1]

Vorbörslich 300.000 Stück in den USA !

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.892.358 von cell1 am 04.08.11 15:18:49

Interview IDCC auf CNBC soll heute kurz nach 20:00 MEZ.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.893.024 von cell1 am 04.08.11 16:31:28

Neuer Beitrag:

Top Buy and Sell Ideas Based on Wednesday's Biggest Gainers by: Ganaxi Small Cap Movers August 4, 2011 | includes: AAPL, ALTH, AMAG, CLWR, GOOG, IDCC, MRGE, NXTM, RIMM, S, SIMG, WBMD

Share0 inShare0The S&P 500 (SPX) and the broader Russell 3000 (RUA) both gained 0.5% on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Of the 4,600 stocks that were tracked, the top 25 gainers that closed above $1 at market-close on August 3, were analyzed to determine if they would continue going up, or if they would reverse their moves going forward. The following are the best buy and sell ideas based on that analysis:

Buy Merge Healthcare Inc. (MRGE): MRGE develops medical imaging, clinical workflow process, and patient information management software applications. The medical imaging software solutions support end-to-end business and clinical workflow for radiology department and specialty practices, imaging centers and hospitals. The patient information management software applications improve their customers' productivity and enhance the quality of the patient experience.

MRGE shares gained 11.1% on Wednesday after reporting that in the June quarter, it generated 6cents in earnings, 4cents better than estimates, and that revenue came in at $55.6 million versus the $54.7 million estimate, and also 92% above prior year June quarter revenue at $29 million. Furthermore, gross margins improved 827 basis points over the prior March quarter and 1,321 basis points over the prior year’s June quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased to a record $17.1 million or 20cents per share, above 9cents per share in the prior year June quarter. Overall, the stock trades at a forward 19-20 P/E while earnings are projected to increase at a 67% compounded growth rate from 10cents in 2010 to 18cents in 2011, and to 28cents in 2012. Furthermore, the company is expected to benefit from the continuing implementation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HIT) Act, as part of the economic stimulus bill passed in 2009. The stock is breaking out of a five-year base, and we would be buyers here based on the cheap valuation and strong growth potential.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals (AMAG): AMAG develops nano-particle-based therapeutics to treat anemia and diagnose cancer and cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead product candidate Ferumoxytol is being developed for use as an intravenous iron replacement therapeutic for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. The stock was up 11.2% on Wednesday after it revealed late-night Tuesday that it received an unsolicited proposal from MSMB Capital Management to acquire all of the company for $18 per share in cash. It was revealed that MSMB made that bid in an attempt to block the proposed merger between AMAG and Allos Therapeutics (ALTH), an all-stock merger that the two companies announced on July 20. ALTH shares were unchanged, but traded heavily Wednesday on the news.

Buy Clearwire Corp. (CLWR): CLWR provides wireless broadband networks for delivery of residential and mobile internet access and voice services. CLWR customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. The company offers its service in fifty U.S. markets, as well as in Europe. The stock gained 10.3% on Wednesday, and it is down 52% YTD. The shares rebounded yesterday ahead of the earnings announcement after the market-close, and after a crippling 22% loss in the last week since its partner Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) announced a partnership with CLWR’s 4-G rival LightSquared that uses 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for its 4G implementation.

CLWR reported that revenue was in-line at $293.7 million for the June quarter versus the analyst estimate of $294.5 million, but it missed huge in reporting a loss of $1.00 versus the estimate of 49c loss. However, perhaps more importantly, the company revealed a major shift in its strategy by embracing the rival LTE technology for its 4G implementation. While this is a welcome move as Sprint, the only supporter of its WiMax standard, currently also embraced LTE via a deal with LightSquared last week, it is not clear how CLWR will succeed in this environment given that it is late to the LTE game, and it is also not clear what it intends to do with its LTE network and the implications that will have for its current WiMax customers and their devices. However, CLWR shares currently trade at all-time lows, and it has spectrum assets that could fetch as much as $20 billion in an auction if the Obama administration frees up more spectrum for commercial use. By embracing LTE, CLWR has now taken up some insurance against its own irrelevancy as its future is no longer tied completely to WiMax, a technology that is in danger of becoming obsolete. We would be buyers on this news.

Buy Interdigital Inc. (IDCC): IDCC designs wireless modems and ICs used in notebook computers, PDAs, mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure. The company generates a majority of its revenue from patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company’s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. Its shares rose 13.8% on Wednesday, and they are up 72.8% YTD.

IDCC shares were up Wednesday on news that Samsung Electronics Co. has now joined the fray in examining and perhaps bidding on IDCC’s patent portfolio; rivals Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG) are already known to be examining the IDCC’s strong patent portfolio of over 8,800 patents, many of which are used in devices ranging from AAPL’s iPhone to GOOG’s Android based smartphones and Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) Blackberry handsets. It has been argued that IDCC’s patent portfolio could be worth as much as $5 billion to a potential acquirer; at yesterday’s closing price of $71.96, the company sports a market-cap of only $3.26 billion.

With a who’s who list of premier technology companies lining up as suitors, and for technology patents that are critical to the way we consume information today, it is probable that even with this year’s surge of 72.8%, shares may still be undervalued. With the stock up almost 100% in the last month, we would not jump into this one; rather, we would be buyers on any pullback near $60, buying it in stages to take advantage of any further weakness. Wall Street analysts are also bullish on IDCC, giving it a mean target of $66, with a high of $118; and of the six analysts that currently cover the company, three rate it at buy, two at hold and one gives it a sell rating.

Buy Silicon Image Inc. (SIMG): SIMG is a leading provider of wireless and wired connectivity solutions such as transmitters, receivers, controllers and bridges that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. Its products are deployed by the world’s leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. SIMG has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVI™ industry standards, the latest standards for mobile devices - SPMT™ (Serial Port Memory Technology) and MHL™ (Mobile High-Definition Link), and the standard for 60GHz wireless HD video – WirelessHD™ (WiHD).

SIMG shares surged 24.2% on Wednesday after the company reported blow-out results from its mobile segment in the June quarter results that it reported on Tuesday after market-close. Revenue was in-line at $53.6 million versus the $52.3 million estimate, and up 20% year-over-year, and it beat earnings by 2cents, reporting 5cents for the quarter. However, revenue from its mobile division showed explosive sequential growth of 180% from $6 million in the March 2011 quarter to $17 million in the June quarter, and they now constitute 40% of product revenue. We believe that SIMG is just at the beginning of its growth story, and would buy into it aggressively here. Shares even after yesterday’s surge trade at only 13 times forward P/E, in the bottom one-third of its P/E range, while the revenue and earnings growth trajectory is explosive given the growth of its mobile segment.

Sell Nxstage Medical Inc. (NXTM): NXTM manufactures a hemodialysis system to treat end stage renal disease, acute kidney failure and fluid overload. Its shares were up 13.6% on Wednesday after it reported that in the June quarter, it beat revenue estimates by reporting $53.8 million versus the $51.1 million estimate, and it reported in-line EPS at a 10cents loss. Looking forward, NXTM gave in-line guidance for FY 2011 revenue and earnings. We believe that the surge is unwarranted based on Wednesday’s numbers in the quarter report, and we would be sellers here into any rally.

Sell Webmd Health Corp. (WBMD): WebMD Health Corp. provides health information services to consumers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through its public and private online portals, mobile applications, and health-focused publications in the United States. Its shares were up 12.4% on Wednesday after the company reported its June quarter revenue was in-line, and that it missed earnings by 7cents, reporting 22cents versus the 29cents estimate. However, the estimate is less important as the company pre-announced preliminary June quarter earnings at 23cents. Furthermore, it re-affirmed FY 2011 revenue and earnings. The surge yesterday is just a reaction to the violent drop in mid-July after the company pre-announced that the June quarter would come in below consensus. Nothing in this quarter report changes that, so we would be sellers on any rally that tries to close that mid-July ga

Top Buy and Sell Ideas Based on Wednesday's Biggest Gainers by: Ganaxi Small Cap Movers August 4, 2011 | includes: AAPL, ALTH, AMAG, CLWR, GOOG, IDCC, MRGE, NXTM, RIMM, S, SIMG, WBMD Font Size: PrintEmail Recommend 0 Share this page
Share0 inShare0The S&P 500 (SPX) and the broader Russell 3000 (RUA) both gained 0.5% on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Of the 4,600 stocks that were tracked, the top 25 gainers that closed above $1 at market-close on August 3, were analyzed to determine if they would continue going up, or if they would reverse their moves going forward. The following are the best buy and sell ideas based on that analysis:

Buy Merge Healthcare Inc. (MRGE): MRGE develops medical imaging, clinical workflow process, and patient information management software applications. The medical imaging software solutions support end-to-end business and clinical workflow for radiology department and specialty practices, imaging centers and hospitals. The patient information management software applications improve their customers' productivity and enhance the quality of the patient experience.

MRGE shares gained 11.1% on Wednesday after reporting that in the June quarter, it generated 6cents in earnings, 4cents better than estimates, and that revenue came in at $55.6 million versus the $54.7 million estimate, and also 92% above prior year June quarter revenue at $29 million. Furthermore, gross margins improved 827 basis points over the prior March quarter and 1,321 basis points over the prior year’s June quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased to a record $17.1 million or 20cents per share, above 9cents per share in the prior year June quarter. Overall, the stock trades at a forward 19-20 P/E while earnings are projected to increase at a 67% compounded growth rate from 10cents in 2010 to 18cents in 2011, and to 28cents in 2012. Furthermore, the company is expected to benefit from the continuing implementation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HIT) Act, as part of the economic stimulus bill passed in 2009. The stock is breaking out of a five-year base, and we would be buyers here based on the cheap valuation and strong growth potential.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals (AMAG): AMAG develops nano-particle-based therapeutics to treat anemia and diagnose cancer and cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead product candidate Ferumoxytol is being developed for use as an intravenous iron replacement therapeutic for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. The stock was up 11.2% on Wednesday after it revealed late-night Tuesday that it received an unsolicited proposal from MSMB Capital Management to acquire all of the company for $18 per share in cash. It was revealed that MSMB made that bid in an attempt to block the proposed merger between AMAG and Allos Therapeutics (ALTH), an all-stock merger that the two companies announced on July 20. ALTH shares were unchanged, but traded heavily Wednesday on the news.

Buy Clearwire Corp. (CLWR): CLWR provides wireless broadband networks for delivery of residential and mobile internet access and voice services. CLWR customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. The company offers its service in fifty U.S. markets, as well as in Europe. The stock gained 10.3% on Wednesday, and it is down 52% YTD. The shares rebounded yesterday ahead of the earnings announcement after the market-close, and after a crippling 22% loss in the last week since its partner Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) announced a partnership with CLWR’s 4-G rival LightSquared that uses 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for its 4G implementation.

CLWR reported that revenue was in-line at $293.7 million for the June quarter versus the analyst estimate of $294.5 million, but it missed huge in reporting a loss of $1.00 versus the estimate of 49c loss. However, perhaps more importantly, the company revealed a major shift in its strategy by embracing the rival LTE technology for its 4G implementation. While this is a welcome move as Sprint, the only supporter of its WiMax standard, currently also embraced LTE via a deal with LightSquared last week, it is not clear how CLWR will succeed in this environment given that it is late to the LTE game, and it is also not clear what it intends to do with its LTE network and the implications that will have for its current WiMax customers and their devices. However, CLWR shares currently trade at all-time lows, and it has spectrum assets that could fetch as much as $20 billion in an auction if the Obama administration frees up more spectrum for commercial use. By embracing LTE, CLWR has now taken up some insurance against its own irrelevancy as its future is no longer tied completely to WiMax, a technology that is in danger of becoming obsolete. We would be buyers on this news.

Buy Interdigital Inc. (IDCC): IDCC designs wireless modems and ICs used in notebook computers, PDAs, mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure. The company generates a majority of its revenue from patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company’s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. Its shares rose 13.8% on Wednesday, and they are up 72.8% YTD.

IDCC shares were up Wednesday on news that Samsung Electronics Co. has now joined the fray in examining and perhaps bidding on IDCC’s patent portfolio; rivals Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG) are already known to be examining the IDCC’s strong patent portfolio of over 8,800 patents, many of which are used in devices ranging from AAPL’s iPhone to GOOG’s Android based smartphones and Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) Blackberry handsets. It has been argued that IDCC’s patent portfolio could be worth as much as $5 billion to a potential acquirer; at yesterday’s closing price of $71.96, the company sports a market-cap of only $3.26 billion.

With a who’s who list of premier technology companies lining up as suitors, and for technology patents that are critical to the way we consume information today, it is probable that even with this year’s surge of 72.8%, shares may still be undervalued. With the stock up almost 100% in the last month, we would not jump into this one; rather, we would be buyers on any pullback near $60, buying it in stages to take advantage of any further weakness. Wall Street analysts are also bullish on IDCC, giving it a mean target of $66, with a high of $118; and of the six analysts that currently cover the company, three rate it at buy, two at hold and one gives it a sell rating.

Buy Silicon Image Inc. (SIMG): SIMG is a leading provider of wireless and wired connectivity solutions such as transmitters, receivers, controllers and bridges that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. Its products are deployed by the world’s leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. SIMG has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVI™ industry standards, the latest standards for mobile devices - SPMT™ (Serial Port Memory Technology) and MHL™ (Mobile High-Definition Link), and the standard for 60GHz wireless HD video – WirelessHD™ (WiHD).

SIMG shares surged 24.2% on Wednesday after the company reported blow-out results from its mobile segment in the June quarter results that it reported on Tuesday after market-close. Revenue was in-line at $53.6 million versus the $52.3 million estimate, and up 20% year-over-year, and it beat earnings by 2cents, reporting 5cents for the quarter. However, revenue from its mobile division showed explosive sequential growth of 180% from $6 million in the March 2011 quarter to $17 million in the June quarter, and they now constitute 40% of product revenue. We believe that SIMG is just at the beginning of its growth story, and would buy into it aggressively here. Shares even after yesterday’s surge trade at only 13 times forward P/E, in the bottom one-third of its P/E range, while the revenue and earnings growth trajectory is explosive given the growth of its mobile segment.

Sell Nxstage Medical Inc. (NXTM): NXTM manufactures a hemodialysis system to treat end stage renal disease, acute kidney failure and fluid overload. Its shares were up 13.6% on Wednesday after it reported that in the June quarter, it beat revenue estimates by reporting $53.8 million versus the $51.1 million estimate, and it reported in-line EPS at a 10cents loss. Looking forward, NXTM gave in-line guidance for FY 2011 revenue and earnings. We believe that the surge is unwarranted based on Wednesday’s numbers in the quarter report, and we would be sellers here into any rally.

Sell Webmd Health Corp. (WBMD): WebMD Health Corp. provides health information services to consumers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through its public and private online portals, mobile applications, and health-focused publications in the United States. Its shares were up 12.4% on Wednesday after the company reported its June quarter revenue was in-line, and that it missed earnings by 7cents, reporting 22cents versus the 29cents estimate. However, the estimate is less important as the company pre-announced preliminary June quarter earnings at 23cents. Furthermore, it re-affirmed FY 2011 revenue and earnings. The surge yesterday is just a reaction to the violent drop in mid-July after the company pre-announced that the June quarter would come in below consensus. Nothing in this quarter report changes that, so we would be sellers on any rally that tries to close that mid-July gap.

(Click chart to enlarge)

Top Buy and Sell Ideas Based on Wednesday's Biggest Gainers by: Ganaxi Small Cap Movers August 4, 2011 | includes: AAPL, ALTH, AMAG, CLWR, GOOG, IDCC, MRGE, NXTM, RIMM, S, SIMG, WBMD Font Size: PrintEmail Recommend 0 Share this page
Share0 inShare0The S&P 500 (SPX) and the broader Russell 3000 (RUA) both gained 0.5% on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Of the 4,600 stocks that were tracked, the top 25 gainers that closed above $1 at market-close on August 3, were analyzed to determine if they would continue going up, or if they would reverse their moves going forward. The following are the best buy and sell ideas based on that analysis:

Buy Merge Healthcare Inc. (MRGE): MRGE develops medical imaging, clinical workflow process, and patient information management software applications. The medical imaging software solutions support end-to-end business and clinical workflow for radiology department and specialty practices, imaging centers and hospitals. The patient information management software applications improve their customers' productivity and enhance the quality of the patient experience.

MRGE shares gained 11.1% on Wednesday after reporting that in the June quarter, it generated 6cents in earnings, 4cents better than estimates, and that revenue came in at $55.6 million versus the $54.7 million estimate, and also 92% above prior year June quarter revenue at $29 million. Furthermore, gross margins improved 827 basis points over the prior March quarter and 1,321 basis points over the prior year’s June quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased to a record $17.1 million or 20cents per share, above 9cents per share in the prior year June quarter. Overall, the stock trades at a forward 19-20 P/E while earnings are projected to increase at a 67% compounded growth rate from 10cents in 2010 to 18cents in 2011, and to 28cents in 2012. Furthermore, the company is expected to benefit from the continuing implementation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HIT) Act, as part of the economic stimulus bill passed in 2009. The stock is breaking out of a five-year base, and we would be buyers here based on the cheap valuation and strong growth potential.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals (AMAG): AMAG develops nano-particle-based therapeutics to treat anemia and diagnose cancer and cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead product candidate Ferumoxytol is being developed for use as an intravenous iron replacement therapeutic for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. The stock was up 11.2% on Wednesday after it revealed late-night Tuesday that it received an unsolicited proposal from MSMB Capital Management to acquire all of the company for $18 per share in cash. It was revealed that MSMB made that bid in an attempt to block the proposed merger between AMAG and Allos Therapeutics (ALTH), an all-stock merger that the two companies announced on July 20. ALTH shares were unchanged, but traded heavily Wednesday on the news.

Buy Clearwire Corp. (CLWR): CLWR provides wireless broadband networks for delivery of residential and mobile internet access and voice services. CLWR customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. The company offers its service in fifty U.S. markets, as well as in Europe. The stock gained 10.3% on Wednesday, and it is down 52% YTD. The shares rebounded yesterday ahead of the earnings announcement after the market-close, and after a crippling 22% loss in the last week since its partner Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) announced a partnership with CLWR’s 4-G rival LightSquared that uses 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for its 4G implementation.

CLWR reported that revenue was in-line at $293.7 million for the June quarter versus the analyst estimate of $294.5 million, but it missed huge in reporting a loss of $1.00 versus the estimate of 49c loss. However, perhaps more importantly, the company revealed a major shift in its strategy by embracing the rival LTE technology for its 4G implementation. While this is a welcome move as Sprint, the only supporter of its WiMax standard, currently also embraced LTE via a deal with LightSquared last week, it is not clear how CLWR will succeed in this environment given that it is late to the LTE game, and it is also not clear what it intends to do with its LTE network and the implications that will have for its current WiMax customers and their devices. However, CLWR shares currently trade at all-time lows, and it has spectrum assets that could fetch as much as $20 billion in an auction if the Obama administration frees up more spectrum for commercial use. By embracing LTE, CLWR has now taken up some insurance against its own irrelevancy as its future is no longer tied completely to WiMax, a technology that is in danger of becoming obsolete. We would be buyers on this news.

Buy Interdigital Inc. (IDCC): IDCC designs wireless modems and ICs used in notebook computers, PDAs, mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure. The company generates a majority of its revenue from patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company’s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. Its shares rose 13.8% on Wednesday, and they are up 72.8% YTD.

IDCC shares were up Wednesday on news that Samsung Electronics Co. has now joined the fray in examining and perhaps bidding on IDCC’s patent portfolio; rivals Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG) are already known to be examining the IDCC’s strong patent portfolio of over 8,800 patents, many of which are used in devices ranging from AAPL’s iPhone to GOOG’s Android based smartphones and Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) Blackberry handsets. It has been argued that IDCC’s patent portfolio could be worth as much as $5 billion to a potential acquirer; at yesterday’s closing price of $71.96, the company sports a market-cap of only $3.26 billion.

With a who’s who list of premier technology companies lining up as suitors, and for technology patents that are critical to the way we consume information today, it is probable that even with this year’s surge of 72.8%, shares may still be undervalued. With the stock up almost 100% in the last month, we would not jump into this one; rather, we would be buyers on any pullback near $60, buying it in stages to take advantage of any further weakness. Wall Street analysts are also bullish on IDCC, giving it a mean target of $66, with a high of $118; and of the six analysts that currently cover the company, three rate it at buy, two at hold and one gives it a sell rating.

Buy Silicon Image Inc. (SIMG): SIMG is a leading provider of wireless and wired connectivity solutions such as transmitters, receivers, controllers and bridges that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. Its products are deployed by the world’s leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. SIMG has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVI™ industry standards, the latest standards for mobile devices - SPMT™ (Serial Port Memory Technology) and MHL™ (Mobile High-Definition Link), and the standard for 60GHz wireless HD video – WirelessHD™ (WiHD).

SIMG shares surged 24.2% on Wednesday after the company reported blow-out results from its mobile segment in the June quarter results that it reported on Tuesday after market-close. Revenue was in-line at $53.6 million versus the $52.3 million estimate, and up 20% year-over-year, and it beat earnings by 2cents, reporting 5cents for the quarter. However, revenue from its mobile division showed explosive sequential growth of 180% from $6 million in the March 2011 quarter to $17 million in the June quarter, and they now constitute 40% of product revenue. We believe that SIMG is just at the beginning of its growth story, and would buy into it aggressively here. Shares even after yesterday’s surge trade at only 13 times forward P/E, in the bottom one-third of its P/E range, while the revenue and earnings growth trajectory is explosive given the growth of its mobile segment.

Sell Nxstage Medical Inc. (NXTM): NXTM manufactures a hemodialysis system to treat end stage renal disease, acute kidney failure and fluid overload. Its shares were up 13.6% on Wednesday after it reported that in the June quarter, it beat revenue estimates by reporting $53.8 million versus the $51.1 million estimate, and it reported in-line EPS at a 10cents loss. Looking forward, NXTM gave in-line guidance for FY 2011 revenue and earnings. We believe that the surge is unwarranted based on Wednesday’s numbers in the quarter report, and we would be sellers here into any rally.

Sell Webmd Health Corp. (WBMD): WebMD Health Corp. provides health information services to consumers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through its public and private online portals, mobile applications, and health-focused publications in the United States. Its shares were up 12.4% on Wednesday after the company reported its June quarter revenue was in-line, and that it missed earnings by 7cents, reporting 22cents versus the 29cents estimate. However, the estimate is less important as the company pre-announced preliminary June quarter earnings at 23cents. Furthermore, it re-affirmed FY 2011 revenue and earnings. The surge yesterday is just a reaction to the violent drop in mid-July after the company pre-announced that the June quarter would come in below consensus. Nothing in this quarter report changes that, so we would be sellers on any rally that tries to close that mid-July gap.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/284536-top-buy-and-sell-idea…

[Nonbroker]

Der Beitrag über Interdigital (IDCC) läuft auf CNBC um 20.30 Uhr unserer Zeit.

Für alle, die CNBC im Fernsehen nicht empfangen können, über folgenden Link hier abzurufen:

http://wwitv.com/tv_channels/b6054.htm

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.893.842 von Nonbroker am 04.08.11 17:33:14

jetzt schlägst 13
Streit um Patente
Google wittert Verschwörung (na dann mal ran IDCC bevor sie wieder leer ausgehen und nörgeln)

Der Internetkonzern wurde von Microsoft, Apple und anderen beim Kauf von Telekompatenten überboten. Der Chef-Justiziar sieht darin den Start einer Kampagne gegen das Handy-Betriebssystem Android. Microsoft kontert. .....
Google setzt nun seine Hoffnung auf das US-Justizministerium. Nach Medienberichten hat das Ministerium mit einer Untersuchung zum Verkauf der Nortel-Patente begonnen.

http://www.ftd.de/it-medien/it-telekommunikation/:streit-um-…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.894.963 von cell1 am 04.08.11 19:35:31

wird immer besser
Das Problem des Konzerns: Bei der mobilen Telekommunikation fehlt es ihm an geistigem Eigentum - eine Tatsache, die Patentstreitigkeiten befeuert. Die Branche der Smartphones und Tablet-Computer wird in diesem Jahr von beispiellosen Konflikten dieser Art geprägt. So beschäftigt etwa Apple mit Forderungen gegen die Android-Nutzer

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.894.972 von cell1 am 04.08.11 19:37:06

@Nonbroker
wann kommt der CNBC Beitrag ?

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.895.685 von cell1 am 04.08.11 21:15:37

Bin leider jetzt erst heim gekommen, hatte keine Zeit für CNBC. Habe mal kurz in die amerikanischen Boards geschaut, der Beitrag auf CNBC über IDCC ist wohl wieder zugunsten der Rezessionsbesprechung ausgefallen. Die Amis sind sauer, ich habe Verständnis für den Ausfall, dieses starke Absacken der Märkte ist schon bedrohlich.
Für Interdigital heißt das, es kann marktkonform weiter runtergehen, bei positiven News gehts rauf bzw. explodiert es positiv (meine Meinung).
Ich schaue nochmal kurz, ob ich eine wichtige News finde, ansonsten gute Nacht.

[Nonbroker]

Ist zwar schon teilweise bekannt, in dieser Form aber ausführlicher.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44012785

[Nonbroker]

Ein "push" - Kommentar

InterDigital Could Be a Supercharged Stock
Bidding war could result in deal adding 52% to IDCC's price

Aug 4, 2011, 9:40 am EDT | By Peter Cohan, InvestorPlace Writer

In these dire days during which the S&P 500 has lost all its 2011 gains, it’s easy to think that all stocks go down. But that’s not true. On Wednesday, InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC), a $3.3 billion market-capitalization holding company for 1,300 U.S. and 7,500 non-U.S. wireless telecom patents, popped almost 14%. Is it too late to join the InterDigital party?

For insight into that question, it helps to understand why its stock was up so much. InterDigital is in the middle of a bidding war that could result in a sale of the company for a cool $5 billion — 52% higher than its current value — according to Bloomberg. The bidders include Samsung (PINK:SSNLF), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG).

The intensity of this bidding war is heightened by patent litigation between Apple and Samsung. Because some of InterDigital’s patents are used in Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android, Apple’s April 2011 lawsuit alleging that Samsung’s Galaxy uses Apple’s patents could be a factor in this bidding war. That’s because if Samsung could acquire InterDigital, it might be able to use its ownership of the relevant patents to strengthen its position in the Apple litigation.

Since July 18, the day before InterDigital announced it was putting itself up for sale, IDCC shares have risen 73%. If a sale does not go through, its shares will plunge; but if the company does find a buyer willing to pay $5 billion, they could gain another 52%.

To consider whether to buy InterDigital shares, it helps to consider whether the company would be a good investment if the acquisition rumors don’t pan out. Here are two reasons to consider investing in the stock:

•Low valuation. InterDigital’s price/earnings-to-growth of 0.64 (where a PEG of 1.0 is considered fairly priced) means it is cheap. It currently has a P/E of 29.6 and is expected to grow 46.4% to $3.05 in 2012.
•Many expectations-beating earnings reports. InterDigital has beaten analysts’ expectations in three of the last five reporting periods. In its 2011 second quarter, InterDigital reported 37 cents in adjusted EPS — a penny above analysts’ expectations. Although revenues were down and patent litigation expenses rose, InterDigital did benefit from rapid smartphone revenue growth — offset by the impact of the Japan earthquake.
There are two reasons to avoid InterDigital:

•Not earning its cost of capital. InterDigital is earning slightly less than its cost of capital – and it’s deteriorating rapidly. How so? It produced positive EVA momentum, which measures the change in “economic value added” (essentially, after-tax operating profit after deducting capital costs) divided by sales. In the first six months of 2011, InterDigital’s EVA momentum was a whopping -23%, based on first six months’ 2010 annualized revenue of $414 million, and EVA that fell from $97 million annualizing the first six months of 2010 to -$400,000 annualizing the first six months of 2011, using a 10% weighted average cost of capital.
•Falling sales and profits but stronger balance sheet. InterDigital has been shrinking. Its $395 million in revenues have fallen at an average rate of 5% over the past five years while its net income of $154 million has declined at a 10% annual rate during that period — yielding a very high 39% net profit margin. It has virtually no debt, and its cash has grown quickly at 19.7% annual rate, from $264 million (2006) to $542 million (2010).
InterDigital is an extremely profitable company, but the plunge in revenues suggests it does not have or want to spend the cash required to enforce its patents, develop new ones and license those innovations to wireless industry participants.

If 2012 earnings projections are accurate, InterDigital stock still is undervalued. But since management has decided to put the company up for sale, it is sending a pretty clear message that shareholders would be better off if the company was acquired.

Given the deep cash positions of the bidders and their strong incentives to keep InterDigital out of the hands of rivals, I’d guess there’s a better-than-50% chance a deal will go through for a price near $5 billion.

Investors willing to take that chance should consider buying InterDigital.

Peter Cohan has no financial interest in the securities mentioned.

http://www.investorplace.com/54798/interdigital-idcc-telecom…

[Nonbroker]

Da haben alle Leute die letzten zwei Tage auf CNBC geguckt, dabei lief vor zwei Tagen am späten Abend ein interessanter Kommentar auf Bloomberg!

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/1778/2723283?cpt…

[Nonbroker]

Muß mal einen Link bringen, der keinen Bezug zu IDCC hat, trotzdem aber einen unglaublich interessanten Inhalt hat. Hab ich gerade in einem amerikanischen Board entdeckt.
Für Leute, die sich nur für IDCC interessieren, einfach überschlagen.

http://nomadfund.com/2011/04/10/video-the-impact-of-algorith…

[Nonbroker]

Mobile News
Patent Battles Proliferate In Mobile Industry: 10 Reasons Why
By: Don Reisinger
2011-08-04

News Analysis: Google is complaining that its competitors, Apple and Microsoft, are waging a “bogus” patent fight because they are trying to stymie the growth of Android. But the devil is in the details of this patent lawsuit battle that has entangled a number of companies in the mobile industry.


In a blog post on Aug. 3, Google senior vice president and chief legal officer, David Drummond, sent shockwaves through the mobile market, charging his company’s chief competitors, including Apple and Microsoft, with waging “bogus” patent fights against the search giant.

Drummond said that he believes those companies are trying to “strangle” the competitive choice consumers around the globe currently enjoy. And he wanted to speak out against that.

Drummond’s statements are interesting, and they have proven to be a lightning rod for controversy throughout the industry. But they underscore the reality of the situation: mobile patent battles are flying, and so far, there is no end in sight.

As of this writing, patent battles are being waged between Oracle and Google, Apple and Samsung, and Microsoft and HTC, among others. And if Apple, RIM, Microsoft and others, are allowed to secure the Nortel patents they have acquired, the number of lawsuits might grow.

Read on to find out why so many patent battles are brewing today in the mobile market.

1. Android’s lead scares competitors

Android’s success in the mobile market has taken more than a few people by surprise. When the platform first launched, many thought it would be just another competitor in the marketplace. But now, Android is dominating the mobile market with nearly 50 percent share during the last quarter alone. That is scaring the platform’s competitors and they’re using their patent portfolios to try and stymie Android’s growth.

2. It’s easy

Let’s face it: filing for a patent and forcing companies to pay boatloads of fees in litigation is easy, especially for the companies that are doing it. Samsung, Apple and Microsoft all have more than enough cash to launch as many lawsuits as they want without feeling the effects of them. Since they own so many patents, getting a case in front of the U.S. ITC or district court judges isn’t so difficult.

3. Tit for tat

In the mobile space right now, there is a lot of give-and-take going on. For example, after Apple sued Samsung, the iPhone maker was hit by patent-infringement suits by Samsung. Now, the fight between the companies doesn’t appear to be settling down. It’s a similar story elsewhere around the mobile market. As soon as one company gets hit with a lawsuit, it responds. That isn’t helping matters for those who want to see fewer lawsuits in the industry.

4. It’s another revenue opportunity

For Microsoft, suing Android vendors is a revenue opportunity. Because of its strong patent portfolio, Microsoft has been going to vendors and requiring them to pay a “tax” for every smartphone they sell. Some companies, including Velocity Micro, have agreed to pay to the tax. Others have not. But if nothing else, the patents appear to be a revenue opportunity for some companies.

5. It’s a necessity

Let’s not forget that when it comes to patent law, companies have a responsibility to protect their intellectual property. So in some cases it makes sense that firms file suit as a defensive whenever they feel their patents are being violated. As with anything else, there are some that abuse rules and others that follow them. Right now, there are still many companies that are following them.

6. Similarities abound

It’s also important for Google to recognize there is a lot of commonality in the mobile space right now. Multiple competing mobile operating systems have similar functionalities, devices look the same and the “feel” of the user interfaces of some of these products is quite close. Those similarities are causing some firms to jump the gun on lawsuits. Whether that’s right or wrong is for the courts to decide.

7. There’s a lot riding on the future

Perhaps one of the main reasons companies are so willing to be litigious right now is that they realize how important the mobile market will be in the coming years. Smartphones continue to gain popularity around the world and tablet sales are skyrocketing. Over the next decade, the mobile space could grow exponentially. So no firm—small or big—wants to be kept out of that money-making opportunity.

8. Google has a weak portfolio

Google has been targeted quite heavily by competitors, most notably Oracle, which is concerned about Android. Although Google might not like it, the company and its operating system have become lightning rods for lawsuits because it doesn’t have as strong of a patent portfolio as it should. Other companies have a much stronger portfolio. And they smell blood. If Google wants to see the lawsuits stop, it’ll have to buy more patents, just as it did recently with IBM.

9. For Microsoft, it’s about vendors

As mentioned, Microsoft is trying to get Android vendors to pay it a “tax” for the right to sell their products. Although that’s great for the short-term, Microsoft’s eventual goal is to get those vendors to realize that it’s cheaper to build Windows Phone 7 devices and ditch Android entirely. Whether it will work remains to be seen, but it’s certainly possible.

10. The government hasn’t stepped in

So far, government regulators and the courts have allowed companies to initiate lawsuits that, Google says, have no merit. Generally the government will let the courts decide these cases on their legal merits, unless Google can somehow show antitrust laws are being violated. But in any event, petty patent lawsuits aren’t good for anyone, including consumers. If the lawsuits have no merit, it’s about time someone steps in. However, so far, no one has done anything of the sort.

[cell1]

Apple lands CHL, China Mobile!!!!!
China mobile!!! The largest mobile provider in the world

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/08/05/china_mobile_a…

[Nonbroker]

Neuigkeiten:

Kapitall Strategies: Rebound Candidates to Consider After Today's Meltdown

Posted 8/5/2011 10:56 AM from Kapitall in Investing, Investing Ideas, Stocks

Referenced Stocks: AN, CAB, COH, HFC, IDCC, NKE, SPWRA, ST, WAC, WFM (List compiled by Eben Esterhuizen, CFA)

Strategy: If a stock is down more than 3% since yesterday's close, buy it, and sell it on the close 10 trading sessions later.

Today was a brutal day for stock market bulls. Some people think we're seeing panic selling, and that stocks could see a short-term bounce from the extreme pessimism.

But which stocks seeing losses today might be good candidates for this strategy?

To help you get ideas, we started with a universe of about 400 stocks that have declined by more than 3% since yesterday's close (i.e. strategy candidates).

We went back in time, and evaluated how many times these stocks rebounded from similar losses over the last quarter.

For each backtested rebound strategy, we'll also report the average return made on the investment (ignoring transaction costs).

Recent history suggests that these stocks are resilient, and may rebound from today's sell-off. That said, it's important to point out that past performance is no guarantee of future results.

In other words, just because these stocks rebounded from similar losses over the last quarter, there is no guarantee that they will do so again today.

As always, use this list only as a starting point for your own analysis.

For each stock listed, we'll also include the annual performance.

Analyze These Ideas (Tools Will Open In A New Window)

1. Access a thorough description of all companies mentioned
2. Compare analyst ratings for all stocks mentioned below
3. Visualize annual returns for all stocks mentioned

1. InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC): Wireless Communications Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.53% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 7 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 22.88% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 151.63% over the last year.
2. Walter Investment Management Corp. (WAC): Asset Management Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 5.6% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 2 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 21.17% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 26.06% over the last year.

3. AutoNation Inc. (AN): Auto Dealerships Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 5.81% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 16.92% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 38.81% over the last year.

4. Nike Inc. (NKE): Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.35% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 13.78% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 11.73% over the last year.

5. SunPower Corporation (SPWRA): Semiconductor - Specialized Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.11% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 2 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 13.11% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 34.57% over the last year.

6. Coach Inc. (COH): Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.19% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 12.43% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 51.95% over the last year.

7. HollyFrontier Corporation Commo (HFC): Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.39% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 8 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 12.34% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 149.67% over the last year.

8. Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM): Grocery Stores Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 6.01% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 10.36% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 65.67% over the last year.

9. Cabela's Inc. (CAB): Sporting Goods Stores Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 5.75% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 9.62% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 47.25% over the last year.

10. Sensata Technologies Holding NV (ST): Electronic Equipment Industry. At time of writing (4:30pm ET), the stock is down 5.65% since yesterday's close. Over the last quarter, there have been 1 days when the stock lost more than 3% in a session. Trading the above mentioned strategy on those days would have returned an average of 9.5% over the next 10 trading days. The stock has returned 93.52% over the last year.

Read more: http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2011-08/kapitall…

[Nonbroker]

Aus dem Fundus:

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=65&mn=53651&pt=ms…

[Nonbroker]

Eine sehr fragwürdige Meldung auf Yahoo!finance über einen angeblichen Verkauf von Interdigital an Apple am Wochenende für 6,5 Milliarden.


http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks…

[Nonbroker]

Vielleicht zum Abschluß vor dem Wochenende ein Link zu Heise online um gemütlich in unserer Muttersprache noch einiges über Interdigital und die Wichtigkeit der Patente für Apple, Google und Co nachzulesen.

Wollen wir hoffen, daß in der neuen Woche bald gravierende Neuigkeiten zu Interdigital kommen und die Märkte sich beruhigen. Vielleicht sollte Barroso sich entschuldigen????

http://www.heise.de/suche/?q=Interdigital&search_submit=Such…

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt nichts Neues an diesem Wochenende (zu Interdigital), lassen wir uns von der Woche überraschen. Gute Nacht

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.904.377 von Nonbroker am 06.08.11 00:09:28

IDCC fält nicht in die 50 $
scheint mehr als nur Vorverhandlung zu sein, peilt sich Mitte sechzig ein trotz Börsenumfeld

[Nonbroker]

Verglichen mit dem Allgemeinmarkt hält sich IDCC ja wirklich gut.

Artikel aus Wall Street Pit:

Navigate: Home Business, Latest, Wall Street Trade Ideas: CBOU, IDCC, MA, MCP Trade Ideas: CBOU, IDCC, MA, MCP
By Antonio Costa Aug 8, 2011, 9:13 AM Author's Website

MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) might face a period of sideways action while it consolidates the gains booked in the last sessions. MA has been in a nice uptrend for the last 6 months and it looks very strong with both 50 day and 200 day moving average going up. The stock will face short to medium term resistance at $340.42. Once this level is crossed with good volumes, the stock can go to $372.

InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) – The consolidation and compression that has been going on in the last two weeks is very healthy. The technical chart shows a bullish bias. EMAs are moving up and RSI is above its 50% level. William %R and Stochastic are also in buy mode. The price can head towards the 75-80 zone. If this zone is surpassed, getting to $100 would be a possibility. There was hearty volume in the September calls at the 75, 90 and 100 strikes. Over the last few weeks, there have been rumors IDCC is a takeover target. Google, Apple, Oracle and Samsung are the possible suitors. I’m really convinced that this stock can easily double from here. For that reason, I’m still holding my shares in hope of a strong move.

I remain bearish on Molycorp, Inc. (NYSE:MCP) in the near-term. MACD has a bearish crossover. In addition, the bearish crossover in the ADX chart adds to my conviction.

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOU) broke out to all time highs !! The technical chart shows a bullish bias. The MACD had just cut above its signal line. While there is a chance that the stock had a false breakout, you still have to favor the underlying trend until it is proven. Nevertheless, keep this on your watch list because the overall market sentiment on CBOU is pretty bullish.



Disclaimer: This is not an investment advisory, and should not be used to make investment decisions. Information in AC Investor Blog is often opinionated and should be considered for information purposes only. No stock exchange anywhere has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. There is no express or implied solicitation to buy or sell securities. The charts provided here are not meant for investment purposes and only serve as technical examples. Don’t consider buying or selling any stock without conducting your own due diligence.

http://wallstreetpit.com/81054-trade-ideas-cbou-idcc-ma-mcp

[Nonbroker]

Potential InterDigital Buyout by Samsung
By Wilson Faber

Benzinga Staff Writer
August 08, 2011 7:48 AMSymbols: AAPL, GOOG, IDCC, RIMM, IBM, NOK, MMI
Tags: Bloomberg, Samsung, Dougherty, bidding war, Nortel, William Merritt, Algorithm Capital
Posted in: News
A potential patent bidding war could be brewing as Samsung Electronics is considering purchasing the patent portfolio of InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC), according to Bloomberg.

InterDigital, a Pennsylvania-based company has about 8,800 patents on inventions used in devices ranging from the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) iPhone to Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android-based handsets and Research In Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry. Since InterDigital opened its doors to a bidding war on July 18, the stock price has doubled. Friday, IDCC ended the day at 68.10 with after hours trading showing slight increases.

Samsung is examining InterDigital in order to keep pace with other smartphone giants. Benzinga reported Tuesday that Google's Android operating system just claimed 48 percent of the smartphone global market share and Apple's iPhone recently overcame Nokia (NYSE: NOK [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) to become the world's largest leading individual smartphone vendor coming in second with a global market share of 19 percent.

Analysts at Algorithm Capital and Dougherty value InterDigital at approximately $5 billion with the potential to increase if Google, Apple, or Microsoft (NASDAQ: MRFT) decides to make an offer. Google recently lost a bidding war to a group including Apple and Microsoft in the sale of Nortel's $4.5 billion cellular technology portfolio.

William Merritt, InterDigital's Chief Executive Office, noted the patent's to be "deeper and stronger" than Nortel's. With this statement about the power of InterDigital's patents, how much more money could potentially be spent on IDCC if a bidding war occurs?

Action Items:

Bullish:

•Patents have been hot lately, Nortel's patents got picked off for $4.5 billion, Google bought some IBM (NYSE: IBM) patents, Carl Icahn trying to get Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) to sell some patents.
Bearish:

•All IDCC has is patents, the company actually lost money in its last quarter and missed expectations. Shares have run up drastically on expectations of a sale for IDCC, if it doesn't happen, we could see a huge drop in share price.
Sino Clean Energy moved 10.75% higher after Benzinga Pro reported the Chairman
.

[Nonbroker]

Neuer Kommentar:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Is-Google-Gunni…

[Nonbroker]

Noch eine interessante Meldung:

http://www.trefis.com/stock/goog/articles/69551/google-4/201…

[Nonbroker]

Das Neueste von Bloomberg:

InterDigital Trying to Boost Patents’ Price, Huawei Tells ITC
QBy Susan Decker - Aug 8, 2011 10:14 PM GMT+0200 .

InterDigital Inc., owner of about 1,300 U.S. mobile-phone patents, filed infringement claims with a U.S. trade panel last month to boost the price of its intellectual property portfolio, Huawei Technologies Co. said.

InterDigital “may be using the commission’s investigation process purely for the purpose of inflating its value as it prepares to sell its IP assets,” Huawei said in an Aug. 5 letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington.

InterDigital said July 19 it was considering a sale of its patent portfolio. The company filed a complaint with the ITC on July 26 that accused Huawei, Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) and ZTE Corp. (763) of infringing seven patents related to so-called third-generation wireless technology.

In its complaint, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based InterDigital asked the panel for an order that would block U.S. imports of mobile phones containing the disputed technology. All three companies sent letters to the commission saying such an action would not be in the public’s interest.

There is a “distinct possibility that InterDigital is using the Commission’s proceeding simply to inflate the value of its patent holdings with no likely benefit to the kind of domestic industry intended to be protected by the statute,” Sturgis Sobin of Covington & Burling in Washington wrote on behalf of Shenzhen, China-based Huawei.

The companies asked that the judge assigned to the case gather evidence on the public implications of a ruling in InterDigital’s favor. The ITC has not yet picked a judge.

‘Good Faith Efforts’
In a July 26 statement, InterDigital said it filed the complaint after “good faith efforts” to reach a licensing agreement failed. When asked about the new filings, Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for InterDigital, said the company doesn’t comment on litigation.

“It makes little sense for the ITC to protect entities that use patent litigation to compel prelitigation settlements and use the ITC to drive up settlement amounts,” ZTE, also based in Shenzhen, wrote in its filing. ZTE and Huawei are China’s two largest makers of phone equipment.

Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, won an earlier ITC case filed by InterDigital over other patents and is awaiting an appeals court ruling in that dispute.

InterDigital has hired Evercore Partners Inc. (EVR) and Barclays Capital to help explore a potential sale to take advantage of increased demand for wireless patents. InterDigital, whose stock has risen more than 50 percent since the July 19 announcement, has said its patents are deeper and stronger than those that Nortel Networks Corp. auctioned for $4.5 billion in bidding concluded June 30.

Samsung Electronics Co., Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG) have been named as potential bidders for the InterDigital patents.

The case is In the Matter of Certain Wireless Devices with 3G Capabilities and Components Thereof, Complaint No. 2835, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).

To contact the reporter on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at [e-mail]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-08/interdigital-trying…

[Nonbroker]

Auch oft im Gespräch: HTC könnte mit Google zusammen für die IDCC Patente bieten!

Apple Complaint Against HTC Over Flyer Tablet PC to Get U.S. Trade Review
QBy Susan Decker - Aug 9, 2011 1:20 AM GMT+0200 .


Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s patent-infringement complaint against HTC Corp. (2498) will be reviewed by a U.S. trade agency that has the power to block imports of the Taiwanese company’s phones and new Flyer tablet computers.

The International Trade Commission said it will investigate Apple’s accusations that HTC infringed five patents related to software architecture and user interfaces in portable electronic devices, hardware for touch screens and movement sensors. Notice of the decision was posted on the agency’s website today.

A trade judge last month said HTC infringed two other Apple patents, a decision subject to review by the six-member commission. If the commission agrees, it could order an import ban on certain HTC phones that run on Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android operating system.

HTC, based in Taoyuan, Taiwan, has denied infringing any Apple patents and pledged to challenge last month’s findings. It has its own complaint pending against Cupertino, California- based Apple, with a judge scheduled to release his determination in September.

“HTC respects intellectual property and will continue to protect and defend its protected innovations,” Grace Lei, general counsel at HTC, said in an e-mail. “We will fully cooperate with the ITC’s investigation and look forward to showing that we are not in violation of any of Apple’s patents.”

In March, HTC released the Flyer, its first tablet device in the U.S. to rival Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab. The Flyer has a 7-inch screen and uses Android. The latest Apple complaint also targets HTC mobile phones including the Droid Incredible, Wildfire, EVO 4G and Desire.

The new complaint is In the Matter of Portable Electronic Devices and Related Software, 337-797, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington). Apple’s earlier case against HTC is In the Matter of Certain Personal Data and Mobile Communications Devices and Related Software, and the HTC case against Apple is In the Matter of Portable Electronic Devices, 337-721, both ITC.

To contact the reporter on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at [e-mail].

[cell1]

110 $ pro Aktie entspricht Marktkapitalisierung von 5 Mrd. US $
Bietergemeinschaft ab dieser Summe zieht Inter Digital mit.
statt 250 bis 300 die hier in dem Raum standen.
Wäre mir als Aktionär auch lieber gewesen.

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt nichts gravierend Neues, anbei ein interessanter Doppelartikel über Patente und ihre Bedeutung für Apple und Co.

http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/war-of-tech-giants-unfold…

http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/war-of-tech-giants-unfold…

[cell1]

Schlusskurs 71,73 $ gegen Handelsende nach oben.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.926.088 von cell1 am 09.08.11 22:27:45

Ja, marktkonformer Anstieg -DOW ist um 4% gestiegen-, ohne besondere News. Dürfte aber morgen grün werden.
Gute Nacht

Schönes Bild zum Abschluß, Vorsicht, morgen sieht´s anders aus

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/nasdaqlastsale.aspx?symbol=IDCC&s…

[Nonbroker]

Im Interdigital Board von Investorshub hab sich der Teilnehmer "postyle" die Mühe gemacht und alle Patente von IDCC aus den Jahren 2009 - 2011 aufgelistet.
Zur Erläuterung: die Auflistung erfolgte aus den Beiträgen des Teilnehmers "Gamco", der regelmäßig die neuen Patente einstellt und erläutert.
Phantastische Übersicht:

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[Nonbroker]

Habe zu voreilig auf den Knopf gedrückt, hier der korrekte Link zur Benutzung:

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[Nonbroker]

Vielleicht einmal wieder eine kritische Stimme zu Patenten, hier kann ich sie ja bei aufgekärtem Auditorium veröffentlichen, in den US-Boards würde ich erfahrungsgemäß dafür gesteinigt! Es wird aber nichts am hohen Wert unserer Aktie ändern!

For the Good of Tech: Fix Our Broken Patent System Now!By Anders Bylund (TMF Zahrim) | More Articles
August 9, 2011 |

IDCCInterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $71.73 $7.75 (12.11%)


I have this long-held belief that our patent system is broken. Maybe even unfixable. These days, there's a growing Greek chorus pointing out the same problems.

Software code is often used as an offensive weapon (in every sense of "offensive"), or as a shield against patent attacks. But I don't think you should be able to patent an algorithm or a problem-solving idea, any more than you can patent the phrase "More tacos, please" or the idea of brushing your teeth exactly twice a day.

I'm not alone
With great pleasure, I just found a celebrity guru who sees these things almost exactly my way. Longtime Internet billionaire and outspoken media guru Mark Cuban is shouting this message from the rooftops: "If you want to see more jobs created -- change patent laws. … One of the hidden job killers in our economy today is the explosion of patent litigation."

Cuban invokes the example of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) trying to spend $900 million on a defensive patent basket from the defunct Nortel, only to be outbid by a consortium that includes unlikely allies Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , for the entirely unreasonable sum of $4.5 billion. "That is money that for could have gone to job creation," he says. Instead, it goes toward building "mutually assured destruction" systems of patent threats against anyone insolent enough to one another.

And that is just one small example of a huge and growing trend. Patent trolls have always been around, but a growing corpus of successful litigation campaigns based on random patent collections has only inflated the threat they pose.

It's easy money, you know? I think it's made worse by the fact that pure patent trolls can't be countersued because they don't actually make anything. So it's bulletproof little gunships versus the world's greatest innovators -- protected only by large handouts that make the accusers go away. And it's all based on our deficient patent system.

In Cuban's words: "These aren’t operating companies that are trying to protect their business. These are companies that aggregate patents and raise capital for the sole purpose of suing companies and extorting money from them."

And that's what sets the trolls apart from real businesses trying to advance the art and science of modern technology for something other than lining the pockets of its backers. Some technologies go to work; others just lawyer up.

Examples of trolldom
I realize I'm walking a fine line together with Cuban here. Universal Display (Nasdaq: PANL ) , for example, builds its business on a collection of patents -- some developed in-house, others acquired, and a few relicensed from places like Princeton University. The company depends on royalties and license agreements from Samsung and LG Display for its livelihood. But the company is spending lots of money on further research, works hard to commercialize its OLED technologies, and rarely goes to the courtroom.

That crosses Universal Display off my troll list. The company isn't just collecting patents to go after lucrative licensing deals or settlements -- Universal Display is actively doing something with the technology.

Then there's the gray area. VirnetX Holding (AMEX: VHC ) claims to have essential patents for 4G wireless network security and is not shy about asserting that claim in court filings. The company can't seem to be awarded a fresh patent without throwing it into a new or existing lawsuit.

With about a dozen full-time employees (I'm not sure whether that headcount includes its eight named executive officers) and a research budget of about $2 million a year, VirnetX doesn't strike me as a likely factory of technology with real-world value. If that tech really is a vital part of every 4G network, then how come it received no domestic revenue before Microsoft was forced to license it?

Sure, the company gained a $200 million licensing deal with Microsoft last year, shooting the stock right into the stratosphere. But I can't be alone in doubting VirnetX's earnings power: What once was a six-bagger and more has collapsed this summer to a mere double and change after a 60% haircut.

Can we call VirnetX a troll? With minimal R&D efforts, ginormous legal efforts, and little evidence of license negotiations not involving a judge, I think that's fair.

Watch out!
Everyone's a target: Apple received a software lawsuit itself this week, based on booting its Mac OS X systems too quickly. Apparently, there's a patent covering boot-optimization techniques. Everyone is ganging up on Google, including not only Cupertino and Redmond but also enterprise-software giant Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL ) . If Larry Ellison has his way, the Android operating system could be declared illegal for infringing on Java patents he bought (yep) along with Sun Microsystems.

Unlike its attackers, Google hasn't built up a large cache of counterstrike patents. Big G did buy about 1,000 patents off IBM last week, but that's hardly enough for a nuclear counter-attack. InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) now looks like a likely takeout target -- or should I say "human shield"?

Google calls this "a hostile, organized campaign against Android." And it's easy to do, because "a smartphone might involve as many as 250,000 (largely questionable) patent claims," says Google attorney David Drummond. I think Cuban would agree with the "questionable" part of that claim.

What can we do?
This can't be good for business, American or otherwise. Cuban says that legal worries and court costs are keeping him from creating jobs, and that the problem is probably worse in bigger companies.

As Cuban says, this is a big problem for small companies but "horrific" for big ones. Would a dramatic patent overhaul make a difference to the high-tech job market, as Cuban claims, or would Google and Apple just end up sitting on even bigger piles of dormant cash without these nuisance lawsuits? Discuss in the comments section below

[Nonbroker]

Working Capital: Why Ottawa’s Wi-LAN and Mosaid could be in play
Patent licensing firms potential targets following sale of Nortel intellectual property

By Bert Hill, The Ottawa Citizen August 9, 2011

Between them, Mosaid Technologies and Wi-LAN control more than 4,000 patents, many of them in the valuable wireless segment.

This could make them potential takeover targets when stock markets regain their footing.

Wi-LAN chief executive officer Jim Skippen recently told analysts he is ready to consider all options, including a potential sale of the company. “The giants are fighting over patents of which we own a lot,” he said.

It was the breathtaking $4.5 billion Nortel patent auction which changed the game. Apple put up 60 per cent of the funding for the winning consortium including Ericsson, Research in Motion, Sony and EMC.

They succeeded in stopping Google, the search giant which is pushing into wireless with its Android operating system, from capturing the Nortel patents. The auction result also frustrated chip giant Intel which had teamed with Google in the bidding.

Wi-LAN’s Skippen told analysts he was elated that the Nortel auction deal “turned a very bright spotlight on our sector” and the value of wireless patents. Of the 1,400 Wi-LAN patents, more than 1,000 are wireless and half are in the high-demand fourth-generation LTE wireless segment. he said.

At the very least, he said his company will raise the licence rates it charges to reflect the new higher values. “The value we have is now going to be recognized.”

More to the point, he said the huge valuations “certainly makes us wonder if other opportunities” should be considered like merger and acquisition action to maximize the company’s value. He noted that when InterDigital, a Pennsylvania patent licensing company, put itself up for sale following the Nortel sale, the value of the stock doubled overnight.

InterDigital holds more than 8,000 patents, which puts it well ahead of Wi-LAN. It had sales in the June quarter that were 70 per cent higher than Wi-LAN but its market capitalization — the value of all its stock — was almost triple that of Wi-LAN’s $1.1 billion.
Mosaid declined comment because it is the quiet period prior to the release of quarterly results.

Mosaid has many more patents than Wi-LAN, but most are still focused in the memory chip industry. Wi-LAN shares had more than doubled in the last year even with the decline last week over global economic worries.

The patent war has broken out because they are the armament of the technology industry — the vital force that drives innovation and protects assets that can’t be measured or tracked easily as in other industries.

Google, despite its technology edge and soaring revenues, has relatively few patents because it is a newer company. It can keep ahead of the competition based on its innovation edge. But that won’t stop competitors from demanding a long line of patent licensing deals based on the sale of each device. At the worst, a successful patent infringement case could create the kind of doomsday situation that Research in Motion faced in the past — the threat of a court injunction barring the sale of critical products.

Competitors are worried about Google with good reason. In the June quarter, Android-powered handsets made by Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others took 40 per cent of the U.S. smartphone market, according to Comscore, a gain of 5.4 percentage points from March.

Apple’s market share rose just 1.1 per cent to reach 26.6 per cent while Research in Motion and Microsoft’s shares declined.

Without the patents, Google is prey to more patent infringement lawsuits. With the Nortel patents, Google could have countered the litigation with cross-licensing deals at considerably less cost or risk that a court might issue an injunction barring sale of some products.

Google is fighting on several fronts. It bought more than 1,000 patents from IBM in a variety of fields. It is reportedly one of several companies, including Apple and Samsung, which are bidding for the InterDigital patents.

The conflict has turn to a war of words — an unusual development for an industry that fights in the market place but uses only the most carefully crafted words in public communications.

Google chief legal officer David Drummond said last week “Android’s success has yielded something else: a hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, and other companies, waged through bogus patents.” Google has been sued directly by Oracle while Microsoft is attacking Android users. “Patents were meant to encourage innovation,” Drummond said, “but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it.”

Microsoft denied that it ganged up against Google in concert with Microsoft, Apple and Oracle to buy Novell patents last year. It said Google was offered a chance to join the bidding group but chose not to.

“I have worked in the tech sector for over two decades,” Drummond said. “Microsoft and Apple have always been at each other’s throats, so when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what’s going on.”

He said Google and its smartphone partners could face up to 250,000 “largely questionable” patent claims, which serve as a “tax” on the devices.

“Instead of competing by building new features or devices, they are fighting through litigation,” Drummond says.

Contact Bert Hill at [e-mail]

©

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Working+Capital+Ottawa…

[Nonbroker]

Apple und Samsung sind beide stark an Interdigitalpatenten interessiert.
Auch in den USA hat Apple bereits Klage gegen Samsung eingereicht.

Apple vs. Samsung: Gericht untersagt Galaxy-Tab-Verkauf in Europa Update

Apple hat seinem Wettbewerber Samsung den Vertrieb des Android-Tablets Galaxy Tab 10.1 in der Europäischen Union untersagen lassen. Vor dem Landgericht Düsseldorf erwirkte der US-Konzern eine Einstweilige Verfügung gegen den südkoreanischen Hersteller. Das erfuhr die Nachrichtenagentur dpa aus Verhandlungskreisen. Apple wirft Samsung vor, mit dem Galaxy Tab sein iPad zu kopieren und Schutzrechte zu verletzen. Samsung nutze dabei den Ruf des iPads aus, bei dem es sich "um ein sehr bekanntes Produkt mit Kultstatus" handele.

Die Verfügung richtet sich gegen die Samsung Electronics GmbH in Schwalbach sowie die Muttergesellschaft in Südkorea. Der Vertriebsstopp betrifft die gesamte Europäische Union bis auf die Niederlande. Apple hatte ein Ordnungsgeld von 250.000 Euro oder eine Ordnungshaft bis zu insgesamt zwei Jahren beantragt, sollte Samsung der Verfügung nicht entsprechen.

Apple und Samsung streiten auf mehreren Ebenen um das Design ihrer Smartphones und Tablets. Die Internationale Handelskommission (ITC) der USA hatte in der vergangenen Woche nach einer Beschwerde von Apple eine Untersuchung gegen Samsung eingeleitet. Die Prüfung in den USA erstreckt sich sowohl auf Smartphones als auch auf Tablet-Computer. Vor dem Landgericht in Düsseldorf ging es hingegen nur um die Tablet-Computer iPad und Galaxy Tab. Apple will über die ITC die Importe der Samsung-Geräte in die USA blockieren.


Der Streit zwischen den beiden Herstellern eskalierte im April, als Apple in den USA eine Klage gegen Samsung einreichte. Das koreanische Unternehmen reagierte mit einer Gegenklage, inzwischen streiten sie vor verschiedenen Instanzen in mehreren Ländern. Bereits im März hatte Apple auch den taiwanischen Hersteller HTC mit dem Vorwurf von Patentverletzungen verklagt.

[Update]:
Mittlerweile nahm Samsung zu der einstweiligen Verfügung Stellung, die ohne Anhörung von Samsung erging, wie dies in Eilverfahren oft der Fall ist. Natürlich zeigt sich der koreanische Konzern von der Entscheidung enttäuscht und kündigt an, man werde sofort reagieren, um das eigene geistige Eigentum auch in diesem Verfahren zu schützen. "Wir werden alle notwendigen Maßnahmen ergreifen, um sicherzustellen, dass Samsungs innovativen mobilen Kommunikationsgeräte für Kunden in Europa und der ganzen Welt erhältlich sind", erklärte Kim Titus, Pressesprecher von Samsung, gegenüber Slashgear. (mit Material von dpa) / (lbe)

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Apple-vs-Samsung-Geri…

[sdaktien]

IDCC hat sich ja erstaunlich gut gehalten, während alles andere im freien Fall war. Aber ich denke mal, so lang der Markt insgesamt fällt wird es auch für Inter Digital schwer zuzulegen. Andererseits ändert sich der Wert der Patente ja nicht, bedeutet, wenn die Aktie sinkt, kommt man billiger an das Unternehmen.
Bleibt die Frage, wann kommt der erste aus seinem Erdloch, und bietet?
Das könnte eine Weile dauern, denn aufgrund der mutmaßlich schwierigen wirtschaftlichen Situation in den USA könnten Google, Apple & Co erstmal andere Probleme kriegen.

[cell1]

@Das könnte eine Weile dauern, denn aufgrund der mutmaßlich schwierigen wirtschaftlichen Situation in den USA könnten Google, Apple & Co erstmal andere Probleme kriegen.

UND LEER ausgehen, vor der nase wegschnappen

bei den Nortel-Patenten Versteigerung sah GOOG zu Anfang wie der Sieger aus.

[cell1]

Google Looks To Acquire InterDigital (IDCC)Published on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:34
By FNNO Staff in News corner, goog, IDCC, google, interdigital, nasdaq:goog, nasdaq:idcc
Fobes reported that Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is holding talks to acquire InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) and its 8,800 patents.

InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) has a potential upside of 13.2% based on a current price of $70.94 and an average consensus analyst price target of $80.33.

InterDigital is currently above its 50-day moving average (MA) of $49.02 and above its 200-day of $44.90.

In the last five trading sessions, the 50-day MA has climbed 3.21% while the 200-day MA has risen 1.29%.

InterDigital, Inc. develops technology for advanced digital wireless telecommunications applications. The Company offers both time division multiple access and wide band code division multiple access proprietary and standards compliant digital wireless technology to customers, licensees, and companies.

By FNNO Staff
[e-mail]

[cell1]

http://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/UPDATE-Google-Going…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.934.401 von cell1 am 11.08.11 01:03:38

Danke Cell1,stelle den Beitrag hier mal rein:


Investing|8/10/2011 @ 02:45PM |

Patent Wars Heat Up As Google Courts InterDigital
Trefis Team


With Google already having lost out on Nortel’s 6,000-strong patent portfolio, the company is entering yet another race to boost its intellectual property. [1] Google recently held talks about buying InterDigital, a U.S. wireless chip technology firm [2] that owns and licenses about 8,800 patents that are mainly focused on the mobile handset space. This makes it an attractive target for Google as well as Google’s competitors such as Apple, Microsoft, Research in Motion and EMC.

We currently hold a $596 price estimate for Google’s stock, which is around 5% ahead of the current market price.

InterDigital is Crucial for Google’s Lagging Patent Portfolio

The Android OS has swept across the global smartphone market, and Gartner projects its market share will reach around 50% by 2012. [3] However, the success has come at a price, mainly in the form of expensive patent lawsuits against Google. [4]

Although Google indicates that these lawsuits act as a threat to innovation, Google is really looking to acquire more patents to give itself for strategic fire power since it currently has just about 730 U.S. patents to its name compared to Apple’s 4,000 and Microsoft’s 18,000. [5] [6]

Given Android’s threat to other incumbent smartphone players such as Apple, RIM and Sony, it can bet that Google’s competitors will also want a crack at acquiring InterDigital’s patents — at the very least just to keep them out of Google’s hands — much like the consortium did with Nortel. In its attempts to acquire more patents, Google needs to build a “moat” of its own patents to avoid these litigation battles in future.

Special Offer: Make big money this earnings season. Click here for editor Paul McWilliams’ “State of Tech Q3” report with buy-sell-hold recommendations on 65 tech stocks in Next Inning Technology Research.

What Does InterDigital Mean for Google’s Stock?

Consistent with our previous note on Google’s rivals scooping up Nortel, a weak patent portfolio could adversely impact profit margins for Google. The margin decline could mainly happen due to higher licensing fees and royalty based costs for patents that Android uses but does not own. Additionally, expensive patent lawsuits would only serve to distract the company from its daily operations and can hamper Google’s innovation-led practices and product development

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2011/08/10/pat…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.936.857 von Nonbroker am 11.08.11 13:00:10

Vielleich auch noch einmal den Ursprungs-Link:

http://www.benzinga.com/news/11/08/1848920/update-google-goi…

[Nonbroker]

Aufgrund dieser Meldung von gestern hält sich im Amiland hartnäckig das Gerücht, es habe etwas mit IDCC zu tun. Als Termin wird entweder 8 oder 11.30 Uhr genannt.

Official: Major announcement from HTC scheduled for tomorrow morningPosted by Nick Gray on August 10, 2011 at 4:47 pm in HTC Kingdom, HTC Piccini, HTC Vigor

HTC’s Peter Chou will be making a major announcement tomorrow morning. While we typically are excited about these sorts of events, we’re a bit more concerned than excited. HTC hold press events on a regular basis which are typically announced a week or two in advanced. This time around, HTC’s PR team sent out details about the announcement a little more than 24 hours before it takes place and rather than it being a press event, HTC’s Peter Chou will make the big announcement via teleconference.

http://htcsource.com/2011/08/official-major-announcement-fro…

[Nonbroker]

Sorry,
hatte nur die Hälfte hereingesetzt, zum Glück aber auch den Link.

Official: Major announcement from HTC scheduled for tomorrow morning
Posted by Nick Gray on August 10, 2011 at 4:47 pm in HTC Kingdom, HTC Piccini, HTC Vigor

HTC’s Peter Chou will be making a major announcement tomorrow morning. While we typically are excited about these sorts of events, we’re a bit more concerned than excited. HTC hold press events on a regular basis which are typically announced a week or two in advanced. This time around, HTC’s PR team sent out details about the announcement a little more than 24 hours before it takes place and rather than it being a press event, HTC’s Peter Chou will make the big announcement via teleconference.


This leads us to believe that HTC will not be unveiling a new product, but may actually be announcing a change within the company, a management shakeup, or even more details about HTC’s and Apple’s patent disputes that have been grabbing a lot of attention lately. The HTC Kingdom (HTC Hero 4G), HTC Vigor, and HTC Puccini are the next major products expected to be unveiled by HTC, but we’d expect those product announcements to come from U.S. carriers and not a teleconference from HTC. Peter Chou will be on the phone tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. PT. We’ll be listening to hear what the big announcement is all about and we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

[Nonbroker]

August 11, 2011
GOOGLE CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR PATENT PORTFOLIO GROWTH
Scott Nyman


A couple articles back, I covered Google’s recent purchase of over 1,000 patents from a fellow technology leader, IBM. It appears now that Google has tasted patent portfolio expansion, it wants more. Google is now looking to scoop up InterDigital, a technology company that “develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide.” Of course, it doesn’t hurt that an acquisition of InterDigital will come with almost 9,000 owned and licensed patents, most of which relate to mobile computing.

And, as an added bonus, Google would be purchasing a company that most likely includes some pretty talented engineers with expertise in the mobile space.

However, Google still has some catching up to do before it can boast a portfolio as robust as its competitors Microsoft and Apple. Google lost out on its bit to acquire the Nortel portfolio, which included around 6,000 patents auctioned off to the “other guys.” However, if Google does acquire the InterDigital portfolio, and the company, the Big G may jump Apple sooner than later.

Rising above Microsoft’s portfolio is a different matter altogether. Microsoft is the proud owner of over 18,000 patents. In fact, Microsoft was granted 53 U.S. patents just yesterday! To put that in perspective, that’s about the same number of patents collectively owned between 53 garage inventors.

Assuming Google adds the InterDigital patents to its already growing portfolio, the search giant may find a little more security defending against the recent barrage patent infringement litigation. However, I do not believe Google is anywhere near finished packing its library full of patents. Who will be next? My (arbitrary) guess is Real Networks.



Read more:

Forbes

LatestPatents

Bloomberg Businessweek


The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based on advertising alone. A party that may access the content included with this weblog should understand that no attorney client relationship has been established by said access. This weblog is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you require legal advice, you should speak with an attorney that may conduct a fact-specific analysis of your particular issues. All copyrights are reserved by TacticalP and Zies Widerman & Malek, unless otherwise expressly noted.
Tags: apple, google, ibm, InterDigital, microsoft, patent, portfolio
Filed under: patent
Scott Nyman @ 7:55 am


http://tacticalip.com/

[cell1]

wann MEZ die Entscheidung James Brown

[cell1]

Was ist los ? fällt stark

[cell1]

minus 5 $ Shortattacke

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.939.579 von cell1 am 11.08.11 19:30:11

jetzt 3 $ rauf schei... Shortattacke

[MexxSuccess]

Heftige Bewegungen bei nervösem Umfeld, vielleicht sind's einfach nur
ein paar Gewinnmitnahmen nach ordentlichem Anstieg. Hatte auch schon
den Finger auf Verkaufknopf. Aber die Stabilität im Crash war doch sehr
beindruckend, so dass ich baw dabei bleibe.

[Nonbroker]

Da komme ich heim und sehe, daß IDCC zwischenzeitlich ganz schön abgestürzt ist. Die Übernahme durch HTC (+Google hat sich (noch)nicht bestätigt), allerdings tauchte das Gerücht auf, Apple habe einige Patente der 3G von IDCC als wertlos bezeichnet. Das führte zum Absturz. Man muß dazu wissen, Apple hat einen Lizenzvertrag mit IDCC u.a. über 3G Patente! Siehe die von mir am Anfang dieser Diskussion wiedergegebene Lizenzliste.

UPDATE: Apple and GTT Group Claim Some of InterDigital's Patents are Worthless

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:39:53 +0000


Hearing chatter that GTT Group's associates and an Apple executive have been having discussions regarding InterDigital. Rumors state that InterDigital's patents apart from its 3G technology patent are "worthless." According to rumors, the valuation is based on hyperbole and not representative of the company's operations. They also claim that press releases hype up the company to an unrealistic level.

This article may include mentions of rumors, chatter, or unconfirmed information. Readers should beware that while unconfirmed information may be correlated with increased volatility in securities, price movements based on unofficial information may change quickly based on increased speculation, clarification, or release of official news.

(c) 2011 Benzinga.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published in its entirety or redistributed without the approval of Benzinga.

UPDATE: Apple and GTT Group Claim Some of InterDigital's Patents are Worthless
Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:39:53 +0000

[Nonbroker]

Vielleicht zum Schluß noch ein Link zu dem sehr engagierten Boardteilnehmer "postyle", der mit RTT-Group telefonierte, diese wissen nichts von der Behauptung!

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[cell1]

Bloomberg Video auf youtube zum runterladen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t2e5_jGcGU

[cell1]

@allerdings tauchte das Gerücht auf, Apple habe einige Patente der 3G von IDCC als wertlos bezeichnet

Apple läßt VHC - Patente noch mal prüfen, deshalb der Absturz von VHC vor ein paar Tagen.

[cell1]

@allerdings tauchte das Gerücht auf, Apple habe einige Patente der 3G von IDCC als wertlos bezeichnet

Apple läßt VHC-Patente prüfen, deshalb der Absturz von VHC vor ein paar Tagen.

[Nonbroker]

Etwas zur Beruhigung: GTT Group hat öffentlich Stellung zu dem vorgenannten Gerücht genommen.

Global Technology Transfer Group (GTT Group) Named Improperly In Rumor About InterDigital

Early this morning Global Technology Transfer Group (GTT Group) was mentioned in an unsubstantiated rumor concerning InterDigital patent valuation.
This report is completely false and the publications have agreed to revise their reports accordingly. GTT Group does not publicly comment on patent portfolio valuations, clients or engagements. GTT Group policy holds client business, information, and discussions strictly confidential. Portland, OR (PRWEB) August 11, 2011

About Global Technology Transfer Group, Inc.
Global Technology Transfer Group, Inc. is a patent transaction advisory and consulting firm, which combines core competencies in patent valuation with its global network to deliver unparalleled results. GTT Group’s patent asset services include Brokerage & Transaction Advisory, Acquisition, Valuation, Licensing Support, Wireless Related Standards Review, Research & Strategic Analysis. The company’s corporate headquarters are in Portland, Oregon, with representation in North America, Asia, and Europe.

For more information, visit GTT Group online.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/GTT_Group_Patent/Rumor/prweb87…

[Nonbroker]

Ich will hier nicht als großer "pusher" der Aktie auftreten, auch ich kann mich irren. Was hier aber gestern in dem Artikel von Benzinga an Falschbehauptung aufgetreten ist, müsste strafrechtlich verfolgt werden. Ich glaube an die Aktie.
Was zu diesem Glauben führt, steht auf den zurückliegenden Seiten, es gibt natürlich noch mehr, z.B. die Insiderkäufe vom 28.07. 2011.


- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/2…

Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/20…


Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4) (28/07/20…



Charttechnisch befindet sich die Aktie wieder im aufsteigenden Kanal, bitte einige Seiten zurückblättern, hatte dort den Chart eingestellt (S. 11, Beitrag 102).

[Nonbroker]

Stelle gerade fest, daß die Links zu den Insiderkäufen nicht funktionieren: Neuer Link

http://de.advfn.com/p.php?pid=qkquote&symbol=nasdaq:idcc

Unter Interdigital News stehen die Links.

[Nonbroker]

M/PARTNERS von heute:

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_8_12.p…

[Nonbroker]

Nachdem sich das Gerücht, das gestern noch den Anstieg von IDCC unterbrochen hat, als falsch herausgestellt hat, kam der Anstieg dann heute. Die Neuigkeit, auf die wir alle warten, kam aber nicht. Gute Nacht

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt keine wirklichen Neuigkeiten an diesem Wochenende. Vielleicht noch zwei Sachen, die noch nicht gepostet wurden:

iPhone Patent Wars: Could it all End in a Truce?
By David Zielenziger

| August 12, 2011 3:21 PM EDT

Smartphone and tablet developers like Apple, Samsung Electronics, Google and HTC are in court daily suing each other over patents and intellectual property violations.

When they don't sue in courts, they complain to bodies such as the U.S. International Trade Commission or the European Community, which can levy fines, assess damages and bar foreign products from being sold.

At stake are burgeoning markets and new opportunities to hook consumers for the long run. Smartphone sales are expected to leap 62 percent this year to 478 million units, estimates IHS iSuppli, compared with a meager 13 percent growth for all mobile phones.

Growth for tablets, like Apple's iPad, HP's TouchPad, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy, is much faster --- about 300 percent to 69.5 million, Gartner estimates.

The usual practice in technology is that unit prices will decrease but manufacturers will make money on the volume.

Big money is at stake. In July, the so-called "Rockstar Bidco" group shelled out $4.5 billion for 6,000 wireless patents from defunct Nortel Networks of Canada. The members were Apple, Microsoft, Research in Motion, EMC, Sony and Ericsson, who outbid Google, Intel and RPX in a round that started at only $900 million.

In reaction, InterDigital, a King of Prussia, Pa., holder of 1,300 wireless patents, hired investment bankers to auction its IP on July 18. The company's market capitalization has soared 73 percent since, to around $3.4 billion.

That's one reason why 36 percent of all U.S. patent lawsuits filed in the U.S. this year by the Fortune 100 have been in the tech sector, along with an additional 11 percent for telecommunications, according to Ocean Tomo, the Chicago-based intellectual property investment bank.

"When you have hot products, the competitors all stand around in a circle and fire at each other," said Dan Scovel, of Tokeneke Research. "The only solution is an armistice."

That's what happened in the PC wars of the late 1980s and the 1990s, as the x86 microprocessor that fueled the explosion of PCs was fought over by co-developer Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. The two California semiconductor giants fought for years in every conceivable court and spent tens of millions on litigation.

Finally, they settled, on Nov. 12, 1999, Intel and AMD cross-licensed each other and dropped the case. The deal has held ever since, although Intel expressed concern when AMD, of Sunnyvale, Calif., sold its manufacturing lines and other assets to GlobalFoundries, a holding company controlled by Abu Dhabi interests.

But there may no truce this time, lawyers and bankers say, because the sector is so dynamic. As well, governments outside the U.S. are vigorously defending their intellectual property, especially in emerging markets.

"When a business is growing quickly, the market share gets very sensitive," said Michael Molano, a partner with Mayer Brown in its Silicon Valley practice. "If a company detects it's losing market share, the first thing management says is, 'I'm going to call my lawyer and tell him I want to see what patents have been infringed and I want you to start a war.' "

Tech companies with deep pockets, like an Apple, Google, Motorola Mobility or Samsung, can easily afford the $3 million average cost of a lawsuit, said S. Gregory Boyd, a patent lawyer with Davis & Gilbert in New York.

Boyd believes the chip precedent will ultimately prevail among the smartphone and tablet developers, with the possible exception of small "patent trolls" or entities whose sole purpose is to sue for patent rights.

"Peace is always better than war," Boyd said. Besides cross-licensing, settlements could include royalty payments or straight cash settlements, which allow the technology players to get back to work.

Ocean Tomo CEO James Malackowski is not so sure. Noting a surge in IP cases over the past 25 years, he said the "détente" or "mutual assured destruction" strategy of the chip wars may not hold in the new era.

"The big gladiators are still fighting each other," Malackowski said. "But there are new kids on the block. Asian manufacturers have nothing to lose by suing about IP."

Some of the biggest players, including Apple, no longer manufacture their own products, effectively entrusting their crown jewels to contract manufacturers, like a Foxconn in Taiwan and China, or HTC in Taiwan.That may be why it has filed suit against rival manufacturers but not yet against Google itself, whose Android OS runs on the rival products.

"Today the companies are fighting over a product that has consumer appeal," so each vendor wants to differentiate among products that often share similar technologies, the Ocean Tomo CEO said.

Malackowski, whose firm participated in the Nortel Networks auction, said "it doesn't take a rocket scientist" to see that the big vendors are also concerned their IP might migrate away from the U.S. to China but then to even less-developed venues like Africa.

While the U.S. International Trade Commission plans to evaluate claims by Apple that Samsung violated its patents, it's not likely to bar Samsung from U.S. markets. On the other hand, the European Union appears to have taken a tougher line.

This week, a German court issued a preliminary injunction barring Samsung from shipping its Galaxy tablets in most of Europe, accepting a complaint by Apple that it had "slavishly" copied its IP. Samsung on Friday announced it would appeal, at a hearing scheduled for Aug. 25.

In the U.S., Congress has been working on patent reform but generally maintains "a laissez-faire attitude," said Ocean Tomo's Malackowski. That could mean tougher sailing down the line.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/197141/20110812/patent-table…



Und ein zweiter, etwas älterer,aber nichts desto interessanter Artikel:

..Why Does Apple Need $76.2 Billion In Cash? In Part, For Patents

By Brian Caulfield | Forbes – Mon, Jul 25, 2011

....After Apple Chief Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, with its multi-touch interface, in 2007, he declared simply "and boy have we patented it." It turns out that wasn't enough to stop the rest of the industry from aping the iPhone's interface. So Apple might just have to try patenting the rest of the industry, too.

Apple can certainly afford to amass a huge wireless patent portfolio. As of the end of June, Apple had more than $76.2 billion in cash and short-term securities. It probably has more now. Where can it put some of that money to work next? On patents, UBS analyst Ben Reitzes win rote a note to investors Monday.

Earlier this month a judge approved a $4.5 billion bid by Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Research In Motion, and Sony for 6000 patents held by bankrupt Canadian telecommunications gear vendor Nortel.

In a note to investors Monday, Reitzes estimates Apple contributed $2.6 billion to the deal. Apple will likely use those patents to "create an impediment for Google and Android." At the very least, licensing fees could help offset Apple's settlement with Finnish handset vendor Nokia earlier this year.

Apple is likely hungry for more. Reitzes writes that other targets could include InterDigital, Eastmak Kodak -- which has outstanding patent suits against RIM and Apple. Kodak's patent trove alone could be worth "hundreds of millions," Reitzes figures.

That's a steep price for almost anyone, but mere pocket change for Apple.

http://news.yahoo.com/why-does-apple-76-2-billion-cash-part-…
..

[Nonbroker]

Aktuelle positive Bewertung von IDCC:

Let's See If InterDigital's Growth Is for Real
By Rex Moore August 14, 2011

IDCCInterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $75.72 $4.36 (6.11%)




InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) carries $134.1 million of goodwill and other intangibles on its balance sheet. Sometimes goodwill, especially when it's excessive, can foreshadow problems down the road. Could this be the case with InterDigital?

Before we answer that, let's look at what could go wrong.

AOL blows up
In early 2002, AOL Time Warner was trading for $66.27 per share. It had $209 billion of assets on its balance sheet, and $128 billion of that was in the form of goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is simply the difference between the price paid for a company during an acquisition and the net assets of the acquired company. The $128 billion of goodwill in this case was created when AOL and Time Warner merged in 2000.

The problem with inflating your net assets with goodwill is that it can -- being intangible, after all -- go away if the acquisition or merger doesn't create the amount of value that was expected. That's what happened in AOL Time Warner's case. It had to write off most of the goodwill over the next few months, and one year later that line item had shrunk to $37 billion. Investors punished the stock along the way, sending it down to $27.04 -- or nearly a 60% loss.

In his fine book It's Earnings That Count, Hewitt Heiserman explains the AOL situation and how two simple metrics can help minimize your risk of owning a company that may blow up like this. Let's see how InterDigital holds up using his two metrics.

Intangible assets ratio
This ratio shows us the percentage of total assets made up by goodwill and other intangibles. Heiserman says he views anything over 20% as worrisome, "because management might be overpaying for the acquisition or acquisitions that gave rise to the goodwill."

InterDigital has an intangible assets ratio of 13%.

This is well below Heiserman's threshold, and a sign that any growth you see with the company is probably organic. But we're not through; let's also take a look at tangible book value.

Tangible book value
Tangible book value is simply what remains after subtracting goodwill and other intangibles from shareholders' equity (also known as book value). If this is not a positive value, Heiserman advises you to run away because such companies may "lack the balance sheet muscle to protect themselves in a recession or from better-financed competitors."

InterDigital's tangible book value is $287.5 million, so no yellow flags here.

By the way, I asked Heiserman about the tendency for some large-cap blue chips -- names like Procter & Gamble, IBM, and Altria -- to have a high intangible assets ratio and negative tangible book value. He says this can be OK, provided the company has (1) modest or no net debt, (2) persistent and rising levels of free cash flow, and (3) stock buybacks at a discount to intrinsic value.

Foolish bottom line
To recap, here are InterDigital's numbers, as well as a bonus look at a few other companies benefiting from the mobile revolution. Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) offers the best comparison with InterDigital, as its model is also very dependent on royalties paid by companies licensing its intellectual property.

Company
Intangible Assets Ratio
Tangible Book Value (Millions)

InterDigital 13% $288
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU ) 27% ($3,704)
Qualcomm 18% $19,978
RF Micro Devices (Nasdaq: RFMD ) 17% $505

Data provided by Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.

InterDigital appears to be in good shape in terms of the intangible assets ratio and tangible book value. You can never base an entire investment thesis on one or two metrics, but there are no yellow flags here. If any companies you're researching do fail one of these checks, make sure you understand the business model and management's objectives. I'll help you keep a close eye on these ratios over the next few quarters by updating them soon after each earnings report.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/14/lets-see-if…

[sdaktien]

IDCC liegt auf Schlusskursbasis auf einem 52Wochen-Hoch (Nasdaq), das ist doch gar nicht schlecht. Falls es mal wirklich zu einem Rücksetzer gibt, wird es erst unter 60$ interessant. Ansonsten ist die Aufwärtsbewegung nicht mal ansatzweise angeknackst.

[cell1]

Absturz vorbörslich bei grpßen Umsätzen 240.000 Stück wiso ?

[cell1]

MMI Patente von Motorola gekauft von Google!!!

[Nonbroker]

Grund für den Absturz:

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility
Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences




Google Inc. and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. On Monday August 15, 2011, 7:30 am EDT

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG - News) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MMI - News) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.



The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.



Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”



Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”



Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”



The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.



Webcast Information



Google and Motorola Mobility will hold a conference call with financial analysts to discuss this announcement today at 8:30am ET. The toll-free dial-in number for the call is 877-616-4476 (conference ID: 92149124). The call will also be webcast live at http://investor.shareholder.com/media/eventdetail.cfm?eventi… The webcast version of the conference call will be available through the same link following the conference call.



About Google Inc.



Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.



About Motorola Mobility



Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.



Forward-Looking Statements



This press release includes 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. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Google, Motorola or management of either company “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “forecasts,” “estimates” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the proposed transaction, including its financial impact, and other statements of management’s beliefs, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on the results of operations and financial condition of the combined companies or the price of Google or Motorola stock. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed transaction and the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to consummation of the proposed transaction, including the ability to secure regulatory approvals at all or in a timely manner; the ability of Google to successfully integrate Motorola’s operations, product lines and technology; the ability of Google to implement its plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Motorola’s business after the completion of the transaction and realize additional opportunities for growth and innovation; and the other risks and important factors contained and identified in Google’s and Motorola's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), such as their respective Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Neither Google nor Motorola undertakes any obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.



Additional Information and Where to Find It



Motorola intends to file with the SEC a proxy statement in connection with the proposed transaction with Google. The definitive proxy statement will be sent or given to the stockholders of Motorola and will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. The proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Motorola with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website, at www.sec.gov. In addition, security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement from Motorola by contacting Investor Relations by mail at Attn: Investor Relations, 600 North U.S. Highway 45, Libertyville, IL 60048.



Participants in the Solicitation



Motorola and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Motorola stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Motorola’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 15, 2011, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on February 18, 2011. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and by mail at Attention: Investor Relations, 600 North U.S. Highway 45, Libertyville, IL 60048, or by going to Motorola’s Investor Relations page on its corporate website at http://investors.motorola.com. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the transaction will be included in the proxy statement that Motorola intends to file with the SEC.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Google-to-Acquire-Motorola-bw-…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.952.907 von cell1 am 15.08.11 15:03:33

Google to Buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311190339290457650…

[cell1]

Google brauch IDCC jetzt nicht und die anderen haben Patente.
Google hat mit Inter Digital gesprochen, als Druckmittel für Motorola!!!

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.953.076 von cell1 am 15.08.11 15:28:44

Wenn jetzt short Attacken kommen fängt die keiner auf. Wie vorher wo Google noch im Spiel war.

[cell1]

http://www.faz.net/artikel/S31163/google-gebot-fuer-motorola…

[Nonbroker]

Ich stelle hier mal einiges zur Information ein, ein Bild von der Lage muß sich selbst jeder machen.
Ich beobachte den US-Chart und kaufe bei dem Wert, den ich erhoffe, nach.

http://de.advfn.com/nachrichten/UPDATE-Google-Agrees-To-Buy-…


http://de.advfn.com/nachrichten/2nd-UPDATE-Google-Agrees-To-…


http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Google-uebernimmt-Mot…

http://www.faz.net/artikel/C30350/angriff-auf-apple-google-k…

[Nonbroker]

Neuer Artikel von Nuke John,der sehr auf meiner Linie liegt, ist aber meine persönliche Meinung:

Google Buys Motorola for $12.5 Billion: What Interdigital Is Now Worth
by: Nuke John August 15, 2011
about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, GOOG, MMI, MSFT, NOK, QCOM, RIMM, T, VZ

Google (GOOG) just announced that they are buying Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5 billion. They are obviously buying Motorola Mobility for their 4G IP. $12.5 billion is a hefty price to pay, but coming on the heels of the Nortel patent auction, this just goes to show the value of LTE/4G intellectual property, and starts to reveal the hidden value in Interdigital (IDCC).

As we all know, Apple (AAPL)/Microsoft (MSFT)/Research in Motion (RIMM) paid $4.5 billion for the Nortel patent portfolio and Nortel's portfolio is less than 20% of the IDCC's portfolio (with a lot less essential patents on 4G). If we know that IDCC's portfolio was 5 times bigger than Nortel's (and, in addition you got the talented engineering staff of IDCC as part of an acquisition), then IDCC's 4G portfolio alone should be worth 5 times $4.5 billion. If that were the case, IDCC would have a market cap of $22.5 billion right now or about $450/share. That's one comparison valuation, but for the time being, let's just forget that.

Let's look at the current value of IDCC's LTE/4G portfolio from another angle. Based on independent estimates that have been presented at least 3 times in recent IDCC presentations and conference calls, for each .1% royalty on LTE/4G handsets, the Net Present Value is $1.2 billion (see slide 11 of 19).

No one knows for sure what rate IDCC will ultimately get on LTE/4G, but the LTE standards from ETSI have incorporated numerous IDCC essential patents. One could easily make the case that IDCC's portfolio justifies a 2.5% royalty rate on LTE/4G (QCOM has published a FRAND rate of 3.25% and many experts believe IDCC's LTE/4G patent portfolio is bigger than QCOM's). This recent report by ZTE (a Chinese manufacturer who IDCC just filed suit against at the ITC) thinks that IDCC has 24% and QCOM has only 13% of the essential LTE patents … but you will see these numbers vary all over the place depending upon who did the analysis. But, one data point is the Chinese who think IDCC is number one in LTE/4G patents by a large margin.

(Für Wiedergabe des Charts bitte Link benutzen NB)


The chart above is only one view of the LTE/4G landscape. This article suggests IDCC has 21% of the LTE patents while Qualcomm has 19%. I have seen other articles that think QCOM leads with 21% and IDCC is second with 13%.

Just to be extremely conservative, let's just estimate that QCOM is #1 and IDCC is #2 and IDCC will have to settle for significantly less than QCOM's rate of 3.25% for LTE. Let's say IDCC licenses the industry at only 2%.

Based on the value of their LTE portfolio alone, IDCC should have a current market cap of $24 billion (NPV for each .1% is 1.2 billion) if they get a 2% royalty on LTE, yet their current market cap is only about $3.8 billion. In essence, if you just looked at the net present value of their LTE/4G IP portfolio alone, and ignored any value associated with their Wireless Convergence Technologies IP, their Machine to Machine (M2M) IP, their new digital compression technologies, their bandwidth aggregation technologies and their current 3G IP ... then IDCC should be selling right now for about $480/share ($24 billion/50 million shares). The fact that they are selling at a miniscule $76/share gives investors a unique opportunity.

Still not convinced? Okay, let’s work the future LTE revenues from another angle. In the past few months, we have seen all the major wireless providers announce their moves into LTE. It will take a few years, but soon everyone will want LTE phones to take advantage of the higher speed LTE networks. I have seen projections of 180 billion dollars per year in LTE handsets in four years. What rate will IDCC get on those phones? If QCOM is getting 3.25%, I think IDCC should pursue 3% and should get at least 2.5%.

However, if you think a 2.5% royalty is too high, then let's once again be extremely conservative and project that IDCC only gets 2% on LTE/4G. If the market size is $180 billion annually (as has been stated), that's over $3.6 billion dollars in royalties from the handset market alone. With only 50 million shares outstanding, that is $72/share in earnings (pretax) and about $45/share (post tax) (remember there are really no "COGS" for IP companies once the patents are issued). Keep in mind we are only talking about royalties from the handset market and not the Wireless Consumer Electronics market (Tablets) or the Wireless Convergence Technologies and other Network of Network technologies that I believe the carriers [AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), etc.] will have to license in order to solve the bandwidth crunch they are already facing. Those royalties could easily add another $20-30/share annually to earnings. Also, this does not include any upside from the Machine to Machine (M2M) market where IDCC has a virtual lock due to their head start. This new M2M market is just starting to ramp and will be growing in leaps and bounds ... and the standard is based on IDCC IP.

As you know by now, I think a little out of the box. What if, instead of a buyout, IDCC is using the threat of a buyout to get the rest of the industry to license their IP at reasonable rates [i.e. Qualcomm (QCOM) type rates ... or at least 65-75% of QCOM rates]. If that happens, I think >$400/share is achievable in the short term.

What if Apple and Nokia/Microsoft signed 5-7 years licenses on 3G and 4G at rates of 1% and 2.5% respectively? Would Apple and Nokia (NOK)/Microsoft do that to keep IDCC from selling the company (or their patents) to Google? It's a helluva lot cheaper than buying them for $12-15 billion. I wonder what 1 billion in annual revenue (~$500 Million from Apple and $500 Million from Nokia/Microsoft) would do IDCC's stock price? That's an additional $13/share in annual earnings after taxes, and there would still be another 65% of the industry that would need licenses on 4G. The Apple/Nokia rate on 3G and 4G would become the minimum rate to license IDCC's IP. All the rest of the industry (including Samsung) would still need to sign licenses for IDCC's 4G IP. In addition, there are numerous other handset manufacturers that aren't even licensed now for 3G. Could this "bidding war" be a way to get the industry to finally pay competitive rates to little Interdigital? If not ... and they do decide to go ahead and sell the company ... then so be it. I'll be very surprised if it goes for < $250/share.

If IDCC only signed Apple and Nokia/Microsoft to 3G and 4G licenses, their annual earnings would immediately jump to the range of $15/share +/- $3 (assuming 1% on 3G and 2.5% on 4G). IDCC would still have another 60-65% of the market to license for 4G. As a point of reference, QCOM currently has a PE of 21, so if IDCC earned $15/share, the stock price should jump to in excess of $300.

For anyone who is skeptical, run the numbers yourselves. Take a look at slide 13 (of 19) in this presentation, and put a 1.0% royalty on 3G and a 2.5% royalty on 4G for handsets. Be conservative and start at 1.0% for 3G and gradually increase the percentage as more and more phones became multimode, IDCC would be getting a blended rate moving toward 2.5%. At some point (5-7 years down the road), the majority of phones will be both 3G and 4G capable. IDCC may elect to give licensees a special deal on multimode phones. For example, instead of charging 1.0% + 2.5% = 3.5%, they may give them a multimode deal at 3% (that's still cheaper than QCOM).

While you're looking at slide 13 ... imagine if IDCC licenses a small part of the data services market. We already know that have a lock on the M2M market and they will be getting paid on the wireless consumer electronics market (ala Acer). One of these days the analysts will start to see the true value of Interdigital ... but in the meantime ... everybody keep quiet and don't tell them.

IDCC has been working on the bandwidth crunch issue for several years. They have technologies that are on the cutting edge for solving the bandwidth crunch that carriers are already facing. If you have ever been in New York City or San Francisco and have had your calls dropped or your downloads interrupted, then you know what I am talking about. Now you know why AT&T and Verizon need to also license IDCC's IP. It's just a matter of time before we see companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint signing deals with IDCC. A license with a major carrier (domestic or international) will immediately propel IDCC to > $150/share. This is the market Bill Merritt (IDCC CEO) has spoken of that is 5-7 times larger than the $180 billion dollar handset market.

I reviewed the Feb 2010 conference call recently (courtesy of Seeking Alpha) and these questions jumped out at me (highlights mine). Stop and run a calculator on Bill Merritt's comments about this 1 Trillion dollar market. Even at .2% ... it's a huge number, and most analysts have not taken this into consideration as they have valued IDCC. I have no idea what royalty rate IDCC might capture on the Carrier market (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.) ... but make no mistake, everyone will need IDCC's IP to solve the bandwidth crunch. Once one carrier (operator) signs ... they will all be forced to sign to keep up with the competition.

Excerpts ...

Tom Carpenter - Hilliard Lyons

I wanted to follow up with your comments about the bigger pipes, more pipes and better pipes. Historically 99% of the licenses have been with handset manufactures, you have got 2 M2Ms, is the bigger push going forward going to be with handset manufacturers, infrastructure or the carriers or some combination of the above, may be kind of give us some more insight into how you see that business model, specifically the revenue stream changing over the next couple of years?
Scott McQuilkin IDCC (Note I think the transcript may be incorrect and the speaker was actually Bill Merritt IDCC's CEO)

Sure, the idea is to actually create top technologies that would map across all of those markets or at least more than one of those markets right, so we get reuse of technology. Certainly that occurs with respect to the basic wireless technology, because not only does that appear in terminal units but it appears in infrastructure that is utilized by operators and it’s also now appearing in consumer electronics and other such devices. So that’s a core part of the program that will continue and have applicability across all those markets.
But we are looking at other technologies as well. An example would the compression technology. Compression technology is very important in the wireless space, because there’s a need to create the smallest packet carrying the most amount of data across that network, but compression technologies also pop up in many other devices, as you know, some of the non-wireless. So again the idea is to try to create technologies that has very significant volume flow in the market.

As far as how we would go to market with these additional technologies, that is still -- I think we have a number of opportunities there, certainly with respect to some of the technologies that can be a direct licensing strategy for example with the infrastructure side of the business. I think there are other opportunities though with respect to some software solutions like MIH and other things where the better play may be directly up to the operator, because you are providing substantial either cost reduction or operational efficiency to them, and you know a lot of times, the person who delivered value too is going to pay with the highest value back, and so we have to think about where that technology is creating the best of the highest level benefit, and so that’s being worked at the current time. The idea at the end of the day of course is to move from participation in this $150 billion market into a market that is five or seven times bigger than that. And if we can do that successfully, I think it becomes very, very significant growth story for the company.

Even though IDCC has climbed to $76/share, it is still grossly undervalued. Where else can you buy a dividend bearing stock that has the growth prospects of IDCC? In less than a year, IDCC could easily be >$400/share and all it takes is a few 4G licenses at a 2% rate (Apple, Nokia, LG) and a license with a major carrier (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.) to open the floodgates. I am not talking about a buyout price from Google or Apple, I am talking about a fair value based on earnings when they monetize their IP.

Here are a few of the technologies that I think we will soon start seeing licensed by carriers (operators as Bill referred to them).

Do your own due diligence. I suggest you read the transcripts of the last eight conference calls and start playing with the royalty numbers and the possible rates and see for yourself what the upside potential is for this company. Be conservative and use 1% for 3G and 2.0 -2.5% for 4G and see what you get?

One other area that IDCC has a complete leg up on the competition is carrier aggregation. If you are interested in understanding the hidden potential of IDCC, I highly recommend you read and study these two posts by two all star posters. When you understand the significance of what this technology really means, you will start to see how undervalued IDCC really is.

Now do you see why I think IDCC would be fairly valued at ~$400? Yes, it may take a year or two to get there, but eventually it could far exceed that number (unless someone buys it now for $200 - 300). I could easily foresee a day when IDCC has earnings of over $100/share (of course long before we get there, we will have numerous stock splits along the way).

Disclosure: I am long IDCC.


http://seekingalpha.com/article/287408-google-buys-motorola-…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Shares Plunged: What You Need to Know
By Cindy Johnson
| August 15, 2011
IDCCInterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $63.13 $-12.59 (-16.63%)

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) dropped 23% in intraday trading today after news that Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) had agreed to acquire Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) dampened hopes that Google might buy InterDigital.

So what: InterDigital has had three large pops in the past six weeks. It began with a 17% pop on July 1, as investors reassessed the value of InterDigital's patent portfolio based on strong bids for Nortel's patent portfolio. On July 19, the stock popped nearly 30% on news that InterDigital's board had initiated a "strategic review" that could result in a sale of the company. The following day it popped another 19% on news reports that Google was interested in bidding on InterDigital.

Now what: InterDigital's patent portfolio is rich in intellectual property in the hot wireless communications sector. Google bid on Nortel's patent portfolio but lost out to a consortium that paid $4.5 billion and included Apple, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Sony, EMC, and Ericsson. While Motorola Mobility's patents may lessen Google's interest in InterDigital, other consortium members -- along with InterDigital licensees such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and HTC -- are potential buyers of InterDigital.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/15/interdigita…

[Nonbroker]

War ein aufregender Tag heute! Ich habe zwar auch Verlust gemacht, diesen aber geschmälert durch einen Nachkauf bei $59,34 heute.
Der Kauf von Motorola durch Google wurde sogar in den Nachrichten im Ersten bei uns gebracht. Das hat zu einer starken Verunsicherung und zu einem Kursrückgang bei IDCC geführt.
Viele Kommentatoren haben allerdings gesagt: kein Grund zur Panik. So ist auch die Stimmung in den amerikanischen Boards. Alles natürlich meine Interpretation!

Bloomberg: IDCC hat heute 20% verloren, eine Menge von Firmen suchen aber nach einer Möglichkeit, ihren Cash konstruktiv anzulegen, IDCC ist eine sinnvolle Übernahme!

CNBC Video: Jim Malackowski (Ocean Tomo) commenting on IDCC.

"The focus is now doubled. The focus is now not only on the patents that companies own ...also the cross-licensing arrangements in place...

We look at it as a 3-legged stool. You need to have the handsets, you need to have the operating system, and you need to have the wireless protocol. The deal today was a focus on handsets and operating systems. The wireless protocol was a deal focus of the Nortel portfolio a few weeks ago. So look to see who fills in that third piece of the puzzle for either Google or others in the market...

InterDigital is a company that we have been talking about with our clients for some time because we believe that their wireless protocols are very strong... Most people don't have the three-dimensional perspective... they are looking at the operating system and the handset and they are not focused on the fact that the wireless protocol is a critical piece of the puzzle. We think it (IDCC) is still an important asset...

I don't think today's action was the end of the story --I think there is other M&A activity to come. We're a big believer in the InterDigital Portfolio...

I can tell you it's (IDCC) a third leg in the triangle, I think Google would benefit from an acquisition (of IDCC) but there are others in the space that are going to be looking at it -- obviously -- as reflected in the recent run up (of IDCC's stock price). "

Here is the link to the video: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000039432

[Nonbroker]

Die News überschlagen sich natürlich heute:

Google's Motorola Gamble: A Risky GambitBy Anders Bylund
August 15, 2011

And if I catch it coming back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do
-- "Seven Nation Army," by The White Stripes

So Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) just decided to jump into mobility with both feet. Buying Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) at a 63% premium to recent share prices puts a $12.5 billion price tag on that decision.

This is Google's biggest deal ever, by quite a large margin. Google also has reason to make it happen: Motorola gets a $2.5 billion breakup fee if the deal falls apart. But with $13.1 billion in operating cash flows over the last year, Google can easily repair any damage to its balance sheet.

Why now?
Why is Big G suddenly so willing to pay big bucks for a smartphone specialist?

•Motorola Mobility's cache of 17,000 patents (and 7,000 more pending) in various niches of mobile communications looks like a tremendous weapon in the escalating patent wars. "Nuke us and we'll fire right back."
•Critics of Google's Android efforts often point out that Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) makes money from its hardware, but Google doesn't. This deal changes that equation.
•Buying InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) would be an obvious patent play, perhaps running into regulatory issues for that very reason. The Motorola deal adds significant new business operations to Google, creating an end-around play to get past the critics.
•HTC and Samsung's mobile divisions would come with all the complications of billion-dollar buyouts across borders and oceans. Motorola is a much simpler option.
•All that cash was burning a hole in Google's pocket, and Larry Page felt obliged to spend it. Nah, just kidding.
If approved, this buyout makes some fundamental changes to the Android ecosystem. Though Google promises time and again that the flourishing partner system will stay intact, Google becomes a direct competitor to its handset partners. On the other hand, the company also gets a whole new level of skin in the mobile game and thus lots more incentive to fight for Android's rights (to paaaaarty).

That second point sets this apart from Cisco Systems' (Nasdaq: CSCO ) ill-fated decision to trample on its reseller partners' toes with an in-house line of server computers. Mountain View ameliorates that potentially fatal mistake by reassuring its slighted sidekicks that big-money assistance in courts and sales channels will keep coming for many years ahead. Cisco did nothing of the sort.

United front
The other Android guys are buying Google's rhetoric so far. "We welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners," says LG CEO Jong-Seok Park. "I welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners," says Sony-Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg. Does that sound rehearsed to you? Yep, there's a party line.

Will this united front last? That will depend on how well Google walks the walk. If Motorola phones suddenly get superior access to new Android technologies and marketing materials, we could have a mutiny on our hands. And if not, critics will rightly question the value of this $12.5 billion acquisition.

Google has to walk a very fine line here.

Intricate affairs
The deal is, of course, a bit more complex than a simple patent-portfolio play with a $656 million side of trailing operating cash flows. Besides smartphones, Motorola Mobility is also a giant in set-top boxes for cable providers, giving the Android-based Google TV platform a second wind. Nope, that division did not stay with Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI ) in last year's much-covered Mobility spinoff. One has to wonder if the seeds were sown for today's news at that point, or if Google had a say in exactly which assets Motorola moved out.

Furthermore, if this deal attracts antitrust scrutiny as some observers expect, Google could turn the spotlight back on Apple, Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) , and others, because those guys don't allow anyone else to take a ride on their software platforms. How could you accuse a handset-making Google of a monopoly without giving iPhones and BlackBerrys the same treatment?

The bottom line
Google is taking financial, regulatory, and partnership risks with this deal. In return, the company could reap benefits in exactly those areas along with diversifying into new offline operations. Investors are somewhat skeptical of the payoff -- share prices are falling by a couple of percent on a generally upbeat market day.

To me, this is a litmus test of Google under old-is-new-again CEO Larry Page. Handled correctly, this looks like a terrific deal that could pay for itself in a few years' time while also reinforcing Android's long-term viability.

A fumble, however, could essentially kill Android. Samsung might scurry back to its Bada platform, HTC could flee to Windows Phone 7, and then Gootorola would become an ironically faithful copy of the fiercely independent iPhone model.

We shall see. I remain a Google shareholder, because Page must be acutely aware of this tremendous test -- and in that case, I like Google's odds. I'd have to revisit this conclusion if the reformed Motorola Mobility starts lashing out at its brothers-in-arms.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/15/googles-mot…

[Nonbroker]

Beitrag in der "Welt" online: Und eine gute Nacht
Autor: Thomas Heuzeroth19:35

Google baut sich seine Smartphones künftig selbst

Die Mobilfunk-Patente von Motorola sind Google mehr als 12 Milliarden Dollar wert. Doch der Konzern begibt sich damit auf riskantes Terrain.

Vier Jahre nach Start von Googles Smartphone-Betriebssystem Android steigt der Suchmaschinen-Konzern in die Handy-Produktion ein. Wie das Unternehmen mitteilte, übernimmt es für 12,5 Milliarden Dollar die Motorola-Mobilfunksparte. Damit zahlt Google pro Aktie von Motorola Mobility einen Aufpreis von 63 Prozent. Bislang hatte Google lediglich das Android-Betriebssystem entwickelt und an Handy-Hersteller verschenkt, darunter auch an Motorola.
Milliarden-Geschäft mit Motorola: Google kauft die Mobilfunksparte des Handy-Herstellers Hintergrund der Übernahme, die nach Genehmigung der Wettbewerbshüter Ende 2011 oder Anfang 2012 abgeschlossen sein soll, ist eine Schlacht um Patente, die derzeit in der Mobilfunkbrache tobt. „Unsere Übernahme von Motorola wird den Wettbewerb verschärfen, indem sie Googles Patent-Portfolio verstärkt“, schreibt Google-Gründer und CEO Larry Page im Unternehmensblog. „Das wird uns in die Lage versetzen, Android vor der wettbewerbsfeindlichen Bedrohung von Microsoft, Apple und andere Unternehmen zu schützen.“
Motorola verfügt über eine der umfangreichsten Patentsammlungen in der Mobilfunkindustrie. Google hatte bereits in der Vergangenheit versucht, Patente zu kaufen, die in Handys zum Einsatz kommen. Zuletzt musste der Konzern zusehen, wie er von einem Konsortium unter Führung seiner Konkurrenten Apple, Microsoft und Blackberry-Hersteller Research in Motion (RIM) im Bieterwettstreit um das Patent-Portfolio des gescheiterten Mobilfunk-Ausrüsters Nortel geschlagen wurde. Rund 4,5 Milliarden Dollar hatte das Konsortium für mehrere Tausend Nortel-Patente gezahlt. Google hatte ursprünglich zusammen mit Intel 900 Millionen Dollar geboten.

Der Konzern warf seinen Konkurrenten im Nachhinein eine „feindliche, organisierte Kampagne“ gegen Android vor. Googles Chefjurist David Drummond wetterte: „Statt sich dem Wettbewerb mit neuen Features oder Geräten zu stellen, kämpfen sie mit Gerichtsverfahren.“

Google versucht seit einiger Zeit sein Patent-Portfolio auszubauen. Das Unternehmen hat zuletzt 1000 Patente von IBM übernommen, ohne den Kaufpreis zu nennen. Berichten zufolge soll sich Google auch um die Übernahme des Portfolios des Patentrechtehändlers InterDigital bemühen.

Anzeige
1 von 13 zurück blättern weiter blättern Der Handy-Markt

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Weltweite Marktanteile der Handy-Hersteller 2010:
Nokia
461,3 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 28,9 Prozent
Samsung
281 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 17,6 Prozent
LG Electronics
114,2 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 7,1 Prozent
Research In Motion
47,5 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 3,0 Prozent
Apple
46,6 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 2,9 Prozent
Sony Ericsson
41,8 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 2,6 Prozent
Motorola
38,6 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 2,4 Prozent
ZTE
28,8 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 1,8 Prozent
HTC
24,7 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 1,5 Prozent
Huawei
23,8 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 1,5 Prozent
Andere
488,7 Millionen verkaufte Handys
Marktanteil: 30,6 Prozent
Quelle: Gartner
Innerhalb der Mobilfunkbranche verklagen sich die Unternehmen untereinander, um Konkurrenten Steine in den Weg zu legen. Das Betriebssystem Android ist aktuell einer Reihe von Patentklagen von Konkurrenten ausgesetzt. So hat der Software-Riese Oracle Google vorgeworfen, mit Android Patente für die Programmiersprache Java zu verletzten und verlangt eine milliardenschwere Entschädigung.

Motorola gehört zu den Pionieren im Mobilfunk. Vor fast 30 Jahren brachte der Hersteller in den USA das erste Handy auf den Markt. Es sah aus wie ein unförmiger Knochen. Im Verlauf seiner Mobilfunkgeschichte ist Motorola dann eher Achterbahn gefahren. Zu seinen Erfolgen gehört das Klapphandy StarTAC mit ausziehbarer Antenne und später das Flache Handy Razr.


Motorola liegt weit zurück

Danach stürzte der Konzern jedoch in eine Krise und konnten die Erfolge nicht wiederholen. Erst nachdem Motorola bei seinen Smartphones ausschließlich auf Googles Android setzte, gewann das Unternehmen wieder Marktanteile hinzu. Nicht zuletzt, weil der größte US-Mobilfunker Verizon Wireless mit den „Droid“-Handys von Motorola gegen den exklusiven iPhone-Vertrieb von AT&T ankämpfte.

Inzwischen ist Apples iPhone auch bei Verizon zu haben. Der weltweite Motorola-Marktanteil liegt nur noch bei 2,4 Prozent, weit hinter den Konkurrenten Apple, Nokia, Samsung und RIM. Motorola war auch eines der ersten Unternehmen, die mit dem Xoom eine Alternative zu Apples flachem iPad auf dem Markt hatten. Der Motorola-Konzern war Anfang des Jahres aufgespaltet worden. Die traditionsreiche Mobilfunksparte wurde dabei vom restlichen Geschäft etwa mit Settop-Boxen abgetrennt und Anfang des Jahres an die Börse gebracht. Zuletzt hatte der US-Milliardär und Investor Carl Icahn das Unternehmen gedrängt, sein Patent-Portfolio zu Geld zu machen.

Icahn ist mit elf Prozent größter Einzelinvestor bei Motorola Mobility. Dass er Gespräche mit dem Management geführt hatte, wurde öffentlich, als seine Investmentfirma im Juli entsprechende Unterlagen bei der US-Börsenaufsicht SEC eingereicht hatte. Icahn argumentierte, dass das Patentvermögen des Unternehmens wertvoller sei, als das Portfolio des kanadischen Netausrüsters Nortel.

Schon diese Nachricht hatte den Aktienkurs im Juli beflügelt. Motorola gehört auch zu den Gründungsmitgliedern der Open Handset Alliance, aus der dann das offene Android-Betriebssystem hervorging. Android hat in den letzten Jahren einen rasanten Anstieg vorgelegt. Das System, dass unter anderem auf Geräten von Samsung, HTC und LG läuft, ist derzeit auf den meisten Smartphones im Einsatz.

Nach Angaben von Google gibt es inzwischen 150 Millionen Android-Geräte, täglich werden 550.000 Geräte neu aktiviert. Die Android-Smartphones von inzwischen knapp 40 Herstellern gibt es in 123 Ländern zu kaufen. Nach den jüngsten Zahlen des Marktforschers Gartner liegt der Android-Marktanteil bei 43,4 Prozent. Vor einem Jahr waren es noch 17,2 Prozent.

Nach der Verkündung der Übernahme versuchte Google-Chef Page die Hersteller von Android-Handys zu beruhigen: „Dieser Kauf wird unser Bekenntnis nicht verändern, Android als eine offene Plattform weiter zu führen.“ Motorola werde als ein gesondertes Geschäft weiter geführt und bleibe Lizenznehmer von Android.

http://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/webwelt/article13545879/Google…

[Nonbroker]

Noch ein später Artikel über den deal:

Google's patent play: $12.5B for Motorola Mobility
Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B in bid for more patent protection in mobile market

Michael Liedtke and Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writers, On Monday August 15, 2011, 6:25 pm

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- It may be boldest move yet by a company known for being audacious: Google is spending $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. But the big prize isn't Motorola's lineup of cellphones, computer tablets and cable set-top boxes.

It's more than 17,000 patents -- a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and Oracle to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

If approved by federal regulators, the deal could also trigger more multibillion-dollar buyouts. Nokia, another cellphone manufacturer, and Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry, loom as prime targets.

The patents would help Google defend Android, its operating system for mobile devices, against a litany of lawsuits alleging that Google pilfered the innovations of other companies.

In addition to the existing trove of patents that attracted Google's interest, Motorola, which introduced its first cellphone nearly 30 years ago, has 7,500 awaiting approval.

Phone makers and software companies are engaged in all-out combat over patents for mobile devices. The tussle has been egged on by the U.S. patent system, which makes it possible to patent any number of phone features.

Patents can cover the smallest detail, such as the way icons are positioned on a smartphone's screen. Companies can own intellectual-property rights to the finger swipes that allow you to switch between applications or scroll through displayed text.

Apple, for example, has patented the way an application expands to fill the screen when its icon is tapped. The maker of the iPhone sued Taiwan's HTC Corp. because it makes Android phones that employ a similar visual gimmick.

The iPhone's success triggered the patent showdown. Apple's handset revolutionized the way people interact with phones and led to copycat attempts, most of which relied on the free Android software that Google introduced in 2008.

Android revolves around open-source coding that can be tweaked to suit the needs of different vendors. That flexibility and Android's growing popularity have fueled the legal attacks. About 550,000 devices running the software are activated each day.

Many upstart manufacturers, like HTC, had only small patent portfolios of their own, leaving them vulnerable to Apple and Microsoft.

Getting Motorola's patents would allow Google to offer legal cover for HTC and dozens of other device makers, including Samsung Electronics Co., that depend on Android.

The deal is by far the largest Google has pursued in its 13-year history. Motorola Mobility's price tag exceeds the combined $10.2 billion that the company has paid for 136 previous acquisitions since going public in 2004.

Buying Motorola also would push Google into phone and computer tablet manufacturing, competing with other device makers who rely on Android. The largest makers of Android devices are all supporting a deal that Google CEO Larry Page said was too tempting to resist.

"With mobility increasingly taking center stage in the computing revolution, the combination with Motorola is an extremely important step in Google's continuing evolution," Page told analysts in a conference call Monday.

Google pounced on Motorola less than two months after a group including Apple and Microsoft paid $4.5 billion for 6,000 patents owned by Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment.

Leaving no doubt about the mounting antagonism among the companies, Google's top lawyer lambasted Apple and Microsoft for their legal maneuvering earlier this month in a blog post titled "When patents attack Android."

"We believe this acquisition was solely driven by the ongoing patent war," Sanford Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu wrote in a research note, referring to the Google deal.

Apple and Google were once so close that Google's former CEO, Eric Schmidt, sat on Apple's board. But Google has since rolled out Android and provided hardware makers a way to counter the iPhone and iPad. Schmidt resigned from Apple's board two years ago.

Microsoft, for years one of Google's most bitter rivals, is desperately trying to make inroads in the mobile device market. John McCarthy, an analyst with Forrester Research, says Microsoft may try to counter Google by pursuing a long-rumored takeover of its partner, Nokia.

Investors were betting on that possibility Monday. Nokia stock rose 93 cents, or more than 17 percent, to $6.29. Research In Motion stock climbed $2.55, or more than 10 percent, to $27.11.

Oracle is seeking billions of dollars from Google in a federal lawsuit alleging that Android owes licensing fees for using the Java programming language that Oracle acquired from Sun Microsystems.

Buying patent protection offered by Motorola Mobility will be expensive. Although Google has $39 billion in cash and can easily afford it, the price translates to $40 per share, 63 percent above Motorola's stock price before the deal was announced.

Motorola Mobility Inc.'s stock soared 55 percent, or $13.65, to $38.12. Google lost about 1 percent and closed at $557.23.

The deal will test Page's ability to avoid a clash of cultures while he is still learning the nuances of the CEO job, which he took only four and a half months ago. With 19,000 workers, Motorola Mobility's payroll isn't that much smaller than Google's 28,800.

It's a coup for Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha and the company's largest shareholder, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who had been pressuring Jha to cash in on the patent portfolio. With a 11.4 percent stake in Motorola Mobility, Icahn is in line to be paid more than $1.3 billion.

Motorola Mobility, based in Libertyville, Ill., has been struggling to come up with a product that has mass-market appeal since it introduced the Razr cellphone in 2005.

The company had some success with the Droid, one of the first phones to run on Android, but it now ranks a distant eighth in the smartphone market, with 4.4 million units shipped in the second quarter, according to research firm Canaccord Genuity. By comparison, the market-leading iPhone shipped about 20 million.

An attempt to counter the iPad hasn't paid off for Motorola Mobility, either. In an effort to drum up more demand, the company recently cut the price on the Wi-Fi-only version of its tablet, the Xoom, to $499 from $599.

The troubles saddled Motorola Mobility with a $56 million loss in its latest quarter, sinking the company's stock price to one of its lowest points since its January spinoff from the old Motorola Inc. The remaining part of that company now runs as Motorola Solutions Inc. In contrast, Google earned $2.5 billion in its most recent quarter ending in June.

Svensson reported from New York. AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay in New York contributed to this story.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Googles-patent-play-125B-for-a…

[Nonbroker]

Ein letzter Artikel:

Aug 15, 2011
First reaction to Google/Motorola announcement
[Update] I have meanwhile done a follow-up post commenting on the exorbitant $2.5 billion break-up fee and the concerns and desperation it reflects. [/Update]

Yesterday I blogged about Motorola Mobility's statement on plans to use its patent portfolio as a key differentiator against other Android device makers, and I concluded that post with a reference to speculation that this could have been part of a strategy on Motorola Mobility's part to get acquired by Google.

Today Google announced an agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, provided that the deal isn't blocked by regulators and that no third party outbids Google.

There's no question that the purchase price -- a premium of about 60% over Motorola's last closing price -- is to some degree related to Motorola Mobility's patents, but perhaps to a lesser degree than most people think.

I just checked on Wall Street's reaction (via Google Finance). As I write this (shortly after 4:40 PM on Monday, August 15), Google is down by 1.5%, while Apple is up by 2% and Microsoft by 1.25%. Motorola Mobility is trading at $38.32, meaning that the risk arbitrage experts buying the stock now will have about a 4% return if the deal goes through. There's also upside potential if anyone outbids Google (which happened before on other deals) -- and a certain downside risk given the huge premium. Finally, InterDigital has taken a serious hit (approximately -20%), presumably because of the assumption that Google's intent to acquire Motorola Mobility substantially reduces the likelihood of aggressive bidding by Google for that company.

I said before on Twitter that Motorola's patent portfolio didn't deter Apple and Microsoft from asserting patents against them in the past. Those lawsuits are ongoing, and I listened in to Google's and Motorola Mobility's conference call explaining the deal. Google's chief legal officer said that those lawsuits would continue unchanged as long as Motorola Mobility is independent, but indicated that after the possible closing of the deal, Google's interests would come into play.

Generally speaking, if Google acquires control over Motorola Mobility (MMI) and tries to leverage MMI's patents for purposes going beyond what MMI would have demanded in such negotiations as an independent entity, it probably won't be easy for them to agree on settlement terms with those other companies.

It would be a mistake to look at this as just (or primarily) a patent deal. We're looking at a deal that would fundamentally change Google's Android-related business model. Google assures that Android will continue to be available on open source terms, but Android's openness has previously been doubted, including by a partly EU-funded study. The likes of Samsung, HTC and LG obviously don't have any other choice than to say at this point that they welcome the deal. They will continue to say that for some time. They obviously weren't going to bash the deal in public. But there's no way that they can compete with a Google-owned Motorola Mobility on a level playing field. Google said in the conference call that it would operate Motorola Mobility as a separate business, but the price Google agreed to pay is not reflective of the value of Motorola Mobility as a stand-alone business: that's the kind of price paid by a strategic buyer who plans to use the acquisition target as leverage for its (Google's) own core business.

I do, however, retract something I said after the Nortel auction. I doubted Google's commitment to Android. Looking at this $12.5 billion offer, there's no question that Android is a strategic priority to Google with respect to its core business, in which it has a dominant market position.

With respect to ongoing and future patent disputes (besides the ones in which Motorola is embroiled with Apple and Microsoft), there are many patent holders to whom this deal doesn't matter. I doubt that Motorola Mobility holds a lot of patents that Oracle would be concerned about (while some of the patents Google recently bought from IBM could be useful against Oracle). There are medium-sized companies like Gemalto and Vertical Computer Systems. They most probably won't be affected. And there are numerous non-practicing entities trying to collect royalties from Android device makers. Since they don't have products of their own, no one can assert any patents against them. What will certainly change is Google's need to engage in inbound licensing from such patent holders. Those types of patent holders used to focus primarily on device makers, such as Motorola. Google will now have to deal with them to a greater extent, but they will likely continue to shake down third parties as well.

Are there ways that Google can extract value out of the proposed transaction? Yes, it can be useful to Google itself in many ways, even though it won't make all of those patent disputes go away all of a sudden. But is it going to be a good thing for Android at large?

http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-reaction-to-go…



Zweiter Teil


Aug 15, 2011
$2.5 billion Google-Motorola break-up fee reflects sellers' concern and buyer's desperation

After a first set of quick thoughts, I want to do a follow-up because shortly after that post I saw a Bloomberg report on the reverse break-up fee Google and Motorola Mobility (MMI) agreed upon: it's a whopping, mindboggling $2.5 billion that Google has to pay to MMI if the deal falls through. I'm still researching this but it seems that this is, in relative terms, the highest-ever break-up fee agreed upon in this industry.

"On an equity value basis, Google’s fee amounts to 20 percent, compared with the 4.2 percent median since last year", reports Bloomberg. The same source that told Bloomberg the $2.5 billion figure claims that MMI "would pay a $375 million breakup fee if it decides not to sell to Google".

Bloomberg's article then goes on to talk about the "increasing regulatory scrutiny" under which Google is in the U.S. -- where the way Google leverages Android to further strengthen its search business is now one of the key areas of the investigation -- and the EU. There are also antitrust issues (specific to Android) in South Korea.

Even though Bloomberg's article doesn't connect those dots explicitly, the exorbitant break-up fee and Google's antitrust troubles are closely related. I've previously contributed input to a merger control process (Oracle/Sun) and advised investment funds in connection with other M&A transactions. It takes an unusual combination of two factors that companies agree on such an extraordinary break-up fee:

•There must be a buyer who, besides having deep pockets, must be completely desperate. (I'll get to possible reasons in a moment.) Otherwise the seller can't possibly command such terms.

•But sellers don't ask for terms only because they can. If sellers (i.e., selling shareholders) don't have profound concern over the probability of the deal going through, they don't insist on an enormous break-up fee simply because it then makes more sense for them to optimize other deal terms than this particular one.

I listened to the executives on today's conference call on the deal and they exuded confidence. But if they were really so sure that regulatory approval is a slam dunk, there wouldn't be a break-up fee that is completely out of the ordinary. Money speaks louder than words in a case like this.

I was previously skeptical that this deal is really about "protecting" Android from threats, and I monitor Apple's and Microsoft's disputes with MMI quite closely. Now that I see the break-up fee and have thought some more about the overall situation, I've reached the point at which I simply don't buy the "protection" theory anymore.

Protection theory fails the plausibility test

My first reaction was to point out that neither Apple nor Microsoft were apparently deterred from patent assertions against Motorola by that portfolio. Let me elaborate on this now.

Technically, Motorola ran the race to the courthouse against Apple and filed its first lawsuit a little before. But from the beginning, it was clearly a defensive, pre-emptive move in anticipation of Apple's lawsuit: Motorola filed two lawsuits within a few days of each other in early October 2010, and one of them was a declaratory judgment action against 12 patents Apple previously asserted against HTC.

Two months later, Apple was asserting 24 patents against Motorola, and Motorola responding with 18 patents. If you're interested in the first two months of that dispute, you can find a battlemap (with a slideshow and reference lists) on Scribd.

I also produced a visualization of Microsoft's dispute with Motorola. Last time I updated it, Microsoft was asserting 23 patents, and Motorola 21.

Both disputes are at a fairly advanced stage. For example, the ITC hearing on Microsoft's initial complaint against Motorola will begin in a week from today. At this stage, Motorola has certainly fired its best shots, and those aren't really impressive.

One particular issue with the weakness of Motorola's counterclaims against Apple and Microsoft is that Motorola asserts FRAND-encumbered patents. I explained that concept recently in connection with Apple v. Samsung. The short version is that patents essential to industry standards are typically encumbered by FRAND licensing commitments and, therefore, a fundamentally weaker tool in such disputes than unencumbered patents. A standards-essential patent is like a parking meter: you can use it to collect royalties. But it's not a gun with which you can simply shut a competitor down.

Some companies try from time to time to obtain injunctions on FRAND-encumbered patents. But this sets off the alarm bells at regulatory agencies. Any use of FRAND patents makes litigation cumbersome and less likely to succeed. Nokia used a combination of FRAND and (mostly) innovation patents against Apple, and the case involving FRAND patents would have required (if they hadn't settled before) three (!) separate jury trials...

Google's previous attempt to buy Nortel's patents, many of which are essential to industry standards, didn't succeed but would also have raised serious issues if they had tried to use those patents in order to force other players into cross-licensing deals under which those would have had to grant licenses to unencumbered patents. Regulatory agencies may very well raise this kind of concern in connection with Google's proposed acquisition of MMI.

Did Google try to prevent Motorola Mobility from settling with Apple and/or Microsoft?

MMI was under huge pressure in its disputes with Apple and Microsoft. The Microsoft dispute is the slightly more advanced one. MMI largely lost the claim construction battle, which is an important interim step. It unsuccessfully tried to push back the target date for the ITC investigation of Microsoft's compaint by three months (!) -- a request that the ITC flatly denied. That case will apparently be decided on schedule.

MMI was hoping to perhaps succeed with some of its patent assertions against Microsoft in the Southern District of Florida. That's almost a rocket docket, but just today this scheduling order showed up in the docket. The trial date was postponed from October to March. As a result, MMI won't be able to counter a possible ITC import ban with a Southern Florida ruling in its favor (which would probably not even be purely in Motorola's favor since Microsoft also brought various counterclaims there).

Maybe MMI was under such pressure in light of all of this that Google need to step in just to ensure that MMI wouldn't surrender before Microsoft and Apple in the meantime. Under the merger agreement MMI may not have the right to settle those disputes before the deal closes.

If regulatory scrutiny delays the closing of the acquisition, Google could end up buying a company that is formally enjoined from importing Android-based devices into the United States. That would be a really awkward situation. In that kind of scenario, Google might come under pressure from its own shareholders to consider paying the huge $2.5 billion break-up fee. Such an outcome could also raise serious questions about the strength of MMI's portfolio.

Some of the potential antitrust concerns are also relevant to Android OEMs

I'm going to do some more research on this in the days, weeks and months ahead. Right now the most logical type of antitrust concern I see is that the proposed acquisition would exacerbate existing concerns over Google's treatment of device makers. Google is known to act very heavy-handedly (I previously mentioned this partly EU-funded Open Governance report) and to restrict the choices those device makers have with respect to product differentiation and innovation. But post-acquisition we'd be talking about a fundamentally worse problem: Google could use revenues from its dominant search business to subsidize MMI and, as a result, undercut other handset makers. That kind of outcome would be a nightmare from a competition law point of view because it would distort competition in two markets at the same time.

I said before -- and I repeat myself -- that there's simply no way that other Android device makers would be able to compete on a level playing field with a wholly-owned Google subsidiary named Motorola Mobility. Google has already treated device makers differently, with some getting "private branches" of the code in advance. The idea of an artificial Chinese Wall put up inside Google is unrealistic.

As opposed to being protected, for which MMI's patents appear to be too weak, those other Android device makers are going to become second-class citizens. Google has set its priority. I said before: don't overestimate the patent part of the deal. This is about Google maximizing its control over Android for the reasons and with the effects I roughly described herein, and on which I'll comment in greater detail going forward.


http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/08/25-billion-google-mo…

[Nonbroker]

Guten Morgen.
Neues von Bloomberg

Google Undermines Samsung-Led Handset Makers With Deal for Motorola:

QBy Dina Bass and Brian Womack - Aug 16, 2011 6:24 AM GMT+0200 .


.HTC Corp. (2498), Samsung Electronics Co. and a host of smaller handset makers are at risk of losing their cachet after Google Inc. buys Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.

Google said yesterday it will pay $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility, purchasing more than 17,000 patents it can use to defend against allegations of infringement as competition accelerates in the $206.6 billion mobile-phone market.

The rival handset manufacturers, which have been building devices with Google’s Android software since 2008, may have a harder time cranking out bestselling devices because Motorola Mobility may get earlier access to the newest Android technology, said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at research firm Gartner Inc. The acquisition gives Google an incentive to favor Motorola Mobility, and association with the Internet company will give Motorola handsets a leg up in competing for consumers.

“This is their nightmare scenario,” said Gartenberg, whose firm is based in Stamford, Connecticut. “Google has gone from partner to competitor.”

Google is “committed to making that whole ecosystem successful,” Google Chief Executive Officer Larry Page said yesterday on a conference call. HTC Chief Financial Officer Winston Yung said he supports the deal. Google also said the transaction is supported by Samsung, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB and LG Electronics Inc. (066570)

Patent Cover
Android partners are poised to benefit from the patent protection provided by the deal. HTC and other manufacturers are defending against suits that claim their phones infringe patents held by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Google will use the portfolio as leverage in negotiations over cross-licensing deals, said Abhey Lamba, an analyst at ISI Group in New York.

“We welcome the news,” HTC Chief Executive Officer Peter Chou said in an e-mailed statement today. “Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem.”

Samsung Electronics also welcomes Google’s acquisition because it will protect patents for the Android camp, while not affecting current business, James Chung, a Seoul-based spokesman for the company said by telephone. There is no indication the purchase reflects any change in Google’s Android strategy, LG Electronics Inc. said in an e-mailed statement.

Samsung, HTC and LG all rose in Asian trading today. Motorola suppliers ELK Corp. and Interflex Co. also surged the daily limit in Seoul on speculation their sales to Motorola may rise with the purchase by Google. Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. (2038), which also supplies Motorola, jumped 15 percent in Hong Kong trading while Taiwan’s Compal Communications Inc. (8078) climbed 7 percent in Taipei.

Stronger Motorola
Still, a stronger Motorola may make it harder for rivals to add users, said Lamba, who rates HTC a “buy.” More than 80 percent of the handsets HTC sells boast Android, he said.

“Over the next couple of years it’s going to be tough for HTC because the market growth will slow and they will be competing for share,” he said. “In the longer, run this has created more issues that HTC will have to deal with.”

Backing by Google may help Motorola Mobility grab global mobile-device market share. It currently ranks No. 8, with just a 2.4 percent share, according to Gartner. Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) was No. 1, followed by Samsung, LG and Apple. HTC ranked No. 7.

Motorola Mobility’s smartphone market share may increase by half, according to Scott Ellison, a San Mateo, California-based analyst at IDC. He puts the current share at 4 percent. Google could put its name on Motorola Mobility devices, he said.

Motorola Mobility ‘Head-Starts’
Motorola Mobility may benefit in the market for tablet computers too. Even before the deal, it got preferential treatment from Google, receiving first access to the Honeycomb version of Android for its tablet, according to IHS Inc. (IHS)

Google traditionally has alternated which vendors get preferential treatment through early access to the latest version of Android. Motorola will get first crack with future versions, getting “six-month head-starts on the latest and greatest operating systems,” said Mike Genovese, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based analyst at MKM Partners.

Google will also be able to help Motorola Mobility negotiate a reduction in the already low royalty -- at 4 percent of the phone purchase price -- it pays Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) for chips, said Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw LLC.

Emily Kilpatrick, a spokeswoman for Qualcomm, said the company doesn’t expect the transaction to have an impact on its agreement with Motorola.

Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard
Samsung and HTC may be more inclined to forge closer ties to Microsoft or ally with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), said James Faucette, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities Inc. in Portland. Microsoft can sweeten the deal by offering incentives to partners, Faucette said. Hewlett-Packard CEO Leo Apotheker has said he plans to license WebOS software to hardware makers.

“If you are an Android licensee, you’ve got to see what your alternatives are,” Faucette said. “Microsoft has demonstrated their willingness to give money to licensees. That’s got to be the first reaction for an Android licensee.”

ZTE Corp. (000063), China’s second largest maker of phone equipment, said it plans to keep working closely with Google Inc. (GOOG) and Microsoft after Google announced its planned purchase. Currently “most” ZTE smartphones use Android, and only a “very small percentage” use Windows, Rena Qin, a spokeswoman at ZTE, said in an e-mail, without providing figures.

“ZTE welcomes all marketing activities beneficial to the ecosystem of the mobile industry,” Qin said. “We will continue to promote our smart terminal strategy and work closely with industry partners including Google and Microsoft.”

Second-Class Citizens
Microsoft is already taking steps to convince partners that Google will treat them as second-class citizens.

Andy Lees, president of the company’s mobile business, yesterday issued a statement saying that “investing in a broad and truly open mobile ecosystem is important for the industry and consumers alike, and Windows Phone is now the only platform that does so with equal opportunity for all partners.”

To assuage partner concerns and avoid a push into lower- margin hardware, Google may opt to sell Motorola Mobility’s device business, said Brian Barish, president of Denver-based Cambiar Investors LLC, which holds Motorola Mobility shares and oversees about $8 billion.

“I would be shocked if they didn’t sell off the tablet and handset business in short order,” Barish said. “That way they stay fairly neutral.”

Google pursued Motorola Mobility out of interest in the target’s hardware and ability to distribute phones, as well as its software patents, one person familiar with the matter said. Jill Hazelbaker, a spokeswoman for Google, declined to comment.

For now, Google and its partners say Motorola Mobility won’t get preferential treatment.

“They’re all talking like it’s one big happy family,” said Kumar of Roadman & Renshaw. “The reality will be far different. If Motorola has most favored nation status -- whether in perception or reality -- it has an edge.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Dina Bass in Seattle at [e-mail]; Brian Womack in San Francisco at [e-mail]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at [e-mail]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-15/google-undermines-s…

[Nonbroker]

Mal ein Artikel auf deutsch:

Google + Motorola: Neuordnung auf dem Mobilfunkmarkt

"Wie werden sicherstellen, dass sie nicht verlieren". Selbstbewusst hatte Eric Schmidt, Chairman und ehemaliger CEO von Google, erst Mitte Juni den Android-Partner HTC in seinem Patentstreit mit Apple unterstützt. Wie Google das anstellen wollte, hatte Schmidt nicht verraten. Aber wohl schon gewusst: Google übernimmt Motorola. In den Patentkriegen um Smartphone-Techniken besitzt der Suchmaschinenriese damit auf einen Schlag eines der größten Abschreckungsarsenale der Branche.

Google hatte ein Problem: Im Wettstreit der Betriebssysteme für Smartphones und Tablets kann der Suchmaschinenkonzern mit Android zwar mittlerweile das führende System vorweisen. Doch spielen im Smartphone-Geschäft Patente eine immer wichtigere Rolle: Rechte an essentiellen Mobilfunktechnologien sichern nicht nur die eigenen Produkte und Innovationen ab, sie sind auch das Pfund, mit dem sich in Lizenzverhandlungen mit anderen Rechteinhabern wuchern lässt. Und sie wirken als Abschreckungsarsenal gegen Patentverletzungsklagen, die langwierige und kostspielige Prozesse nach sich ziehen können.

Jeder Handyhersteller nutzt Techniken, die von Dritten erfunden und geschützt wurden, und zahlt dafür Lizenzgebühren. Die fließen in die Herstellungskosten der Produkte ein. Wer für die Rechte Dritter im Gegenzug ein eigenes relevantes Patentportfolio anzubieten hat, kommt dabei im Zweifelsfall billiger weg. Genau hier lag Googles Problem: Der mit Patenten hochgerüsteten Konkurrenz von Apple (mit iOS) und Microsoft (Windows Phone, das den Beweis seiner Konkurrenzfähigkeit noch führen muss), hatte Google nichts entgegenzusetzen. Das Ungleichgewicht der Patent-Portfolios drohte Androids Lizenkosten in die Höhe zu treiben und das System damit ins Hintertreffen zu geraten.

Eine naheliegende Lösung für das Dilemma: Die Übernahme eines Patentpakets oder eines Unternehmens mit eigenen Portfolio. Doch im Bieterkampf um die Patente des insolventen kanadischen Netzwerkausrüsters Nortel hatte Google noch bei 3 Milliarden US-Dollar die Segel gestrichen. Der Zuschlag ging an ein Konsortium um Apple und Microsoft – also genau jene Konkurrenten, die Google als größte Bedrohung für Android ausgemacht hat. Allerdings darf vermutet werden, dass zu diesem Zeitpunkt die Verhandlungen mit Motorola schon liefen. Googles eigenwillige Gebote – unter anderem 3,14159 Milliarden – erscheinen in der Rückschau umso mehr als ein spielerischer Insider-Witz.

"Motorola hat eine über 80-jährige Geschichte in der Kommunikationstechnik und der Entwicklung von geistigem Eigentum", schreibt Google-CEO Larry Page. Die Handysparte, erst kürzlich vom Rest des Konzerns abgespalten und in die Eigenständigkeit entlassen, hatte früh auf Android als Betriebssystem gesetzt. Und sie verfügt mit 17.000 Patenten über eines der größten Portfolios der Branche. Inwieweit sich das Rechtepaket in den Patentkriegen um Smartphones einsetzen lassen wird, muss sich allerdings noch zeigen. Der Testfall läuft bereits: Motorola liegt wegen verschiedener Patentansprüche im Clinch mit Apple und Microsoft.

Motorola soll als eigenständiges Unternehmen weitergeführt werden, und auch die Android-Partner müssen sich nicht auf Änderungen einstellen, versichert Page. Die wichtigen Partner Samsung, HTC, LG und Sony Ericsson waren vorab im Bilde und zeigen sich offiziell durchweg "begeistert", dass Google sein Betriebssystem bedingunglos verteidigen will. Diese Unterstützung des Suchmaschinenriesen – und seine Bereitschaft, bei der Übernahme einen deutlichen Aufschlag zu bezahlen – ließen die Aktie von Motorola Mobility am Montag durch die Decke gehen. Der Kurs nähert sich inzwischen dem Kaufpreis von 40 US-Dollar pro Aktie. Der Coup heizte zudem die Fantasien der Finanzmärkte an und trieb die Aktien von weiteren möglichen Übernahme-Kandidaten wie Nokia und RIM in die Höhe.

Jedoch dürften die Gerätehersteller die Übernahme auch mit gemischten Gefühlen betrachten. Denn mit der Hardware von Motorola kann Google das "Ökosystem" Android vervollständigen. Vorbild Apple hatte bei seinem historischen (und damals von Branchenriesen wie Nokia belächelten) Eintritt ins Mobilfunkgeschäft als erster verstanden, wie wichtig die Verbindung von Hardware, Software und Marktplatz ist – und mit dem iPhone und seinem Ökosystem die ganze Branche revolutioniert. Der entthronte Marktführer Nokia und Microsoft versuchen mit ihrer Allianz, Windows Phone als dritte Smartphone-Plattform zu etablieren.

Google könnte mit Motorola, das bei der Veröffentlichung von Honeycomb schon einmal als exklusiver Android-Partner eine Vorzugsbehandlung erfahren hat, die Geräteentwicklung stärker beeinflussen und damit eine der großen Schwächen von Android ausgleichen: die Fragmentierung. Android-Geräte gibt es in vielen verschiedenen Versionen und Geschmacksrichtungen, wohingegen man bei Apple und künftig auch Nokia immer weiß, was drin ist. Google könnte zudem in Versuchung geraten, Motorola zu bevorzugen und nicht alle Partner immer mitzunehmen.

Solche Überlegungen werden auch die Android-Hersteller anstellen. Sollen die nun nicht nervös werden und mit fliegenden Fahnen zu Microsoft überlaufen, muss Google noch Vertrauensarbeit leisten. Schon sendet Page an die Hardware-Partner und die Open Handset Alliance das Signal, Android bleibe offen für alle. Doch das stimmt nicht ganz: Die Tablet-Version Android 3.0 gibt es noch nicht als Open Source. Und auch im schnelllebigen Smartphone-Geschäft sind die Hersteller darauf angewiesen, neue Android-Versionen möglichst früh zu bekommen, also vor der Veröffentlichung als Open Source.

Das nächste Google-Phone wird nun wohl von Motorola kommen. Damit ist Google nun auch ein Handyhersteller, und nicht einer, den die Konkurrenz auf die leichte Schulter nehmen kann. Aber auch über Smartphones, Tablets, Android und Patente hinaus eröffnet die Motorola-Übernahme neue Perspektiven für Google. Motorola ist zum Beispiel eine feste Größe im Geschäft mit TV-Receivern und Heimkino-Geräten – angesichts Googles bisher glücklosem Ausflug ins Fernseh-Metier drängt sich dieser Bereich für eine künftige Zusammenarbeit geradezu auf. (vbr)

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.956.455 von Nonbroker am 16.08.11 09:28:50

Und noch ein Artikel:

Google kauft Motorola-Handysparte Ein Handyhersteller und 17.000 Patente

Im Wettbewerb um das mobile Internet kauft Google für 12,5 Milliarden Dollar den eigentlich unbedeutenden Hersteller Motorola. Dem gehören aber 17.000 Mobilfunk-Patente, die Google dringend braucht, um Android zu verteidigen.
Von Holger Schmidt, Frankfurt

15. August 2011 2011-08-15 20:08:15
Googles Kauf der Motorola-Handysparte für 12,5 Milliarden Dollar hat zwei wesentliche Gründe: Google kopiert einerseits das Apple-Modell eines integrierten Anbieters, der Hardware und Software aus einer Hand anbietet. Und Google erwirbt mit Motorola rund 17.000 Mobilfunk-Patente, die am Markt gerade heiß begehrt sind. „Das ist ganz klar ein defensiver Deal. Google stand mit dem Rücken an der Wand und musste Android beschützen“, sagte Ben Schachter von Macquarie Capital. Motorola spielt am Handy-Markt schon lange keine wichtige Rolle mehr, besitzt aber noch wichtige Patente.

Im Zentrum des Wettstreits der Technik-Giganten steht der Markt für die mobilen Geräten, vor allem internetfähige Handys (Smartphones) und Tabletcomputer wie das iPad. Wahrscheinlich schon im kommenden Jahr werden mehr mobile Geräte als stationäre Computer auf der Welt verkauft. Daher strömen nahezu alle Computerunternehmen auf den Mobilfunkmarkt.

Großen Erfolg haben aber aktuell nur zwei Anbieter: Apple mit den iPhones und iPads sowie Google mit seinem offenen Betriebssystem Android, das von vielen Geräteherstellern eingesetzt wird. Alle anderen Anbieter wie Nokia, Microsoft, Sony Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard oder der Blackberry-Hersteller Research in Motion können mit den beiden Platzhirschen im Moment am Markt nicht mehr mithalten. Weil es aber um den Computermarkt der Zukunft geht, wird mit allen Haken und Ösen gestritten. Der Streit um die Patente ist dabei der wichtigste Nebenkriegsschauplatz.

Bisher verdient nur Apple das große Geld
Der scharfe Wettbewerb um den Mobilfunkmarkt hat seine entscheidende Wendung 2007 genommen, als Apple das iPhone auf den Markt und damit erst richtigen Schwung in das mobile Internet gebracht hat. Google hat daraufhin 2008 mit seinem eigenen Betriebssystem Android geantwortet. Allerdings mit einem anderen Ansatz: Google hat sein System allen Geräteherstellern kostenlos zur Verfügung gestellt, während Apple sein Betriebssystem iOS immer nur auf den eigenen Geräten eingesetzt hat. Diese unterschiedlichen Strategien brachten den Unternehmen höchst unterschiedliche Ergebnisse: Android machte Marktanteil, aber Apple den Gewinn. Während Apple immer nur mit dem aktuellen iPhone im Markt unterwegs war, läuft Android inzwischen auf Dutzenden Smartphones vieler verschiedener Hersteller. Motorola gehört auch dazu, allerdings nur mit wenig Erfolg. Der Anteil des Unternehmens am gesamten Handy-Weltmarkt beträgt nur noch 2,4 Prozent.


Wettbewerb für Apple
Viel erfolgreicher haben die asiatischen Hersteller Samsung und HTC die Android-Software eingesetzt und entscheidend dazu beigetragen, dass Android heute die größte Plattform im Smartphone-Markt ist. Das Duo Apple/Android ist sogar stark genug, die beiden Weltkonzerne Nokia und Microsoft in die Knie zu zwingen. Nokias Marktanteil schmilzt im Moment in dramatischem Tempo dahin und auch Microsofts neues System Windows Phone 7 ist bisher ein Flop. Die Google-Akquisition könnte nun den Anstoß liefern, dass aus der geplanten Partnerschaft der beiden Unternehmen eine Übernahme wird.

Google hatte bisher die Strategie, seine Software zu verschenken, um anschließend auf möglichst vielen Geräten seine Werbung zeigen zu können. Die Strategie ist langfristig wahrscheinlich nicht schlecht, doch erst einmal verdient nur Apple das große Geld am Markt. Im vergangenen Quartal flossen 66 Prozent aller Gewinne der Handy-Hersteller in die Taschen des Apfel-Unternehmens. Den Rest mussten sich Samsung, HTC und der Blackberry-Hersteller Research in Motion teilen. Der einstige Platzhirsch Nokia ging sogar leer aus, ebenso wie Motorola.

Wichtige Argumente im eskalierenden Patentstreit
Google hatte bisher zweimal versucht, mehr Einfluss auf die Hardware zu nehmen und mit den Smartphones Nexus 1 und Nexus S Geräte auf den Markt gebracht, die von HTC und Samsung gebaut wurden. Beide Versuche sind aber letztlich als gescheitert zu bezeichnen, denn nennenswerte Marktanteile erzielten beide Geräte nicht. Sollte Google die Handyfertigung nicht schnell weiterverkaufen, wird das Unternehmen nun mehr Einfluss auf die Produktentwicklung nehmen und wohl Geräte herausbringen, die von den Technikfans geliebt werden. Ob auch die Masse der Verbraucher darauf abfahren wird, ist die große Frage. Davon unbeeinflusst will Google seine bisherigen Partner wie Samsung oder HTC weiterhin mit der Android-Software beliefern, um das Werbegeschäft nicht zu gefährden. „Wir heißen die Akquisition willkommen, da sie zeigt, dass Google sich zutiefst verpflichtet sieht, Android, seine Partner und das gesamte Ökosystem zu verteidigen“, sagte Peter Chou, der Vorstandschef von HTC. Diese „Verteidigung“ bezieht sich aber eher auf den Gerichtssaal als auf den Markt.

Kurzfristig viel wichtiger als der Fuß im Hardwaremarkt ist für Google nämlich die gestärkte Position in dem Patent-Streit, den die Handykonzerne gerade untereinander ausfechten. Jüngst ist ein Patentstreit zwischen Google auf der einen Seite und einer Allianz aus Microsoft, Apple, Sony und Research in Motion auf der anderen Seite eskaliert. Google wirft seinen Wettbewerbern offen vor, „einen Krieg gegen das Google-Betriebssystem Android“ zu führen. Der Vorwurf: Die Allianz um Apple und Microsoft hätte die 6000 Mobilfunk-Patente von Nortel für 4,5 Milliarden Dollar nur gekauft, um jetzt Hersteller wie HTC oder Samsung mit Klagen zu überziehen. Wenn Samsung und HTC künftig Geld für ein Android-System ausgeben müssen - Google spricht von 15 Dollar je Gerät - könnten sowohl Apple als auch Microsoft die Nutznießer sein. Nach Ansicht von Google haben die Patent-Klagen also nur ein Ziel: Die lästige Konkurrenz aus dem Hause Google zu schwächen. Mit den 17.000 Motorola-Patenten hat Google nun wichtige Argumente in der Hand, die Klagen gegen Android und die Hersteller abzuschmettern.


© F.A.Z.


Googles Kauf der Motorola-Handysparte für 12,5 Milliarden Dollar hat zwei wesentliche Gründe: Google kopiert einerseits das Apple-Modell eines integrierten Anbieters, der Hardware und Software aus einer Hand anbietet. Und Google erwirbt mit Motorola rund 17.000 Mobilfunk-Patente, die am Markt gerade heiß begehrt sind. „Das ist ganz klar ein defensiver Deal. Google stand mit dem Rücken an der Wand und musste Android beschützen“, sagte Ben Schachter von Macquarie Capital. Motorola spielt am Handy-Markt schon lange keine wichtige Rolle mehr, besitzt aber noch wichtige Patente.

Im Zentrum des Wettstreits der Technik-Giganten steht der Markt für die mobilen Geräten, vor allem internetfähige Handys (Smartphones) und Tabletcomputer wie das iPad. Wahrscheinlich schon im kommenden Jahr werden mehr mobile Geräte als stationäre Computer auf der Welt verkauft. Daher strömen nahezu alle Computerunternehmen auf den Mobilfunkmarkt.

Großen Erfolg haben aber aktuell nur zwei Anbieter: Apple mit den iPhones und iPads sowie Google mit seinem offenen Betriebssystem Android, das von vielen Geräteherstellern eingesetzt wird. Alle anderen Anbieter wie Nokia, Microsoft, Sony Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard oder der Blackberry-Hersteller Research in Motion können mit den beiden Platzhirschen im Moment am Markt nicht mehr mithalten. Weil es aber um den Computermarkt der Zukunft geht, wird mit allen Haken und Ösen gestritten. Der Streit um die Patente ist dabei der wichtigste Nebenkriegsschauplatz.

Bisher verdient nur Apple das große Geld

Der scharfe Wettbewerb um den Mobilfunkmarkt hat seine entscheidende Wendung 2007 genommen, als Apple das iPhone auf den Markt und damit erst richtigen Schwung in das mobile Internet gebracht hat. Google hat daraufhin 2008 mit seinem eigenen Betriebssystem Android geantwortet. Allerdings mit einem anderen Ansatz: Google hat sein System allen Geräteherstellern kostenlos zur Verfügung gestellt, während Apple sein Betriebssystem iOS immer nur auf den eigenen Geräten eingesetzt hat. Diese unterschiedlichen Strategien brachten den Unternehmen höchst unterschiedliche Ergebnisse: Android machte Marktanteil, aber Apple den Gewinn. Während Apple immer nur mit dem aktuellen iPhone im Markt unterwegs war, läuft Android inzwischen auf Dutzenden Smartphones vieler verschiedener Hersteller. Motorola gehört auch dazu, allerdings nur mit wenig Erfolg. Der Anteil des Unternehmens am gesamten Handy-Weltmarkt beträgt nur noch 2,4 Prozent.

Viel erfolgreicher haben die asiatischen Hersteller Samsung und HTC die Android-Software eingesetzt und entscheidend dazu beigetragen, dass Android heute die größte Plattform im Smartphone-Markt ist. Das Duo Apple/Android ist sogar stark genug, die beiden Weltkonzerne Nokia und Microsoft in die Knie zu zwingen. Nokias Marktanteil schmilzt im Moment in dramatischem Tempo dahin und auch Microsofts neues System Windows Phone 7 ist bisher ein Flop. Die Google-Akquisition könnte nun den Anstoß liefern, dass aus der geplanten Partnerschaft der beiden Unternehmen eine Übernahme wird.

Google hatte bisher die Strategie, seine Software zu verschenken, um anschließend auf möglichst vielen Geräten seine Werbung zeigen zu können. Die Strategie ist langfristig wahrscheinlich nicht schlecht, doch erst einmal verdient nur Apple das große Geld am Markt. Im vergangenen Quartal flossen 66 Prozent aller Gewinne der Handy-Hersteller in die Taschen des Apfel-Unternehmens. Den Rest mussten sich Samsung, HTC und der Blackberry-Hersteller Research in Motion teilen. Der einstige Platzhirsch Nokia ging sogar leer aus, ebenso wie Motorola.

Wichtige Argumente im eskalierenden Patentstreit

Google hatte bisher zweimal versucht, mehr Einfluss auf die Hardware zu nehmen und mit den Smartphones Nexus 1 und Nexus S Geräte auf den Markt gebracht, die von HTC und Samsung gebaut wurden. Beide Versuche sind aber letztlich als gescheitert zu bezeichnen, denn nennenswerte Marktanteile erzielten beide Geräte nicht. Sollte Google die Handyfertigung nicht schnell weiterverkaufen, wird das Unternehmen nun mehr Einfluss auf die Produktentwicklung nehmen und wohl Geräte herausbringen, die von den Technikfans geliebt werden. Ob auch die Masse der Verbraucher darauf abfahren wird, ist die große Frage. Davon unbeeinflusst will Google seine bisherigen Partner wie Samsung oder HTC weiterhin mit der Android-Software beliefern, um das Werbegeschäft nicht zu gefährden. „Wir heißen die Akquisition willkommen, da sie zeigt, dass Google sich zutiefst verpflichtet sieht, Android, seine Partner und das gesamte Ökosystem zu verteidigen“, sagte Peter Chou, der Vorstandschef von HTC. Diese „Verteidigung“ bezieht sich aber eher auf den Gerichtssaal als auf den Markt.

Kurzfristig viel wichtiger als der Fuß im Hardwaremarkt ist für Google nämlich die gestärkte Position in dem Patent-Streit, den die Handykonzerne gerade untereinander ausfechten. Jüngst ist ein Patentstreit zwischen Google auf der einen Seite und einer Allianz aus Microsoft, Apple, Sony und Research in Motion auf der anderen Seite eskaliert. Google wirft seinen Wettbewerbern offen vor, „einen Krieg gegen das Google-Betriebssystem Android“ zu führen. Der Vorwurf: Die Allianz um Apple und Microsoft hätte die 6000 Mobilfunk-Patente von Nortel für 4,5 Milliarden Dollar nur gekauft, um jetzt Hersteller wie HTC oder Samsung mit Klagen zu überziehen. Wenn Samsung und HTC künftig Geld für ein Android-System ausgeben müssen - Google spricht von 15 Dollar je Gerät - könnten sowohl Apple als auch Microsoft die Nutznießer sein. Nach Ansicht von Google haben die Patent-Klagen also nur ein Ziel: Die lästige Konkurrenz aus dem Hause Google zu schwächen. Mit den 17.000 Motorola-Patenten hat Google nun wichtige Argumente in der Hand, die Klagen gegen Android und die Hersteller abzuschmettern.


http://www.faz.net/artikel/S31151/google-kauft-motorola-hand…

[Nonbroker]

Die Welt kompakt

Autor: Thomas Heuzeroth| 06:19

Ein gefährlicher Spagat

Android ist derzeit das erfolgreichste System überhaupt. Fast jedes zweite Smartphone, das heute verkauft wird, läuft mit Android. Kein anderes System wächst in dieser atemberaubenden Geschwindigkeit. Der Suchmaschinenkonzern ist ein Neuling in der Mobilfunkbranche. Damit einhergehend hat das Unternehmen im Vergleich zu seinen Konkurrenten eine sehr begrenzte Zahl an Patenten. Im Geschäft mit den internetfähigen Multimedia-Handys sind die Patente aber eine notwendige Währung, um sich vor Klagen abzusichern. Wer sich gegen diese wehren will, muss seinerseits Patente in die Waagschale werfen. Solche Überkreuz-Lizenzierungen sind in der Branche gang und gäbe, die Unternehmen sind in der Vergangenheit gut damit gefahren.

Google ist mit seinem Patentportfolio zu schwach aufgestellt, um an diesem Spiel reibungsfrei teilzunehmen. Leidtragende waren die Hersteller der Android-Handys, die von den Konkurrenten Nokia und Apple gleich reihenweise verklagt wurden. Mit Android trifft Google allerdings auf einen Markt, der sich in einer Situation der Umwälzung befindet. Die Smartphones drängen einfache Mobiltelefone immer mehr zurück. In Deutschland ist bereits mehr als jedes zweite Handy, das derzeit verkauft wird, ein solches Smartphone. Android ist somit für die Smartphone-Bauer zu einem nur schwer kalkulierbaren Risiko geworden. Zumal die Klagefreudigkeit von Groß-Konkurrent Apple zuletzt auch noch zugenommen hat.

Google will sich dagegen nun wappnen. Mit der Mobilfunksparte von Motorola kommt ein ganzer Schwung neuer Patente in den Konzern. Allerdings kauft sich Google ein gewaltiges Risiko ein. Wenn der Softwarehersteller nun ein eigenes Hardware-Geschäft betreibt, macht er sich unweigerlich vom Partner zum Konkurrenten. Denn bislang konkurrierten die Motorola-Geräte mit den Handys von HTC, Samsung und LG, allesamt Smartphones, mit dem Betriebssystem Android. Nicht zuletzt griffen die Hersteller gern zu Googles Software, weil sie den Suchmaschinenkonzern nicht als Konkurrenten fürchten mussten. Sie sind es, die Android in der Mobilfunkwelt groß gemacht haben. Zwar will Google das Motorola-Geschäft in einer getrennten Geschäftssparte weiterführen. Doch ob sich die Partner davon beschwichtigen lassen, ist fraglich. Google muss sich auch im Suchmaschinengeschäft vorwerfen lassen, eigene Angebote zu bevorzugen

[Nonbroker]

Braucht Google Interdigital trotzdem?

Are Motorola's Patents Enough to Protect Android?

By James Niccolai, IDG News Aug 16, 2011 6:10 am

Google's $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility will land it a vast portfolio of patents, but the legal obstacles facing its Android operating system are far from over, legal experts said.

Android has been beset with legal challenges from all sides, including a multibillion dollar lawsuit filed by Oracle, and complaints brought by Apple against Android device makers including HTC and Samsung. Meanwhile, Microsoft has been extracting license fees from Android device makers, saying it owns technology patents related to Google's mobile OS.

The Motorola acquisition, announced Monday, should help shield Google and its partners from future legal action by Apple and others. But it may be too late to help device makers facing lawsuits already under way, and it won't help Google to fight Oracle's Java patent infringement lawsuit, which is due to begin trial in October, legal experts said.

Google never put much value in building its own patent portfolio and was caught off guard by the "patent arms race" that has come to define the wireless industry. Last week it lashed out at competitors, accusing Microsoft, Apple and others of trying to impose a "patent tax" on Android to stifle its runaway growth.

So its announcement Monday that it will pay $40 per share for Motorola -- or 63 percent over Friday's closing stock price -- came as little surprise to some observers. The acquisition will "increase competition by strengthening Google's patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple, and other companies," CEO Larry Page said in a blog post.

Patent Insurance
Alexander Poltorak, chairman and CEO of General Patent Corp., said Motorola's portfolio will serve as a deterrent to companies thinking of suing Google or its partners. "Now they will think twice before filing a complaint, because they can be guaranteed Google will strike back," he said.

The deal will give Google "a lot of heft," said Jonathan Goldberg, a research analyst at Deutsche Bank. Motorola is among the oldest wireless companies and has a strong and credible patent portfolio, he said. Motorola Mobility has said it owns about 24,500 patents.

'I think it's a big step and I expect there will be a big sigh of relief at Google once this deal closes," said David Mixon, a patent lawyer with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings. "They were outbid in the Nortel patent auctions and that was a consortium led by Microsoft and Apple. They clearly were feeling some pressure."

If Google is targeted by another lawsuit, Motorola's patents will help it broker a settlement and secure a license for Android, Poltorak said. That license would cover Android device makers as well, under the "exhaustion doctrine," he said. "If Google obtains a license for the OS, then everyone else who uses that OS will be licensed as well."

If a company targets a Google partner instead, Google could transfer ownership of some the Motorola patents to that partner temporarily, so it can defend itself with them, Poltorak said.

Not everyone agreed that Motorola's patents will be an effective deterrent, however. Florian Mueller, author of the FOSS Patents blog, noted that Apple has already sued Motorola Mobility for patent infringement. Motorola's patents appear "too weak" to be a deterrent against lawsuits, he wrote in a blog post.

"This isn't going to be a protective shield for Android," Mueller said. "Motorola Mobility has already fired its best shots in its lawsuits against Apple and Microsoft, with little impact as it seems."

But Motorola fired the first shots in that battle, Poltorak noted. in October for allegedly infringing 18 of its patents, and filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission. "Apple had no choice but to defend itself," Poltorak said.

Mueller argued that Motorola expected the lawsuit from Apple,
Battle with Oracle Continues
One thing observers did agree on is that buying Motorola is unlikely to help Google with its Oracle lawsuit. Google doesn't expect to complete the purchase until late this year or in early 2012, while the Oracle trial is scheduled to begin in 11 weeks. Oracle isn't in the wireless business, so Motorola's patents wouldn't be effective bargaining chips anyway. And Oracle is suing Google for copyright as well as patent infringement, Mixon noted.

Neither Goldberg or Mixon see the Oracle case as a deal-breaker for Android, however. Oracle wants Android to flourish so it can collect royalty fees from it, Mixon said. And Google has deep pockets, so it could afford to pay significant damages to Oracle if necessary, Goldberg said.

"To me, a bigger concern is what Google is going to do to protect the whole ecosystem," Goldberg said.

It's unclear if Motorola's patents will be able to help Android device makers fend off the lawsuits against them. It depends how fast Google closes the acquisition and exactly what patents Motorola owns, Mixon said.

Samsung has already been hit with an injunction that blocks it from selling its Galaxy Tab in much of Europe, and the company may feel pressured to settle with Apple before Google's Motorola acquisition closes, Poltorak said.

Still, Google has made a significant step in the right direction, according to some observers.

"I see this as a meaningful deal, but it's just one more step in the process," Goldberg said.

James Niccolai covers data centers and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow James on Twitter at @jniccolai. James's e-mail address is [e-mail]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/238129/are_motorolas_patents_…

[Nonbroker]

Google Primes Patent Pump
Looking Out for Android, Search Giant Arms Itself With Intellectual Property
AUGUST 16, 2011
By DON CLARK

Google Inc.'s $12.5 billion deal for Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. provides the latest evidence that patents have become the hottest currency in high technology.
Tech companies, particularly in the market for mobile devices, have been furiously snapping up patents to use as weapons in lawsuits and bargaining chips in settlement negotiations. That was a key reason Google cited for buying Motorola Mobility, though some experts disagree about the value of that company's intellectual property.
In some such cases, companies buy patents to go on the offensive against rivals, seeking hefty royalties for patent licenses or injunctions that could bar sales of competing products. Google, by contrast, expressed defensive motivations; the company, which has relatively few patents on mobile technologies, could theoretically use Motorola Mobility's patents to countersue companies that sue Google or companies that use its Android software.
The dangers seem real. Oracle Corp. has sued Google directly, alleging that Android violates patents covering the Java programming language. In other cases, plaintiffs such as Apple Inc. have used patents to attack companies like HTC Corp. that make smartphones that use Android.
"We've seen some very aggressive licensing demands in the Android ecosystem," said David Drummond, Google's senior vice president and chief legal officer. "Having the patent portfolio we'll be able to make sure that Android remains open and vibrant."
There is no debate that the patent trove Google hopes to buy is large, descending from Motorola Inc.'s 82-year legacy in radio and other businesses before it split into two companies this year. Motorola Mobility on Monday said it owns 17,000 patents world-wide, plus another 7,500 patent applications under review, covering inventions in such areas as wireless, audio, video, design and user interface technology.
That number is substantially larger than the 6,000 patents recently sold in an auction by Nortel Networks Corp., which was purchased by $4.5 billion by a consortiun that included Apple, Microsoft Corp. and Research In Motion Ltd. Google also had recently been negotiating to buy patents from InterDigital Inc., whose shares fell 14% after Google announced its deal for Motorola Mobility.
"Certainly Motorola has more and probably better patents than Nortel did, and ditto for InterDigital," says Ronald Laurie, managing director of Inflexion Point Strategy LLC, a Silicon Valley firm that represents tech companies and other investors in buying and selling patents. "It appears to be the premier mobility patent portfolio."
Some Motorola Mobility patents have already figured in separate sets of suits and countersuits that broke out last fall involving Apple and Microsoft. Some of the cases are being fought in federal court and some before the U.S. International Trade Commission, which can ban the import of products that violate patents.
Motorola Mobility, for example, has accused both Apple and Microsoft of infringing a patent that covers a method for a wireless communication system to control delivery of data to a subscriber's device. The invention allows a smartphone to maintain a list of application software accessible to the device, according to court documents.
Another Motorola Mobility patent cited in the ITC case against Apple covers technology that includes a sensor that can indicate the proximity of a smartphone to a user's head, so a touchscreen on the device isn't accidentally activated.
Motorola Mobility also alleged that Microsoft's Xbox videogame violates its intellectual property, including one technique for protecting a stream of data using a scrambling process called encryption.
But Florian Mueller, an intellectual property analyst who has studied those suits, sees problems with the portfolio Google is buying. For one thing, many of Motorola Mobility's patents are encompassed by technical standards set by industry associations in wireless technologies and other fields. Those groups, he said, require what they call "essential" patents to be licensed on a fair and reasonable basis—which weakens their potency because holders of such patents can't ask for injunctions that would stop use of their technology altogether.
"If you have those patents what you get is a parking meter but not a gun," Mr. Mueller said. "You can't seek injunctions and get import bans."
Some of the patents Google would acquire will reach their 20-year expiration dates relatively soon, Mr. Mueller said, another factor that would reduce their value for use by Google in suits or counter-suits.
Sanjay Jha, Motorola Mobility's chief executive, did not address the age of his company's patents Monday. But he appeared to dispute the idea that most of the patents are weakened by being essential to various technical standards.
"We have tremendous strength not only in wireless standards but also wireless non-essential patents which are the patents which are required to deliver competitive products in the marketplace," Mr. Jha said during on a conference call. "And as a result of the combination of these patents we believe we'll be able to provide much better support to the businesses at Motorola Mobility as well as support the Android ecosystem."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311190348090457651…

[Nonbroker]

UPDATE 3-Winners and losers in the Google-Motorola deal
Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:55pm EDT

* RIM, Nokia, cable viewed as winners in deal

* Mixed impact on Microsoft

* Deal hurts InterDigital (Adds details on Motorola's rivals)

NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Research in Motion (RIMM.O) (RIM.TO) and Microsoft Corp are emerging as potential winners after Google Inc (GOOG.O) said it would buy Motorola Mobility (MMI.N) for $12.5 billion. [ID:nL3E7JF1LD]

Potential losers include Motorola's handset rivals that partner with Google such as HTC Corp, Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and Sony Ericsson. These licensees of Google's Android software now face the risk promoting a direct rival.

If this tie-up irks manufacturers, companies with their own software such as Microsoft (MSFT.O) and RIM could gain as handset makers start to shy away from the Android system.

Meanwhile, the deal announced on Monday is unlikely to affect Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) quest for the hearts and minds of smartphone customers. (For more on the proposed Google-Motorola Mobility deal, see [ID:nN1E77E0O1] )

SAMSUNG, HTC, LG ELECTRONICS, SONY ERICSSON

Phone makers that partner with Google for its Android software officially said they welcomed the deal. But some analysts questioned their sincerity because their efforts to promote Android would now benefit a director competitor.

"Google is essentially granting most favored nation status on Motorola," said J. Gold Associates analyst and consultant Jack Gold.

MICROSOFT

Android handset makers may be more willing to take a gamble on the unpopular Windows phone as an alternative.

But the deal brings Microsoft directly into legal conflict with Google over Android patents, which may hamper its attempts to collect royalty payments from Android handset makers.

Microsoft and Motorola are already involved in a number of claims on each others' technology. [ID:nN10243717] Google's move to throw its weight behind Motorola will make for a tougher court battle for Microsoft.

NOKIA (NOK1V.HE)

Nokia's U.S.-listed shares rose more than 17 percent on Monday (NOK.N) as Google's offer for Motorola rekindled speculation of a bid for the Finnish mobile phone company. Nokia did not comment on the buyout rumors.

Nokia decided earlier this year to go with Microsoft's Windows operating system instead of its MeeGo software, which is being phased out. [ID:nLDE77E0H3]

RESEARCH IN MOTION

Shares of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion rose more than 10 percent on the news.

Next year, RIM plans to move its BlackBerry smartphones onto the same QNX-based platform that runs the PlayBook.

An ever-tighter integration between Android and Motorola's hardware "may put additional pressure on the success of RIM's pending QNX Super phones strategy," RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky wrote.

APPLE

Analysts said the deal does little to change the mobile landscape for Apple, given that Google failed to excite consumers when it entered the handset business by launching Nexus, a phone co-manufactured by the Taiwan-based HTC Corp (2498.TW).

The most obvious impact will be on the multiple patent infringement lawsuits that Apple has against Android handset makers. Also, Apple was already suing Motorola Mobility for patent infringement.

CABLE INDUSTRY

Google has long been seen as a threat to the traditional pay TV industry, first with YouTube and then with Google TV box. Neither have quite had the negative impact on the cable business that some had predicted.

With this deal, Google is set to become one of the pay-TV industry's largest suppliers. Even if physical set-top boxes go the way of the Walkman, Motorola's encryption and conditional access software will continue to be important.

Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett said "the cable industry would be delighted to see Google inside the tent, so to speak, of the traditional Pay TV model."

INTERDIGITAL (IDCC.O)

Shares of InterDigital Inc fell 18 percent after Google's bid for Motorola sparked worries that the search giant may no longer be interested in the company's wireless patent.

In July, InterDigital said it was looking at a possible sale of the company and the Wall Street Journal later reported that Google might be in the race for its patents. Analysts, however, said Google could still be interested in the patents.

(Reporting by Bill Rigby in Seattle, Alastair Sharp in Toronto, Poornima Gupta in San Francisco, Nicola Leske in Frankurt and Yinka Adegoke and Liana Baker in New York; Editing by Robert MacMillan, Matthew Lewis and Richard Chang)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/15/motorolamobility-g…

[sdaktien]

Bislang ist, trotz des Absturzes, technisch noch nichts passiert. IDCC liegt immer noch über den 60$ und damit in einer Aufwärtsbewegung. Kurzfristig interessant wird es, wenn der Kurs heute nach oben dreht. In dem Fall hätte IDCC in der jetzigen Korrektur eine ansteigende Unterstützung geschaffen, die sich ergibt, wenn man die dann 3 Tiefs im August verbindet. Sollte dies so sein, sollte die die Aktie diese Unterstützung nicht mehr unterschreiten, da ansonsten weiterer Korrekturbedarf bestehen dürfte.

[Nonbroker]

Google's Motorola Acquisition Is Brilliant... Or Really Stupid

by: TechCrunch August 16, 2011 by MG Siegler

Bravo Google, well played.

There's no denying that Google's (GOOG) maneuver Monday to acquire Motorola (MMI) for $12.5 billion in cash is remarkable. Everyone is talking about every possible angle of the deal, as they should. The summertime is usually the doldrums when it comes to tech news. Not this year. Google (GOOG) is pulling off an acquisition that is larger than any that Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), or any of their other main competitors ever have. Larry Page, wartime CEO. Larry Page, maverick.

As the resident Apple enthusiast around these parts, many of you want my take on this - and many of you probably don't want my take on this, but will end up reading it twice as much as those who do. But don't worry, I'm not going to go all Dan Lyons and immediately run my mouth without thinking. I actually took the entire day to think about this, read over the insane amount of coverage (though I didn't get through even half of it), and formed some thoughts.

But my main thought is the same as my initial one: this is either the smartest thing Google has ever done, or the dumbest. There is no in-between.

Many people seem to be tripping over themselves trying to explain why this is not just about patents. Okay, yes, there are some interesting potential side effects of this deal, such as in the broader consumer electronics space. Motorola could help Google turn around the disaster that has been Google TV. Motorola makes a huge percentage of the set top boxes that the cable companies use to push their over-priced content at you. And those cable boxes are absolute pieces of shit. But they're highly profitable pieces of shit. While Google TV is a nightmare, it's still a considerable upgrade from almost all set top boxes. The two sides could help each other here.

Or it could be a case of two wrongs making a very big wrong. We'll see.

The much more interesting angle is what this means for Google's control over the Android ecosystem at large. I'll get to that in a minute.

First, let's not kid ourselves. This deal is clearly about patents. If Motorola didn't have thousands of patents, there is no way this deal happens. Zero. This is a company that lost money last quarter, despite revenues of over $3 billion. They have over 19,000 employees. This nearly doubles Google's workforce (Google has about 25,000 employees). This is a company in the midst of several of their own lawsuits - some of which are by Google adversaries Microsoft and Apple.

This all sounds like a big, logistical mindfuck for Google. A company, which remember, is trying to simplify and focus their business. It's the equivalent of me saying I'm going to clean my house today, then going out and buying a fraternity house just as I'm getting started. And keeping both.

But those patents. Those glorious, wonderful patents.

In losing the Nortel patent auction to Apple, Microsoft, RIM (RIMM), and others, Google lost out on 6,000+ patents. With a battle over the InterDigital (IDCC) patents just getting started, there was a pretty decent chance they were going to lose another 8,800+ to their rivals. But with the Motorola buy, Google gains at least 17,000 patents. And if some other applications go through, perhaps as many as 25,000 patents. In one fell-swoop. Crazy.

It raises Google's patent pool from around 2,000 - over 1,000 of which are from a deal they just did with IBM - to around 20,000. That's around what Microsoft has. And nearly double what Apple has. Deterrent obtained, right?

Well, not so fast. As FOSS Patents points out, Motorola's patent pool may not go far enough to cancel out some key patents owned by Google's main rivals. Remember, both Apple and Microsoft were suing Motorola well before this new deal was born. Those cases remain ongoing, but FOSS' Florian Mueller believes that Apple and more so, Microsoft, have the upper hand in each.

He argues that this was more of strategic buy for Google in order to exert more control over the Android ecosystem. It's a compelling argument, but I'm not sure I buy it. At least not yet. Even more compelling is his thought that Google may have bought Motorola to stop them from settling with Apple and/or Microsoft on the patent issues. Such a settlement would have been a big blow to the entire Android ecosystem. Perhaps not quite as bad as Samsung (SSNLF.PK) agreeing to license patents from Microsoft (joining HTC and others), but bad.

Would that even be bad enough for Google to spend $12.5 billion? Again, I'm not convinced. But the fact that Motorola was threatening to attack others over IP itself just a few days ago, does suggest something was brewing. They sounded like an animal backed into a corner. (Or, as it turns out, perhaps one just playing some last-minute hardball with a would-be acquirer.)

What we do know is that leading up to Google's deal, Microsoft was also negotiating to buy at least Motorola's patent portfolio, as Om Malik reports. Unsurprisingly, Google's negotiations kicked up shortly after the Nortel loss. Again, patents, patents, patents. If Microsoft had purchased Motorola's patents, Android would have been at Defcon 2, if not Defcon 1. Google could not let that happen. And they didn't.

But let's turn to the broader ramifications here. The antitrust cops are obviously going to scrutinize this deal. But already some are predicting it will go through. Obviously, Google is as well. Motorola? Well, the fact that there's a $2.5 billion breakup fee - which is absolutely insane - that Google will have to pay Motorola if the DoJ breaks up the deal, doesn't project too much optimism, to say the least. But for the sake of argument, let's assume the deal is approved and closes at the end of this year or early next year.

Google says they will continue to run Motorola as a separate business. Again, given its size, that's about all they can do. Google also says that this will not change their commitment to Android being "open" and to their other OEM partners.

While that will sound like a load of horse shit to some. I actually believe that Google believes that (or at least that many higher-ups at Google believe that). I just don't believe it will be possible. And I think that eventually, Google will recognize that it won't be possible. And I think many of their partners are being disingenuous with their positive statements.

Just look at the issues Google has been having keeping their carrier and OEM partners in line when it comes to Android software updates. The issues have gotten so bad that Google had to get on stage at their I/O conference this year and promise everyone that a new initiative is underway to ensure timely updates. You'll notice we haven't heard a thing about that initiative since it was unveiled. "Over the next few weeks, we'll figure it all out," Android head Andy Rubin said at the time. It's been three months.

But with Motorola in their back pocket, Google now has another stick to use when the carrots don't work. And the carrots rarely do in the Android ecosystem, it seems.

Is an OEM not releasing updates quickly enough? Okay, screw you, we'll release a Motorola Droid update right now. Are you telling me Google isn't going to do that? I mean, are they going to hire some new, un-fireable people at Motorola in charge of ensuring that bullshit bureaucracy remains in place after the deal?

What about Nexus negotiations? Andy Rubin humorously seemed to confirm that bidding occurs over who gets to make the next Nexus devices during the Q&A call. Given the other backchannel deals Google strikes while maintaining the nonsense "open" moniker for marketing purposes, this is not surprising at all. What happens if Google isn't getting the terms they want on a new Nexus device? Will they also hire someone to thwart Motorola's Google-backed bid? Ridiculous.

There are dozens of other potential situations like this. One way or another, the existence of Motorola as a Google company is going to affect Android.

Here's another, more straight-forward scenario for you. What happens when the iPhone 5 launches and everyone wants it? That includes many people currently using Android phones. After a few months of this, Google grows frustrated that none of their OEMs can release a device that matches the build-quality that Apple puts out there. But wait, they now have their own company they can at the very least use to apply to pressure the other OEMs to force them to do better work! Does Google also not play that card? Are you really telling me that they won't try to get Motorola to make the best products possible? Why the hell wouldn't they? This is a business, after all.

Maybe the iPhone 5 doesn't trigger that, but maybe the iPhone 6 does. Or maybe the iPad 3 does. Or maybe a Windows Phone does. At some point down the line, Google is going to run into this scenario. And there's nothing wrong with that. The tight control over both hardware and software is what allows Apple products to be Apple products. And now with webOS, HP (HPQ) appears to be moving in the same direction.

In the same way that Google used to not care about design, but now is starting to, I suspect they'll start to care more about full control over their products - both hardware and software. They'll see that the overall consumer experience is tied to both - they're not mutually exclusive. And Motorola gives them the opportunity to fully explore this. Why not use it?

All of this is why the partner statements are disingenuous today. I mean, just look at them. They all say the same thing. And what they say is really nothing at all, beyond the positive statement that Google can now defend Android better.

"We welcome today's news, which demonstrates Google's deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem."

"I welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners."

"We welcome the news of today's acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem."

"We welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners."

"We are positive towards Google's continued commitment and investment in an open Android for the benefit of all players in the eco-system."

I won't even bother including who said what because it doesn't matter. They're all the same statement. "Defending Android", "defending Android", "defending Android", "defending Android", "defending Android". Every. Single. Time.

In other words, "patent protection", "patent protection", "patent protection", "patent protection", "patent protection". These guys aren't happy Google is buying a competitor, but what are they going to say about it right now? "Fuck you, Google, we're ditching Android!"? Given their massive commitments already in place, such a move could force any of these companies into the ground.

What will be more telling are the actions taken over the next weeks, months, and years by these guys. Do they warm to Windows Phone as a result? Do they turn elsewhere? Do they force Google to spin off the Motorola hardware division? It's certainly all on the table right now, I'd imagine.

Google's acquisition of Motorola either just saved Android or subverted it. It was either brilliant, or really, really stupid. Unfortunately, the truth is that we simply won't know the answer for a while.

But credit where credit is due, Google just did something decidedly un-Googley. On paper, as a math equation, you never do this deal. The upside is potentially high, but there's way too much downside potential. A $12.5 billion deal in cash, with a $2.5 billion collapse clause? Who are you and what did you do with Google?

But as I've argued for months, Google has been in need of a wake up call. They needed something to shake them out of a state of malaise. With this Motorola deal, they just got something. It won't make them any new friends, but this is business, not personal.

And it is a shit-ton of patents.

[Nonbroker]

Exklusiv Provider testen iPhone mit LTE-Unterstützung
Von: Jonathan S. Geller | Aug 15th, 2011 10:20AM

Das iPhone 5 wird wohl im nächsten Monat enthüllt werden, auch wenn aufgrund der andauernden Gerüchteflut derzeit niemand so richtig weiß, welche Features das Gerät denn am Ende haben wird. Eine Technologie wurde jedoch schon öfter als Wunschkandidat genannt: Der neue Mobilfunkstandard LTE, der bereits in den Startlöchern stehende UMTS-Nachfolger. Auch wenn wir nicht bestätigen können, dass die kommende fünfte iPhone-Generation LTE unterstützen wird, können wir exklusiv bestätigen, dass Apples Partner-Provider in den USA gerade dabei sind, iPhone-Modelle mit LTE-Unterstützung zu testen. BGR hat Belege für eine interne iOS-Testfirmware von einem der großen Partner-Provider von Apple erhalten, in der entsprechende Vermerke für ein LTE-Modem enthalten sind. Daraus folgt nicht notwendigerweise, dass jedes kommende Apple-Gerät über ein LTE-Modem verfügen wird, aber man kann sicherlich davon ausgehen, dass Apple die Weiterentwicklung des Mobilfunkstandards nicht verpasst. Auch klar ist: Wenn Apple wirklich ein LTE-Gerät auf den Markt bringen sollte, dann dürfte endlich die Akkulaufzeit über ein paar Stunden hinausgehen.
Tags: 4G iPhone, 4G LTE, Apple, carrier testing, evidence, iOS, iPhone, iPhone 5, iPhone 6, leak, LTE iPhone, plist, testing Artikelvorschau

http://www.de.bgr.com/2011/08/15/provider-testen-iphone-mit-…

[cell1]

Briefing - Rumor Round Up 13.34h


Interdigital Comm (IDCC) was under pressure following a rumor that was suggesting Samsung has dropped out of the takeover race.

[Nonbroker]

Neues von HEISE:

Google zahlt bei Scheitern der Motorola-Übernahme draufSollte die angekündigte Übernahme des Handyherstellers Motorola Mobility doch noch platzen, zahlt Google trotzdem: Der Suchmaschinenkonzern hat sich einem Bericht der Wirtschaftsnachrichtenagentur Bloomberg zufolge verpflichtet, Motorola Mobility 2,5 Milliarden US-Dollar (1,75 Milliarden Euro) zu zahlen, sollte die Übernahme scheitern. Im Gegenzug müsse Motorola 375 Millionen US-Dollar (261 Millionen Euro) auf den Tisch legen, sollte der Handyhersteller noch kalte Füße bekommen.

Die Gebühr an sich ist bei Übernahmen nicht ungewöhnlich, wohl aber die Höhe. In der Regel werden 3 bis 5 Prozent des Kaufpreises fällig, und für beide Seiten gilt der gleiche Satz. In diesem Fall liege Googles Prozentsatz deutlich über dem Mittel, heißt es bei Bloomberg weiter. Der Suchmaschinenkonzern wolle wohl Entschlossenheit demonstrieren, interpretieren Analysten die außergewöhnlich hohe Summe. Umgekehrt sei es für Motorola eine Absicherung, nicht noch am Altar stehen gelassen zu werden.

Google hatte am Montag überraschend angekündigt, die erst seit kurzem eigenständige Handysparte von Motorola für 12,5 Milliarden US-Dollar (8,7 Milliarden Euro) übernehmen zu wollen. Der Internetkonzern ist damit bereit, rund 60 Prozent mehr zu zahlen, als der Mobilfunk-Veteran am Wochenende noch wert war. Die spektakuläre Übernahme soll bis Ende 2011 oder Anfang 2012 über die Bühne gegangen sein.

Damit das wie geplant klappt, müssen noch die Kartellbehörden zustimmen. Beobachter laut US-Medienberichten davon aus, dass die Übernahme bei den in den USA zuständigen Aufsichtsbehörden kaum auf Widerstand stoßen wird. Doch haben die nicht das letzte Wort: Auch die EU-Kommission muss den Heiratsplänen noch ihren Segen geben.

Dabei war Google laut einem US-Medienbericht nicht der einzige mögliche Bräutigam. Motorola habe mit verschiedenen Kandidaten gesprochen, berichtet das Branchen-Blog GigaOm unter Berufung auf ungenannte Quellen. So soll zunächst Microsoft an der Übernahme des Patentportfolios von Motorola interessiert gewesen sein, was Google auf den Plan gerufen habe. Der Suchmaschinenkonzern habe schließlich das Rennen gemacht, weil Microsoft kein Interesse an Motorolas Hardwaregeschäft gezeigt habe. (vbr)

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Google-zahlt-bei-Sche…

[Nonbroker]

August 16, 2011, 9:56 AM ET.

Apple Covets RIM, NOK, InterDigital Assets In Patent ‘War,’ Says Jefferies.
By Tiernan Ray

Jefferies & Co.’s Peter Misek this morning opines that Apple (AAPL) could be interested in acquiring the patents of Nokia (NOK), Research in Motion (RIMM), or InterDigital (IDCC) as part of a “patent war” following Google’s (GOOG) announcement yesterday it will buy Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5 billion.

Of the MMI deal, Misek writes, “we have identified approximately 500 essential 3G and 4G patents. This implies that each essential patent is worth approximately $20M” based on the deal price, he thinks.

Misek estimates RIM’s patent portfolio has been amassed by the company at a cost of $5 billion, though the composition of it through multiple acquisitions over the years makes it somewhat difficult to value.

The primary attraction as far as RIM’s portfolio would be patents held on “critical security” and the “network operations center” and related infrastructure technology.

Apple already pays “significant royalties” to Nokia to license technology, he observes, and Nokia has “at least 50 essential 4G patents and over 100 essential 3G patents.”

InterDigital’s patent trove is difficult to value because of the many cross-licensing deals the company has been engaged in, writes Misek.

Of course, Misek doesn’t say Apple would buy the companies outright, though it is hard to imagine any of the firms simply parting with their patent holdings and continuing as a going concern.

Apple shares today are down $2.84, or 0.7%, at$380.57; Nokia shares are down 26 cents, or 4%, at $6.03; RIM shares are down 78 cents, or 3%, at $26.33. InterDigital shares are off $2.99, or almost 5%, at $61.97.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2011/08/16/apple-co…

[Nonbroker]

Nachtrag M/Partners vom 15.08.2011

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_intraday_note_2011_8_15.…

[Nonbroker]

Die Idee finde ich gut: Jim Lurgio, Moderator des Boards "Interdigital" auf Investorshub, schlägt vor, eine vorgeschriebene Email an David Faber von CNBC zu senden. Es geht um den Vorschlag, Ron Shuttleworth von M/Partners zu einem Gespräch über Interdigital einzuladen. Die Email steht hinter der Emailadresse, bitte einfach abschicken



JimLur Share Wednesday, August 17, 2011 7:37:48 AM
Re: None Post # of 331729

To all, Please help out.

I spoke with Ron from Mpartners today and he sent me his report which Postyle posted. I asked him if he would be willing to be on CNBC and he said yes. I wrote a email to David Faber who IMO is a reporter that does a good job breaking stories and copy is below.

I'm asking all investors here to also send a email to David as to smoke his mail box with requests to have Ron comment on what's going on in the industry.

Make sure you put Interdigital in the subject line as I did as I'm sure he wont read them all but if he gets 500 or so it will give him a wake up call.

Send your message or copy and paste mine to.

[e-mail]

David,

There has been a lot of discussion lately on CNBC about the mobile "Patent Wars" that started with the Nortel Auction and involves Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and more.

Recently, InterDigtal (IDCC) has been mentioned many times as an important piece in the battle for wireless patents. Most of the coverage I’ve seen on CNBC is about the amount of patents owned. I believe the focus should be about core or essential patents for the 4G wireless standard (quality vs. quantity). The term "Essential Patents" actually sends the message that you can’t make a product without using the invention. Of all the thousands of patents being mentioned, the program never specifies how many are essential.

Since you like to break stories I suggest you contact the lead analyst of InterDigital (IDCC), Ron Shuttleworth of MPartners. This Canadian analyst has great knowledge of the Nortel (which also is from Canada) deal and has provided comments on the Google/MMI deal as well. I attached his report from yesterday and suggest you call him or better yet invite him for a interview on CNBC.

His contact information is in the attached report.

Jim Lurgio

[Nonbroker]

Beitrag auf wirelessledger:

http://wirelessledger.com/Davenport_report_2011_8_16.pdf

[cell1]

Apple, Qualcomm, others eye InterDigital: sources

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/17/us-interdigital-id…

[sdaktien]

Wär es nicht besser, dass in die Sendung vor Börsenbeginn zu packen?

Ansonsten kommen doch nur wieder die Republikaner dazwischen.

[cell1]

Apple, Qualcomm, others eye InterDigital: sources

Qualcomm ? garantiert nicht
Nokia ? kein Geld bei dem Kurswert ?

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.965.281 von cell1 am 17.08.11 18:29:59

Apple, Qualcomm, others eye InterDigital: sources

NEW YORK | Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:27pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc, Nokia and Qualcomm Inc are among several telecom and technology companies weighing bids for InterDigital Inc, which specializes in wireless communications technologies, sources familiar with the situation said.

InterDigital is up for sale and is forging ahead with its auction despite a setback on Monday when Google Inc, one of the key potential bidders, struck another deal.

Google agreed to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings for $12.5 billion. That led to a 23 percent drop in InterDigital's shares on Monday.

Google has not formally withdrawn from the auction, but it is unclear whether the Internet giant will bid for InterDigital, which is attractive for its wireless patents, the sources said.

InterDigital declined to comment. The other potential bidders were not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Nadia Damouni; editing by John Wallace)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/17/us-interdigital-id…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital (IDCC) Ticking Higher, Reuters Says Co. Getting Interest from Multiple Bidders
August 17, 2011 12:22 PM EDT

InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC) shares moving higher as Reuters reporting the company is getting interest from multiple bidders.

A source is suggesting the first round of bidding may have been pushed back til after the Labor Day weekend.


http://www.streetinsider.com/Momentum+Movers/InterDigital+%2…

[cell1]

Another story with the "Labor Day" comment
Apple, Qualcomm among companies weighing bids for InterDigital, Reuters says

On Wednesday August 17, 2011, 12:17 pm

According to sources, Apple (NasdaqGS:AAPL), Qualcomm (QCOM) and Nokia (NOK) are among the firms weighing bids for InterDigital (IDCC), Reuters reports. The sources say Google (GOOG) hasn't formally withdrawn from the auction, but it is currently unclear if it will still bid. First round bids have been pushed back to after Labor Day, the sources add.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-Qualcomm-among-theflyont…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Surges on Report Saying Qualcomm, Nokia May Bid
QBy Douglas MacMillan - Aug 17, 2011 9:02 PM GMT+0200 .

InterDigital Inc. surged after Reuters reported that Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) are among technology companies pondering bids for the company’s assets, citing people familiar with the matter.

InterDigital, which owns about 1,300 patents related to mobile-phone technology, leaped as much as 12 percent to $71.87 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have gained more than 70 percent since the company said on July 19 it hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital to help explore a potential sale to take advantage of demand for wireless patents.

Samsung Electronics Co., Google Inc. and Apple Inc. (AAPL) have also been considering whether to bid for InterDigital’s assets, people familiar with the matter have said in recent weeks. The stock sank on Aug. 15 on speculation that Google might no longer be a potential suitor after announcing its $12.5 billion bid for Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., said Philippe Zera, an analyst at Algorithm Capital in Santa Clara, California.

“The extent of Monday’s selloff was unwarranted,” said Zera, whose firm owns shares of InterDigital and recommends buying the stock. “The stock is recovering.”

InterDigital has said its patents are deeper and stronger than those Nortel Networks Corp. auctioned earlier this year. A group led by Apple and Microsoft Corp. won with a $4.5 billion bid on July 1.

James Etheridge, a spokesman for Nokia, said the company doesn’t comment on speculation. Emily Kilpatrick, a spokeswoman for San Diego-based Qualcomm, declined to comment, as did Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for InterDigital.

InterDigital rose $5.03, or 7.9 percent, to $69.06 at 2:58 p.m. New York time.

To contact the reporter on this story: Douglas MacMillan in San Francisco at [e-mail]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-17/interdigital-shares…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Shares Popped: What You Need to Know

By Anders Bylund August 17, 2011

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of mobile technology collector InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) jumped as much as 12.2% today, mainly in a huge-volume spike shortly after lunch.
So what: InterDigital fell on Monday as Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) chose to buy Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) rather than investing in this patent cache. Today, Reuters reports that Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) , and QUALCOMM (Nasdaq: QCOM ) remain interested in the company and that's good enough for a terrific price jump.

Now what: This stock has been feast or famine over the last few weeks as the value of patent portfolios in the mobile space has risen on the back of very public patent wars. I'd be surprised if InterDigital makes it until Christmas as an independent company, though it's anyone's guess exactly who the buyer might be. Given that the share price has nearly doubled since mid-June, I'm also not sure if there's much room for a buyout premium in this valuation. But a bidding war is not out of the question -- these 8,800 wireless patents are just that useful as offensive weapons or defensive shields.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/17/interdigita…

[Nonbroker]

Apple, Qualcomm, others eye InterDigital

Published: Wednesday, 17 Aug 2011 | 2:46 PM ET

NEW YORK - Apple Inc, Nokia and Qualcomm Inc are among several technology companies pondering bids for InterDigital Inc, sources familiar with the situation said.

The auction of the wireless telecommunications specialist -- expected to be heavily contested as giant tech companies fight to shore up patent portfolios -- will be postponed from next week until after Labor Day, the sources said.

Shares in InterDigital, which has a market value of about $3 billion, leaped as much as 12.2 percent on the news. But it quickly backtracked and was up $4.38 or 6.8 percent at $68.41 in afternoon trade.

Key potential bidder Google Inc has not formally withdrawn from the auction but it is unclear whether the Internet leader will bid for the company, the sources told Reuters.

InterDigital is up for sale and is forging ahead with its auction, despite Google agreeing to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc for $12.5 billion. That triggered a 23 percent drop in InterDigital's shares on Monday.

First-round bids have been postponed because bidders asked for more time to complete due diligence on the company's patents, the sources said.

To make up for that delay, the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company expects to accelerate the second round, the sources said.

Google's presence in the auction would be crucial to how much InterDigital could fetch, an analyst said.

"The problem InterDigital has is that Elvis has left the building. He's got his date," Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff said.

Modoff also questioned whether any other technology companies need InterDigital enough to pay the high price at which its shares are currently trading.

He noted that Qualcomm already has a good portfolio of patents, and so may not want to pay up for the business.

"The problem is finding somebody else to whom it's necessary." Modoff said. "It could get acquired, but not at where the stock is at (now)."

InterDigital's stock had soared last month on reports that Google was in talks to buy the company. Bidders have been eager to get their hands on the company's 8,800 patents -- including crucial 3G and 4G/LTE patents to strengthen operating software for smartphones.

Some analysts have said that InterDigital has one of the best quality patent portfolios that remains on the market after bankrupt Nortel Network's sold its patents to a consortium led by Apple and Microsoft Corp last month.

Just over 50 percent of the current 3G market is already under license with InterDigital. Its partners include Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Apple, Research In Motion Ltd and HTC Corp, among others. The company's 4G portfolio is relatively unlicensed.

InterDigital hired Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital on July 19 to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company.

InterDigital declined to comment. The other potential bidders were not immediately available for comment.

Copyright 2011 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44176719

[Nonbroker]

Aufregender Tag heute mal wieder, auf CNBC kam gegen 21.30 Uhr unserer Zeit ein Beitrag über IDCC, der noch einmal zu einem kurzen up führte. Wie schon vorher wiedergegeben, kommt es zu offiziellen News erst nach dem Labor Day, der ist am ersten Montag des September, also am 5.09.2011. Bis dahin kann es also geschehen, daß mit unserer Aktie nichts passiert.
Dagegen spricht die Charttechnik und die Wahrscheinlichkeit positiver News zwischendurch. Muß jeder Einzelne selbst entscheiden.

Gute Nacht

[Nonbroker]

Report: Sale of InterDigital's patent portfolio delayed

By: Josh Lowensohn August 17, 2011 11:19 AM PDT

The sale of InterDigital's patent portfolio has been pushed back until early September to give potential buyers a better chance to evaluate it, according to a new report.

Reuters said today the sale of InterDigital's portfolio, which stretches to some 8,800 granted patents and nearly 10,000 patent applications, is being delayed until after Labor Day. The sale was originally slated for next week, sources familiar with the situation told the outlet, but potential buyers want to vet the portfolio in light of recent landmark intellectual-property purchases.

Among the reported companies that were approached or otherwise interested in making bids on the massive portfolio are Apple, Samsung, as well as Google, which this week purchased Motorola Mobility Holdings and its portfolio of intellectual property. In its report, Reuters once again mentioned Apple as a potential buyer, as well as adding Nokia and Qualcomm to the list.

An InterDigital spokeswoman declined to comment on timing or details of the auction.

InterDigital's intellectual property is of special interest to handset makers and companies in the telecommunications business. The company's 3G and 2G technology patents have been used as the cornerstone of litigation that resulted in large settlements and licensing deals, including one with Samsung in 2008 that was valued from $400 million to $500 million as part of a five-year agreement. A complaint filed by InterDigital last month with the U.S. International Trade Commission, and as a lawsuit in Delaware, takes aim at Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE, claiming the companies are violating its patented 3G wireless technology.

Late last month InterDigital announced that it had hired Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital to consider strategic alternatives for the company, a move that included a sale of the company itself. It's the latest company to put its portfolio of intellectual property on the auction block, and it comes at a time when companies are making multibillion-dollar deals to snatch them up.

Canada-based telecom giant Nortel sold off its portfolio containing some 6,000 patents and patent applications for wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, and semiconductor technologies to a consortium of technology companies in late June. That particular portfolio sold for $4.5 billion, with Apple staking more than half the winning bid. By comparison, Google spent $12.5 billion on Motorola Mobility this week, a move that bolstered its patent portfolio by some 17,000 approved patents and 7,500 patent applications.

.inShare.4 Share Print E-mail

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20093606-38/report-sale-of…

[Nonbroker]

Heute gibt es natürlich nur ein Thema:

18.08.2011 11:55 Patentwahnsinn: Interdigital verschiebt AuktionAngesichts der Rekordpreise für Mobilfunkpatente wollen einige Käufer mehr Zeit zur Prüfung der Interdigital-Patente.

Die auf Mobilfunktechnik spezialisierte Interdigital hat ihren geplanten Patente-Verkauf auf September verschoben. Dadurch sollen Bieter mehr Zeit erhalten um das Patente-Portfolio von Interdigital prüfen zu können, wie Reuters berichtet.

Das Portfolio besteht aus rund 8'000 Patenten und ca. 10'000 Anträgen im Bereich der 2G- und 3G-Standards. Wegen der Rekordpreise für die Nortel- und Motorola-Patente erbaten sich einige Bieter mehr Zeit für deren Durchsicht vor einem Kauf.


Nortels "Nationalschatz" klein im Vergleich
Mit den zu veräusserten Schutzrechten soll Interdigital bereits erfolgreich gegen Samsung vor Gericht gezogen sein. Daraufhin bezahlte Samsung zwischen 400 und 500 Millionen US-Dollar Lizenzgebühren über mehrere Jahre. Derzeit klage das Unternehmen gegen Nokia, Huawei und ZTE. Das macht das Patentpaket interessant für Mobilfunkhersteller.

Patente für den Mobilfunk sind derzeit sehr gefragt. Im Juni hatten Apple, Ericsson, EMC, Research in Motion, Microsoft und Sony gemeinsam Nortels Patente erworben. Kaufpreis der in der Branche als "Nationalschatz" bezeichneten 6'000 Patente: 4,5 Milliarden US-Dollar. Das sei aber noch gar nichts, will Techcrunch wissen. Demnach esse Interdigitals Patentpaket das von Nortel zum Frühstück.

Kauft Apple Nokia-Patente?
Schon spekulieren Analysten über den Wert weiterer Patentkäufe und den Wert der Patente. Der Google-Motorola-Deal, bei dem rund 17'000 Patente über den Ladentisch gingen, unterstreiche laut Aktiencheck den Wert der Motorola-Patente.

Das wirke sich auch auf den Wert von RIMs Patenten aus. Diese würden nun auf 10 Milliarden Dollar eingeschätzt - doppelt so viel wie vor dem Deal. Als möglicher Käufer vermuten Analysten der Bank Jefferies und Co Apple.

Die Analysten halten es aber auch für möglich, das der iPhone-Hersteller Nokia kauft um an deren Patentportfolio zu gelangen. Mit Barreserven von über 70 Milliarden Dollar läge das für Apple drin. Nokia halte mindestens 50 wichtige 4G-Patente sowie über 100 3G-Patente. Mit Hinblick auf die derzeit sehr heftig geführten Attacken einiger ICT-Unternehmen könnten Steve Jobs Anwälte vermutlich eines der mächtigsten Patentschwerter schwingen.

http://www.netzwoche.ch/de-CH/News/2011/08/18/Interdigital-w…

[Nonbroker]

ZDNet / News / Business
Bericht: Interdigital verschiebt Verkauf seiner Mobilfunkpatente
von Josh Lowensohn und Stefan Beiersmann, 18. August 2011, 09:07 Uhr

InterDigital hat angeblich den Verkauf seiner Mobilfunkpatentsammlung auf Anfang September verschoben. Wie die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters mitteilt, sollen mögliche Interessenten so die Gelegenheit erhalten, das Portfolio, das etwa 8000 Schutzrechte und rund 10.000 Anträge umfasst, genau zu prüfen.

Den Quellen von Reuters zufolge war der Verkauf ursprünglich für kommende Woche geplant. Einige der möglichen Käufer hätten aber angesichts der jüngsten Patentgeschäfte, bei denen Rekordpreise erzielt worden waren, um mehr Zeit gebeten, um die Schutzrechte zu sichten.

Zu den Unternehmen, die sich angeblich für InterDigitals Patente interessieren, gehören Apple, Samsung und Google. Letzteres hatte in dieser Woche Motorola Mobility und dessen knapp 17.000 Mobilfunkpatente gekauft. Der Reuters-Bericht nennt darüber hinaus auch Nokia und Qualcomm als Bewerber. Eine Sprecherin von InterDigital wollte weder den Zeitplan kommentieren noch Details der Auktion nennen.

InterDigitals geistiges Eigentum ist vor allem für Handyhersteller und Telekommunikationsanbieter interessant. Das Patentportfolio umfasst zahlreiche Schutzrechte für 2G- und 3G-Technologien. In der Vergangenheit setzte es sie erfolgreich gegen Firmen wie Samsung durch. Die Koreaner sollen für einen Lizenzvertrag über fünf Jahre zwischen 400 und 500 Millionen Dollar gezahlt haben. Aktuell läuft eine Patentklage gegen Nokia, Huawei und ZTE.

Ende Juli hatte InterDigital angekündigt, es habe Evercore Partners und Barclays Capital engagiert, um nach strategischen Alternativen zu suchen. Darin eingeschlossen ist auch der Verkauf des Unternehmens.

Der Zeitpunkt dafür scheint gut gewählt zu sein. Ende Juni hatte ein Konsortium, dem unter anderem Apple angehört, Nortel 4,5 Milliarden Dollar für 6000 Patente und Patentanträge gezahlt. Google gab in dieser Woche 12,5 Milliarden Dollar aus, um sich 17.000 Patente und 7500 Patentanträge von Motorola Mobility zu sichern.

http://www.zdnet.de/news/41555744/bericht-interdigital-versc…

[cell1]

Interdigital verschiebt Verkauf seiner Mobilfunkpatente
nicht die komplette Firma, also nur Cash schöne Schei...

[Nonbroker]

Die neue "Morning Note" von M/Partners


http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_8_18.p…

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.970.307 von Nonbroker am 18.08.11 16:21:05

Interdigital verschiebt Verkauf seiner Mobilfunkpatente (Probleme ?) haben genügend Zeit gehabt!
Google abgesprungen ...

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital: A Crown Jewel in the Growing Patent War
by: Chris Versace August 18, 2011 | about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, GOOG, HPQ, MMI, MSFT

Following Google’s (GOOG) announced its intent to acquire Motorola Mobility (MMI), shares of InterDigital (IDCC) came under pressure as the market perceived that Google is out of the running to acquire InterDigital and its leading 3G and 4G patent portfolio following the Board’s decision to explore strategic alternatives. It is because of that patent portfolio combined with the increasing nature of patent lawsuits that I recommended IDCC shares as part of my Asymmetric Business Model investing theme several months ago. As expected, the recent sale of Nortel’s patent pool has been a catalyst for IDCC shares and I too thought Google was a logical acquirer of InterDigital following its loss to Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Research in Motion (RIMM) and others that struck the winning bid for Nortel’s patent pool.

Despite Google’s intention to acquire Motorola Mobility and its patent pool, there are ample suitors for InterDigital’s patent pool, which is not only solid in 3G but even stronger in 4G per data from Informa and others. As patent battles in the Connected Device space continue, InterDigital’s patent portfolio would be an attractive asset to any of those companies that lost out on the recent Nortel patent auction or ones that need to shore up their respective patent portfolio - Google and Apple included, particularly given InterDigital’s patent position in 4G.

As regular readers will recall, my position on MMI has been a negative one given the ensuing smartphone and tablet bloodbath that continues to intensify as well as the lofty valuation accorded to MMI shares. That fundamental perspective has been rendered mute given Google's $40 per share bid for MMI. With MMI shares trading at 5 percent below Google's $40 per share bid, I would recommend holders of MMI exit their positions with risk averse holders taking profits; for more risk tolerant investors, I would recommend exiting MMI positions and using the proceeds to buy IDCC shares.
Many will look at the $4.5 billion paid for Nortel’s patent pool as a reference point and argue a per patent dollar amount, which equates to $750,000 per patent. Such math would suggest InterDigital’s 8,800 granted patents are worth more than $6.5 billion or $150 per InterDigital share. What needs to be pointed out is the underinvesting in Nortel’s patent portfolio in recent years compared with InterDigital’s ongoing efforts as well as InterDigital’s superior 4G position. Others will view Google’s $12.5 billion bid for Motorola and argue Google is paying roughly $700,000 per patent, which I disagree with given Motorola’s net cash position as well as its device and set top box businesses. If we were to use such logic then we would have to consider the $1.2 billion that Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) paid for Palm and its 1,650 or so patents - that derives a price per patent near $600,000. And as we found out after the fact there were other bidders for Palm, including Apple.
Even if we were to adjust accorded valuation multiples on a dollar per patent basis or on peer metrics for other IP licensing businesses to account for near-term hurdles at InterDigital - pending Nokia litigation and the need to re-up customers, such as LG - IDCC shares remain undervalued relative to the company’s IP and patent position. As part of a larger organization, odds are several of those valuation-affecting issues would be addressed.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/288243-interdigital-a-crown-…

[cell1]

Nächster Streit um Mobilpatente startet kommende Woche
18.08.2011 | 16:05 von Manfred Kohlen

Das bankrotte Unternehmen Interdigital steht zum Verkauf. Weil seine Patente schon 50 Prozent des 3G-Marktes (wie UMTS) und einige 4G-Techniken (wie LTE) betreffen, könnten sich bei der Auktion kapitalkräftige Anleger wie Apple, Google und Qualcomm gegenseitig
überbieten.
Das Unternehmen InterDigital war bislang wohl nur Insiderkreisen bekannt, und doch wird sein Wert auf drei Milliarden US-Dollar geschätzt. Der Grund für die Wertschätzung sind wieder einmal die Patente , um die sich derzeit sehr Vieles in der IT-Branche dreht. Der Experte für drahtlose Telekommunikation besitzt wohl erzeit die wertvollsten Patente in diesem Bereich, die noch käuflich sind.
http://www.itespresso.de/2011/08/18/nachster-streit-um-mobil…

[cell1]

Apple, Microsoft Losing Interest in InterDigital: DealReporter

2011-08-18 15:13:05.266 GMT

By Clyde Eltzroth

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Apple, Microsoft may no longer be interested in InterDigital’s assets, dealReporter said yesterday citing two industry sources (one close to GOOG/MMI deal).

* GOOG may still be interested in IDCC, an IP source said: dealReporter

* Samsung looked at IDCC in past 4-5 months, decided not to pursue deal, industry source said: dealReporter

* Industry executive: Losing bidders in Nortel auction may look to buy IDCC; losers included NEC, Nokia, Siemens,

Huawei, ZTE: dealReporter

* NOTE: dealReporter said Aug. 16 Samsung interest in IDCC lukewarm; Link:{NSN LQ0W676S972O <go>}

* NOTE: Reuters reported yesterday IDCC seeing interest from multiple bidders; Link:{NSN LQ2YZ06S972A <go>}

* IDCC down as much as 5.8%, down as much as 23% this week

[Nonbroker]

Der vollständige Artikel ist unter dem Link einzusehen

http://www.itespresso.de/2011/08/18/nachster-streit-um-mobil…

[Nonbroker]

Interview mit Ron Shuttleworth von M/Partners über IDCC

http://watch.bnn.ca/business-day/august-2011/business-day-au…

[Nonbroker]

Postyle hat sich wieder die Mühe gemacht, auf Investorshub alles Wichtige über IDCC zusammenzufassen! Wahnsinnsarbeit!

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[Nonbroker]

Neues von "The Street"

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/11224343/1/interdigita…

[cell1]

InterDigital's Patent Power Petering Out
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11224343/1/interdigitals-pate…

[Nonbroker]

Ein Beitrag über Samsung:
S.Korea-Market Factors to watch Aug 19
»Financials »Technology »Thu Aug 18, 2011 7:11pm EDT


SEOUL, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Following is a list of events in
South Korea as well as news stories and press reports which may
influence financial markets. (Reuters News welcomes your
feedback and for any queries, please contact the Seoul newsroom
at [phone] or via email at [e-mail])
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KOREA (Times local, GMT +9 hrs)
>Household income and spending data for the second quarter to be
released. 1200
>Financial regulators expected to meet to decide whether to
proceed with the sale of the government's stake in Woori Finance
Holdings after only one bidder entered the race.
1300
>Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan to give a speech at an
international conference in Seoul. 2000
MARKET SNAPSHOTS
*Seoul shares snapped a two-day gaining streak on Thursday, with
institutional investors dumping tech issues after Dell Inc's
disappointing outlook.
*Rising fears of another recession hammered U.S. stocks on
Thursday, sending major averages sharply lower in a return to
the extreme fluctuations investors endured a week ago.
* Brent crude oil fell nearly $4 a barrel on Thursday as a raft
of weak U.S. economic data provided a fresh blow to shaky
investor confidence, while U.S. crude's losses extended to 14
percent so far in August.
*Renewed jitters over Europe's debt crisis and a raft of weak
U.S. economic data sparked a rout in global equities on Thursday
while driving skittish investors to the safety of gold and U.S.
government bonds.
TOP NEWS REUTERS KOREA

TOP STORIES
>S.Korea banks cut household lending
>LG Elec cuts TV sales target by 20 pct -report
>Kim goes sailing as North Koreans seek food-report
>S.Korea's conservatives in crisis over policy
MARKETS
>Seoul shares down; techs dive, telecos rally
>S.Korea won down, bonds flatten on growth concerns

IN THE KOREAN PRESS
>Hyundai Motor Co will export 1,200 Avante models to
Mongolia to serve as taxis by the end of this year.
>Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has started sales of its
'Sense Chromebook Series 5' by subscription in South Korea.

>According to an industry analyst, Samsung Electronics is
pondering a bid for U.S. software company Interdigital Inc
. Samsung has denied the speculation.

Latest KR stock report Latest money report
Latest stocks KR press digest [Press]
KR main diary [Ordinary] KR IPO diary
Global Markets report Oil Markets report
New York Stocks Asia stock outlook
Emerging markets report

(Reporting by Tae-yi Kim; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/18/idUSL3E7JI4HD20110…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Seen as a Defensive Weapon Against Google Patent Juggernaut
By Scott M. Fulton, III / August 18, 2011 1:44 PM

"Our technology is used in every mobile phone," reads a leaderboard-style ad on the home page of InterDigital, a wireless technology company that holds some 8,800 critical patents. An independent assessment last April of the relative value of communications companies' patent portfolios by equity market analysis firm Ocean Tomo LLC rated the key 4G and 3G patents held by InterDigital (of which there are about 20) as about 4% more valuable, and 6% more relevant to significant communications platforms, than Nortel's 20 key patents.

Financial analysts last week had perceived an upcoming InterDigital patent auction as a key opportunity for Google to pull itself back to par after having lost both its bids for the Nortel and Novell portfolios. But that was before last Monday's announcement of Google's intent to acquire Motorola Mobility (MMI).


Nearly all bets were on Google to be the prime bidder for this huge intellectual property prize package, which was to have taken place as soon as this week. But now that the InterDigital auction has been postponed until sometime after Labor Day, as Reuters reported this morning, there's significant speculation that Google's move this week may actually have opened the door for Apple to make a killing next month.

At issue here is standards and who will end up controlling them. It's a common perception that the proliferation of standards in any industry, including communications, enables participants in the industry to develop their technology in accepted ways. Sometimes "standards" and "openness" are viewed symmetrically, if not synonymously.

But in one of the most well-phrased analyses of this or any intellectual property situation, last June, Seeking Alpha contributor Ben Strubel encapsulated in one short paragraph the truth that many contributors to presumably open standards are just now realizing, with InterDigital as the subject of his illustration:

InterDigital is not in a proprietary technology business. That means that InterDigital designs technology that conforms to existing communications standards. This is very important. It means that other companies are essentially forced to license InterDigital's patents.
Or to put it more bluntly if less eloquently, he who holds the standards sets the fees. According to another Reuters report yesterday, at least half of all pertinent 3G technology licenses are payable to InterDigital, with Apple being one of those shelling out the fees. Google had reportedly already expressed interest in the InterDigital portfolio in prior months, but the reason for the auction's delay, according to Reuters, is to give prospective bidders more time to do due diligence research on the portfolio's value, particularly in the wake of the Motorola bid. This suggests that bidders other than Google are interested in the defensive value of the InterDigital portfolio. Reuters' sources speculate the leading interested parties are Apple and Qualcomm.

Licensing is the key revenue stream for the telecommunications industry, and the only way for a company to move that stream in its own direction is to be owed more in license fees than it owes others. Ocean Tomo believes the InterDigital portfolio to be about 17% more valuable, and 15% more relevant, than the MMI portfolio that Google may acquire in its $12.5 billion bid. If that's accurate, and the Google/MMI deal is consummated, then conceivably Google may end up owing more to Apple or Qualcomm than it would be owed - making its entire entry into the manufacturing business something of a wash.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/enterprise/2011/08/interdigital-…

[Nonbroker]

Eigentlich ein leicht negativer Artikel, trägt aber zur Urteilsfindung bei:

Jetzt will Apple den Patenttroll Interdigital kaufen

Seit Google als Käufer von Interdigital kaum noch in Frage kommt, ist das Interesse von Apple, Nokia und Qualcomm gewachsen. Die Versteigerung findet Anfang September 2011 statt.

Apple, Nokia, Qualcomm und mehrere andere IT-Unternehmen interessieren sich für den Kauf des Patenthändlers und Mobilfunkentwicklers Interdigital. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters unter Berufung auf informierte Kreise. Das Unternehmen hat einen Börsenwert von rund 3 Milliarden US-Dollar.

Am 20. Juli 2011 wurde bekannt, dass es bereits Gespräche zwischen Google und Interdigital gegeben hat. Es ist unklar, ob Google auch nach dem Kauf von Motorola noch Interesse an Interdigital hat. Google galt als einer der wahrscheinlichsten Käufer von Interdigital. Die Höhe des Preises für das Unternehmen aus King of Prussia, im US-Bundesstaat Pennsylvania, hängt davon ab, ob Google an der Versteigerung teilnehmen wird.

Interdigital besteht seit 1972. Das US-Unternehmen besitzt und lizenziert rund 8.800 Patente aus dem Bereich mobile Datenübertragung aus den Bereichen UMTS und LTE und zur Unterdrückung von Störgeräuschen beim Telefonieren. Die Schutzrechte beziehen sich hauptsächlich auf Mobiltelefone und erstrecken sich über verschiedene Mobilfunkstandards. Interdigitals Hauptgeschäftszweig ist die Durchsetzung von Patentrechten durch Klagen und die Lizenzierung der Schutzrechte.

Der Verkauf von Interdigital sollte bislang in der kommenden Woche stattfinden. Der Termin wurde nun auf nach dem 5. September 2011, dem Tag der Arbeit in den USA, verschoben, weil die Bieter mehr Zeit für die Prüfung des Patentsortiments gefordert haben.

Der Ausgang der Versteigerung von Interdigital ist offen. Einige Analysten halten den Börsenwert des Unternehmens für überhöht. Zudem verfügt gerade Qualcomm bereits über ein breites Patentportfolio. Andere Analysten halten Interdigitals Patentkatalog für einen der bedeutendsten nach Nortel. Nortels Patente wurden Ende Juni 2011 für 4,5 Milliarden US-Dollar an ein von Apple angeführtes Konsortium verkauft. Zu der Käufergruppe gehörten auch Microsoft, Sony, Research In Motion (RIM), Ericsson und EMC.

http://www.golem.de/1108/85835.html--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[cell1]

vorbörslich auf 62 $ gefallen ???

[cell1]

Google and Samsung may have dropped out.
I don't know what IDCC is worth nor do I care to specualate. I just don't think these co's are willing to pay much more than the Nortel deal regardless of what IDCC thinks their worth or is worth. If no one is willing to pay what mgt thinks their worth, then IDCC will stay independant and that will not be a good thing imo.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 41.976.246 von cell1 am 19.08.11 14:39:39

Bitte immer mit Quellenangabe und komplette Wiedergabe!
Das war nur ein post aus investorshub.

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

[cell1]

Samsung Electronics Won’t Bid for InterDigital: Economic Daily

2011-08-19 07:54:15.118 GMT

　

By Jun Yang

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Samsung Electronics decided not to bid for InterDigital Inc. because the price is too high, the Seoul Economic Daily reported, citing unidentified industry officials.

Samsung is examining InterDigital’s patent portfolio after being approached to make a bid, Bloomberg reported earlier this month, citing two people familiar with the matter.

[cell1]

Optionsscheintag große Sprünge

[cell1]

This is the link for that Reuters article on MMI possible sale of phone business:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/19/us-google-motorola…

It doesn't mention who the analysts are who estimated. But even if IDCC's patents "only" goes for 4.5B,
then if you add the business and the cash and the receivables, you get somewhere in the neigborhood of 6 to 7 billion.

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital and VirnetX Remain in High Demand

Interdigital, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:IDCC)
Intraday Stock Chart
Heute : Friday 19 August 2011

Technology firms focused on communications equipment are seeing secular growth provide new markets and business. Many companies within the sector are fighting hard for the position in these new markets through acquisitions and marketing tactics. The Bedford Report examines the outlook for companies in the Technology Sector and provides equity research on VirnetX Holding Corporation (NYSE Amex: VHC) and InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

Tech stocks made a significant jump to kick off the week as Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility led to a surge in takeover speculation. As companies get larger and experience diminishing returns in their core business, they are showing willingness to utilize their large resource pools to acquire smaller firms in a race to diversify and to build their reach.

As the shift from 2G networks to 3G and 4G accelerates, communications equipment makers find themselves at a transition point. While many companies in the industry are finding new growth opportunities, they have had to sacrifice traditional revenue drivers.

The Bedford Report releases regular market updates on the Technology Sector so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at www.bedfordreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous analyst reports and industry newsletters.

InterDigital offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. It holds patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. A recent report from Reuters says that "Apple Inc., Nokia and Qualcomm Inc. are among several technology companies pondering bids for InterDigital."

VirnetX is engaged in developing and commercializing Software and technology solutions for securing real-time communications over the Internet. The company holds a patent for technology that has the ability to secure an entire mobile device, meaning phone-makers will likely have to pay major royalties to the company moving forward. Shares of the company have been on the upswing on speculation that the company could be a takeover target with the Analyst firm Cowen & Co arguing that Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility highlighted the value of VirnetX's patents.

The Bedford Report provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. The Bedford Report has not been compensated by any of the above mentioned publicly traded companies. The Bedford Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.bedfordreport.com/disclaimer.



http://de.advfn.com/nachrichten/InterDigital-and-VirnetX-Rem…

[Nonbroker]

M/Partners vom 19.08.2011:


http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_intraday_note_2011_8_19.…

[Nonbroker]

Will Apple Snag InterDigital in Hot Patent Pursuit?
By John P. Mello Jr.
MacNewsWorld
08/19/11 5:00 AM PT

If Google's intention to acquire Motorola Mobility -- and its 17,000 patents -- is making Apple nervous, it might be interested in giving InterDigital a long, hard look. The company is open to dealing, and it's the proud owner of 1,300 mobile patents. However, "given the way that Apple typically works, you wouldn't see Apple going out and buying a company just for patents," maintained Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg.

An arms race appears to have broken out over high-tech patent acquisitions with companies jockeying to pad their intellectual property stores or risk paying a price in legal fees or royalties. That's why speculation abounds about how Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) may react to Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) move to acquire Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) and its 17,000 cellphone patents.

Apple may have gained a leg up in the patent wars when it -- along with Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY), EMC (NYSE: EMC), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) and Sony (NYSE: SNE) -- outbid Google for Nortel's (NYSE: NT) patent pool, which included some 6,000 patents and patent applications in telecommunications, Internet search and social networking .

Google had offered $900 million for Nortel's IP; the consortium paid $4.5 billion for it. But the search giant's latest acquisition may level the playing field again.

"It's an arms race," said Chris Versace, director of research at Think 20/20 and publisher of The Thematic Investor. The current climate in the patent market is comparable to the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union in the '70s and '80s, he told MacNewsWorld.

"We would move further -- they would catch up; then they'd move ahead, and we'd have to catch up," Versace explained. "There was a constant move of one-upmanship."


Shrinking Patent Pool
Unlike the resources to produce weapons, quality patent pools in the mobile communications area are drying up, according to Versace.

"The availability of good wireless patent pools has been shrinking," he said.

Patent hunters surveying the landscape see Palm's patents scooped up by HP (NYSE: HPQ), Nortel's gobbled up by Apple and others, and now Motorola's gone to Google.

"You're looking around the room trying to figure out what chair you're going to get when the music stops, because the number of chairs is shrinking," Versace said.

One of those chairs still available is InterDigital, which has some 1,300 mobile patents, including a treasure trove of intellectual property in the 3G and 4G area. What's more, the company is ready to cash out on them.

Last month, the concern issued a statement saying its board of directors had "initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction." To help the company with that process, it was hiring Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital.

The announcement sent InterDigital's stock into orbit; since its release, per share prices have risen 70 percent to hover around $70.

More Than an Auction?
Reportedly, the "process" was to culminate in an auction next week, with bidders to include Apple, Samsung, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM). However, Reuters reported on Wednesday that the event had been postponed until after Labor Day.

When asked to comment, Jack Indekeu, marketing director for InterDigital, told MacNewsWorld that "regretfully, we cannot comment on the timing of the process."

That process could be more than a patent auction, though, he added.

"It's not just about the patents," said Indekeu. "We're looking at what we can do with the entire company. That includes the patents, but also its engineering resources and licensing fees."

Apple did not respond to MacNewsWorld's requests for comment on its interest in InterDigital.

Cold War Strategy
While InterDigital's patent portfolio -- especially its 3G and 4G patents -- is attractive to patent hunters, it will take more than just patents alone to motivate Apple to scarf up the company, suggested Gartner (NYSE: IT) analyst Michael Gartenberg.

"Apple is far more focused on creating competitive products and distinguishing themselves in the marketplace through those products, rather than making patent efforts a core point of their strategic approach," he told MacNewsWorld.

Patents aren't as crucial to survival as they're often made out to be, he maintained. "To some degree, these patent issues are somewhat of a cold war. They're serious, but no company has really won or lost in the market because of their patents. In the end of the day, most of these things just get resolved."

"Given the way that Apple typically works," added Gartenberg, "you wouldn't see Apple going out and buying a company just for patents."


http://www.macnewsworld.com/rsstory/73109.html--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt bisher nichts Neues außer vielen Spekulationen über den Kaufpreis, den möglichen Käufer, wie lange es bis zum Verkauf noch dauert etc.

[Nonbroker]

"Neuigkeiten":

InterDigital to Go to Block after Labor Day: Reuters
The company has a market cap of around $3 billion

By Maureen O'Gara Article Rating:

August 21, 2011 09:00 AM EDT
RelatedPrint Email FeedbackAdd ThisBlog This
InterDigital and its patent stash are going to be auctioned off after Labor Day and according to Reuters Apple, Nokia and Qualcomm are interested. Samsung was previously mentioned as a possibility.

The company was reportedly supposed to go to the block next week but the sale was postponed to give bidders more time for due diligence.

Evidently Google, which just agreed to buy Motorola Mobility and its 17,000 patents and 7,500 patent applications for $12.5 billion, could still be a player and if it does bid, it might answer the question of why it's buying MMI.

InterDigital's stock was bid up after Google lost the Nortel patents and Google was reported to be in talks with the licensing firm. Google's engagement to MMI Monday took some of the air out of InterDigital's stock price since a lot of the loft was based on Google's perceived desperation.



The operation has 8,800 patents (1,300 US, 7,500 non-US), some reportedly crucial to 3G and 4G/LTE, and about 9,700 patent applications (1,200 US, 8,500 offshore).

The company has a market cap of around $3 billion.

CIO, CTO & Developer Resources
Goldman Sachs reckons that Google is paying $550,000 per current patent for MMI ex-$3.2 billion in cash, and that Nortel's patents went for $750,000 apiece. Using either of those deals as a counterweight, StreetInsider.com figures InterDigital, claims its patents are deeper and stronger than Nortel's, should go for $107-$145 a share.

Meawhile, Jefferies & Co says it has identified about 500 essential 3G and 4G patenst in the MMI arsenal, which would make each one of them worth ~$20 million.

Published August 21, 2011 – Reads 830
Copyright © 2011 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
Syndicated stories and blog feeds, all rights reserved by the author.

http://soa.sys-con.com/node/1951281

[Nonbroker]

S. Korea to Develop Android Rival with Samsung, LG, Daily Says

QBy Jun Yang - Aug 22, 2011 8:53 AM GMT+0200 .

The South Korean government will collaborate with Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. (066570) to develop a mobile-phone operating system that can compete with Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android, the Asia Economy Daily reported, citing comments made to reporters by Deputy Minister for Industry Kim Jae Hong of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jun Yang in Seoul at [e-mail]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-22/s-korea-to-develop-…

[Nonbroker]

On Monday August 22, 2011, 12:41 pm
By Poornima Gupta and Bill Rigby

SAN FRANCISCO/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The bubble in mobile phone technology patent values may just have popped.
Now that Google Inc (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News) has agreed to a $12.5 billion deal to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc (NYSE:MMI - News) -- scooping up a trove of 17,000 phone-related patents to give itself some ground to defend its Android operating system -- the most motivated buyer looks to be off the market.

"The game is completely changed as a result of Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility. The arms race is essentially over," said John Amster, chief executive of RPX, a company that advises customers on patent purchases. "They have basically created through acquisition what they needed."

Google's move was widely seen as a response to its loss in the auction of 6,000 Nortel patents to a group led by Microsoft Corp (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News), Apple Inc (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) and Research in Motion (Toronto:RIM.TO - News), which fetched an unprecedented $4.5 billion in July.

Most in the industry believe Google -- a relative newcomer to the telecommunications business, without a historical accumulation of patented technology -- has now put itself on more of a level footing, curbing its appetite for further purchases.

"It's a bubble in this market space until there is a balance of power established, and I think now there is," said Ron Laurie, managing director and patent consultant at Inflexion Point Strategy.

The heat of the patent market will be tested early next month by the auction of wireless telecommunications specialist InterDigital Inc. (NasdaqGS:IDCC - News)Apple, Google and Microsoft -- three of the most cash-rich players in technology -- had expressed interest in the company, but Google's participation in the auction is now unclear, sources told Reuters last week.
Even so, the company could still fetch a handsome price.

"There is clearly an upward sloping trend in patent value and patent value being recognized," said James Malackowski, chief executive of Ocean Tomo, an intellectual property advisory firm which values patent portfolios as part of its services. "As with any trend, it's never perfectly smooth, you see volatility in outlier transactions." WHAT'S IT WORTH?

How phone patents got to be so expensive all of a sudden is a factor of their strategic desirability rather than any other measure of value, experts in the field agree.

As the smartphone market exploded -- threatening to revolutionize personal computing -- Apple needed to protect its iPhone and Microsoft wanted Android handset makers to pay for technology it believes it invented. Google, and its handset partners, needed protection from both.

The result was a sudden spike in the value of phone-related patents on the market at a crucial time.

"I was surprised, as was everyone, by the Nortel auction, which worked out at almost $750,000 per patent," said one patent attorney, who asked not to be named as he has acted for various major technology players.

"That is extraordinarily high, probably by a factor of 10 higher than usually you would see a portfolio like that go for."

On paper, patents can be valued like any other asset, said Malackowski at Ocean Tomo.

"There are three textbook ways to value intellectual property, just as you would real estate -- the income approach, the cost approach, and the market approach," he said.

"If you are looking at an apartment building, the market approach says how much do other apartment buildings sell for? For the cost approach, you would ask what it would cost to build a like unit. The income approach says look at the present value of the rents -- or for patents, the present value of the expected earnings associated with owning the technology."

But in reality, these methods are skewed by business considerations.

"Both of these transactions (Nortel and Motorola) were highly strategically motivated," said Malackowski.

For this reason, most think Nortel was unique and an outlier, not an indication of things to come.

"We think the value was mainly driven by the process and the strategic dynamics, not by pure patent values," said Amster at RPX. "We did not expect that was going to be a relevant, comparable transaction for the future in the patent market. People talking about value per patent is frankly silly."

PAST, FUTURE DEALS

If the patent bubble did just pop, the biggest loser was InterDigital.

Shares of the wireless company -- due to be auctioned early in September -- have fallen 17 percent since Google's Motorola purchase was announced.

Sources familiar with the situation say Google's participation in the auction is now uncertain, leaving the field open to bidders Apple, Nokia (Helsinki:NOK1V.HE - News), Qualcomm Inc (NasdaqGS:QCOM - News) and others.

Google now has what it needs, industry experts agree.

"A key wireless patent was worth a lot more to Google on Friday (before the Motorola deal) than it was on Monday," said Laurie at Inflexion.

The fate of Eastman Kodak Co (NYSE:EK - News), which is looking to sell a portfolio of digital imaging patents, may be better. The lowly shares of the ailing photographic pioneer are up 41 percent since the Motorola deal.

But Kodak's market value is still much less than the $2 billion to $3 billion price tag analysts have put on its patent portfolio, which is becoming a common situation.

"A lot of companies are in that position," said Laurie. "The patents are worth more than the company that owns them. We are going to see a lot more patent deals done as M&A deals for that reason."

Other losers could be those who sold too soon.

Smartphone innovator Palm Inc sold itself and its groundbreaking webOS system for only $1.2 billion to Hewlett-Packard Co (NYSE:HPQ - News) last year. Few doubt the company would fetch more now. The technology may yet reappear on the market after HP ditched the system last week.

Industry experts think the technology patent market will now either revert to normal, or get back on a more gradual growth track, but wild spikes are in the past.

If there was a bubble, it is probably over now, given some competitive heat has been removed from the situation.

"The game will never be the same as it was before Nortel. Whether valuations will continue to rise or level off, it's very hard to predict," Laurie said.

A return to more predictable deals is most likely, said Amster at RPX. "Companies buy patents all the time, normal patent purchasing will continue. But the strategic arms race is over. It has to go back to normal."


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/22/us-technology-pate…

[Nonbroker]

Qualcomm: The King Of Patents by: Kraken August 22, 2011

Google (GOOG) announced it would acquire Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5 billion. This would be Google's largest acquisition to date. Many investors have been arguing whether or not the acquisition would be beneficial for Google. Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility was primarily due to the patents it hopes to get from the deal.

Google's latest acquisition has sparked a patent war in the marketplace. Patents have somewhat become a commodity, specifically mobile patents. If you currently have Verizon (VZ) or use a phone with CDMA, chances are that you are using Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) technology.

Qualcomm engages in the development, design, manufacture, and marketing of digital wireless telecommunications products and services. The company operates in four segments: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), Qualcomm Wireless and Internet (QWI), and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI).

The company holds the most amount of mobile patent applications out of any corporation in the world. This means anyone using its patents must pay a hefty royalty in order to get access to them. It currently has 2277 application patents.

Every major tech company is trying to grab a hold of as many valuable patents as possible. Qualcomm has started to expand its portfolio even more by possibly making a bid to acquire Interdigital (IDCC). Interdigital currently has patents on many applications for mobile solutions, wireless solutions, and product solutions. They deal with 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. If Qualcomm is able to get hold of this acquisition it could prove to worthwhile for them.These companies holding patents have significant power. Anyone using these patents must pay a hefty fee. These companies must pay up or else end up being sued in court. These lawsuits become expensive and a real drag for many companies.

Take a look at Rambus (RMBS), a company that specializes in patenting of computer memory. Rambus is sueing Micron Technology (MU) and Hynix for a reportedly planning to collude and destroy Rambus' monopoly in the memory business. Rambus is suing for a reported $4 billion. The companies are still in litigation. This is just an example of how much power patents have.

In the new age, the mobile revolution has taken off rapidly with exponential growth taking place. Instead of buying mobile phone manufacturers and wireless companies that exist in a highly competitive environment, why not buy into the companies that have real control and minimal competition?


Qualcomm is in industry leader in patents. A true powerhouse in the mobile phone market. If you use a mobile phone, chances are you have already done business with Qualcomm. The company prides itself the amount of patents that it holds. In fact, its headquarters located in San Diego, has an entire wall dedicated to patents.



Verizon and Sprint (S), both use CDMA technology. The same technology that Qualcomm holds a patent on. Verizon is the 2nd largest carrier in the world with 90 million customers. Sprint is the third largest with 52 million customers. Sprint has already had a headstart in terms of getting access to 4G, while Verizon will soon join the company. If Qualcomm can acquire Interdigital and access those patents, it will thus collect a large amount in royalties from carriers.

Qualcomm currently trades at a forward P/E of 13. The company's market cap is around $77 billion. It also pays a dividend of 1.8%. I believe the company will become bigger and the fact that it generates a nice stream of revenue due to its royalty stream is a major plus for the company. I think a $77 billion valuation might actually be cheap for a company on the verge of controlling the majority of the mobile phone patents in the world.


Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/289046-qualcomm-the-king-of-…

[Nonbroker]

IDCC Rising On Rumor Of Qualcomm Interest
By Tiernan Ray

Shares of wireless patent holder InterDigital (IDCC) are up $1.59, or 2.5%, at $64.57, a bit better than the market, apparently prompted by a rumor that wireless chip titan Qualcomm (QCOM) is mulling a bid for the company, with one price cited at an unbelievable $115 per share.

From my brief communications with the Street on the matter, the rumor is not widely circulating among the analyst, and few seem to be interested in giving it any credence. The problem with the rumor, analysts express to me, is that Qualcomm already has significant patent hodings in everything wireless, making it hard to imagine they would buy IDCC, much less pay a monstrous premium.

InterDigital has been much in play of late, with the intense focus on intellectual property in wireless, following Google’s (GOOG) $12.5 billion bid for Motorola Mobility (MMI), and the $4.5 billion buy of Nortel Networks patents by a consortium consisting of Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and others.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2011/08/22/idcc-ris…

[Nonbroker]

Dient wieder der Urteilsfindung, ist aber mit Vorsicht zu lesen:

Time to Sell InterDigital?
By Jeremy Phillips
August 22, 2011
IDCC InterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $64.64 $1.66 (2.64%)


Should you sell InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) today?

The decision to sell a stock you've researched and followed for months or years is never easy. If you fall in love with your stock holdings, you risk becoming vulnerable to confirmation bias -- listening only to information that supports your theories, and rejecting any contradictions.

In 2004, longtime Fool Bill Mann called confirmation bias one of the most dangerous components of investing. This warning has helped my own personal investing throughout the Great Recession and the recent volatility throughout early August. In this series, I want to help you identify potential sell signs on popular stocks within our 4-million-strong Fool.com community.

Today I'm laser-focused on InterDigital, ready to evaluate its price, valuation, margins, and liquidity. Let's get started!

Don't sell on price
Over the past 12 months, InterDigital has risen 192.6% versus an S&P 500 return of 9.1%. Investors in InterDigital have every reason to be proud of their returns, but is it time to take some off the top? Not necessarily. Short-term outperformance alone is not a sell sign. The market may be just beginning to realize the true, intrinsic value of InterDigital. For historical context, let's compare InterDigital's recent price to its 52-week and five-year highs. I've included a few other businesses that are also benefitting from the boom in connected devices driving large amounts of data that growth-oriented investors might be considering:

Company Recent Price 52-Week High 5-Year High

InterDigital $75.72 $82.50 $82.50
Riverbed Technology (Nasdaq: RVBD ) $24.57 $44.70 $44.70
Infinera (Nasdaq: INFN ) $6.87 $12.90 $30.00
Emulex (NYSE: ELX ) $6.87 $12.97 $23.80

Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.

As you can see, InterDigital is down from its 52-week high. If you bought near the peak, now's the time to think back to why you bought it in the first place. If your reasons still hold true, you shouldn't sell based on this information alone.

Potential sell signs
First up, we'll get a rough idea of InterDigital's valuation. I'm comparing InterDigital's recent P/E ratio of 31.2 to where it's been over the past five years.

InterDigital's P/E is higher than its five-year average, which could indicate the stock is overvalued. A high P/E isn't always a bad sign, since the company's growth prospects may also be increasing alongside the market's valuation. However, it definitely indicates that, on a purely historical basis, InterDigital looks expensive.

Now, let's look at the gross margins trend, which represents the amount of profit a company makes for each $1 in sales, after deducting all costs directly related to that sale. A deteriorating gross margin over time can indicate that competition has forced the company to lower prices, that it can't control costs, or that its whole industry's facing tough times. Here is InterDigital's gross margin over the past five years:

InterDigital is having no trouble maintaining its gross margin, which tends to dictate a company's overall profitability. This is solid news; however, InterDigital investors need to keep an eye on this over the coming quarters. If margins begin to dip, you'll want to know why.

Next, let's explore what other investors think about InterDigital. We love the contrarian view here at Fool.com, but we don't mind cheating off our neighbors every once in a while. For this, we'll examine two metrics: Motley Fool CAPS ratings and short interest. The former tells us how Fool.com's 180,000-strong community of individual analysts rate the stock. The latter shows what proportion of investors are betting that the stock will fall. I'm including other peer companies once again for context.

Company
CAPS Rating(out of 5)
Short Interest(% of float)

InterDigital **** 12.8
Riverbed Technology **** 4.6
Infinera ***** 7.3
Emulex ** 6.1

The Fool community is rather bullish on InterDigital. We typically like to see our stocks rated at four or five stars. Anything below that is a less-than-bullish indicator. I highly recommend you visit InterDigital's stock pitch page to see the verbatim reasons behind the ratings.

Here, short interest is at a high 12.8%. This typically indicates that large institutional investors are betting against the stock.

Now, let's study InterDigital's debt situation, with a little help from the debt-to-equity ratio. This metric tells us how much debt the company's taken on, relative to its overall capital structure.

InterDigital has done a good job of reducing its already miniscule debt over the past five years. When we take into account increasing total equity over the same time period, this has caused debt-to-equity to decrease, as seen in the above chart. Based on the trend alone, that's a good sign. I consider a debt-to-equity ratio below 50% to be healthy, though it varies by industry.

The last metric I like to look at is the current ratio, which lets investors judge a company's short-term liquidity. If InterDigital had to convert its current assets to cash in one year, how many times over could the company cover its current liabilities? As of the last filing, InterDigital has a current ratio of 4.82. This is a healthy sign. I like to see companies with current ratios equal to or greater than 1.5.

Finally, it's highly beneficial to determine whether InterDigital belongs in your portfolio -- and to know how many similar businesses already occupy your stable of investments. If you haven't already, be sure to put your tickers into Fool.com's free portfolio tracker, My Watchlist. You can get started right away by clicking here to add InterDigital.

InterDigital has failed only two of the quick tests that would make it a sell. This is great, but does it mean you should hold your InterDigital shares? Not necessarily. Just keep your eye on these trends over the coming quarters.

In order to do that, I strongly recommend clicking here to add InterDigital to My Watchlist to help you keep track of all of our ongoing coverage of the company.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/22/time-to-sel…

[Nonbroker]

Aktuelles:
Samsung Mobile Display Forms Alliance With Universal Display
AUGUST 22, 2011, 7:54 P.M. ET

SEOUL (Dow Jones)--Samsung Mobile Display, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE, SSNHY) and Samsung SDI Co. (006400.SE, SSDIY), said Tuesday that it will form a strategic alliance with U.S. company Universal Display Corp. (PANL), a move that would help both parties to accelerate the development of what appears to be the next-generation display technology.

"The Universal Display and Samsung Mobile Display have jointly developed an advanced AM OLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diode) materials," Samsung Mobile Display said in a statement.

"Under the partnership, we expect to bring the AM OLED technology one step higher."

Nasdaq-listed UDC holds various patents in phosphorescent materials used in OLED panels. The materials boost the brightness and energy efficiency of OLED panels, which are expected to increasingly supplant liquid-crystal displays. OLED screens require less power than conventional LCDs, have clearer picture quality and a faster response time.

UDC also welcomed the move, Samsung said.

-By Jung-Ah Lee, Dow Jones Newswires; 822-3700-1907; [e-mail]

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110822-http://online.w…

[Nonbroker]

Ron Shuttleworth auf twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/resthink/status/105706717265932288

[Nonbroker]

Tiburon Capital Management Shark Bites Volume 2 Article 3 August, 2011

Emergence Theory Redux and the Tiburon Advantage
(The Story of Interdigital and Nortel)

In February, 2010, I wrote a white paper entitled, “Emergence Theory and the Creation of a Superior Investment Advisor.”[1] We’d just started Tiburon Capital Management a few months earlier and I believed we were building something unique and comparatively advantaged to other firms. One point being that methodology and culture form a firm’s DNA – our cultivated methodology (“BRACE”) and culture would produce outperformance and a differentiated portfolio. Our recent profitable experiences with Nortel Networks (“Nortel”) and Interdigital, Inc. (“IDCC”) bear reporting as evidence.

Restating the Thesis – Why we Beat the Large and the Small

It has been my view that there is a better way: the founding personality must, through a highly refined approach, form a coherent, essential methodological tool, and, then set a culture that embraces it and the qualitative aspects of “who you are” as a firm. In stepping back and away from it, a firm with such beginnings can navigate strong seas due to these elements essentially wiring into its staff. In a sense, the methodology and culture becomes the firm’s DNA. With this DNA, the professional staff, working with a set investment methodology can create richer constructs – that is, that due to a birth that includes this institutional DNA, through the organization’s life, a greater and richer order will emerge.

Emergence can be defined as the “arising of novel and coherent structures, patterns and properties during the process of self-organization in complex systems."[2] An emergent behavior or emergent property can appear when a number of simple entities operate in an environment, forming more complex behaviors as a collective.

In short: neither the larger index-like manager, with their politics of capital allocations and silos, nor the smaller manager, with their often smart but dysfunctional leadership and lack of directional coherence can compete.

Wireless Telephony - We Don’t Pick the Industries, They Pick Us

This is something Marty Whitman used to say to us frequently in my seven years with him. Our methodology and desire to identify Revaluation Catalysts - hard events - is consistent, industries and themes are ever-changing. The following discussion regards just our most recent work in the wireless telephony sector. We came upon a few themes within this industry making it ripe for our event-driven strategies.






Spin-Offs


Motorola: We came to Motorola (“MOT”) based upon a top down thesis that companies would spin-off businesses or de-merge to unlock value where the Sum-of-the-Parts exceeded the market value of the combined entity. Further, that strategics were more likely buyers, using their cash and securities as a currency to buy (rather than build) new businesses or add-ons. MOT was ripe to split into a handset business (their then, hottest selling Android system phones driving interest) and the more consistent security and two-way business.

After MOT split into the two companies, we exited the trade as our research lead us to the view that operating systems (like Android) mattered and would profit – not handsets. From work regarding handset makers, we identified a large lawsuit against handset maker, Nokia Corporation, by operating system patent holder, IDCC. As lawsuits are Revaluation Catalysts we like to probability weight and are often the basis for our event-driven positions, we started work on IDCC next.

Litigation

We initially put on a long in IDCC predicated upon their lawsuit with Nokia Corporation. In our view, IDCC was cheap on an intrinsic basis, had significant asset value in its Intellectual Property – 2G, 3G and 4G patents, and near-term likely victory in a patent lawsuit against Nokia. Additionally, the work done on IDCC further increased our conviction that handset makers were at risk for increased price and cost of sales pressures. While doing work on IDCC, management announced they were raising money in the form of a convertible note, for the purpose of bidding on Nortel’s remaining asset – 6,000 2G, 3G and 4G patents.

Actor’s Assessment - a component of our BRACE Methodology: Why would IDCC raise $200 million to participate in a bid in the Nortel IP auction if it was not imminent? There appeared an opportunity in Nortel now as none of our buy-side contacts at other neither funds, nor sell-side analysts on dealer desks were aware of, or believed that Nortel’s IP auction was looming.

Mining the Portfolio[3]: The work we had done on IDCC’s IP gave us confidence in the coming valuation of Nortel’s IP. Further, that an auction of Nortel’s IP would effectively re-price IDCC’s IP, if not making them an acquisition candidate to any strategic that failed to acquire Nortel’s IP.

Mining the Portfolio is a Tiburon expression for one of the three ways we identify investment opportunities. Through the work we do looking at any company, we look at their peers and industry trends, opportunities and challenges. As you know, Tiburon can invest long or short, anywhere in the capital structure of the companies we follow. There are no “silos” at Tiburon. Unlike many larger firms, the work we do in say, technology equity like IDCC, will influence work we do on a bankrupt company’s bond valuation, like in Nortel. The knowledge-edge we create and this comparative advantage is afforded us via our methodology and culture. Generally, neither the larger index-like firms, nor the dysfunctional smaller ones, which are often cults of personality, are organized or operate in a way which best harnesses these advantages.

Intellectual Property Value in Wireless Operating System Patents

Nortel: We bought the bonds of the bankrupt Nortel at 88.00 on March 28th, based on our view of the value of Nortel’s IP. On April 4th, Nortel announced that the auction of IP would occur in the last week of June, 2011 and that Google had posted a $900 million stalking horse bid. Bonds we bought on a few days earlier, upon IDCC’s announced financing moved up 3 points. In our view, we bought Nortel bonds for at worst, the value of Google’s stalking horse bid. Further, we were highly confident that the Nortel auction would re-value IDCC’s materially better portfolio of IP.


Handsets - Operating Systems Matter, Costs Create Race to the Bottom

Nokia: (“NOK”) is a short based upon their antiquated Symbian operating system. NOK has minute market share in the US (1%) and market share in Europe halved last quarter. They are being squeezed by all handset makers utilizing the most popular Android system on one side, the juggernaut Apple iPhone on the other side. In our view, NOK will be downgraded to junk by the remaining two rating agencies (Fitch has already done so) and their dividend will likely be cut. As mentioned previously, we also believe that they are at risk for a large judgment or settlement with IDCC for patent infringement.

Research In Motion: (“RIMM”) is a short based upon their lost market share worldwide, the delays in new product launches and blurring of business and consumer handsets (to RIMM’s detriment). Further, RIMM is subject to the same squeeze or crowding out effect as is NOK from business and consumer wholesale adoption of either Android or Apple operating systems.

Both NOK and RIMM are in a race to the bottom, competing with all other handset manufacturers offering Android (or Apple) OS. Price cuts and advertising and other selling expenses will hamper all handset makers, but NOK and RIMM disproportionately.

Recent Material Events (Nortel Auction, IDCC’s Strategic Initiatives)

As you likely know, the auction of Nortel’s IP went off at the significant price of $4.5 billion. The winners were a consortium of Apple, Microsoft, RIMM, Sony, EMC and Ericcsson. Nortel bonds and IDCC shares immediately jumped on the news. Google, the stalking-horse bidder, purportedly bid $4 billion and lost. What is interesting is that Nortel’s patents were sold to a Non-Android operating system cabal. Given our Actor’s Assessment, it is our view that the Android world (Google, MOT, LG, Samsung, Hauwei) are the most likely competitive buyers of IDCC. Last week, IDCC announced the hiring of bankers and pursuit of “strategic initiatives.” Both Apple and Google are reportedly interested in acquiring IDCC.

Nortel 10.75% Bonds IDCC Shares






The Wireless Thematic Trade Timeline







The Coherent Investment Methodology and Impact of Emergence

The “BRACE Methodology” [4] is our investment approach, one I’ve burnished over nearly twenty years of investing. At Tiburon, it is taught, studied and refined. Like organisms in a system, there exists a shared goal achieved with developing collective knowledge and experience, forming an institutional memory. Like asymptotic expansion in mathematics, we can never achieve “perfection,” but can improve with each passing day, month, year; the aggregate skill base of the organization improving in ways not captured by firms with less rigorous or un-codified methodologies, or silo-ed professionals with no interest or incentive to improve together.

If BRACE provides the “bones” of the investment process, the people utilizing it, and interacting produce a richness around it that affords everyone unlimited freedom - just within the framework. In the practice of our trade, all of us make each other better, see connections we’d not once seen, develop ever more intricate ways of considering each of the five prongs of BRACE. To think that a codified and specific system is narrow and stifling would be dead-wrong. In fact, arguably a system that we all utilize, with its varied elements provides a framework within which to work, that is actually liberating. The excitement of this is that over time, like a wine or stew, the flavors get more intricate and special.

What we have accomplished in wireless telephony generally, and with our Nortel, IDCC and MOT longs, NOK and RIMM shorts specifically, is not one-off for us – it is evidence of our differentiation. And given our methodology and culture – our Tiburon institutional DNA –it suggests our likely long term viability and outperformance.

Peter M. Lupoff August, 2011 Tiburon Capital Management, LLC



http://www.tiburonholdings.net/Current_Market_Climate.php


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] See http://www.tiburonholdings.net/uploads/Emergence_Theory.pdf
[2] Corning, Peter A. (2002), The Re-Emergence of “Emergence”: A Venerable Concept in Search of a Theory”
[3] A Tiburon reference to a critical method in our idea generation – our approach these trades most recently discussed by Distressed Debt Investing here: http://www.distressed-debt-investing.com/ (see “Blog”).

[4] For a detailed discussion of the “BRACE Methodology”, see: http://www.distressed-debt-investing.com/2009/09/exclusive-interview-with-hedge-fund.html

Past Articles Confirmation Bias Article Core Position Trading Emergence Theory Kelly Formula Mulitple Equilibria

Systemic Risk Fallacies in Expected Value A Very Brady (European) Sequel
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.Content copyright 2009-2011. Tiburon Holdings. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: This website contains general information about Tiburon Capital Management.
This website is not intended to be an offer or any form of solicitation and does not, and is not intended to, constitute any investment advice.

[Nonbroker]

Can These Stocks Bounce Back?
By Rich Duprey August 22, 2011 |

However hard the market slams a stock, there's always the chance it'll come bouncing right back. We'll consult our Motley Fool CAPS community to find shares on the rebound, examining one specific sector of the economy in search of companies with rising CAPS ratings.

There are 173 stocks listed under "telecommunications" in the CAPS' screener, but more than a handful of them carry well-respected, four- and five-star ratings. Those accolades mean our 180,000 CAPS members are confident that these stocks will beat the market in the months ahead. But, let's see what members are saying about the ones below:

Company
CAPS Rating Today
Recent Price
52-Week Price Change
Est. 5-Yr. Growth Rate

Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) *****
$46.52
20%
16%

Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS ) ****
$2.29
(23%)
15%

Tellabs (Nasdaq: TLAB ) ****
$3.69
(48%)
10%


Source: Motley Fool CAPS; Yahoo! Finance

International and financial worries are again gripping the market. All the gains made this year have been wiped out and markets sit below where they started 2011. But with the S&P 500 still up 6% over the last 12 months, it might be surprising to learn that CAPS telecommunications stocks have done slightly better, rising more than 7% during that same span of time. So let's take a closer look at why investors think some of these other companies won't be jumping from the frying pan into the fire now that the markets are roiled again.

Some spring in its step
The shakeout in the wireless and mobile computing market is producing some surprising results as the tech sector realigns itself in one of the industry's most critical upheavals. Hewlett-Packard's decision to abandon its WebOS technology and essentially exit the hardware market for tablets and mobile phones makes it only the latest big loser, even as it concedes Apple is one of the industry's biggest winners. HP basically says it can't compete against the iPhone and iPad.

InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) was also a winner, despite delaying until September the sale of some of the patents in its 8,000-strong portfolio. With Nortel's patents going for $4.5 billion and Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) getting purchased by Google for $12.5 billion, its patent-rich portfolio will likely bring in a pretty penny for investors.

Qualcomm is among a list of companies said to be eyeing InterDigital's patents, but with a deep portfolio of its own, would it want or need to pay the high premiums the patents now carry? Since it's already battling InterDigital for LTE/4G patent supremacy (depending on who's doing the counting, one or the other tech specialist has more market share than the other), it may be forced to make a bid if only to keep someone else from gaining on it. If nothing else, CAPS member FreeFlyingFool says Qualcomm occupies an enviable position in the industry: "Qualcomm holds a place on increasing relevance as more and more computing goes mobile. The company's valuation is reasonable given its position and the dividend's even a nice kicker."

Let us know on the Qualcomm CAPS page if the wireless leader will make a bold move on InterDigital or if its own portfolio will soon be eyed by a deep-pockets buyer.

Seeing clearly
Despite Sonus Networks' big revenue miss earlier this month, when it reported second-quarter earnings, the fact that it's keeping its full-year guidance intact suggests it was just an order timing issue. AT&T and CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL ) are two of Sonus' biggest customers, so when they shuffle orders around, it can create gaps like we saw this quarter.

There is some fear the telecom industry will experience a slowdown this year, and the shifting of orders may represent slack demand, and thus deeper problems. Acme Packet (Nasdaq: APKT ) and Broadsoft have both gyrated to the conflicting signals the market's been giving off.

Verizon is also dragging its feet, stalling the rollout of its FiOS network to new areas (though growing like gangbusters in places already targeted for installation), which is impacting the whole industry. Tellabs has been forced to cut costs to the bone, and Cisco decided its best course of action was to focus its energy again on the business it knows best. In short, networking sector winners have been few and far between.

Yet 98% of the CAPS All-Stars weighing in on Tellabs think it can bounce back from here, with only a slightly smaller percentage thinking Sonus will do the same.

Sonus' discounted price had some hopeful that Cisco might find its assets a good wedge to use against Acme or Tellabs, but management re-upped the poison pill defense that makes it unlikely someone will want to move in and make an acquisition.

Let us know on the Sonus Networks' CAPS page if you think it can rise above the morass that is the networking sector today. You can also keep track of Tellabs' developments by adding the stock to your watchlist.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/22/can-these-s…

[Nonbroker]

Hat facebook eventuell Bedarf

Facebook Seeks Acquisitions to Fend Off Google
QBy Brian Womack - Aug 23, 2011 6:01 AM GMT+0200 .


Facebook has been sharpening its focus on mobile, which is how more than a third of users access the site.

Facebook Inc., the world’s largest social network, is planning acquisitions that will improve site design, keep its service reliable and advance mobile features to stave off competition from Google Inc. (GOOG) and Twitter Inc.

The company aims to make about 20 purchases in 2011, up from 10 last year and one in 2009, Vaughan Smith, Facebook’s director of corporate development, said in an interview.

Facebook is betting that a focus on design will entice people to spend more time on the site, while adding mobile services can cater to the growing number of members using handheld devices. As it grapples with competition from Google and Twitter, Facebook also must bolster its system so the site runs smoothly amid rapid growth. The company has made 13 acquisitions so far this year, including adding a mobile group- messaging service it rolled out to users this month.

“Two years ago we didn’t have a track record in acquisitions,” Smith said. “While we expected them to work well, it was still a crapshoot how they’d turn out. We’ve built a culture that supports entrepreneurs, and it’s working incredibly well.”

Facebook makes money from advertising and by taking a commission when software developers sell virtual goods on the site. As a closely held company, Facebook doesn’t disclose financials. A person with knowledge of the matter said in May that the company is likely to generate more than $2 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization this year.

In addition, Facebook has raised more than $2 billion from investors, including $1.5 billion from an investment led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), announced in January.

Google’s Cash
By contrast, Google has $39.1 billion in cash. Google, the biggest Internet search engine, unveiled a new social-networking service, called Google+, in June. It already had attracted 29 million people by the end of July, according to ComScore Inc.

Facebook, based in Palo Alto, California, has made mostly small acquisitions, with target companies sometimes having one or two employees. The company has a market value of $72.5 billion, according to SharesPost Inc., an exchange for private shares. That’s more than the valuations of publicly traded Internet companies such as EBay Inc. and Yahoo! Inc.

The company can use cash and stock for acquisitions, according to Lou Kerner, an analyst at Wedbush Securities Inc. in New York. Facebook also can sell shares in the secondary markets for additional cash.

No Hindrances?

“I don’t think a lack of cash, even on their balance sheet, is a significant deterrent for the acquisitions that they’re looking at,” said Kerner, who declined to estimate how much cash the company has for purchases.

Many of Facebook’s deals have been targeted at adding talent as the company vies with larger rivals for skilled technology workers. Google has announced plans to hire about 6,000 people this year globally.

“Facebook is just trying to get the smartest people possible in any way it can,” said Debra Aho Williamson, an EMarketer Inc. analyst. “The idea of bringing in new talent, smart talent, people who have created interesting products that Facebook can capitalize on, is going to be important to them.”

Facebook has been sharpening its focus on mobile, which is how more than a third of users access the site. In February, the company acquired Beluga, a startup that helped users send messages to groups of people through their mobile phones. Facebook earlier this month introduced its own application -- based on Beluga’s technology -- that handles messaging on Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPhone and phones based on Google’s Android software.

‘Top Priority’
“The future of all computing is mobile,” Wedbush’s Kerner said. “Mobile, I think, is the top priority at the company.”

Snaptu, a mobile startup Facebook acquired earlier this year, was bought for about $60 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. Smith said he is open to larger acquisitions, but declined to be more specific.

On top of its mobile-computing push, the company has added services that let users manage their friends by groups or ask others questions on the site. As new features pile up, Facebook needs to manage its user-interface design, said Josh Bernoff, an analyst with Forrester Research Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“The challenge is that Facebook does a lot more things than it used to,” Bernoff said. “To get that all to be easily navigable is not simple.”

Sofa, Push Pop
Purchases in design this year have included Sofa, a software and user-interface company, and Push Pop Press, which offered publishing software for touch-enabled devices.

The average U.S. Facebook user spends more than seven hours a month on the service, according to ComScore. With the jump in users -- to more than 750 million from 500 million in July 2010 -- as well as exponential growth in applications and products, the company is working to manage rising complexity in its vast computer systems. To help, the company opened a new data center in Prineville, Oregon, earlier this year.

Still, Facebook has yet to make an acquisition in computing, and may seek to buy companies with technology and workers that will help it strengthen its system.

“They have to over-plan for massive growth,” said Jeremiah Owyang, an analyst at Altimeter Group in San Mateo, California.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Womack in San Francisco at [e-mail]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at [e-mail].

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/facebook-steps-up-a…

[Nonbroker]

How The Great Patent Wars Of 2011 Could Affect Your Portfolio
by: The Balanced Bull August 23, 2011
about: GOOG, includes: AAPL, EK, IDCC, MMI

In early April, 2011 news broke that Google (GOOG) was offering $900 million for the Nortel patents. It was rumored that Google was not overly enthusiastic about these patents but was making the purchase as a defensive measure against patent infringement lawsuits. This relatively quiet “stalking horse” bid turned out to be the spark which ignited the great patent wars of 2011.

We all know how the Nortel sale played out, with an Apple (AAPL) led consortium buying the 6,000+ patents for $4.5 billion. It was quickly dubbed “the biggest patent sale in history” but it was just the first battle in the major patent war which is now raging across industries and continents. This week Google made a big move by buying Motorola Mobility (MMI) and its 17,000+ patents for $12.5 billion and is now a major patent holder in the mobile and networking space. And there’s plenty more to come.

I would expect that Apple will retaliate with a major purchase within the next month or two, with InterDigital (IDCC), Eastman Kodak (EK) and maybe the newly available Palm patents as potential targets. I would also expect that we’ll be hearing from Samsung (SSNLF.PK) soon as the legal battles with Apple intensify. If Apple is able to block sales of Samsung’s mobile devices in Europe (which appears to be likely) and elsewhere Samsung will have no choice but to load up with essential patents so that they can broker cross-licensing deals with Apple - or face irrelevance.

The Targets

InterDigital which owns 8,800 patents, with 10,000 patents under review is known for its strong suite of 4G LTE patents as well as a good collection of essential 3G patents. The company has put itself up for sale and hired Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital to auction off the company to the highest bidder. Recent rumors suggest that the first round of bidding will take place during the week after Labor Day and could include major players such as Qualcomm (QCOM), Samsung, Intel (INTC), Google and Apple. A number of industry experts have valued the InterDigital patent portfolio at about $5 billion or more, suggesting it is superior to the Nortel patents.

Eastman Kodak is also putting its collection of patents (mostly related to digital photography) up for auction and they could be a target for Apple, Google or any of the other major players. The company has gone from a leader in their field to a struggling, money losing, financial disaster but could find salvation in the current patent bubble. I’ve seen a wide range of potential valuations for the Eastman Kodak patents, from $1.8 to $3 billion. It remains to be seen whether they’ll sell the patents separately or the whole business, including debt.

Research In Motion (RIMM) has not offered itself for sale but with the company traded at multi-year lows and losing market share it could be a potential target.

Thoughts on Google Mobility (Googarola?)

Google has been catching a lot of flak over the past week after announcing the takeover of Motorola Mobility but I think most of this reaction is misguided. The buyout is the largest acquisition in Google’s history and will surely offer many challenges, including a possible clash of cultures and the difficulty of integrating nineteen thousand new employees into the company, but the synergies are many and we can only guess at Google’s grand vision of being a fully integrated hardware maker. For the time being Google plans to keep Motorola as a semi-independent unit, perhaps mitigating some of the integration issues.

This acquisition has a lot of people scratching their heads but it could be that Google has always wanted to sell smartphones but knew that trying to go it alone from the beginning would be tough. So they offered Android for free and quickly developed it into the most widely used smartphone OS and garnered a huge amount of developer support (which is the real win). Now with the popularity of Android fully entrenched and an App Store filled with apps, Google can push into the hardware space with a realistic chance of finding success. And they can hit the ground running with a fully operational mobile division.

For many years Google has been searching for a second major source of revenue to complement its dominant search engine, and selling smartphones could prove to be very lucrative. I doubt that the new Google Mobility phones will be able to command the premium that the iPhone gets but they should be much more than commodity-priced phones. And now Google will have a chance to offer fully integrated hardware and software and begin to put to rest the lingering echoes of Steve Jobs’ sermon about Android being a “fragmented platform.”

The major risk of this move is alienating the many OEMs that use Android as their operating system of choice. Surely Microsoft smells blood in the water and will be going after the likes of Samsung and HTC, attempting to bring them into the Windows Phone fold.

Of course, much of the focus has been on the 17K+ patents which now belong to Google. A month ago Google had the weakest patent portfolio of any of the major players in the smartphone space. Now, with the purchase of over 1,000 IBM patents and this big Motorola buy, they are in a position of strength. With this one purchase Google bought protection for all Android manufacturers, shielded themselves from many potential lawsuits and took a giant step towards becoming a legit handset maker. Risks abound, but I think it could play out in Google’s favor.

One more interesting piece of this deal is Motorola’s set-top box business and how it might benefit Google’s efforts in the connected TV space. So far Google TV has been a flop, but the market for connected TVs is a lucrative longterm opportunity. It is also another front in the Apple vs. Google battle.

Gloves Off

Right now, somewhere in Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs is smiling and planning his response. It could be buying InterDigital, Eastman Kodak or the Palm assets or perhaps something completely off the radar. Either way, expect Apple to come back swinging and expect Samsung to take the gloves off soon.

Besides being the year of the patent war, 2011 has been a year which has defined the winners and losers in the smartphone and tablet markets. The clear winner is Apple which is dominating in tablets and earning the lion’s share of profits in the smartphone space. I have some concerns about the September quarter numbers (Q4) but believe that the December quarter will be a monster for Apple. I’d be a buyer of shares at these levels ($350s) or lower.

The clearest loser so far is Hewlett Packard (HPQ) which has shuttered its tablet and smartphone division due to underperforming hardware and lagging sales. The only hope now is to be able to sell the recently purchased Palm patents to recover some of the loss and/or open up webOS to other manufacturers.

As mentioned above, Google could be a big winner down the road but so far the street doesn’t think so, with shares falling nearly $100 over the past month. There are a lot of risks involved in major acquisitions so I would demand a big margin of safety with Google. If the slide continues, I’d be interested in owning shares in the $450 range.

Another obvious way to invest in this space is through the likely targets mentioned above (InterDigital, Eastman Kodak and perhaps Research In Motion). Just remember that the market is smarter than the individual and good news gets quickly priced into stocks. Potential bidding wars could push the price of these companies far above fair value but more likely than not, the premium will be less than the 60% premium Google paid for Motorola and could already be priced in.

There’s a lot of noise going on right now with pumpers screaming “buy” and shorts yelling “sell” so be careful with your capital. There have already been so many casualties in the great patent wars of 2011. Don’t let your portfolio become one of them.

Disclosure: I am long AAPL, IDCC.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/289182-how-the-great-patent-…

[cell1]

schon den zweiten Tag nach Börseneröffnung runter!
alles nur heiße Luft ? sell by Spekulation durch Börsenanalysten
Reuters Bloomberg

[cell1]

Time to Sell InterDigital ? 12,6% Short

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2 ... gital.aspx

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/22/ ... erdigital/

[Nonbroker]

Schon fünf Tage alt, trotzdem noch aktuell und interessant:

Flash Buy Alert: Wireless Technology Company Sitting on the Launchpad
August 18, 2011

Dear Technology Profits Reader,

Normally, I don't get involved in timing plays, short-term trades or swing trades in this newsletter. Our focus in this newsletter is long-term investing in technology and biotechnology companies with the potential to grow for many years to come. There is always an element of risk, of course. We know that some companies won't deliver on their potential. However, the ones that do will earn such huge returns over time that the average gains will outperform the markets.

However, sometimes it is apparent that big things can happen to a company in the near term, and if we don't move quickly, we can miss out on the opportunity to "get in while the getting in is good."

For this reason, I am going to issue a buy alert on InterDigital Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) right now.

I've been looking at this company for months. I've been reading research reports, examining the technology and talking to knowledgeable investors that have maintained a large stake in the company for many years. I think the company presents us with an excellent long-term investment. The original plan was to issue a buy recommendation in our next issue of Technology Profits Confidential, but I am going to do so now, for several reasons.

Valuable Patent Estate Puts InterDigital in the Cross Hairs

The first and most important reason is an obvious trend taking place in the wireless industry. All the big players, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, RIM, Ericsson and others are in a race to buy up valuable wireless patents to bolster their ability to compete in this fiercely competitive market. In last month's issue, I mentioned the June sale of Nortel's patent portfolio to a consortium of these companies for a jaw-dropping $4.5 billion.

This week, we saw another episode in what looks like an escalating patent war. Apple is blocking the sale of Samsung tablets in European courts based on intellectual property infringement claims.

Google also moved this week when it announced it would purchase Motorola Mobility Holdings (NYSE:MMI) for $12.5 billion. The day before the announcement, the company's market cap was $7.3 billion. Therefore, this represents a premium of over 71%. One of the major reasons given for the purchase was Motorola Mobility's large patent portfolio.

The big players are doing everything they can to establish defensive patent positions and protect their ability to compete in the emerging 4G wireless world. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Qualcomm and others have huge cash reserves, and are spending them to compete.

Nortel's patents sold for $4.5 billion, and it is implied that Google paid billions for Motorola Mobility's share of the IP space. However, by many measures, InterDigital's patent estate is considered to be superior to either of the others’. InterDigital has thousands of high-quality wireless patents created while developing digital wireless technology. It has also shown the ability to be part of the industry's standards process, which means that new wireless standards drive licensing and royalty revenue to it.

The company has been an innovator since the late 1970s, and many of its patents apply to the coveted 4G market.
According to the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), Motorola Mobility has 16 essential 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) patents, and Nortel has 46. InterDigital, on the other hand, has 437 and a market cap of only $3 billion. Because of this, the company has become the center of a bidding war among the wireless giants. We won't know what will happen for sure until the bids come in on Sept. 5 or afterward, but any positive news could make the company's share price skyrocket.

Market Sell-Off Makes Good Companies Cheap Buys

The second reason I am recommending a buy right now is the recent market sell-off and the potential for a strong market rebound before the arrival of your next issue. A lot of great tech companies are oversold right now and can be picked up for cheap. As I write, the market is down 4% for the day, and many solid tech companies like InterDigital are selling off. The best time to invest in great companies is when the blood runs in the streets. I gave a brief summary of my thoughts on each company in our portfolio in my Aug. 5 alert.

Eventually, the market will rebound, and it might happen sooner than we think. However, even if it does not rebound, wireless communications and devices have been showing strong growth in grim economic times. This technological trend might be tempered by recessions, but it has not, and will not, go away.

Moreover, the Fed is meeting at Jackson Hole, Wyo., next week, and while no one can say with certainty what will emerge from that meeting, last year's event announced QE2 -- which goosed the markets for months. I'll admit that this is a weak reason to recommend now, rather than later. The recent inflation numbers have some analysts discounting the probabilities for a new round of quantitative easing, but the potential for QE3 exists. I hate to have to take "the Bernanke's" money pumping schemes into account, but that is the world we live in.

At this point, I'd like to summarize my thoughts on InterDigital. I am issuing this buy alert today, rather than next month, based on some speculative reasoning. My long-term view, however, is that this is a great company. I would recommend it anyway, even if the buyout speculation did not exist. It has proven itself, repeatedly, over a period of decades, and the company is developing new wireless technology that leapfrogs even the latest 4G techs being rolled out today. I'll have the full story for you in next month's issue.

http://technologyprofitsconfidential.agorafinancial.com/?s=I…

[cell1]

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ir?s=IDCC+Insider+Roster

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt keine Neuigkeiten, weiterhin nur Spekulationen.

[cell1]

Short Interest up Almost 30%
http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=65&mn=55761&pt=ms…

[Nonbroker]

Jeder hat wohl mitbekommen, Steve Jobs hat gestern abend seinen Job als CEO bei Apple aufgegeben und wird aber jetzt wohl Aufsichtsratvorsitzender. Die Frage, was sich bei Apple ändern wird, taucht natürlich auf.
Dazu z.B. folgender Artikel mit Bezug zu IDCC:

With Departure of Jobs, Will Apple Warm to Deals?
MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED, On Wednesday August 24, 2011, 7:35 pm EDT

As Steven P. Jobs steps down as chief executive of Apple Inc., the iPhone maker will lose the leader who rescued it from near-death and built it into a technology colossus.

But among his many roles -- visionary force behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad; brilliant but ruthlessly efficient manager -- one Mr. Jobs did not occupy was deal maker.

Since his return in 1997, after Apple's purchase of NeXT Inc., the company has acquired just 18 companies, according to data from Capital IQ. His biggest deal ever was not even at Apple; it was orchestrating Pixar's $7.4 billion sale to the Walt Disney Company, which also made him Disney's biggest individual shareholder.

Apple's most notable deals in recent years, including its acquisitions of the chip makers PA Semi and Intrinsity, have been relatively small. Its deal for the mobile ad company Quattro Wireless was said to be worth about $300 million.

More recently, Apple was part of the group that successfully bid $4.5 billion for Nortel Network's portfolio of patents. Apple is said to be interested in a number of other targets, including the online video company Hulu and the patent portfolio of Interdigital.

And with a $76.1 billion war chest as of late June, some have noted that Apple has enough financial firepower to buy Bank of America.

But Apple's new chief executive, Tim Cook, has already had a hand in the company's deal strategy, and all signs indicate that he is unlikely to change course.

Mr. Jobs, in any case, will remain chairman. His resignation was announced after the close of the stock market. In after-hours trading, shares of Apple fell as much as 7 percent.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/With-Departure-of-Jobs-Will-ny…

[Nonbroker]

Little relief seen as U.S. finalizes patent reform
Thursday August 25, 2011, 1:47 pm
By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress is tantalizingly close to passing patent reform that President Barack Obama has hailed as an economic booster, but the legislation is expected to do little to divert money away from patent litigation and toward innovation.

The Senate will vote on September 6 on whether to take up a patent reform bill passed by the House of Representatives in June.

Senate passage seems possible that same week given that the Senate approved a similar bill by an overwhelming margin in March.

The legislation would come just weeks after Google Inc (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News) agreed to pay $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc (NYSE:MMI - News) -- scooping up a trove of 17,000 phone-related patents to defend against infringement lawsuits in its Android operating system.

But high-tech companies, which have been the driving force for patent reform, would get little relief from the legislation that has been watered down to gain support.

"The tech sector wanted patent reform to offer alternatives to litigation. Instead, they have extensions of the patent process itself. That's fine for other industries, but not for tech," says Brian Kahin of the tech trade group Computer and Communications Industry Association.

The bill would allow the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to set its own fees, in the hopes that it would be able to clear a years-long backlog of patent applications.

The measure would also create a post-grant review process to allow challenges to bad patents, and would grant patents to the first inventors to file, rather than requiring inventors to show they were the first to develop an innovation.

But companies still feel that they need ammunition to stem the flood of legal challenges, which is why tech companies like Google, Apple Inc (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) and Microsoft Corp (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News) have spent billions of dollars to protect their products.

"How many jobs could have been created with all this money? This is a large waste. I'm sure Google would rather be spending the money doing things, instead of buying patents," said Daniel Ravicher, who heads the Public Patent Foundation and is a critic of patent reform.

PATENT LITIGATION NUMBERS GROWING

There were 2,296 patent lawsuits in 2000 in district courts. That number rose 23 percent to 2,833 in 2010 and is on track to hit 3,000 this year unless the economy declines again, said Joshua Walker, head of LexMachina, which tracks patent litigation.

In addition, the number of defendants per lawsuit has risen -- from an average of two in 2000 to three in 2010.

The stakes are high in patent litigation. In 2006, Research in Motion Ltd (Toronto:RIM.TO - News) was facing a potential court-ordered shutdown of its BlackBerry system before finally settling a long-running patent dispute.

There is some hope that the pending legislation could make a small dent in the growth of patent litigation.

Some tech industry experts believe that a better-financed, better-run patent office which issues fewer bad patents would eliminate a percentage of lawsuits. Half of the patents challenged in court now are invalidated, says Ravicher, which means they never should have been issued.

But reforming the patent office will not likely be enough to reverse the legal trends.

"We're going to see more litigation not less. For example, 2011 is looking like it's going to be the biggest patent litigation year on record," said Walker. "I don't think the patent reform bill will slow that."

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Is Better Than You ThinkBy Ilan Moscovitz
August 25, 2011
InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) may be cheaper than you think.

The daily noise machine of CNBC, analyst estimates, and quarterly announcements inundate investors with talking heads obsessing over earnings-per-share figures.

Earnings, or net income, is an accounting construction that forms the basis for the price-to-earnings ratio, the most popular way of measuring how cheap or expensive a stock is.

But free cash flow -- the amount of cash a company earns on its operations minus what it spends on them -- is another, often more accurate measure of earnings that can give you an advantage.

How InterDigital stacks up
If InterDigital tends to generate more free cash flow than net income, there's a good chance earnings-per-share figures understate its profitability and overstate its price tag. Conversely, if InterDigital consistently generates less free cash flow than net income, it may be less profitable and more expensive than it appears.

This graph compares InterDigital's historical net income to free cash flow. (I omitted various gains and charges such as tax deferrals, restructurings, and benefits related to stock options.)


As you can see, InterDigital has a tendency to produce more free cash flow than net income. This means that the standard price-to-earnings multiple investors use to judge companies may overstate its price tag.

There can be a variety of reasons to disregard such a discrepancy; for example, free cash flow can overstate earnings in businesses with volatile working capital needs, or understate earnings in high growth companies that are reinvesting capital in the business.

Alternatively, in cases where free cash flow more accurately measures earnings, such a discrepancy can indicate a company that is more -- or less -- expensive than investors realize.

Let's examine InterDigital alongside some other companies from the communications equipment industry to gain some context. Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) is the closest comparable as the company also licenses mobile technology. The other comparables give us a feel for ratios within the industry.

Company
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
Adjusted Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow Ratio

InterDigital 28.1 11.9
Qualcomm 19.8 19.6
Tekelec (Nasdaq: TKLC ) N/A* 32.6
Ixia (Nasdaq: XXIA ) 29.5 20.8

* Negative net income.

Like many of its communications-solutions peers, InterDigital appears to trade fairly expensively on the basis of its net income.

But InterDigital also tends to generate more free cash flow than net income, suggesting that the company's stock might be a bit cheaper than many investors realize.


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/25/interdigita…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Case Against ZTE, Huawei Gets Trade Agency Review
By Susan Decker - Aug 25, 2011 1:44 PM PT

InterDigital Inc.’s patent- infringement complaint seeking to block imports of phones made by Nokia Oyj (NOK1V), ZTE Corp. (000063) and Huawei Technologies Co. will be investigated by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

InterDigital, owner of about 1,300 U.S. patents related to mobile phones, claims the companies are infringing seven patents related to so-called third-generation wireless technology. The ITC, which announced the investigation on its website today, typically takes 15 to 18 months to complete a review and can ban imports of products that it finds violate U.S. patents.

Huawei had challenged the July 26 complaint in an Aug. 5 filing, accusing InterDigital of bringing the case “purely for the purpose of inflating its value as it prepares to sell its IP assets.” King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based InterDigital hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital in July to help explore a potential sale of its intellectual property to take advantage of increased demand for wireless patents.

InterDigital has said it filed the ITC complaint because Nokia, ZTE and Huawei refused to pay licensing fees. InterDigital already had a case against Espoo, Finland-based Nokia at the ITC that it lost, and is awaiting an appeals court ruling in that dispute.

A victory in the new case could result in a ban of phones, USB sticks, mobile hot spots and tablets made by the three companies. Huawei and ZTE are China’s two largest makers of phone equipment. Both are based in Shenzhen, China.

The case is In the Matter of Certain Wireless Devices with 3G Capabilities and Components Thereof, 337-800, U.S. International Trade Commission.

To contact the reporter on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at [e-mail].

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/interdigital-case-a…

[Nonbroker]

Es wird, auch hier, viel über die hohe Prozentzahl des "short interest" vom 15.08.2011 nachgedacht. An diesem Tag kam aber auch die Meldung über Googles Angebot an Motorola - und IDCC verlor an dem Tag an Wert.

[cell1]

@Steve Jobs hat gestern abend seinen Job als CEO bei Apple aufgegeben und wird Aufsichtsratvorsitzender.

Aus gesundheitlichen Gründen Steve Jobs ist (war) ein "Arbeitstier" mit Visionen, die er umsetzte im Gegenteil zu Ron Sommer dessen Visionen was für Psych... waren und Visionen blieben.

[cell1]

Die US-Zeitung „National Enquirer“ zeigt Fotos, die Apple-Chef Steve Jobs zeigen sollen. Das Blatt behauptet, er sei todkrank, hätte nur noch 6 ...

Das Internet-Magazin „Radar online" berichtet, er werde in der gleichen Krebsklinik behandelt wie Patrick Swayze (†57).
Dr. Jerome Spunberg, ein Arzt, den der „Enquirer“ als Quelle angibt: „Herr Jobs unterzieht sich in Stanford einer Chemotherapie, weil der Krebs zurückgekehrt ist.“

[cell1]

Auch der "Dirty Dancing“-Schauspieler litt unter Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs.

Allen Spekulationen zum Trotz geht es Steve Jobs aber augenscheinlich gut genug, um am Donnerstag in San Francisco Barack Obama zu treffen. Der Präsident besucht dort Intel Corp., wo er sich unter anderem bei Facebook-Gründer Mark Zuckerberg und Google-Chef Eric Schmidt über die Bildungseinrichtungen für Amerikaner in Hightech-Jobs informieren wird.

[Nonbroker]

Bereits bekannte Thematik, aktuell aufgearbeitet von M/Partners:

MORNING NOTE
August 26, 2011
Member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
Participating Organization – Toronto Stock Exchange and Toronto Venture Exchange
Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF)
Analyst: Ron Shuttleworth
THE ITC WILL INVESTIGATE NOKIA, ZTE & HUAWEI

[Nonbroker]

Ist immer noch Tagesgespräch "drüben". Bringe nur einen Auszug aus dem Artikel (Tabak interessiert mich als Sportler nicht so ). Rest über http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-26/steve-jobs-bat-sams… zu lesen.

Steve Jobs, Australia Tobacco, Samsung, Google, BBC: Intellectual Property
QBy Victoria Slind-Flor - Aug 26, 2011 12:57 PM GMT+0200 .

Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s former Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, who said Aug. 24 he was resigning from his post, was a prolific inventor, if issued Apple patents are any indication.

Jobs is named as an inventor on more than 300 issued U.S. patents and 30 published and pending applications, according to the database of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He’s listed as Steve Jobs on most patents and as Steven P. Jobs on others.

The patents are for a wide range of technologies, including many that cover the design of Apple products. Others deal with functionality, including user interfaces, power-off methods, icon management and product packaging.

There may be other patent applications for Cupertino, California-based Apple that list Jobs as an inventor that have not yet been published in the database.

InterDigital Case Against ZTE, Huawei Gets Trade Agency Review

InterDigital Inc.’s patent-infringement complaint seeking to block imports of phones made by Nokia Oyj (NOK1V), ZTE Corp. (000063) and Huawei Technologies Co. will be investigated by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

InterDigital, owner of about 1,300 U.S. patents related to mobile phones, claims the companies are infringing seven patents related to so-called third-generation wireless technology. The ITC, which announced the investigation on its website yesterday, typically takes 15 to 18 months to complete a review and can ban imports of products that it finds violate U.S. patents.

Huawei had challenged the July 26 complaint in an Aug. 5 filing, accusing InterDigital of bringing the case “purely for the purpose of inflating its value as it prepares to sell its IP assets.” King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based InterDigital hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital in July to help explore a potential sale of its intellectual property to take advantage of increased demand for wireless patents.

InterDigital has said it filed the ITC complaint because Nokia, ZTE and Huawei refused to pay licensing fees. InterDigital already had a case against Espoo, Finland-based Nokia at the ITC that it lost, and is awaiting an appeals court ruling in that dispute.

A victory in the new case could result in a ban of phones, USB sticks, mobile hot spots and tablets made by the three companies. Huawei and ZTE are China’s two largest makers of phone equipment. Both are based in Shenzhen, China.

The case is In the Matter of Certain Wireless Devices with 3G Capabilities and Components Thereof, 337-800, U.S. International Trade Commission.

[Nonbroker]

5 Breakout Trades on the Radar - 250 views
Stock Quotes in this Article: AAPL, IDCC, RIMM, SFSF, TTWO, TZOO, WFR, P
By Roberto Pedone
Senior Contributor
08/26/11 - 02:30 PM EDT

Interdigital
One high-flying stock that market players should put on their breakout radar is InterDigital (IDCC). This is a holding company, and its various subsidiaries engage in technology research and development activities or in the prosecution, maintenance, enforcement, and licensing of patents. InterDigital provides advanced technologies that enable wireless communications. This is market leading stock with shares up over 65% so far in 2011.

If you take a look at the chart for InterDigital, you’ll see that this stock is quickly approaching a big breakout if it can manage to trade and close above $70.30 to $72 a share. A move above those levels with decent volume could signal a big move is in the cards for IDCC.

It’s also worth pointing out that this stock has yet to breach an uptrend line that’s been in place since July. This shows that large traders have been buying all the dips in the stock.

A move above those breakout levels I mentioned above would also mean that shares of IDCC have busted above a key descending trend line, which would be a bullish trend change. This could mean that the bears have lost control of this stock in the short-term and its setting up to trade back towards $77 a share or possibly even a re-test of $82.50 a share.

I would look to buy this stock if it clears $70.30 to $72.00 on a closing basis with volume. Look for volume that’s close to or greater than its three-month average action of 2.2 million shares. I would add to any long position once it takes out $77 a share with decent volume. Keep in mind that you can also buy this stock on any weakness and anticipate the breakout, just remember that you should use a tight stop no matter what your entry is in case IDCC isn’t ready to go.

This is a heavily shorted stock since over 16% of the float is currently sold short by the bears. It’s worth mention that the short-sellers have been increasing their bets dramatically from the last reporting period by 30.5%, or by about 1.7 million shares. That’s a risky trade to press their shorts on a stock that’s acting so strong. Any near-term breakout could easily spark a big short covering rally.

http://stockpickr.com/5-breakout-trades-radar.html?cm_ven=sp…

[Nonbroker]

Nach wie vor nur Spekulationen über die potentiellen Übernehmer von IDCC, noch fünf Handelstage!


Apple can use its cash on acquisitionsDanielle Kucera,Rita Nazareth, Bloomberg News

Saturday, August 27, 2011
Without Steve Jobs, Apple may start to embrace deal making after spending less on acquisitions than any of its biggest competitors.

Jobs, who transformed the near-bankrupt personal-computer also-ran into the world's largest technology company, used less than a billion dollars for takeovers in the past decade as he unveiled the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Apple's largest rivals have shelled out more than $15 billion on average to buy companies over the same span. Microsoft has lost a fifth of its value, even after spending 10 times as much as Apple on acquisitions.

Apple became a $350 billion company as Jobs introduced devices that revolutionized the computer, music and mobile phone industries. Jobs, who was diagnosed with cancer and had a liver transplant, is now turning Apple over to former Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook. Boosting acquisitions in entertainment, patents and security with its $28 billion cash hoard may help Apple fend off Google and Samsung Electronics without Jobs, the University of North Carolina and Stewart Capital said.

"Time will come for acquisitions for sure," said Arvind Malhotra, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, who has taught Apple's business strategies for a decade. Jobs "always grew from within. If lack of his vision and availability of his position causes the future pipeline not to be there, that's when the acquisition model comes into play. They're sitting on a cash pile," he said.

No comment
Steve Dowling, a spokesman at Apple, declined to comment on whether Jobs' resignation as chief executive officer will encourage the company to make more acquisitions.

Apple advanced 2.6 percent to $383.58 Friday, becoming the world's largest company with $356 billion in market value. It eclipsed Exxon Mobil, which ended the day at $353 billion.

America's 10 largest technology companies have paid more than $140 billion on acquisitions in the past decade.

Apple, which introduced the iPod music player in late 2001, has accounted for less than 1 percent of those purchases with $910 million in takeovers, the data show.

Even without a single billion-dollar acquisition, Apple's value under Jobs increased by more than $300 billion in the past 10 years. Jobs has also doubled Apple's net income every two years since the company reported its last annual loss in 2001.

Microsoft, the maker of the Windows operating system that was founded by Bill Gates, fell 21 percent in the past decade, even after spending more than $12 billion on acquisitions to bolster earnings and boost shareholder value.

The total does not include the company's $8.5 billion agreement in May to buy Skype Technologies, the world's most popular Internet calling service, which is not yet final.

Jobs, who founded Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976, was ousted by the board in 1985 amid differences over strategy. When he returned 12 years later, Apple had run up $1.86 billion in losses over two years. It was 90 days away from bankruptcy, Jobs would later say.

Apple's share price has grown substantially from July 29, 1997, the day before The Chronicle said that Jobs would be interim CEO, through his resignation this week.

Largest tech company
The company's equity value rose to $349 billion from $2.1 billion under Jobs, making it the largest technology company.

Microsoft, which at its peak in December 1999 was worth more than a half-trillion dollars, is valued at $209 billion. IBM Corp. has a market capitalization of $199 billion.

Jobs led Apple's transformation into a seller of everything from smart phones to music. He engineered the company's comeback by honing its industrial design, tightly integrating software and hardware, and pushing into new markets.

The iPhone, introduced in 2007, has become Apple's best-selling product and turned the company into the world's biggest smart phone maker. After luring customers away from Research In Motion and Nokia, Apple is now sparring with Google for leadership in the market for mobile phone software.

Jobs was appointed chairman this week after resigning as CEO and recommended appointing Cook as his successor. He has been on medical leave since Jan. 17, after battling a rare form of cancer since 2003 and surviving a liver transplant in 2009.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs said in a statement on Aug. 24. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

Apple may now need to spend more money acquiring products to replace those built using Jobs' ideas, said Malcolm Polley, who oversees $1 billion as chief investment officer at Stewart Capital in Indiana, Pa.

The company is going to have to add products to "blunt the force" of Google's Android platform, said Michael Yoshikami, chief executive officer and founder of YCMNet Advisors, which manages $1.1 billion in Walnut Creek.

This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/27/…

[Nonbroker]

Schade, es gibt keine news. Nur Gerüchte. Warten wir´s ab bis nach dem Tag der Arbeit.

[Nonbroker]

How the Patent Wars Are Hurting High-Tech
By John Grgurich
August 31, 2011
IDCC
InterDigital

Patents are as American as mom and apple pie. Maybe more so. Mom and apple pie aren't mentioned in the Constitution. Find out how the software patent system is affecting the companies, and the profits, you love.

Patents are such a fundamental part of American economic culture that the Founding Fathers saw fit to address them in the Constitution. But in the software industry, patents may be doing more harm than good -- stifling innovation, hijacking the bottom line, and siphoning shareholder value.

We the people establish the patent system
"The Congress shall have power ... To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries."
--Article I, Section 8, U.S. Constitution

Up until 1980, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office thought of software like language, i.e., you could copyright the code, but not patent the whole idea. The U.S. Supreme Court supported this view. In the 1981 case of Diamond v. Diehr, the court reversed its thinking, ruling that software patents could now cover the whole software invention, not just the code used to make the invention function.

Diamond v. Diehr led directly to State Street v. Signature, a 1998 federal appeals court case that allowed the possibility of patenting "business methods." A term as wide open and generic as it sounds, business methods can describe applications as wide ranging as financial data processing methods, computing techniques, online bookselling, and online auctions.

State Street v. Signaturebroke down the door that Diamond v. Diehr nudged open, and a flood of software patents followed.

Even software engineers don't like software patents
"I worked on a whole bunch of patents in my career," Silicon Valley programmer Stephan Brunner recently told NPR, "and I have to say that every single patent is nothing but crap." Brunner includes the patents he holds in that category.

The problem? Software patents can be so broad that almost anyone who writes a program can be guilty of infringement and therefore subject to suit. This presents an obvious potential problem for any innovative, high-tech company.

Mutual assured destruction
In response, companies started amassing patent hoards, not to build anything new or to innovate with them, but to defend themselves against potential lawsuits.

It's mutual assured destruction. A company with a large patent portfolio can say, "Sue me with your patents and I'll sue you with mine." But instead of nuclear arsenals, it's patent arsenals, and companies are spending big money to build them.

A recent auction of 6,000 patents from the bankrupt Nortel Networks ended with a winning bid of $4.5 billion and went to a consortium of companies that included Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , and Ericcson. Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG ) mere $3 billion offer didn't cut it. But the action didn't stop there.

Google goes nuclear
Speculation grew to a fever pitch that mobile patent specialist InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) would be bought by a larger player seeking to bolster its own patent portfolio. Hopes of an impending buyout spiked InterDigital's shares by more than 100% in the month between mid-June and July.

Then, the patent buyout to end all patent buyouts finally happened: Google bought Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) for $12.5 billion. While Motorola does have a large mobile division, the real prize was its 17,000 granted patents, a patent treasure chest nearly three times the size of Nortel's.

To be fair, patents do have a place in the high-tech economy, particularly in the mobile industry. Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) , for example, may get criticized for having a "patent stranglehold" over the mobile industry, but also spends $2.5 billion annually in research and development. And Qualcomm was integral in the core development of the CDMA technologies that now form the basis of today's data networks.

A recipe for less innovation
This brings us back to the larger problem with today's patenting process in technology, i.e., companies are all too often are able to patent generic ideas without creating any of the specifics that make them commercially viable.

So now, as many new patents are being used as defensive weapons by companies that haven't innovated, many others are being used as offensive weapons by companies that simply want to stall the growth of their more successful peers. That's a recipe for less innovation, as any new technology must navigate a minefield of overly generic patents that add no real value.

And it's not just companies getting caught up in the patent melee. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen recently filed a far-reaching lawsuit against companies including Google and eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY ) for violating patents on overly generic ideas like "news aggregators."

The only ones getting rich are the lawyers
The money to buy these patents come out of a company's cash reserves. Will the patents keep the company lawsuit-free? Maybe. If they're as broad and unfocused as claimed, who knows whose patents will have the final word in court?

Those profiting most here are lawyers. Those profiting least are shareholders. The billions spent amassing a patent portfolio could be reinvested in the company, to develop new products and stay competitive, or be issued as a dividend.

Size really does matter
As in other spaces affected by excessive litigiousness, the current software patent system is feeding on itself and growing worse. It is what it is, but it's a shame to see good shareholder money thrown after bad.

For the big high-techs, a few billion here and there aren't going to exhaust their cash hoards. So if you have a position in one of those, stay put, Fools -- there's no need to run out and sell your shares.

But for the smaller high-techs, the kind that don't have a few billion extra lying around to get in on a big-time patent auction or hire a team of lawyers to sue for patent infringement, the ongoing patent wars are something you may need to factor in to any potential or existing position.


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/08/31/how-the-pat…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Moves Into New Trading Range Above $71.58 (IDCC)
Written on Wed, 08/31/2011
- 7:01am By Amy Schwartz
InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) traded in a range yesterday that spanned from a low of $70.67 to a high of $73.25. Yesterday's high of the day pierced the 3-day high of $71.58 on volume of 1.3 million shares.
Shares of InterDigital have been range bound for the past 3-days between a high of $71.58 and a low of $65.55 and have traded with a 30-day average daily volume of 3.8 million shares.
Look for shares of IDCC to trade within a new higher trading range with support at $71.58 and move along with its peers in the Communication Equipment SmarTrend industry.
SmarTrend currently has shares of InterDigital in an Uptrend and issued the Uptrend alert on June 28, 2011 at $39.91. The stock has risen 79.1% since the Uptrend alert was issued.

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/interdigit…

[sdaktien]

Aha. Jetzt brauchts schon Intra-Day Analysen um IDCC zu pushen (meine nicht dich Noni, sodern die Analyse die du gepostet hast)
Für mich ist IDCC immer noch in einer Seitwärtsbewegung. allerdings läuft die 38er jetzt in diesen Seitwärtsbereich (die dürfte jetzt bei ca. 63$ liegen). Es ist möglich, dass IDCC bis dahin nochmal korrigiert und dann nach oben ausbricht. Noch gibt es aber keinen Ausbruch.

Ich halte allerdings einen Ausbruch nach unten für wahrscheinlicher (es sei denn es gibt Nachrichten die dem entgegen stehen). In dem letzen Aufschwung seit Mitte August ist das Handelsvolumen sogar abgesunken. Schaut man sich den Chart an, könnte IDCC eine Schulter-Kopf-Schulter Formation ausbilden (SKS), wobei die Schultern die Tops vom Juli und gestern wären, und der Kopf das 52 Wochen Hoch vom August. Wäre dem so, wäre dies als Trendumkehr zu werten und fallende Kurse die Folge.

Wichtig wird dabei wahrscheinlich das Tief in der Korrektur, dass bei 62,98$ liegt. Wird das nicht unterschritten, gibt es Chancen auf eine weitere Seitwärtsbewegung mit vielleicht anschliessenden steigenden Kursen. Wird dieses Tief unterschritten (dann wäre auch die 38er geknackt), könnte die Aktie in einen Bereich von zunächst 55$ bis 58$ fallen, eine Zone die sich aus dem Hoch im Februar und der 100Tage-Linie herleitet, die jetzt noch bei ca. 50€liegt, aber noch ansteigt.

[Nonbroker]

Könnte eine Rolle für die Übernahmephantasien allgemein spielen

U.S. moves to block AT&T, T-Mobile deal

On Wednesday August 31, 2011, 3:31 pm
By Jeremy Pelofsky and Sinead Carew

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Wednesday fired a legal broadside to block AT&T Inc's $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile, launching its biggest challenge yet to a takeover and dealing the carrier a potentially costly blow.

AT&T plans to fight the government's decision in court and analysts say it might have to make big concessions -- including selling major assets -- to mollify regulators.

Shares in the No. 2 U.S. carrier behind Verizon Wireless fell as much as 5.4 percent. If the deal falls through, it may have to pay a break-up fee and benefits, such as spectrum grants, worth an estimated $6 billion.

The Justice Department in a lawsuit filed in federal court said eliminating T-Mobile as a competitor would be disastrous for consumers and would raise prices, particularly because the smaller provider is considered a pioneer in low-cost service plans.

"The biggest surprise is the timing. Many expected, because of how big the merger (is), the complexities, how big the stakes were, that it would take longer," said Medley Global Advisors analyst Jeffrey Silva.

The lawsuit is a serious attempt to halt a "fundamentally flawed" deal, not a tactic to wring out-sized concessions from AT&T, a source familiar with the lawsuit said.

"Were the merger to proceed, there would only be three providers with 90 percent of the market, and competition among the remaining competitors on all dimensions, including price, quality and innovation, would be diminished," said Deputy Attorney General James Cole.

The department said it remains open to negotiations with the company.

The lawsuit caught the company and Wall Street by surprise, coming hours after the telecoms carrier announced it would bring back 5,000 call-center jobs to the United States if the deal closed. AT&T has argued that it needs the deal to secure enough wireless airwaves to meet growing demand for high-speed wireless services.

Company representatives met with Justice Department officials as recently as Tuesday, and received no indication of the lawsuit, a second source with knowledge of the meetings told Reuters.

"Clearly AT&T didn't expect this," said Pacific Crest Securities analyst Steve Clement. "It changes things for them with respect to the spectrum flexibility they'd have. They're going to have to be in the market to buy incremental spectrum."

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

The lawsuit is the biggest challenge to a takeover by the Obama administration, which includes former AT&T executive William Daley, who serves as White House chief of staff.

The deal also needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates wireless telecommunications. On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said he is concerned about the deal's impact on competition.

"Ultimately, post-concessions, we still expect the deal to be cleared -- eventually," said Liberium Capital analyst Mark James.

A scuppered acquisition could prompt Sprint Nextel Corp, the smallest of the top three U.S. carriers, to consider buying T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, analysts said.

More immediately, the decision is a letdown for the German carrier.

"It's a blow for Deutsche Telekom, who were looking to the deal as a solution to the protracted difficulties they've been facing in the U.S. market," said John Delaney, an analyst at technology research firm IDC.

"DT will gain some short-term consolation from the penalties it can exact from AT&T. But in the end, DT would still be stuck with the problem of how to turn around a sub-scale national operator with a declining subscriber base."

AT&T shares fell $1.26, or more than 4 percent, to $28.35. Stock in rival Sprint rose 9 percent to $3.85.

Sprint, which has loudly objected to the proposed deal, said the lawsuit was a "decisive victory for consumers."

Despite a spike in its shares, some analysts say the picture is not all good because the removal of T-Mobile -- which has a reputation for aggressively under-cutting rivals on price -- could have helped Sprint in certain market segments.

"It's mixed for Sprint. On the one hand, they were potentially going to lose T-Mobile USA as a competitor at the low end of the market," Clement said. "Now it's going to face a T-Mobile that's in a better position prior to the merger proposal, with extra cash and spectrum and a new roaming agreement with AT&T."

(Additional reporting by Diane Bartz and Jasmin Melvin in Washington, Nadia Damouni in New York, Georgina Prodhan and Victoria Howley in London and Nicola Leske in Berlin. Writing by Edwin Chan. Editing by Robert MacMillan)

[Nonbroker]

August Tech Recap: Patents, Buyouts, IPO Woes, and Surviving a Market Crash
By Eric Bleeker August 31, 2011
IDCCInterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $70.40 $-2.08 (-2.87%)


Investors of all kinds can be glad that August is over. The Nasdaq shed 6.4%, even after a strong recovery at the end of the month. Just eight trading days ago the Nasdaq was down a whopping 15% for the month!

However, of all industries, technology saw some of the most dramatic changes. Here are four of the top storylines that emerged.

August tech news No. 1: The patent wars heat up
The brewing storyline of companies accumulating patent arsenals hit a fever pitch in August when Google announced it was buying Motorola Mobility on Aug. 15. The acquisition was the direct result of a consortium led by Apple, Microsoft, and Research In Motion purchasing a trove of Nortel patents. Elsewhere, Apple and Samsung have an ongoing battle in court that could result in Samsung's popular Galaxy Tab tablets being pulled from store shelves.

Looking forward, a few key questions have emerged:

•Will Android partners rebel? The Korean government recently said it was exploring an alternative mobile OS to reduce Korean electronics companies' reliance on Android. Then reports surfaced that Samsung, the largest Android partner in terms of smartphone sales, was exploring buying Hewlett-Packard's webOS business. Google will have to juggle pleasing Android partners with producing its own hardware. That won't be an easy task.
•Who's next on the buying block? With Motorola gone, some key patent companies remain.
InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) has seen its share price soar as patent wars have heated up. Enthusiasm over VirnetX (NYSE: VHC ) reached a peak in July when shares crossed $40 on patent mania. Since then, they've retreated to half that level, with rumors routinely sending shares up or down 10% a day. While it has little value left as a stand-alone business, a recent estimate valued Eastman Kodak's patents at over $3 billion. OLED-patent king Universal Display (Nasdaq: PANL ) isn't a likely buyout candidate, but managed to secure new licensing contracts with its major customers in August. It closed out the month up 64%.
August tech news No. 2: The CEO of a generation steps down
After a decade of stunning product successes, Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple's CEO. He leaves a company that's in a neck-and-neck race with ExxonMobil for the title of the most valuable company in the world. While Steve Jobs' vision can't be replaced, he leaves behind a capable management team that has a deep talent bench.

Here are some Fool articles looking at the impact of Steve Jobs' reign and departure, and an examination of his replacement, Tim Cook:

•The End of an Era: Steve Jobs Resigns as Apple CEO
•Apple: After Jobs, Is It Still a Buy?
•A Look at Tim Cook
August tech news No. 3: HP's not-so-bold reinvention
HP started August out trading at $35.80 a share, and ended the month at $26.03. Ouch. Somewhere in the mess, HP issued poor guidance, announced it was divesting its PC business, killed its tablet offering, and purchased a $10 billion software company. Yeah, that's a lot of news.

I haven't been a big fan of how HP's going about reinventing itself. It's not that expanding across the technology stack (that is, offering services across services, software, and hardware) is a bad idea; seemingly every big technology company wants to clone IBM's wildly popular model. However, HP's strategy doesn't look entirely focused. Before buying Autonomy for $10 billion (a hefty 50 times earnings), the company also snooped around Tibco and Teradata.

Those are both fine companies, but I think HP's willingness to pursue such disparate software companies shows its strategy amounts to little more than "get into software -- any kind of software." With IBM, their consulting business offers more high-end services than HP's EDS business, so cross-selling software is a much easier proposition. Plus, they have a huge breadth of offerings, whereas HP's software side is pretty slim aside from Autonomy. While HP's trading on the cheap, I think there's plenty more headaches ahead while it implements its transformation into a full-service IT company.

August tech news No. 4: A thawing IPO market
The main technology discussion point at the start of the year was whether we were in another technology bubble. Raucous IPOs from Zillow (Nasdaq: Z ) and LinkedIn seemed to confirm we were. However, with markets pulling back, IPOs from Internet stars like Zynga and Groupon are rapidly being pushed back.

The most notable IPO of August was Tudou, a Chinese video company that attracts 200 million unique visitors a month. The stock quickly dropped a third from its IPO pricing but has since rebounded. It competes not only against other Chinese Internet giants like largest peer Youku.com, but also Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU ) , SINA, and Sohu.com. The interesting question in the months ahead will be whether companies like Youku and Tudou can go it alone, or whether large Chinese Internet companies like Tencent, Baidu, and SINA will form partnerships or buy them outright. Just this week, SINA invested $66 million in Tudou.

Looking back at the American IPO market, recent IPO Pandora (NYSE: P ) exceeded expectations in its first public earnings release. The month also saw an attempt by Research In Motion to launch its own streaming service. While I'm bearish on Research In Motion's service due to the limited nature, the broader idea is that the media landscape is rapidly changing. Watching the evolution of how users consume media and how large companies distribute their own media on mobile devices will be central to your investment thesis in coming years, especially if you're an investor in Sirius XM (Nasdaq: SIRI ) . The reshaping of delivering media in America should be a storyline should have plenty of turns in the years ahead.

That's it for August's tech recap.

[cell1]

Hat Google zu viel bezahlt ?
Stolen Video from IHUB board.

http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-motorola-patents-are-…
edium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+typepad/alleyinsider/silicon_alley_insider+(Silicon+Alley+Insider)

[Nonbroker]

A Game of Patents: Acquire or Die
By Dan Radovsky
September 1, 2011

IDCCInterDigital
CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars . $69.31 $-1.09 (-1.55%)


If Mike Myers' Dr. Evil ever returns in another Austin Powers movie, I know how he'd attempt to gain control of the world. He would buy up as many wireless phone patents as possible.

Ridiculous? Maybe not.

Because it just happens to be what Dr. Larry "Don't Be Evil" Page, the CEO of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) , is trying to do. And he’s not shy about it. Google's deal to purchase Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) for the premium price of $12.5 billion was a defiant counterstrike to the company’s recent failed patent bid.

Earlier this summer, Google tried to buy the Nortel Networks' portfolio of 6,000 patents. But a consortium that included Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Microsoft, and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) took that pile of intellectual property for $4.5 billion, five times Google’s original bid. Before the end of the bidding, Google bid a series of math-related numbers including one bid at $3.14 billion; yes, Google bid pi. While Google's final bid isn't known, Reuters reports the company wasn't willing to bid past $4 billion.

To survive, or not to survive...
This desire for patent supremacy isn't just a "he who dies with the most patents wins" ego trip. It could mean life or something much less for tech companies.

There could be many thousands of patent claims on something like a smartphone, and the potential hail of litigation falling on smartphone producers could stifle technical innovation. The more patents a company owns, the greater the odds of avoiding lawsuits. Those not financially able to fight or settle those suits are left helpless.

So Google, the scorned Nortel suitor, saw Motorola's file cabinet full of some 17,000 patents as a powerful draw. Some might think that those patents embody the steak in Google’s feast, and that Motorola's hardware business is merely the creamed spinach.

Companies cleaning out their attics
Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK ) has claimed that Apple and Research In Motion have infringed upon its patents, and it is trying to collect $1 billion in usage fees from them. But Kodak is widely considered to be heading for default as a stand-alone business, and its digital imaging patents could be worth up to $3 billion. That’s about four times the company's current market value. Kodak, then, is another likely patent acquisition target.

Telecommunications company InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) also has a bull’s-eye on its back as Apple, Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) , and Nokia lust after its patent trove. The auction for InterDigital is expected to occur after Labor Day. If Google doesn’t enter the bidding -- as its purchase of Motorola might foreshadow -- then that could dampen InterDigital’s pricing potential.

Digging a defensive patent moat
Companies like Google and Apple have a lot of cash on hand. There are three things they could do with that money -- besides letting it earn 0.12% at one-year Treasury bond rates:

1.Pay dividends -- sigh, if only.
2.Buy back shares.
3.Acquire other companies (for diversification and/or to acquire intellectual properties).
Given the immediacy of the patent threats these companies face, door No. 3 (for the intellectual properties) seems like the safest move.

There will be many interesting developments in the technical patent realm in the coming months. To make it easier to keep track of what’s going on with the above companies, put them on your watchlist by clicking here.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/01/a-game-of-p…

[cell1]

Nokia Sells 2,000 Patents
Mosaid Technologies Will Share in Revenue Wrung From Wireless Know-How
By BEN DUMMETT
TORONTO—Mosaid Technologies Inc. said Thursday it is taking over about 2,000 wireless patents and patent applications originally filed by Nokia Corp. of Finland, in a move that Mosaid says will help monetize the intellectual property.

Bloomberg News
A customer viewed a display of Nokia's E7 phone in Helsinki in April.

The deal comes amid a recent drive by technology companies to essentially outsource the sometimes-expensive process of squeezing revenue out of their patent holdings. As wireless communication booms, companies big and small are increasingly battling in the courtroom over alleged patent infringement of mobile-related technology. Technology giants, meanwhile, have been on the prowl for patents, both to go after new revenue and to protect themselves from litigation.

Google Inc. cited Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s patent trove as one reason for its recent $12.5-billion bid for the company. And in July, Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Research in Motion Ltd. joined forces in a consortium that paid $4.5 billion for Nortel Network Corp.'s wireless patents.

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt wenig im Internet. Alle warten auf Dienstag.

Saturday, September 3, 2011
Samsung's Mistake for InterDigital's Patents Acquisition

According to a S. Korea's news media, Seoul Economic Daily, Samsung finally decided that it will not participate in auction for InterDigital's patents: http://economy.hankooki.com/lpage/industry/201108/e201108191…

After Apple's acquisition of Nortel's patents, Samsung had expressed that it is interested in bidding for InterDigital's patents:http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-may-bid-on-interdigital-pat…
Samsung told to the media that there will be more lost then benefit for buying the patents because of price bubble in InterDigital's patents. It may be true it Samsung do not consider its strong competitor- Apple.

According to TechIPm's analysis for LTE patents, some part of InterDigita's LTE patent portfolio have a relative competitiveness over Samsung's, and it may be a good tool to Apple to attack Samsung, if it acquires InterDigital's patents.

TechIPm, LLC (http://www.techipm.com/)" target="_blank" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.techipm.com/) provides patent portfolio evaluation service for patent due diligence in mobile business acquisition. LTE patent portfolio evaluation can provide the followings.

1. What is the quality of the LTE patent portfolio?
2. What are the strengths/weaknesses of the LTE patent portfolio?
3. Comparative analysis among the patent portfolios (e.g. InterDigital v. Samsung).
4. Who are the best candidate for mobile business acquisition considering the business integration and/or compatibility?
5.What are the potential risks considering the possible patent lawsuits?

For more information, please contact Alex Lee at [e-mail] .


©2011 TechIPm, LLC All Rights Reserved
http://www.techipm.com/

Posted by TechIPm, LLC at 9/03/2011
Labels: G Mobile Technology, IP Licensing, LTE, Smart Phone, Strategy
0

[Nonbroker]

Sep 3, 2011
Next strike: Apple apparently forced Samsung to remove Galaxy Tab 7.7" from IFA (trade show) booth and German website

Yesterday (Friday, September 2, 2011) was the first day a trade show named IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) in the German capital of Berlin. It's a major international event for the consumer electronics industry, and I have seen on Twitter that a number of U.S. journalists covering mobile devices flew in from overseas. And it's the venue of the latest episode in the world-spanning intellectual property dispute between Apple and Samsung, following an unambiguous sign of weakness on Samsung's part in Australia: I have seen a couple of reports (AndroidPIT.de, mobiflip.de) on German websites and received direct information from an IFA visitor according to which Samsung removed all Galaxy Tab samples, also including the new 7.7" version, and all promotional material from its booth today. Samsung also removed the Galaxy Tab 7.7" from its German website.

AllAboutSamsung.de produced two videos of the Galaxy Tab 7.7. On that page, the first video shows how Samsung presented the Galaxy Tab 7.7" yesterday. The second one is a hands-on demo of the product, and you can see the "NOT FOR SALE IN GERMANY" sticker on the sample, which is how Samsung apparently hoped to be able to present the product at this international trade show without being affected by a German preliminary injunction. That blog, whose author also tweeted from a recent Düsseldorf court hearing on the preliminary injunction Apple obtained against Samsung in Germany, also speculates that the removal of those products from Samsung's IFA booth has to do with Apple's infringement assertions.

ThisIsMyNext has meanwhile published some telling "BEFORE" and "AFTER" photos of Samsung's Galaxy exhibits at IFA.

CHIP.de, the website of a major German computer magazine, claims that Samsung received a letter from Apple right at its booth today. However, I haven't been able to find any corroborating reports for the time being. Once I do, I'll update this post accordingly.

Even without any official confirmation, there can be no reasonable doubt that Samsung didn't show those devices on the first day and the morning of the second day of IFA only to remove them. One of the reports says that in addition to removing all Galaxy Tabs, Samsung staff also scraped off the product name shown at the booth right below (or next to) the samples.

Two legal possibilities: a new injunction or claims of violation of the existing one

The preliminary injunction Apple obtained in Germany four weeks ago related to the Galaxy Tab 10.1" as the only accused product at the time. There are two possible explanations for why Samsung was (or at least felt) forced to remove the Galaxy Tab 7.7" from its IFA booth:

Apple might have obtained a new preliminary injunction and delivered it to Samsung's booth today.

Apple might have asked (or threatened to asked) the Düsseldorf court to impose a fine on Samsung for contempt of the existing preliminary injunction. There could be an argument that the existing preliminary injunction applies to the Galaxy Tab 7.7" as well, given that -- apart from its size -- it looks very similar to the banned Galaxy Tab 10.1".

Under German law, the court can threaten with and impose fines of up to EUR 250,000 (US$350,000) or, in cases of continued contempt, order the imprisonment of Samsung management (at least the CEO of its German subsidiary). The way the courts handle this is that for the first violation they impose a relatively small fine, and with every new violation (or every continuation of an ongoing infringement) they impose increasing fines. If even the maximum fine isn't sufficient, they can theoretically order imprisonment. I actually know of a case in which a lawyer representing a German publisher of computer magazines asked a court to order the imprisonment of the managing director of the German subsidiary of a competitor (Ziff-Davis). In that case, the court denied the motion, and I don't know if anyone was ever imprisoned due to contempt of a preliminary injunction. But theoretically it's possible.

The Düsseldorf regional court will hand a post-hearing decision on the Galaxy Tab 10.1" injunction on Friday, September 9, 2011. The judge presiding over that case appears to be on Apple's side anyway, but it wouldn't be wise for Samsung to bring up that court against it even more by acting in contempt of a preliminary injunction.

Until we all find out what the legal reason for Samsung's removal of the Galaxy Tab 7.7" was, it's difficult to tell what the more likely scenario is. My guess is that Apple obtained a new court decision rather than getting into any argument over whether the existing one applies. German courts can move very quickly with these injunctions. Maybe Apple filed for it in the morning, received the document in the afternoon or today (for such preliminary injunctions, the courts are also available on weekends) and then sent someone to Berlin to serve the document on Samsung.

AndroidPit interview with Samsung's press spokeswoman for Germany

Meanwhile, AndroidPit.de has published a video of an interview of AndroidPit's Fabien Roehlinger with Annika Karstadt, the press spokeswoman of Samsung's German subsidiary. This is my translation of the interview:

AndroidPit: People saw that you removed all Galaxy Tabs 7.7 and covered [parts of the tables] with a sheet. What's the matter with this?

Samsung: We have decided -- on a current occasion -- to replace the product with our other IFA highlight product, the Galaxy Note, since, as the press reported, we weren't going to offer the product for sale in Germany anyway, so we want to show our customers the other product -- the [Galaxy] Note -- more closely.

AndroidPit: Does this have to do with Apple by any chance?

Samsung: On this one I have to ask you for your understanding that I'm not allowed to comment on an ongoing [legal] proceeding.

AndroidPit: So this apparently means you want to focus more on the Galaxy Note and you have therefore taken a decision on short notice to rearrange your exhibits?

Samsung: The Note was going to be our highlight product anyway and since the other product wasn't going to be sold in Germany at any rate, I believe it's also better for the consumers here [at the show] and simpler and in the interest of trade show visitors that we really show only those products that are really going to be released in Germany.

I think the Samsung spokeswoman handled this delicate situation fairly well. Between the lines it's easy to figure out that there's pressure from Apple, and that's also what AndroidPit's article (written after the interview) describes as the most plausible explanation. But she wasn't allowed to say so. Obviously, the words "on a current occasion" don't explain why they would change their focus on the second day of a trade show. If this was just about market focus, they could have done so before the show, and other reports say that Samsung does actually exhibit products at IFA that aren't going to be sold in Germany.

I noticed that she avoided mentioning the Galaxy Tab 7.7 by name, referring to it only as "the product" or "the other product". While this could be attributable to a desire to downplay the relevance of that product, the much more likely reason is that she was instructed by lawyers not to mention its name -- only to make generic references to it in order to answer questions asked by the interviewer -- because this could otherwise be seen as an act of promoting a banned (or potentially banned, if there's uncertainty about whether the Galaxy Tab 7.7 falls within the scope of the existing injunction) product. She obviously wouldn't want to make mistakes that result in fines or -- in a hypothetical worst-case scenario -- the imprisonment of her boss.

As soon as there's greater clarity, I'll update this post.

Samsung said it wouldn't sell the Galaxy Tab 7.7" in the United States market

When Samsung presented the Galaxy Tab 7.7", it said that it didn't intend to sell the device in the United States. Given the size of that market, that statement (which may reflect Samsung's long-term intention or may just be a tactical move) is most likely also attributable to Apple's legal pressure. There's a process underway in California that could lead to a preliminary injunction. A hearing is scheduled for October 13. I guess Samsung will firstly see whether there's going to be a U.S. injunction. If not, Samsung could say that it changed mind and simply release the Galaxy Tab 7.7" in the U.S. as well. Apple's motion for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. relates to three smartphones and the Galaxy Tab 10.1. If Samsung announced its intent now to launch the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in the U.S., Apple would immediately take measures to try to obtain a preliminary injunction with respect to that product as well.

http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/09/next-strike-apple-ap…

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt weiterhin nur wilde Spekulationen und Gerüchte in den amerikanischen Boards. Ich hoffe, es kommt morgen was.

[Nonbroker]

Schon enttäuschend, die erwarteten positiven Neuigkeiten sind ausgeblieben. Wir haben in den USA aber erst späten Nachmittag, vielleicht kommt heute noch etwas?

[cell1]

welche positiven Neuigkeiten erwartetest du denn ?
die Bietergebote können sich Monate lang hinziehen ...
nur CAFC müßte bald kommen positiv oder negativ ?

[ete201]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.054.494 von cell1 am 07.09.11 13:38:17

Dass das Bieterverfahren sich noch Monate hinzieht, ist mE völliger Quatsch! Laut Pressemeldungen wollte IDCC den selbst inizierten Verkauf der Patente/des Unternehmens bereits vor 2 Wochen abgeschlossen haben und haben offensichtlich nur auf Wunsch der noch prüfungswilligen Bietinteressenten einen Aufschub für deren Gebotsabgabe bis nach labor-day gegeben. Da der nun vorbei ist, werden auch die Angebote nun abgegeben werden müssen bzw. sind vermutlich bereits abgegeben worden. Eine weitere Verzögerung "von Monaten" widerspricht sicherlich dem Interesse von IDCC, die "ihr Eisen noch solange schmieden wollen, wie es heiß ist". Zudem spricht auch die Erfahrung aus dem Nortel-Deal dagegen, da damals das Ergebnis der Auktion auch 1 Tag nach Angebotsfristende bekannt gegeben wurde. Ich bin mir daher sicher, dass noch diese Woche ein Ergebnis gemeldet wird. Nur welches... ???

[cell1]

@Dass das Bieterverfahren sich noch Monate hinzieht, ist mE völliger Quatsch! Laut Pressemeldungen wollte IDCC den selbst inizierten Verkauf der Patente/des Unternehmens bereits vor 2 Wochen abgeschlossen haben und haben offensichtlich nur auf Wunsch der noch prüfungswilligen Bietinteressenten einen Aufschub für deren Gebotsabgabe bis nach labor-day gegeben.
Weil Google sich für MMI statt IDCC entschieden hat! Man hatte auf Übernahme nach Gesprächen spekuliert.

[ete201]

"Weil Google sich für MMI statt IDCC entschieden hat! Man hatte auf Übernahme nach Gesprächen spekuliert"

Das ist DEINE Spekulation! Das ergibt sich aus keiner der Veröffentlichung! Aber wir werden sehen... Noch diese Woche...

[cell1]

@ete201 Aber wir werden sehen... Noch diese Woche...
vielleicht CAFC, um was willst du denn Wetten das diese Woche noch keine konkreten Angebote kommen ? Schön wärs ...
der Kurs explodiert nicht
Apple könnte ein Gebot abgeben.

[Nonbroker]

Weiteres Warten ist angesagt, keine zielführenden News.
Einen Beitrag in Investorshub von cherry pkr fand ich sehr interessant, ist aber nur ein posting:

Here is some info that will sell IDCC.

Three years ago a chip company that was ready to market a 4G chip. Then they discovered that the system when implemented has a drop-link problem. Drop-link was experienced when you are using a 4G phone in a room while walking around, you would lose connection at certain locations in the room. That was disastrous.

The company set up an urgent task force to solve the problem, and should have solved it by now.

We are talking about essential patents. The solution to drop-link is definitely essential from where I stand, otherwise, 4G or not, the technology will be taken back to the beginning of the century. Incidentally, I was attracted to IDCC by its sharp sharp spike up to $60+ which was not repeated till a month ago.

The problem is in the physical layer, the multiple antennas to be exact. Antennas are considered as accessories, in the earlier generations (G). In the multiple antenna situation, the signal received thru the antennas can add or cancel each other. The latter is the cause of drop-link. In 4G, the signals are synchronized all the way through the layers,thus the delemma of the drop-link follows through the layers. How the chip manufacturer solved their problem, I am not privileged to know. But I do know that 2 of the patents in th IDCC hoard has antenna solutions to this problem. One is for an advanced mXn 4G system, and the other is for a simpler 2Xn system. The m and n are integers revealing the number of antenna channels in the hand set and base station respectively. The product of m and n is the total channel capacity improvement of 4G over 3G. Theoretically, that number can be huge. The technology uses half power beam cross-over, and orthogonal phase set.

I have been tracking IDCC for many years. So I have suffered the loss like many of you, but still long.

One drawback of using 4G on a handset is that more antenna need to be added, competing for the already limited aperture. Typically the antennas are prevented to go smaller than 1/4 wavelength square, because they are based on resonance to radiate. Smaller than that they will lose gain and bandwidth. Smaller they are, the more they lose. Communication needs both. There is a recent break thru in a patent held by Apple. The patent disclosed that antennas that Employs scattering as it's mechanism for radiation do not suffer the gain and bandwidth constraint as the resonant antennas do. That means the antennas can use only a fraction of the aperture as they do now, and still be high gain ang broadband, thus more antennas can be packed in, and makes the advanced 4G a reality.

I think if Apple and IDCC are a good match in moving forward to 4G and beyond, if growth is impotent to Apple.

[Nonbroker]

Google steps up patent fight with Apple
By Phil Milford and Susan Decker
Bloomberg News
Posted: 09/07/2011 04:03:05 PM

HTC filed infringement claims against Apple (AAPL) on Wednesday using patents it purchased from Google (GOOG) last week.
The nine patents originated with Palm, Motorola and Openwave Systems, with Google taking ownership within the past year, according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records. Jim Prosser, a spokesman for Mountain View-based Google, wouldn't discuss reasons for the transaction.
HTC now has more more ammunition in its fight to fend off multiple patent-infringement claims lodged by Apple that contend phones running Google's Android operating system copy the iPhone. Google's involvement in aiding HTC represents a new front in an industrywide dispute over smartphone technology that has also ensnared Motorola, Barnes & Noble and Samsung.
"That's a bit of a game-changer," said Will Stofega, a technology analyst at IDC. "Google was interested in protecting its licensees with Android. It shows they need to support their customers in order to make sure the customers stick with them."
Google, which hasn't been sued directly by Apple, has been criticized for sitting on the sidelines while its Android partners faced lawsuits. HTC, which gained attention in the U.S. by making the first phone to run Android, has defended itself partly by bringing two infringement cases against Apple at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, one submitted last year and another last month.
HTC also agreed to buy closely held S3 Graphics Co. less than a week after that company won a preliminary patent ruling against Cupertino-based Apple.
"Google knows that HTC is under tremendous legal pressure from Apple and clearly on the losing track," Florian Mueller, a Munich-based consultant and intellectual property activist. "This intervention on Google's part increases the likelihood of direct litigation by Apple against Google."
Google, which had been issued fewer than 1,000 patents as of the start of this year, had said it would build a stronger patent portfolio as a defense against intellectual property lawsuits. It made good on that promise last month when it agreed to spend $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility, acquiring more than 17,000 patents.
HTC sued Apple in federal court in Delaware, claiming infringement of four of the patents obtained from Google and originally issued to Motorola before it split into Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions. Google acquired one of the patents in October, two in February and one in March, according to the PTO.
The lawsuit contends the Mac computer, iPhone, iPod, iPad, iCloud and iTunes are infringing patents for a way to upgrade software wirelessly; a way to transfer data between a microprocessor and a support chip; a method to store user preferences, and a way to provide consistent contact between application software and a radio modem.
HTC also amended a complaint with the International Trade Commission today, adding five of the former Google patents to a case that targets many of the same products. Three of those patents Google bought from Redwood City-based Openwave and two others had been owned by Palm, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) last year.
The patents in the ITC case relate to an interface that lets the user add identifiers such as .com or .org; an interface that enlarges characters being typed; a way to display information on mobile devices; and status bars that let a user check phone calls, text messages or calendar events.
"HTC will continue to protect its patented inventions against infringement from Apple until such infringement stops. We believe that we have an obligation to protect our business, our industry partners and our customers, who love using our products," HTC General Counsel Grace Lei said Wednesday.
Google transferred the nine patents to HTC on Aug. 29 and the transactions were recorded by the patent agency on Sept. 1.
Openwave, which makes software for mobile phones, filed its own patent-infringement complaints against Apple and Research in Motion last month.
HTC and Apple are part of a struggle among smartphone makers looking to fight copycats and thwart competition in a market projected by researcher IHS to be $206.6 billion this year. In addition to HTC's three complaints, Apple won a case in July in which a commission judge determined that some HTC Android devices infringed two patents. Apple has another complaint, filed in July, that also targets HTC's Flyer tablets.
"We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours," Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple, said Wednesday, reiterating a statement Chairman Steve Jobs made last year when Apple sued HTC.

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18845733?source=rss

[Nonbroker]

Sep 8, 2011
These are the patents Google gave to HTC to assert against Apple

Bloomberg was first to report today that HTC is now asserting nine patents against Apple that Google assigned to HTC last week.

I published some quick first comments on Google+, and meanwhile I've obtained the complaints and can list the patents-in-suit.

HTC's new assertions against Apple are spread out over three different filings:

HTC amended its recent (second) ITC complaint against Apple by throwing in five additional patents (the original one related to three patents),

amended its companion lawsuit in Delaware accordingly, and

filed a completely new lawsuit in Delaware over four other patents.

These are the five patents HTC added to its ITC complaint and the corresponding Delaware companion lawsuit:

U.S. Patent No. 6,473,006 on a "method and apparatus for zoomed display of characters entered from a telephone keypad"; originally filed by Phone-com, which assigned it to Openwave, then sold to a French company named Purple Labs, which sold it on to Myriad's French subsidiary (Myriad has Java-related litigation going with Oracle), sold by Myriad to Google last year and by Google to HTC on August 29, 2011 (recorded on September 1)

U.S. Patent No. 6,708,214 on a "hypermedia identifier input mode for a mobile communication device"; the assignment history of this one mirrors that of the previous patent

U.S. Patent No. 6,868,283 on a "technique allowing a status bar user response on a portable device graphic user interface"; originally a Palm patent, transferred a couple of times within the Palm group, then sold to Access (first the U.S. subsidiary, then the Japanese parent company), acquired by Google last year, sold and assigned to HTC on same dates as the previous patents in this group

U.S. Patent No. 7,289,772, same title as the previous patent, originally filed by Palmsource, then sold to Access, Google and finally HTC along the same path as the previous patent

U.S. Patent No. 7,020,849 on a "dynamic display for communication devices"; originally filed by Openwave, then sold to Purple Labs, Myriad France, Google and HTC along the same path as the first two patents in this group

Even though those patents appear to be related to wireless devices, the fact that HTC just acquired them about a week before its ITC complaint will raise questions in connection with the ITC's domestic industry requirement.

These are the four patents asserted in the new Delaware complaint:

U.S. Patent No. 5,418,524 on a "method and apparatus for over-the-air upgrading of radio modem application software"; originally filed by Motorola, sold by Motorola to Google last year, then by Google to HTC on August 29, 2011 (recorded on September 1)

U.S. Patent No. 5,630,152 on a "communication protocol between master and slave device with register information sharing"; same path as the previous patent

U.S. Patent No. 5,630,159 on a "method and apparatus for personal attribute selection having delay management method and apparatus for preference establishment when preferences in a donor device are unavailable"; same path as the previous patent except that a company named Tudor Empire in California bought it from Motorola and sold it to Google; that may be an acquisition company owned and controlled by Google, or otherwise acting on Google's behalf

U.S. Patent No. 5,302,947 on a "method and apparatus for loading a software program from a radio modem into an external computer"; same assignment path as the first two patents in this group

The new Delaware complaint accuses a wide variety of Apple products and services, "including, for example and without limitation, personal computers (such as the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini), mobile communications devices (such as the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4), and mobile computing devices (such as the iPod, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPad, and iPad 2), alone and/or in combination with software and services (such as .Mac, MobileMe, iCloud, iTunes)". However, the complaint doesn't provide any specifics at this stage as to which ones of the accused products and services accuse which particular patent. It's hard to imagine that such a diversity of products would simultaneously infringe any given patent. I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple file a motion to dismiss in order to require HTC to be a little more specific. Federal lawsuits don't have to be nearly as specific as ITC complaints, but this lack of specificity is not necessarily accepted. This complaint appears hastily prepared, so maybe HTC won't be surprised if it needs to amend it later.

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the ITC is going to make a determination on HTC's first complaint against Apple within about a week. The deadline was September 16, 2011, and those initial determinations are frequently issued a week (or more) ahead of schedule, but yesterday it was pushed back by one month. That first ITC complaint by HTC was very weak, so maybe HTC is expecting bad news there. Also, HTC did something unusual by amending its second ITC complaint even before the ITC had decided on whether to institute an investigation.

Like I wrote in my initial reaction (mentioned at the start of this post), I'm sure Apple always knew that Google might give patents to embattled Android device makers. That didn't prevent Apple from enforcing its rights in the first place. It won't make Apple back down now. There's too much at stake for that, and it's easier to file lawsuits than to win them.

If you'd like to be updated on the smartphone patent disputes and other intellectual property matters I cover, please subscribe to my RSS feed (in the right-hand column) and/or follow me on Twitter @FOSSpatents and Google+.

http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/09/these-are-patents-go…

[cell1]

es werden massig calls vor kurzem gekauft 2 Mio. Basis 70 sollten heute oder morgen die 75 $ überspringen

[cell1]

In Deutschland ist diese Aktie so gut wie unbekannt, deswegen halten sich Analysten zurück, selbst in den USA ist sie erst durch Kurssprünge und Googles Intresse in den Blickpunkt von Reuters und Bloomberg gerügt.

[sdaktien]

Schlusskurs gestern war 70,11$. Ich glaube rauf geht es nur mit entsprechend positiven Nachrichten. Kommen die nicht, glaube ich, dass es eher runter geht. Technisch ist die Aktie derzeit zu negativ.

Wichtig ist weiterhin die 38er. Die sollte nicht unterschritten werden.

[cell1]

http://www.lesi.org/images/article/b0d264d1-732e-4db7-a187-f…
bezüglich Royalties Telekommunikation Handys

[cell1]

@ete201
Das ist DEINE Spekulation! Das ergibt sich aus keiner der Veröffentlichung! Aber wir werden sehen... Noch diese Woche...

Morgen letzter Tag!

[cell1]

@ete201
Noch diese Woche... ein paar Stunden hast du noch!

[cell1]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.067.289 von cell1 am 09.09.11 18:20:31

geplatzter Deal ?

[cell1]

Euro um 4 cent gefallen. was ist los ?

[cell1]

@ete201
Das ist DEINE Spekulation! Das ergibt sich aus keiner der Veröffentlichung! Aber wir werden sehen... Noch diese Woche...

war wohl nichts!

[Nonbroker]

Es war schon eine enttäuschende Woche aber letztendlich ist das Resultat ausschlaggebend.

Intel Said to Weigh InterDigital Bid

By Serena Saitto, Jeffrey McCracken and Brian Womack
- Sep 9, 2011 10:14 PM GMT+0200 .

Intel Corp. (INTC) is among companies considering submitting bids for InterDigital Inc.’s patent portfolio this month, while Google Inc. (GOOG) is losing interest in the assets, said people with knowledge of the matter.

Intel, Samsung Electronics Co., Ericsson AB and HTC Corp. (2498), are reviewing confidential InterDigital data as they weigh offers for the company’s assets, said the people, who declined to be identified because talks are private. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) have also looked, one person said. First-round bids are due in two weeks, and bidders have been asked to indicate initial interest in the coming days, the person said.

Some buyers may team up on proposals, the person said. Google is backing away from an offer after agreeing to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for $12.5 billion last month to gain patents and a hardware business, the people said. InterDigital, which had a market value of about $3 billion as of yesterday’s close, may fetch more than $5 billion, according to analysts at Algorithm Capital and Dougherty & Co.

InterDigital’s engineers invented some of the technology for high-speed mobile phone networks now used by the world’s biggest handset makers. The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based company has about 8,800 patents on inventions used in devices ranging from Apple’s iPhone to Google’s Android-based handsets and Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM)’s BlackBerry.

Officials at InterDigital, Google, Intel, Samsung, Ericsson, HTC, Apple, Microsoft declined to comment.

Stock Gain

Companies won’t be required to submit detailed financing information with their indications of interest, one person said.

InterDigital’s shares have gained 55 percent since July 18, the last day of trading before the company said it hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital to explore a sale or other transaction. The stock dropped $2.85, or 4.3 percent, to $64.28 at 4 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

The company has said its patents are deeper and stronger than those Nortel Networks Corp. sold for $4.5 billion in June to a consortium including Apple and Microsoft. The companies are selling patent portfolios as smartphone sales are forecast to almost double to 1.1 billion in 2015, according to estimates from Gartner Inc.

During the second quarter, Apple and Samsung became the top two makers of smartphones after their shipments trumped those of Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) for the first time, research firm Strategy Analytics said in July. Apple’s iPhones accounted for 18.5 percent of global smartphone shipments, followed by Samsung’s 17.5 percent and Nokia’s 15.2 percent, according to the researcher.

To contact the reporter on this story: Serena Saitto in New York at [e-mail]; Jeffrey McCracken in New York at [e-mail]; Brian Womack in San Francisco at [e-mail]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jennifer Sondag at [e-mail]; Tom Giles at [e-mail]

[Nonbroker]

September 09, 2011 06:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time

InterDigital Applauds Historic Strengthening of U.S. Patent System


Paves Way for Increased Predictability, Speed of Issuance and Quality of Patenting Process that will Benefit U.S. Innovators

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today applauded the Senate’s passage of H.R. 1249, The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. When enacted into law, the America Invents Act is designed to drive immediate improvements to the U.S. patent system that will foster innovation and continue America’s role as the most creative economy in the world.


The America Invents Act results from many years of dialogue among a community of research institutions, entrepreneurial companies of all sizes, and venture capital firms seeking to establish patent laws designed to improve patent quality, enhance certainty, and preserve market-based valuations of patents.

“This legislation has evolved significantly over the years, and has become much improved as a result of the cooperative efforts of stakeholders such as InterDigital®, key members of Congress, and the Administration,” said William J. Merritt, InterDigital’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “InterDigital’s long heritage in developing cutting-edge technological innovations with industry-wide impact has been supported by a system that values and protects inventions. The America Invents Act enhances key aspects of the U.S. patent system and maintains as undisturbed the long-established judicial principles that allow innovative companies to be compensated for their inventions. We believe that a fully-funded USPTO, in connection with this new legislation, will directly benefit InterDigital and other creative and innovative companies in driving U.S. economic growth.”

InterDigital looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to implement this important legislation. InterDigital and other innovators argued strongly for the inclusion of provisions to end permanently the diversion of fees collected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and InterDigital remains committed to continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that the USPTO is fully funded to realize the full benefits of the new legislation.

About InterDigital

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com


http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110909006052/en/Inte…

[Nonbroker]

Info zu IDCC:

http://www.avafin.com/articles/1005327.html

[Nonbroker]

Bekannte Information, neu verpackt:

Intel mulls bid for InterDigital assets

PLACE YOUR BIDS:Google’s interest has waned, but sources said Intel, HTC, Samsung and Ericsson were considering making an offer on the patent portfolio

Bloomberg


Intel Corp is among the companies considering submitting bids for InterDigital Inc’s patent portfolio this month, while Google Inc is losing interest in the assets, people with knowledge of the matter said.

HTC Corp (宏達電), Intel, Samsung Electronics Co and Ericsson AB are reviewing confidential InterDigital data as they weigh offers for the company’s assets, the sources said, who declined to be identified because talks are private.

Microsoft Corp and Apple Inc have also looked, one person said.

First-round bids are due in two weeks, and bidders have been asked to indicate initial interest in the coming days, the person said.

Some buyers may team up on proposals, the person said.

Google is backing away from an offer after agreeing to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc for US$12.5 billion last month to gain patents and a hardware business, the people said.

InterDigital, which had a market value of about US$3 billion as of last week might fetch more than US$5 billion, according to analysts at Algorithm Capital and Dougherty & Co.

InterDigital’s engineers invented some of the technology for high-speed mobile phone networks now used by the world’s biggest handset makers.

The Pennsylvania-based company has about 8,800 patents on inventions used in devices ranging from Apple’s iPhone to Google’s Android-based handsets and Research In Motion Ltd’s BlackBerry. Officials at HTC, InterDigital, Google, Intel, Samsung, Ericsson, Apple and Microsoft declined to comment.

Companies would not be required to submit detailed financing information with their indications of interest, one person said.

InterDigital’s shares have gained 55 percent since July 18, the last day of trading before the company said it hired Evercore Partners Inc and Barclays Capital to explore a sale or other transaction.

The stock dropped US$2.85, or 4.3 percent, to US$64.28 on the NASDAQ Stock Market on Friday.

The company has said its patents are deeper and stronger than those Nortel Networks Corp sold for US$4.5 billion in June to a consortium, including Apple and Microsoft. The companies are selling patent portfolios as smartphone sales are forecast to almost double to 1.1 billion in 2015, according to estimates from Gartner Inc.

During the second quarter, Apple and Samsung became the top two makers of smartphones after their shipments trumped those of Nokia Oyj for the first time, research firm Strategy Analytics said in July.

Apple’s iPhones accounted for 18.5 percent of global smartphone shipments, followed by Samsung’s 17.5 percent and Nokia’s 15.2 percent, according to the researcher.




http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2011/09/12/2003…

[Nonbroker]

Is a Tech Buyout Frenzy on the Horizon?
By Eric Bleeker | More Articles
September 12, 2011 | Comments (0)




IDCCInterDigital

CAPS Rating 4/5 Stars.


$66.46 $2.18 (0.00%)


After extending losses from Friday's sell-off in the morning and afternoon, the Nasdaq managed a late-day rally that left the index up 1.1%. Today, we're checking in on two of the top storylines developing over the past 24 hours in technology.

Tech News No. 1: Chip consolidation is back in
Amid companies pulling back guidance and warning of trouble ahead, the technology sector is barreling ahead with plenty of merger-and-acquisition action. Today's headliner was Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM ) , offering a steep 57% premium for NetLogic Microsystems (Nasdaq: NETL ) .

Netlogic has been among the quicker growers in the chip industry. Its sales shot up from $96.8 million in 2006 all the way to $381.7 million last year. However, this growth hasn't come with outsized earnings gains. Despite stellar gross margins, NetLogic posted a pedestrian 4.6% operating profit margin in 2010.

Broadcom believes it'll be able to spur further bottom-line gains by leveraging its leadership in the networking-chip space to drive more adoption of NetLogic's high-tech networking processors. Expanding sales to more networking companies has long been NetLogic's aim. In 2006, Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO ) accounted for 61% of NetLogic's sales, today that figure sits at a far more manageable 27% as sales have diversified across the industry.

An interesting side note to the acquisition is that Broadcom is willing to pay such a premium while networking stocks like Cisco that sell to end customers languish. That raises an important point that the competitive dynamics along each part of an industry value chain are different. While Cisco might be struggling to control margins after it invited further competition when it stepped on its former partner's toes, networking in general is still seeing explosive growth.

In the coming months, be on the lookout for more possible mergers in the space. Broadcom's main rival, Marvell, is also cash rich and could look to make a buy of its own. Investors bid up smaller networking-chip plays EZChip and Cavium today in anticipation of further buyout action.

Tech News No. 2: Patents are still hot
Interest around mobile-patent specialist InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) has been white hot all summer. The company owns 8,800 patents, including ones fundamental to wireless communication. With all the mania surrounding mobile patents, the company has taken advantage of the situation and hired an investment-banking team to explore selling itself.

With just weeks to go until first-round bids are due, Bloomberg reports that buyers are starting to line up. On the obvious end are Samsung and HTC. Samsung accounted for 26% of InterDigital's revenue last year, so the company probably has good insight into the value of its patents. HTC has been trying to gain better patent protection after agreeing to stiff terms with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) on Android licensing issues.

Speaking of Microsoft, both it and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) have shown interest in InterDigital as well. The two joined an earlier consortium to purchase Nortel's patent portfolio and have both looked for further patent acquisitions since.

On the more surprising end of bidding, Google -- which was seen as an early front-runner in the InterDigital sweepstakes -- is reportedly losing interest now that it has Motorola's patent trove. However, the most surprising entry is Intel (Nasdaq: INTC ) . The processor giant has ramped up its efforts to become more competitive in the mobile space. For example, last year it bought Infineon's wireless-chip unit for $1.4 billion. Buying InterDigital would be an even more aggressive move.

InterDigital is already worth about $3 billion, and there's speculation that final bidding for its patents could reach higher than $5 billion. It's unclear whether Intel would fold the patents into its existing operations or cross-license them to companies willing to use its processors in mobile devices to spur adoption of its mobile chips. However, what is clear is that if the company shells out north of $5 billion for mobile patents, it'll be Intel's biggest "all-in" moment in the mobile race.


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/12/is-a-tech-b…

[Nonbroker]

Relatively Low Performance Detected in Shares of InterDigital in the Communications Equipment Industry (IDCC, JNPR, CMTL, NOK, RIMM)
Written on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 4:21am

By David Diaz

Below are the top five companies in the Communications Equipment industry as measured by lowest relative performance. This analysis was based on yesterday's trading activity as we search for stocks that could be relative bargains.
InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) ranks first with a loss of 4.09%; Juniper Networks (NASDAQ:JNPR) ranks second with a loss of 1.2%; and Comtech Telecommunications (NASDAQ:CMTL) ranks third with a loss of 0.25%.
Nokia (NYSE:NOK) follows with a loss of 0.17% and Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) rounds out the top five with a loss of 0.13%.
SmarTrend currently has shares of InterDigital in an Uptrend and issued the Uptrend alert on June 28, 2011 at $39.91. The stock has risen 59.7% since the Uptrend alert was issued.


http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/relatively…

[cell1]

jetzt wißt ihr warum so hoher short-Anteil.

[Nonbroker]

Is Qualcomm a Buffett Stock?

By Ilan Moscovitz
September 14, 2011

As the world's third-richest person and most celebrated investor, Warren Buffett attracts a lot of attention. Thousands try to glean what they can from his thinking processes and track his investments.

While we can't know for sure whether Buffett is about to buy Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM ) -- he hasn't specifically mentioned anything about it to me -- we can discover whether it's the sort of stock that might interest him. Answering that question could also inform whether it's a stock that should interest us.

In his most recent 10-K, Buffett lays out the qualities he looks for in an investment. In addition to adequate size, proven management, and a reasonable valuation, he demands:
1.Consistent earnings power.
2.Good returns on equity with limited or no debt.
3.Management in place.
4.Simple, non-techno-mumbo-jumbo businesses.

Does Qualcomm meet Buffett's standards?

1. Earnings power
Buffett is famous for betting on a sure thing. For that reason, he likes to see companies with demonstrated earnings stability.

Let's examine Qualcomm's earnings and free cash flow:

Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Free cash flow is adjusted based on author's calculations.

Qualcomm's earnings have been pretty consistent, aside from 2009, when the company had to pay out some large legal settlements.

2. Return on equity and debt
Return on equity is a great metric for measuring both management's effectiveness and the strength of a company's competitive advantage or disadvantage -- a classic Buffett consideration. When considering return on equity, it's important to make sure a company doesn't have an enormous debt burden, because that will skew your calculations and make the company look much more efficient than it actually is.

Since competitive strength is a comparison between peers, and various industries have different levels of profitability and require different levels of debt, it helps to use an industry context.




Company

Debt-to-Equity

Return on Equity (LTM)

Return on Equity (5-year average)



Qualcomm

5%

18%

17%



InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC )

45%

32%

52%



NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA )

1%

17%

13%



Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM )

12%

19%

9%


Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.

Qualcomm tends to generate moderately high returns on equity with almost no debt.

3. Management
CEO Paul Jacobs has been at the job since 2005. He's been at the company since 1990, when he joined as a software development manager.

4. Business
Though the company owns a portfolio of valuable patents, telecommunications devices are fairly susceptible to technological change -- Buffett might be a bit wary of investing in the industry.

The Foolish conclusion
Regardless of whether Buffett would ever buy Qualcomm, we've learned that, aside from the techiness of the industry, it exhibits several of the characteristics of a quintessential Buffett investment: consistent earnings, high returns on equity with limited debt, and tenured management.

If you'd like to stay up to speed on the top news and analysis on Qualcomm or any other stock, add it to your stock watchlist. If you don't have one yet, you can create a watchlist of your favorite stocks by clicking here.


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/14/is-qualcomm…

[Nonbroker]

Bewegt sich da was??

Intel’s $5 Billion Bond Sale is First Non-Convertible Issue in Two Decades

By Sapna Maheshwari and Tim Catts - Sep 15, 2011 12:21 AM GMT+0200 .




Intel Corp. (INTC), the world’s largest chipmaker, sold $5 billion of debt in its first non-convertible bond offering in more than two decades as issuance revives in September with borrowing costs at about record lows.

Proceeds will mainly be used to fund stock buybacks, Santa Clara, California-based Intel said today in a statement distributed by Business Wire. The chipmaker last tapped the market for bonds that aren’t convertible into stock in 1987, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), which is buying Royal Bank of Canada’s U.S. retail banking unit, American Express Co. (AXP) and mining firm Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) were among companies that sold $12.2 billion of debt today as yields on investment-grade corporate debt hover within 30 basis points, or 0.3 percentage point, of the lowest on record, Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data show. A combination of the weak stock market and low rates are likely driving Intel’s bond sale, said Rajeev Sharma of First Investors Management Co.

“Any name that hasn’t come to market with typical straight up, fixed-rate debt is pretty well received because there’s demand for a new name, new interest and I think it’s primed to do pretty well,” said Sharma, a money manager who helps oversee $1.5 billion of investment-grade debt. “It’s very cheap financing.”

Intel raised $1.5 billion of 1.95 percent, five-year notes that pay 110 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A $2 billion portion of 10-year 3.3 percent debt pays a 135 basis point spread and $1.5 billion of 4.8 percent 30-year bonds pay 160 basis points more than the benchmark.

Strong Demand

The company is graded A1 by Moody’s Investors Service and A+ by Standard & Poor’s, Bloomberg data show.

The average A rated bond pays a 217 basis-point spread and the average AA graded company debenture offers a 187 basis-point spread, Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data show.

The chipmaker plans to use remaining proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes, according to today’s statement.

Yields on investment-grade debt fell to 3.74 percent from 4.1 percent at the start of the year, Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data. That’s up from a record low of 3.45 percent on Aug. 4.

PNC, based in Pittsburgh, sold $1.25 billion of 2.7 percent five-year debt; American Express Credit Corp. issued $1.3 billion of 2.8 percent five-year notes; and Rio Tinto sold $2 billion of 5-, 10-and 30-year debt, Bloomberg data show.

To contact the reporters on this story: Sapna Maheshwari at [e-mail] Tim Catts in New York at [e-mail].

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Alan Goldstein at [e-mail]


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-14/intel-plans-first-s…

[Nonbroker]

Qualcomm CEO sees the upside to patent wars

By Nick Wood , Total Telecom, in Istanbul

Wednesday 14 September 2011

CEO Paul Jacobs insists consumers benefit despite short-term disruption caused by litigation.

Qualcomm chief executive Paul Jacobs insisted on Wednesday that consumers ultimately benefit from the current patent system, despite a recent spate of high-profile lawsuits aimed at preventing the sale of some mobile devices.

"Consumers do benefit," he said on stage during the chip maker's annual technology showcase, held this year in Istanbul.

He noted that it is important that an inventor of technology is able to predict and receive any revenue that their invention might generate.

"[That's] revenue that can be re-invested in R&D," he said.

The mobile industry has a long history of taking the principle of protecting intellectual property into the courtroom, with players often seeking to prevent the sale of a rival's devices that have allegedly infringed their patents.

Recent high-profile examples include Apple's spats with Taiwan smartphone maker HTC and South Korean electronics giant Samsung. The iPhone maker has succeeded in securing a preliminary injunction against the sale of the latter's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Germany on grounds that its design borrowed too heavily from that of the iPad. The lawsuit has spread to a number of markets including Japan and Australia, and could have far-reaching consequences regarding where Samsung can and cannot offer its latest tablet.

In addition, some tech companies have started paying big bucks to acquire their way to a broad patent portfolio, which can then either be wielded against their rivals or used to protect their own products.

Recent examples include Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, which chief executive Larry Page said would help the Internet giant protect the Android ecosystem, and the summer auction of defunct Canadian vendor Nortel's 6,000-strong patent portfolio, which attracted a $4.5 billion winning bid from a consortium that included Apple, Microsoft, RIM and Ericsson.

In previous years, Qualcomm itself was frequently at the centre of intellectual property debate due to its sizeable CDMA technology patent portfolio, its 2007 spat with Nokia being a prime example. In February that year, the company defended itself against suggestions that Qualcomm was little more than a "patent troll" and insisted that its patent licensing system was working well.

Jacobs on Wednesday said he expects the current storm of patent litigation swirling around devices makers to abate eventually.

He explained that the smartphone market is currently in a "transitional period" that can be traced back to Google's introduction of Android. Once the market has matured enough, the volume of lawsuits is likely to drop, he predicted.

"In the end I do believe consumers will benefit, even though there will be some short-term turmoil," Jacobs concluded.

http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=467667&G=5&C=3&Page=0

[Nonbroker]

The Race For Patents, InterDigital Could Keep Pace
by: Bill Maurer September 14, 2011
about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, ERIC, GOOG, INTC, MMI, MSFT, S

Shares of Pennsylvania based InterDigital (IDCC) have been on a rocky ride since the company hired Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital to explore a possible sale of the company in mid July. The stock raced up from the low $40s into the low $80s, but is now back into the mid $60s. Why is there so much interest in this company?

Well, as Bloomberg describes, this company has close to 9,000 patents on various technology components used in the iPhone, BlackBerry, and many other popular devices. The company also invented some of the technology used in current high-speed mobile phone networks. These patents would be invaluable to a wide variety of tech players.

Patents have indeed seemed invaluable lately. Last month, Google (GOOG) offered $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility (MMI) to gain patents and more access to hardware. In June, a consortium led by Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT) bought a pool of Nortel Network's patents for $4.5 billion. There has been a race to snap up these patents, and InterDigital could be the next one to go.

The company has stated that it believes its patent pool is deeper and better than those of Nortel, and if that's the case, you would expect the purchase price to be $5 billion or greater. This would be a hefty premium from the $2.9 billion that the company is trading at currently. Google did pay a 60% premium for Motorola Mobility. However, you must remember that InterDigital has run up 50% since the announcement of a possible sale. This could get factored in to the purchase price.

So who is the likely suitor? Well, we expect that Google dropped out of the race when it got Motorola Mobility. You might also think that Microsoft and Apple (AAPL) wouldn't be interested after their acquisition, but I wouldn't put it past them. The current leader of the pack is Intel, followed by phone makers Samsung, HTC, and Ericsson (ERIC). Who knows, maybe even Sprint (S) gets involved, although I don't think they are in the best position right now to do so.

According to the Bloomberg article, bids are due by the end of next week, so a deal could be done by the end of the month, although it probably will take a little longer than that. That is, if it happens. InterDigital is a growing tech company, and it did post almost $400 million in revenues and $153 million in net income in 2010. I'm sure that most shareholders would like a quick profit here and to get a deal done, but management must do what's best for the long term. They might just decide to wait a year or two and see how things are then.

This is not a failing company whose pieces are being auctioned off at some bankruptcy sale. This is a growing company with a strong core of assets that are very desirable to many others out there. There has been a large amount of hype over this firm lately and investors should be cautious. While I think there is a better chance than not of a deal getting done, always remember not to invest based on the possibility of a deal getting done. Remember, this stock dropped 14% the day the MMI deal was announced, and was down almost 23% at one point this day. While it is certain that any deal should fetch a nice premium, this stock could lose 30% or more overnight if one doesn't happen.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/293755-in-the-race-for-paten…

[cell1]

62,80 $ ja bewegt sich nach unten!

[Nonbroker]

Harte Zeiten.

INTERDIGITAL, INC. (IDCC-Q) Rating: Buy

GOOGLE MAY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BUY MOTOROLA
…TO PREVENT MOTOROLA FROM “GOING ROGUE”

[cell1]

sch... kein anständiges Gebot für IDCC bisher

[Nonbroker]

Apple muß an IDCC interessiert sein......

Technik

Montag, 19. September 2011

Patentklagen gegen iPhone 5

Samsung rächt sich an Apple
Der Patentkrieg zwischen Apple und Samsung eskaliert offensichtlich weiter: Die Koreaner bereiten angeblich mehrere Patentklagen gegen das kommende iPhone vor, um sich für Apples juristische Schläge gegen Smartphones und Tablets der Galaxy-Reihe zu revanchieren.


Möglicherweise muss Apple seine jüngsten Erfolge im Patentkrieg mit Samsung teuer bezahlen. "The Korea Times" berichtet, das koreanische Unternehmen bereite einen heftigen Gegenschlag vor. Samsung plant angeblich, durch Patentklagen weltweit Verkaufsverbote für das kommende iPhone 5 zu erwirken.


Im Düsseldorfer Geschmacksmuster-Prozess erreichte Apple ein Verkaufsverbot des Samsung Galaxy Tab.
(Foto: dapd)

Die Webseite zitiert einen "leitenden Angestellten", der behauptet, Samsung werde grundlegende Mobilfunk-Patente geltend machen: "So lange Apple nicht auf Mobilfunk-Funktionen verzichten will, kann es kein iPhone oder iPad verkaufen, ohne Samsungs Patente zu nutzen", sagte er. Zeitgleich berichtet das "Wall Street Journal" mit Berufung auf einen Unternehmenssprecher, dass Samsung Apple in Australien wegen Verletzung mehrerer Mobilfunk-Patente verklagen wolle. Auch "Down under" versucht Apple den Verkauf des Galaxy Tab 10.1 verbieten zu lassen.

Apple Samsungs wichtigster Kunde

Hat Samsung diese mächtige Patent-Waffe tatsächlich, stellt sich die Frage, warum es sie nicht schon früher eingesetzt hat. Ein mögliche Erklärung wäre, dass man es sich nicht endgültig mit seinem wichtigsten Geschäftspartner verscherzen wollte - unter anderem kauft Apple bei Samsung Prozessoren und Bildschirme. Man sei über die Rechtsstreitigkeiten gar nicht glücklich, sagte kürzlich auch Koreas Samsung-CEO Choi Gee-sung. Doch jetzt, da Apple in Deutschland ein Verkaufsverbot für Tablet-Computer der Galaxy-Reihe durchgesetzt hat und weltweit in über 20 weiteren Patent- und Geschmacksmusterklagen gegen Samsung vorgeht, ist man in Korea wohl bereit, bis zum Äußersten zu gehen.

Neues iPhone im Oktober

Was Samsung in petto hat, stellt sich vermutlich schon in Kürze heraus. In Australien könnte die Patent-Bombe schon in den kommenden Tagen platzen. Spätestens aber zur Veröffentlichung des neuen iPhone wird man wissen, ob Samsung nur blufft. Höchstwahrscheinlich stellt Apple ein iPhone 5, ein iPhone 4S oder beides Mitte Oktober vor, möglicherweise sogar früher. "Pocket Gamer" will von einem Insider erfahren haben, dass Apple eine "5er-Show" plant und am 5. Oktober das iPhone 5 mit iOS 5 vorstellt.


http://www.n-tv.de/technik/Samsung-raecht-sich-an-Apple-arti…

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital: Waiting Is The Hardest Part

by: Todd Johnson September 19, 2011
about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, ACTG, ERIC, GOOG, HTCXF.PK, INTC, MMI, MSFT, NOK, QCOM, RIMM, RMBS, RPXC, SSNLF.PK, TSRA, VHC, WILN

InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) has provided shareholders the catalyst to unlock the company's patent portfolio valuation to the highest bidder. Now InterDigital shareholders must wait for the bidding process to begin in earnest and conclude on a positive note. The catalyst to unlock patent valuation is officially in motion.

InterDigital management, on July 18th, announced the pursuit of strategic alternatives including a possible sale. Terry Clontz, Chairman of InterDigital's Board of Directors, recognizes InterDigital shareholders deserve a fair price for the company's patent portfolio.


InterDigital's 8,800 wireless communication patents offer a significant value proposition to the wireless communication industry. InterDigital's patents are currently used by Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone, Google's (GOOG) Android-based smart phones, and Research in Motion's (RIMM) Blackberry.

InterDigital, Inc. Up for Sale

InterDigital, Inc. has potential bidding corporate engineers assessing a valuation for the 8,800 patents. These potential bidders include the dominant wireless communication participants. InterDigital's patent portfolio has a significant value as a competitive factor within the wireless communication industry. In addition, the patent portfolio offers an immediate value in terms of potential licensing deals to wireless communication competitors.

Due to the interest showed for the company, the bidding process has been delayed until this week. InterDigital is receiving assistance from Barclay’s Capital and Evercore Partners. They are helping with InterDigital's strategic alternatives which may or may not result in a sale. It's the latest amongst many companies to put its portfolio of intellectual property up for auction when companies are lining up, making multibillion-dollar deals to snatch them up.

First Round Bids

Potential bidders are assessing the patent valuation for a potential first round bid. The first round bids are due later this week. Companies rumored to place a bid include wireless communication power houses: Intel (INTC), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple, Qualcomm (QCOM), Nokia (NOK) Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNFL.PK), Ericsson AB (ERIC) and HTC Corp. (HTCXF.PK). Google may or may not be interested due to its recent $12.5-billion Motorola Mobility (MMI) purchase.

Stock Performance

InterDigital Inc. has provided shareholders, over the past 4-years, a 30.2% total annualized rate-of-return. This compares to SP500's -3.5% return over the same time frame.


InterDigital, Inc. has been a successfully established developer of wireless technology that deals in the very crux of the world’s mobile networks, services and devices. It strives towards solving as many problems as they can which include those that present themselves in terms of technological challenges, and crucial and complex market classifications.


It moves with the times, establishing new standards defying the boundaries that themselves had created as they charge towards advancement, providing solutions that support various efficient wireless networks, providing a grander multimedia experience alongside testing and creating new mobile broadband capabilities. To add to their credentials, many of the world’s leading wireless companies are now proud endorsers of InterDigital Inc services.


InterDigital Inc.’s goal oriented philosophy states that they pull out all the stops when it comes to making break-through discoveries in wireless technologies. Their incredible financial success story is a tribute to the power and popularity of the inventions that they have perfected over the years, and the smart investment choices that InterDigital Inc. has made in order to maximize their shareholder value. Their functional patent licensing program has integrated exceptionally with the licensing solutions for their advanced technology, causing InterDigital Inc. to grow tremendously in the worldwide wireless industry circuit.

Business Model

InterDigital Inc. believes in turning ideas into reality. The concept behind is to have your thought out invention to become corporeal, making waves when it comes to innovative wireless technology. These technologies develop the fundamental infrastructure of mobile based devices enabling them to take a step towards the future.

It can easily be observed that InterDigital Inc. is a noted contributor to many international standards that have formed definitions for efficient wireless networks. They have taken extensive measures to make sure that their products are not victims of privacy, and have evaded this world-wide plague by issuing licenses to their patented inventions. InterDigital holds approximately 8,800 U.S. and foreign issued patents combined having won the prestigious Licensing Achievement award in 2006 from the Licensing Executive’s Society. The comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property is only licensed to the world’s leading brands and manufacturers maintaining quality and ultimately benefiting billions of consumers across the globe.

Most of InterDigital Inc. inventions are extensively developed through next level modeling and simulations. Furthermore they often share their capacious knowledge as technology transfer solutions and have collaborations with other companies that focus on technological development and introducing these innovative types of products to the market. InterDigital Inc. has an exclusive and systemized process that propels their coordinated business model.

Patent Industry

InterDigital, Inc. has numerous peers which the company competes against in pursuit of valuable business patents.


VirnetX Holding Corp.

VirnetX Holding Corp. (VHC) participates in the development and commercialization of software and technology solutions for securing real-time communications over the Internet. Its software and technology solutions, which include secure domain name registry and GABRIEL Connection Technology, facilitate secure communications and create a secure environment for real-time communication applications.

Rambus Inc.

Rambus Inc. (RMBS) participates in the creation, design, research, development, and licensing of patented innovations, technologies, and architectures to digital electronics products. Its patented innovations include Dual Edge Clocking, which is designed to allow data to be sent on the clock pulse; Variable Burst Length that improves data transfer efficiency by allowing varying amounts of data to be sent per a memory read or write request in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash memory; and FlexPhase technology, which synchronizes data output and compensates for circuit timing errors.

RPX Corporation

RPX Corp. (RPXC) offers patent risk management solutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. RPX Corp. offers a subscription based patent risk management solution. This setup expedites the exchange of value between owners and users of patents. The company provides a defensive patent aggregation solution in which it acquires patents or licenses to patents and licenses these patents to clients to protect them from patent infringement assertions.

Acacia Research Corporation

Acacia Research Corp. (ACTG) acquires, researches, develops, licenses, and enforces patented technologies in the U.S. Acacia Research helps patent owners with the prosecution and development of their patent portfolios, the protection of their patented technologies from unauthorized use, the generation of licensing revenue from users of their patented technologies, and the enforcement against unauthorized users of their patented technologies.

Wi-LAN Inc

Wi-LAN Inc (WILN) participates in the acquisition, research, development, and licensing of technologies that drive products in communications and consumer electronics markets in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Canada. The company licenses its patent inventions in the areas of wireless technologies, wire line technologies, and v-chip technologies.

Tessera Technologies Inc.

Tessera Technologies, Inc. (TSRA) researches, develops, licenses, and delivers miniaturization technologies and products for electronic devices on a global basis.

Tessera Technologies, Inc. has two core business units: 1) Micro-electronics, and 2) Imaging and Optics. The Micro-Electronics segment offers semiconductor packaging technologies including interconnect and substrates, and thermal management technology.

Disclosure: I am long IDCC, RPXC, ACTG.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/294467-interdigital-waiting-…

[cell1]

Wie heute bekannt wurde, schlägt Samsung nun zurück und will Apple in Südkorea mit den eigenen Waffen schlagen.

So soll die Veröffentlichung des iPhone 5 in Südkorea verhindert werden, da Apple mit dem neuesten Smartphone-Modell gegen sieben koreanische Samsung-Patente verstoße. Laut Samsung habe Apple dabei nur geringe Chancen auf einen Sieg. Wie ein Unternehmenssprecher gegenüber der Zeitung Korea Times bestätigte, müsste der iPhone-Hersteller schon auf Telekommunikations-Funktionen verzichten, um sein iPhone 5 in Südkorea verkaufen zu können. Ob Samsung mit seiner Klage tatsächlich ein Verkaufsverbot für das Smartphone wird erwirken können, bleibt abzuwarten.
http://www.pcwelt.de/news/Klagewelle-Samsung-will-Verkauf-vo…

[cell1]

was nun Nonbroker der Kurs fällt.
Patenthimmel oder eher Hölle ?

[cell1]

was ist nun Nonbroker Kurs fällt.
Patenthimmel oder Hölle ?

[cell1]

inter digital verarscht seine Aktionäre ...

[Nonbroker]

Wir werden schon auf die Folterbank gelegt. Es sickern absolut keine Interna aus den Verhandlungen durch und zu einem Ergebnis sind die beteiligten Firmen auch noch nicht gekommen. Wollen wir hoffen, die nächste Woche bringt ein Ergebnis.
Ich trage hier noch die Morning Note von MPartners und einen ganz interessanten Beitrag aus Investorshub nach.

MPartner's Morning Note (9/23/11)
"IDCC Announces Technology Conference Participation"

“BUSINESS AS USUAL” EVENT HAS NO BEARING ON EVERCORE INITIATIVE

* Yesterday after market close IDCC announced that several company representatives would be speaking at GigaOM Mobilize 2011 on September 26th and 27th, 2011.

* In conjunction with yesterday morning’s dividend announcement, the company continues normal operations amid the Evercore and Barclays led process.

* The company has stated that investors should not interpret the announcement as meaningful and participating in the conference should be construed as neutral to the process announced on July 19th.

* We would like to take this opportunity to remind investors that InterDigital entered a patent evaluation and bidding process with Evercore and Barclays Bank after receiving interest from parties engaged in the Nortel patent auction. We believe that the company would not have undertaken this transformative task if the perceived benefit to shareholders was not substantially greater than the fundamental value of the company. Our previous fundamental stock price was $65.50 (excluding the subsequent potentially positive impact on fundamental value associated with litigation initiated against Huawei, ZTE, and Nokia announced on July 26th, 2011).

* We also re-iterate that a transaction could result in a sale of all or part of a patent portfolio, or, of the sale of the entire company.
We reiterate our BUY recommendation and $118 share price target.

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_9_23.p…" target="_blank" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_9_23.p…





Saturday, September 24, 2011 12:21:00 PM

Greetings to all,

I am a first time poster - long of IDCC for about 5 years, lurker here for about two years. I want to thank jim, postyle (super job on the "sticky" notes!!!), loop, olddog, data, Joel, nukejohn, infinite_q, (revlis and rmarchma from the past) and many, many others for making this board a great source of information and thoughtful comments/analysis on IDCC. It is truly is like a family here - squingeqbob posting CAFC (no) news at 11, nicmar posting IDCC board "rank" at midnight, gamco posting the latest patents every week, etc.

There has been a lot of debate (here and in the media) about how IDCC's patents compare to other. As several people have commented the number of patents is not necessarily a good indication of a company strength in patents - not all patents are equal. Even the number of "essential" patents is not necessarily definitive - the "essentiality" being self declared. With that said there is still the natural desire to make comparisons - especially when, for example, a company comes up for sale - like say IDCC. While still subjective, ranking IDCC against Nortel, MMI, and other companies gives us some basis for what we might get for our company. IMO, Ron Shuttleworth, NukeJohn, rmarchma, dclarke, and others have presented some excellent analysis over time (both as a on going operation and as a takeover candidate) of IDCC's potential based on the earning, industry growth, etc. etc. I am not going to even attempt to do that kind of analysis, but I thought I would pull together some wide ranging "reports" that compare the IDCC LTE patents to other companies, and offer my two cents.

I put the following table together from seven "reports" - all of which came to my attention directly or indirectly from iHub postings. Like patents, all reports are not equal - anyone can put out a report. As you can see there are many differences in these "reports". But as an analytical person, I like to look at the "data" being offered and make some "sense" of it - seeing what the trends, averages, anomalies, etc. are.

#1 -- Informa Telecoms & Media, % of LTE Patents, 5/18/10
#2 -- TechIPm, % of Essential LTE Patents, 1/1/11
#3 -- ZTE, % of Essential LTE Patents, 1/31/11
#4 -- Ocean Tomo, Quality and relevance vs Nortel Patents, 4/7/11
#5 -- Cowen Group, % of LTE Patents, 8/31/11
#6 -- Peter Misek (Jefferies), % of Essential LTE Patents, 7/21/11
#7 -- Peter Misek (Jefferies), % of Essential LTE Patents, 9/21/11
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 LG 7 27 6 ? 9 8 23 QCOM 19 25 13 High 14 29 21 IDCC 21 11 24 High 9 16 9 Nokia 7 10 9 Low 11 13 9 Samsung 8 10 9 Low 9 9 9 Intel ? ? ? High ? ? ? ATT ? ? ? High ? ? ? Ericson 7 1 8 Low 13 3 2 Huawei 9 1 8 ? 9 9 1 MMI ? 3 ? Low ? ? 9 Nortel ? 2 ? High ? 3 4
I listed every company that was in anyone's "top five" (plus MMI and Nortel for obvious reasons) and then recorded how they were reported in all of the reports. A number of notes, caveats, and comments:

1. At the end of this post, I included links to these "reports". Some of the "reports" are nothing more that a chart referenced in another article.

2. These "reports"were done at different times over the last year or so. Obviously things can change.

3. Note that Informa and Cowen are reports of % of LTE patents (total - not just essential), Ocean Tomo compared companies to Nortel's patents.

4. Cowen's "report" was a pie chart without any numbers, so I had to "eyeball" it and estimate the percentages

5. While I would like the ZTE report to be accurate, the three reports that I found most compelling are the TechIPm, and the two from Jefferies.

6. TechIPm is a "professional research and consulting company specializing in technology and intellectual property mining" (their description of themselves). It is interesting that the first Jefferies "report" (7/21/11) referenced TechIPm as one of the sources for the Jefferies report.

7. The last Jefferies report (9/21/11) goes with the "conference call" held this past week. While I did not get to see the "visuals" that went with the call, I found the call to be very interesting and informative:
a. It seemed to me that their research was much more extensive than anyone else, and certainly most current
b. While the focus was on LTE, Peter did talk about some "reservations" about the IDCC 2G/3G patents - not that they weren't valuable, but that they were not as "mature" as the LTE patents, and under somewhat of a cloud with the difficulty getting them licensed (and getting court decisions when going that route). This is nothing we didn't know, but it was a little "stark" to me when presented by an analyst discussing the difficulty of putting a value on IDCC at the time of a possible buyout.
c. He did say that he thought Apple (and others) would benefit greatly with an acquisition of IDCC
d. He commented that his biggest surprise was the "rise of the East" (meaning Asia - LG, Samsung, Huawei, and ZTE)

8. Several anomalies:
a. Ericson and Huawei were all over the place - biggest deviations between the various reports
b. Between the 7/21 and 9/21 Jefferies "reports", LG went up from 8% to 23%, Huawei went down from 9% to 1%, and MMI went up from unmentioned to 9% (the MMI is particular odd as most people seem to be suggesting that MMI patents were of "questionable" value)

9. Conclusions IMO:
a. there seems to be a strong suggestion that LG and QUALCOMM are the front runners for LTE essential (that must give LG some "pain" in having to pay a license to IDCC, with no help from their patents in a "cross-license" deal - I am assuming that it is just when, not if they pay)
b. there seems to be a strong suggestion that the rest of the "top five" are IDCC, Nokia, and Samsung
c. all of this seems to further the idea that IDCC is the "crown jewel" of available companies with minimum "encumbrances" ( the only other one in the top five that, due to weakness, may remotely be a takeover candidate is Nokia - which I don't think is likely, and certainly would have a lot of "baggage")
d. FWIW - I think IDCC is in the perfect place at the perfect time. I think the industry (not necessarily the "market") knows the value of IDCC (which of course is MUCH more that LTE), and there is significant "competition" to drive up the price beyond what the more "traditional" buyout price might have been. While we can only speculate who is actually bidding, and how aggressively, we KNOW there are a number of big players who would like to have IDCC (and/or keep us away from their competitors) - Google, Intel, Samsung, LG, HTC, ZTE, Huawei, Apple, Microsoft, Nokia , Ericson, Nokia, Qualcomm, etc. etc. It only take two companies (or consortiums) to give us a incredible price.

Good luck to us all (except the shorts)!

just thinking… (Joel, if you think this is infringing on your “just sayin…” tag line, will you offer me a frandly license?)

BlueTower

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_i…

Auch uns viel Glück

[Nonbroker]

so I can invest......

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Why InterDigital will get acquired
...and even if it doesn’t, shareholders shouldn’t be concerned.

We all know that 2G is an extension/improvement on 1G, and likewise 3G is of 2G. However, 4G is a little different. It is not based on the 2 flavours, GSM and CDMA. 4G is a yet to be defined set of standards based on MIMO, OFDMA and SC-FDE.

We have all heard of Skype right? It’s basically VOIP or voice over internet protocol. The reason for Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype is because it has the potential to be a game changer. Older technology e.g. 2G basically means you can use your phone to call someone or surf the net (3G), but not do both at the same time. 4G can do both simultaneously.

This means 4G has the potential to change the game and remove the dominance of carriers. It is only a matter of time before VOIP will be of sufficient quality, you won’t need to go back to your phone. This has already happened for SMS/texting. Look up KakaoTalk. (I’m sure there are others)
So 4G is your opportunity to get into the mobile space eliminating the dominance of carriers and “starting fresh”. This also threatens Qualcomm significantly, as their dominance was on CDMA.

In short:
Existing IP companies are threatened – Qualcomm (dominance in 4G is much less pronounced)
It’s an opportunity to get into the mobile chipset market – Intel, Broadcomm, Samsung
Handset manufacturers will have to pay for 4G much more than they did for 3G – Apple, Samsung, Nokia etc .
Software companies will need better network efficiencies to improve functionality and user experience – Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Nokia, Apple

So , InterDigital is sitting on prized land and even if the Board of Directors request for too high a price e.g. $150-170, that the bid falls through, relax! I was once told, in order to be a BIG company e.g. >$100bn company, your presence has to be felt almost everywhere.

How many people use mobile phones? A mobile phone is useless without wireless and InterDigital is at the forefront of wireless technology. Now that’s worth SOMETHING!

Posted by Hungry Bull at 1:01 PM

http://www.soicaninvest.com/

[Nonbroker]

Interessant:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/23/4-star-stoc…

[cell1]

Es sickern absolut keine Interna aus den Verhandlungen durch und zu einem Ergebnis sind die beteiligten Firmen auch noch nicht gekommen

weil es nichts gibt bisher! Denk an MMI und IDCC(sofort geplappert) mit GooGle Verhandlung.

[Nonbroker]

Der Absturz heute ist natürlich der Hammer, es gibt aber keine offizielle News. Grund für den Absturz könnte folgende Meldung von StreetInsider.com sein:

DealReporter Says InterDigital (IDCC) Offers Have Been in $1-$2B Range; Shares Slide

September 26, 2011 2:04 PM EDT

Shares of InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC) have just plunged in mid-day trade as DealReporter is saying bids for the company are in the $1-$2 billion range.

http://www.streetinsider.com/Momentum+Movers/DealReporter+Sa…

[Nonbroker]

MPartner's Intra-Day Note (9/26/11) "Deal Reporter Rumor - Company Says Process Continues"


STOCK TRADING BELOW $50.00 AFTER INTERPRTATION OF DEAL REPORTER ARTICLE GOES VIRAL ON TWITTER

* Essence of the deal reporter report:
- Receiving bids of between $1B and $2B
- Not much interest in the patents
- Maybe HTC
- Sources cited include “people familiar with the situation” including 3rd party lawyers.

COMPANY SAYS NOTHING HAS CHANGED

* Would not have undertaken the process if they thought that the potential value of the patents was not worth substantially more than the fundamental value of the stock.

* Process continues as announced on July 19th 2011.

* Would not sell patents if they were worth less than the fundamental value of the company – they have “lots of money”.

DEAL REPORTER HAS DISTRIBUTED SPECULATION ON THE STOCK PREVIOUSLY

* Previously, InterDigital has denied speculation from sources such as Deal Reporter.

IF NOTHING HAS CHANGED – NEGATIVE SPECULATION IS A BUYING OPPORTUNITY

* Bottom line is that the company continues to execute on the process announced in July.

* Company has not commented on the specifics of the process since it began – so the “sources close to the situation” may not have effective information, or they may have unaligned motivations.

* Based on our sum-of-the-parts analysis. the fundamental value of the stock is $65.50 without the benefits of cash flow from Nokia, ZTE or Hauwei.

* We believe that there is demand tension for the patents and that the overall value should fall in a range of between $110 and $130 per share. We reiterate our $118 target price and BUY recommendation.

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_intraday_note_2011_9_26.…

[cell1]

Das Managment von Inter Digital hat sich ziemlich planlos verhalten.
Wie die Bietauktion abläuft ?

[Nonbroker]

Alert von IDCC von heute - hilft nicht wirklich:

InterDigit​al Announces Strategic Alternativ​es Process is Ongoing


[e-mail] an mich

Details anzeigen 01:59 (vor 5 Stunden)


KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced that its Board of Directors continues to thoroughly explore and evaluate a broad range of potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale, to a single buyer or consortium of buyers, of the company or select assets of the company.

In making the announcement, InterDigital stated that there can be no assurance that this strategic review process will result in a transaction. The company does not intend to comment further regarding the review process unless a specific transaction is approved by the Board of Directors, the review process is concluded, or it is otherwise deemed that further disclosure is appropriate or required by law.

About InterDigital®

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the company's current beliefs, plans, and expectations as to its exploration and evaluation of potential strategic alternatives. Words such as "intends," "expects," "may," or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the risks and uncertainties of a strategic alternative review process, including whether any strategic alternative will be identified or, if identified, whether it will be pursued or consummated. There can be no assurance that the exploration of potential strategic alternatives will result in a sale of the company or in any other transaction. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as otherwise required by law.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit the InterDigital website:

www.interdigital.com





InterDigital, Inc.
Media Contact:
Jack Indekeu, [phone]
[e-mail]
or
Investor Contact:
Janet Point, [phone]
[e-mail]



Source: InterDigital, Inc.

[Nonbroker]

Alle Beiträge heute haben nur ein Thema: das angebliche 1 - 2 Milliardengebot.


InterDigital Shares Decline Most in Two Years on Report of Buyout Offers

By Ari Levy - Sep 26, 2011 10:55 PM GMT+0200 .

InterDigital Inc., a technology company considering takeover offers, plunged 14 percent on the Nasdaq Stock Market after a report said bidders are offering $1 billion to $2 billion -- less than investors had expected.

“A large Asian mobile device company” has made a bid, DealReporter said today, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter. A price of less than $2 billion would come in below InterDigital’s market value, which was $2.6 billion at the end of last week. It has now fallen to $2.3 billion.

The company, which owns about 1,300 patents related to mobile-phone technology, has said its intellectual property is more valuable than the patents auctioned off by Nortel Networks Corp. earlier this year. A group led by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Microsoft Corp. agreed to buy that technology for $4.5 billion in July. Later that month, InterDigital hired Evercore Partners Inc. and Barclays Capital to review its options.

InterDigital fell $8.27 to $49.54 at 4 p.m. New York time, marking the biggest decline in almost two years. The drop pared the stock’s gain this year to 19 percent.

Jack Indekeu, a spokesman for King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based InterDigital, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ari Levy in San Francisco at [e-mail]


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-26/interdigital-drops-…

[Nonbroker]

Artikel von SmarTrend:

After Yesterday's Decline of 14.31%, InterDigital Offers Investors Better Value (IDCC)
Written on Tue, 09/27/2011 - 1:04am

By David Diaz

InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) traded in a range yesterday that spanned from a low of $44.01 to a high of $58.86. Yesterday, the shares fell 14.31%, which took the trading range below the 3-day low of $54.25 on volume of 7.5 million shares. Often times after large one-day declines, short-term traders may play for some degree of mean reversion.
Shares of InterDigital are currently trading below their 50-day moving average (MA) of $65.85 and below their 200-day MA of $50.03. Look for the MA to provide resistance for a short-term rebound in the shares.
SmarTrend is monitoring the recent change of momentum in InterDigital. Please refer to our Company Overview for the results of our proprietary technical indicators that have been scanning shares of InterDigital in search of a potential trend change.
SmarTrend expects the share price to rebound toward the $54.25 resistance level. Afterwards, we expect it to move downward with its peers in the SmarTrend Communication Equipment industry.


http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/after-yest…

[Nonbroker]

Neues von MPartners:

http://wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_9_27.p…

[Nonbroker]

Gestern und heute in Forbes:

Eric Savitz, Forbes Staff
Covering the intersection of tech and investing.
Tech|9/26/2011 @ 3:21PM

Intedigital Swoons; Report Bids Well Below Street Hopes

Interdigital shares are trading sharply lower on a report that bids for the mobile sector intellectual property play are coming in way below previous Street expectations.

The company’s shares started rising over the summer after a portfolio of patents that had been owned by Nortel was acquired for a stunning $4.5 billion by a group of companies that includes Apple, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Sony, EMC and Ericsson, dramatically higher than a $900 million bid from Google and Intel. Not long after that, Interdigital announced that it is “exploring strategic alternatives,” hiring Evercore Partners and Barclays Capital as strategic advisers. The stock faded after Google opted to pay $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility, largely to get control of the company’s patent portfolio – Google was seen as a potential buyer – but there have been periodic stories – mostly from Bloomberg – about various other potential bidders.

The DealReporter story quotes a source as saying that one large Asian mobile device company has submitted a bid; Samsung has said it it has not bid. The story says that HTC has looked at Interdigital, but has not aggressively pursued a deal.

IDCC is down $9.63, or 16.7%, to $48.18; the company has a current market cap of $2.2 billion.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/09/26/intedigita…


Eric Savitz, Forbes Staff
Interdigital Says Still Exploring Options; Shrs Bounce

Tech|9/27/2011 @ 8:48AM

Interdigital this morning said its board continues to “thoroughly explore and evaluate a broad range of potential strategic alternatives for the company,” which may include a sales to a single buyer or a consortium of buyers, of the whole company or select assets.

The company added that there can no assurance the review will result in a transaction.

The announcement follows a report yesterday that bids for the wireless IP licensing company have been coming in below the company’s recent market cap.

Today’s release is bolstering the stock: IDCC, which yesterday $8.27, or 14.3%, to $49.54, this morning is up$1.95, or 3.9%, to $51.49.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/09/27/interdigit…

[cell1]

Klarer Fall von Kursmanipulation von M-Partners ""Dealreporter"" Gordon Gecko läßt grüßen
Oder Insiderhandel wäre auch noch im Bereich des Möglichen.
Die SEC findet nicht mal ein Grab auf dem New Yorker Zentralfriedhof!
Da hat jemand richtig Kasse gemacht und calls für September gekillt, übrigens 1 B$ wäre ne Kurshalbierung.
Klarer Fall von Kursmanipulation gestern von 58,7 $ auf 44 $, jetzt 53,5 $

[cell1]

http://rambus.info
dort findet man Infos zu IDCC,rmbs und vhc

[Nonbroker]

Hoffnung für uns Anleger:

My Stock Just Got Crushed

By Rich Duprey
September 27, 2011


The markets roared to life yet again, but your stock went and took a nosedive. Don't panic, though. First, let's see whether it had good reason to fall. Sometimes, panic-fueled drops can make excellent buying opportunities. Here's the latest crop of cratered stocks that could provide a possibility for profit:




Stock CAPS Rating (out of 5) Monday's Change



Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK ) * (26.9%)



InterDigital (Nasdaq: IDCC ) **** (14.3%)



Entree Gold (NYSE: EGI ) *** (12.2%)


With the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: ^DJI) soaring 272 points yesterday, or 2.5%, stocks that went down by even larger percentages are pretty big deals.

Hanging up on growth
This is what happens when your lifeblood is one-time cash infusions: When they dry up, you need to tap your credit line to just get by. Eastman Kodak, which has survived a bit longer than most perhaps because of its former glory, finally succumbed to the ignominy of needing to tap its credit to pay its day-to-day bills.

The business turnaround management has engendered isn't working out quite as planned. The switch to a printer company from a photo one was already fraught with risk since it's not exactly without competition. But Kodak sought to turn on its head the razor-and-blade model Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) and Lexmark use. Rather than virtually giving away its printers and soaking consumers for the ink, Kodak would have its printers be profitable and offer less costly replacement inks.

In theory, the total cost of ownership would be less for the consumer, but a recession might not be the most opportune time to try to change buying habits.

Yet Kodak's situation also shows the punitive effects of Washington's tax policy. Kodak says it really hasn't burned through the $957 million in cash it reported on its balance sheet last quarter, but since most of the money it earned came from overseas, it chose not to repatriate it at this time -- no doubt because it would be penalized for doing so.

With burdensome legacy costs, a market cooling to high-priced patent auctions, and an apparent rising cash-burn rate, Kodak has few options open to it to fund its operations. It's for those reasons I maintain that the once-iconic company's best option is to sell itself to the highest bidder. Since it refuses to consider the option, it's why I rated it to underperform on CAPS last year. To date, Kodak's shares have plummeted 61% while the market has declined just 2%.

Tell us on the Eastman Kodak CAPS page if you think it can still develop into a worthy investment, and then follow its progress by adding the stock to your watchlist.

The devil's in the details
The stalled patent-sale market isn't helping wireless specialist InterDigital, either, which had hoped to cash in on the bevy of patents its portfolio contains.

There was a rush of exuberance after Nortel's patents sold for $4.5 billion, followed by Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI ) for more than $12 billion. If all those wireless patents were worth that much, how much could InterDigital get if it sold itself and its 8,000-plus patents to the highest bidder? Apparently not as much as it thought.

According to DealReporter, InterDigital was able to scare up only between $1 billion and $2 billion worth of offers, below its market value and well below the peak at the height of the mania.

With or without a deal, the CAPS community thinks InterDigital will succeed, as 96% of the 1,300 members rating the wireless specialist say it will outperform the broad market averages. You can tell us on the InterDigital CAPS page or in the comments section below if you agree, and then follow the buyout bids by adding it to your watchlist.

Be fearful when others are greedy
When Ivanhoe Mines struck an agreement with the government of Mongolia for its Oyu Tolgoi Project in October 2009, the price of gold was fluctuating around $1,000 an ounce. We don't need to recount how gold has responded since then, and despite a 2% slump that pulled gold below $1,600 an ounce yesterday, it still represents a 60% return in two years' time.

Ivanhoe and Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO ) have sunk billions into the project already, but the Mongolian government is getting greedy and wants to reopen negotiations. It has a 34% interest in the project that grows to 50% in 30 years, but it wants to speed up the timetable and grab that larger portion sooner. The potential that the deal could fall apart sent the stock of not only Ivanhoe lower, but that of Entree Gold as well, since it owns the mining license and thus a stake in the project, too.

More than 94% of the CAPS All-Stars rating Entree still think it has a good chance of realizing the potential from the mine, but you can add the stock to the Fool's free portfolio tracker if you think the risk has escalated to a new level.

Ready for a resurrection
Just because your stock has taken a beating, that doesn't mean it's going to roll over and die. Markets are known for overreacting. A closer look on Motley Fool CAPS at what's happened to your stock can give you an edge over other investors who just react to the market's lead. You can decide for yourself whether it's ready to come back from the dead.


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/09/27/my-stock-ju…

[sdaktien]

Rumms!

Da war sie unten die IDCC. Die Aktie ist ziemlich genau auf die 200Tage-Linie gestürzt. Die liegt ziemlich genau bei 50$.
Ich könnte mir vorstellen, das diese Marke hält, denn das Handelsvolumen war im Absturz nicht wirklich hoch. Und auch der Stochastik ist dabei überverkauft gewesen und steigt nun wieder an. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass IDCC bis an 60$ rankommt. Damit wäre die Abwärtsbewegung aber noch nicht überwunden.
IDCC steht fundamental aber nicht so schlecht da. Zwar sinken dieses Jahr die Gewinne (die Prognose wurde in den letzten Wochen sogar nach unten gesetzt), für 2012 sieht es aber besser aus. Wenn sich die Zahlen für 2012 bestätigen sollten, oder man diese Prognosen raufsetzt, sollte Interdigital Potenzial haben, auch ohne Patente.

[hasni]

vermutlich bestimmmen wie bei fast allen Werten erst mal nicht die Unternehmensnachrichten, sondern die extremen Schwankungen an den Börsen, die kaum eine sichere Prognose erlauben.

[cell1]

Rumms!

Da war sie unten die IDCC von sdaktien, 'Kursmanipulation von M-Partners haben billig eingekauft.

[cell1]

Nokia Prozess abwarten.sieht gut aus

[sdaktien]

hasni, IDCC hat sich in der Krise ganz gut gehalten. Der Absturz kam erst einige Tage später.
Die fundamentale Betrachtung ist ja eher langfristig. Möglicherweise gibt es keine Übernahme. Aber wenn sich die Zahlen für 2012 bestätigen sollten sieht es ja gar nicht so schlecht aus.
Wenn IDCC gut verdient, wird sich der Kurs dem nicht entziehen können und wenn man vorher noch billig einkaufen kann ist das ja auch nicht schlecht.

Cell: Ich wusste nicht, dass es 2 Arten von IDCC-Aktien gibt. Was immer M-Partners gemacht hat, scheinbar haben sie die Aktie gut gelesen. Glückwunsch.

[Nonbroker]

Erneut Forbes:

Eric Savitz, Forbes Staff

Tech|9/27/2011 @ 6:51PM

Interdigital: Confusion Reigns Over Potential Consortium Bids

Shares of mobile telephony IP company Interdigital continue to be whipsawed by conflicting theories about the progress of the company’s search for a buyer. Bulls on the stock continue to see the potential for a huge windfall along the lines of the$4.5 billion a consortium of bidders paid for a group of patents that had been owned by Nortel; bears wonder why the process is taking so long, and suspect the company may not bring the high price the optimists expect.

This morning, Interdigital said that it continues to assess strategic options, again stating that it could sell the company in whole or in part, to a single buyer or to a group of buyers. That helped bolster the stock after a 14% slide yesterday on a report from the subscription-based news service Deal Reporter, which said the company had been getting bids in the $1 billion to $2 billion range, well below the company’s recent market cap. At one point yesterday, the stock was down well over 20%.

This morning, Deal Reporter followed up with another story that said a single suitor is now trying to form a consortium to bid for the company.

A source close to the transaction tells Forbes that the company indeed has received bids in the $1 billion to $2 billion range, but that the offers were not for the whole company, and could actually be additive. The source compared the situation to the buyers of the Nortel patents – a group that included Apple, Microsoft, Research In Motion, Sony, EMC and Ericsson – noting that none of the parties in that group paid anything close to the total bid of $4.5 billion. The source said that there are multiple bidders involved in the process, and that the parties involved are forming more than one group of bidders for the companies patents.

Expectations for the value of the Interdigital patents have been jacked up not only by the Nortel patent auction, but also by the enormous premium Google is paying in its $12.5 billion bid for Motorola Mobility. Estimating the value of the patent portfolio is no easy matter, which explain the dramatic volatility in the company’s shares. Expect more wild swings until the matter is resolved.

IDCC today rose $1.95, or 3.9%, to $51.49; the stock slipped 9 cents in late trading.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/09/27/interdigit…

[cell1]

wieder 6 % im plus
der Absturz von 56,5 auf 44,0x $ beruhte auf M-Partner Veröffentlichung nicht substanzielles.Deswegen ist der Kurs jetzt wieder fast auf altem Niveau.

[cell1]

Der Fall wird von der SEC untersucht.

[cell1]

von sdaktien
Was immer M-Partners gemacht hat, scheinbar haben sie die Aktie gut gelesen. Glückwunsch.

Nein die haben den Kurssturz ausgelöst! siehe Investor Village Board.

[sdaktien]

Dieser eine Trade ist komplett uninteressant für die technische Betrachtung von IDCC. Wichtig war der Fall an die 200er. Ob M-Partners den nun verursacht hat oder nicht.
Letztlich hat IDCC den 38-Tage Durchschnitt durchbrochen und ist dann nach unten, auf die 200er, runter gerauscht.

Das ist aber keine Manipulation, das ist Börse. Wenn es nicht weiter rauf geht, geht es runter.

Vielleicht ist es sogar positiv, dass IDCC den "Kurssturz" schnell wieder aufgeholt haben, denn so wurde die Aktie an eine Unterstützung gedrückt, und die scheint zu halten.

Und altes Niveau ist bei mir ein Bereich oberhalb von 60$, da ist IDCC derzeit raus, und das nachhaltig

[cell1]

cell1 schrieb am 28.09.11 13:51:26
Beitrag Nr.56172 (42.145.206)
Tip kauft Inter Digital A0MWY3 die machen einen Sprung von mindestens
35 - 60 % innerhalb von dreieinhalb Monaten. Sonst postete ich bei Deutsche Telekom keinen Breitrag mehr. Ist doch ein Angebot.
jetzt haben schon mal ca. 10 % plus!!!

[Nonbroker]

Interessantes Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCRy4iaLE_g

[Nonbroker]

Falsches Datum, Artikel ist von gestern:

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [e-mail] to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1d47dfa8-cdc7-11e0-bb4f-00144feabd…



August 23, 2011 9:39 pm

InterDigital suitor trying to build consortium

By Ed Mullane and Bhavna Kaul









This article is provided to FT.com readers by dealReporter—a news service focused on providing insightful intelligence on event driven situations to investors. www.dealreporter.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) received an expression of interest from a suitor who is now trying to form a consortium, a person briefed on the situation told dealReporter.

The person said that the suitor is now working as the lead with other interested parties to build a consortium. If successful, the lead consortium member will attract parties that will add to the initial offer, the person said.

Yesterday, 26 September, this news service reported that InterDigital had received offers in the last couple of days that in some cases were in the USD 1bn to USD 2bn range. The company has around USD 500m in net cash and it is unclear if those offers factored in the cash.

The person could not say how many parties will make up the consortium since the suitor is still trying to create it. Also, the percentage of assets each member would hold could not be determined.

The person said interest is coming from companies located in a number of different countries. This news service reported yesterday that one of the offers InterDigital received was from an Asian suitor, citing a source briefed on the matter.

Other consortia are in the process of being formed and evaluating whether to move forward with an offer, the person claimed.

The person called the process active but also said that there are no clear milestones that would trigger the next event in the process. The person said that the expressions of interest were not made as part of first round bids but came about as an on-going process.

There is no assurance that a deal will be struck and the company continues to evaluate a number of strategic options, the person said. He added though that the board is encouraged by the level of interest.

InterDigital, the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based intellectual property company, said in a press release last night that it was exploring a complete sale of the company or asset sales to one buyer or a consortium of buyers.

In recent days the company has been seeking informal advice from financial advisors in Silicon Valley about options it could pursue beyond a sale of the whole company, said a source familiar with the matter. Barclays Capital and Evercore are InterDigital’s announced advisors.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information or to inquire about a trial please email [e-mail] or call Europe/EEMEA: [phone] Americas: [phone] Asia-Pacific: [phone]

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.148.361 von Nonbroker am 29.09.11 06:19:18

Link vergessen:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/1d47dfa8-cdc7-11e0-bb4f-00144…

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.148.361 von Nonbroker am 29.09.11 06:19:18

Mosaid says Google is $11 mln patent buyer

Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:29pm EDT

(In U.S. dollars unless noted)

(Reuters) - Canadian patent licensing company Mosaid (MSD.TO) on Wednesday named Google as the buyer of five non-strategic patent families it said it had sold two week ago for $11 million [ID:nL3E7KE2HS].

"The five patent families contain 18 U.S. patents and applications, at a price per patent comparable to the price Nortel obtained in its $4.5 billion patent sale this summer," Mosaid spokesman Michael Salter said in an emailed statement.

Mosaid is fending off a C$38 a share hostile takeover offer from fellow Ottawa-based patent firm Wi-Lan (WIN.TO). Mosaid recently acquired some 2,000 Nokia (NOK1V.HE) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) wireless patents that eventually promise a huge jump in revenue [ID:nL4E7K121Z].

Shares of Mosaid closed down 0.6 percent at C$37.66 and Wi-Lan closed 3.3 percent lower at C$6.43 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

($1=$1.03 Canadian) (Reporting by Alastair Sharp and Pav Jordan in Toronto)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/mosaid-google-idUS…

[Nonbroker]

Rating IDCC von Street:

http://www.thestreet.com/r/ratings/reports/detail/IDCC.html

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Inc (IDCC): Today's Featured Telecommunications Winner

no biggie:

By TheStreet Wire 09/28/11 - 05:50 PM EDT

The telecommunications industry closed the day down 2.8%. Nexxus Lighting Inc (NEXS), RELM Wireless Corporation (RWC), Radvision (RVSN), and CalAmp Corporation (CAMP) were all winners today within the telecommunications industry with InterDigital Inc (IDCC) being today's featured telecommunications winner. InterDigital Inc rose $2.04 (4%) to $53.53 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.9 million shares of InterDigital Inc exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.8 million shares.

Interdigital, Inc. engages in the design and development of digital wireless technology solutions. The company offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. InterDigital Inc has a market cap of $2.3 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.4, equal to the average telecommunications industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 23.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates InterDigital as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

* You can view the full InterDigital Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTE), Dialogic Inc (DLGC), XFONE Inc (XFN), and Hawaiian Telcom Holdco Inc (HCOM) were all losers within the telecommunications industry with JDS Uniphase Corp (CA (JDSU) being today's telecommunications industry Loser Spotlight stock.

* Use our telecommunications section to find industry-relevant news.
* Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the telecommunications industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Telecom (IYZ) while those bearish on the telecommunications industry could consider ProShares Ult Sht Telecommunication (TLL).

* Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

[cell1]

Wann kommt das Nokia- IDCC Urteil endlich ?
Oder hat die 86 jährige Richtern alles vergessen.
Alzheiner ich kann mich nicht erinnern.

[Recic]

ja so wird es wohl auch sein

[cell1]

Hat sich das Inter Digital Managment verzockt?
positive CAFC mit Nokia könnte jetzt helfen, eine der Richterin ist 84 Jahre alt! geboren 1927 New York
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Newman

[Nonbroker]

Making A Case For InterDigital
by: Kevin M. O'Brien October 2, 2011

about: IDCC, includes: AAPL, GOOG, INTC, MMI, QCOM
I have been very intrigued by the recent pickup in the Intellectual Property (IP) patent companies of 3G and 4G technology, and subsequent stories that have come out over the last few months. From acquisitions, lawsuits, licensing deals (or settlements), a bankrupt company's (Nortel) patents selling for 4.5 billion in an auction-style bidding, and now the current auction for Interdigital, Inc. (IDCC)-- a lot is going on in this sector.

Interdigital, Inc. is a very interesting company. Founded in 1972, the company has gradually built up its patent portfolio to around 10,000 worldwide, many of which include 3G and 4G technology for cellular phones. In late July, Interdigital hired Barclays and Evercore Partners, two investment banks, to "explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, which may or may not include a sale." In not so many words, the company is up for sale to the highest bidder in a closed auction.

Ever since July, when Interdigital announced it is seeking "strategic alternatives", daily debates on message boards regarding what price it will sell for has been very intense. There aren't too many times when a stable and viable company such as InterDigital goes on record and essentially states that it is for sale to the highest bidder in a closed-bidding process. It presents a unique situation.

I want to break down InterDigital's patent value as it stands now, and what it will mean to the company that buys them.

I want to first take a look at Nortel, the company that went bankrupt, but who also owned thousands of patents that are of use to tech giants like Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Qualcomm (QCOM), HTC, Research in Motion (RIMM), Intel (INTC), and so on. Initially, when the bidding started for its patents, Google placed a "stalking horse" bid of $900 million. In my view, this number is important for several reasons. First, Nortel patents were far less useful and more outdated than InterDigital's. There will be people who will argue this point to no end, but the fact is that InterDigital's patents are more valulable than Nortel's. To make my point, few of Nortel's patents were of 4G standards such as long-term evolution (LTE). Yet, those were the ones that the bidders clearly wanted and paid heavily for. The bidding ended with a consortium of bidders that, at the end, went for $4.5 billion.

Another important aspect with the initial bid by Google is that in a bidding process, the bidders obviously start low. Last week, a company named DealReporter, if taken to be accurate, mentioned that the first initial bids for Interdigital were placed at between 1-2 billion. If Interdigital-- who owns around 9,000 patents worldwide, many of them 4G-- received a higher bid than Nortel's to begin with, what might that say to the final price? Interdigital's stock got slammed on this news, and at one point was down 20%. It created an excellent buying opportunity, I believe, for those who wanted to add to their position or initiate one.

InterDigital also happens to have $700+ million in cash. If InterDigital is going to be bought out as a whole company, it would also be important to note that it has a stable of engineers coming up with new ideas all of the time.

InterDigital hired Barclays Capital and Evercore Partners in July to find out the interest in its patents and to conduct the bidding process. Barclays, who is heavily respected, is known for getting deals done. Barclays is not going to tell InterDigital to put itself up for sale if it didn't believe the company wouldn't be able to fetch what its value is.

With this auction process being closed (they are legally bound into a confidentiality agreement), only rumors and guesses as to whom may purchase InterDigital will do for now.

Google was once rumored, but then it purchased Motorola Mobility (MMI) for 12 billion. People seem to think that this takes Google out of the list of potential buyers, but I disagree. If anything, acquiring InterDigital will only make its stance in the smart-phone and tech world even that much more stronger.

Intel has been thrown out there as a possible buyer, as well. That would surprise me a little bit, but Intel does have the cash to.

Seriously, throwing any name out there as a potential buyer is just speculation. If I had to guess who will win, in my view it will be Apple or Qualcomm.

Since this auction has been going on, I would like to make one quick point to those who say it will be sold as a "take-under" or slightly above $65/share. If this were the case, don't you think the CEO and Board would be well aware that the price they were hoping for was not going to happen at this time? They could have very easily have walked away from the bidding and announced that the company is no longer for sale, and that they will look at it again in the future when the time is right. The fact that this hasn't happened speaks volumes to me. No news is sometimes good news.

I think the sale will be for slightly over $5 billion, eclipsing Nortel's auction. This would bring the share price to about $105-110/share. Would I be surprised if it went for more than that? Absolutely not. Remember, this is an auction with very valuable patents. Auction is the key word here. In the meantime, sit tight. It's going to be a rocky ride with ups and downs until something is announced.

Anytime you are dealing with the possible sale of a company, it is always a smart move to hedge your positions in case there possibly won't be a sale. While I personally do not think that will happen, play it safe. For long stock holders and call option holders, buy some inexpensive put options that are two months out until expiration and that are deep out-of-the-money to protect yourself.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/297047-making-a-case-for-int…

[Nonbroker]

Alert von IDCC:

http://ir.interdigital.com/secfiling.cfm?filingid=1299933-11…

[cell1]

VHC und IDCC vor come back ?

[cell1]

DealReporter said multiple potential companies are interested in InterDigital and may form a consortium to bid for the company...
deswegen Kurssprung!

[Nonbroker]

Meldung aus Investorvillage, habe ich auf Bloomberg nicht verifizieren können.

DealReporter - more details

InterDigital Bidders Who Backed Out Reconsidering: DealReporter
2011-10-11 18:27:06.971 GMT

By Joshua Fineman

Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Some U.S. technology companies who previously passed on bidding for InterDigital are reconsidering, DealReporter said, citing unidentified person.

* IP buyers would likely be willing to be minority partners in consortium: dR

* Barclays approached HTC a few weeks ago about leading a consortium for IDCC; HTC not "very keen" on deal; HTC would likely only be interested in patents, not all of IDCC: dR

* INTC speculated to be "driving force" behind building a consortium for IDCC patents: dR

* INTC called reports about their interest in IDCC "speculative": dR

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=65&mn=58547&pt=ms…

[Nonbroker]

Eric Savitz, Forbes Staff
Covering the intersection of tech and investing.

Tech|10/11/2011 @ 5:04PM |3,214 views
Interdigital Rallies On Report Of New Interest From Some Bidders

Shares of wireless IP licensing play Interdigital rallied sharply Tuesday on a report from the subscription-based newsletter DealReporter suggesting that some potential bidders who had previously decided not to make an offer for the company are now taking a second look. TheFlyOnTheWall.com notes that the story says multiple parties have shown interest in the company and could form a consortium to make an offer. StreetInsider.com notes that the story indicates Intel may be a “driving force” behind attempts to form a group to bid for Interdigital.

Interdigital previously disclosed that it has hired investment bankers to consider potential strategic alternatives, which could include a sale of the company.

The company declines to comment on today’s DealReporter story.

IDCC in today’s regular session rose $3.20, or 6.6%, to $52.08.

Update: This turns out to be a seriously convoluted story; here’s an excerpt from the DealReporter piece:

“Financial advisors for InterDigital continue to reach out to strategics to participate in consortia to acquire the company, said a source and people familiar with the process.

The first person said multiple companies are showing interest in the InterDigital process and are working to form bidding consortia. The person declined to comment on what the next milestone in the process will be.

In the US, at least some large technology companies that previously passed on a transaction with InterDigital are re-considering a bid, the first source said.

If InterDigital’s valuation demands are reasonable, previous IP buyers may be willing to participate as minority partners in a consortium, the first source said, adding that these companies want to take a passive role and do not want to be the lead investors.

A mess of a story, but a mess that moved the stock today.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/10/11/interdigit…

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt nichts Neues außer den üblichen Spekulationen.

[Nonbroker]

Etwas von The Modley Fool:


http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/10/18/tomorrows-m…

[DAXFRESSER]

!

Dieser Beitrag wurde von CloudMOD moderiert. Grund: Spam, Werbung

[Nonbroker]

The next earnings announcement from IDCC is expected the week of October 24, 2011.

[Nonbroker]

In allen boards als Grund für den heutigen, plötzlichen Anstieg angegeben:

http://www.atomicbobs.com/index.php?mode=read&id=662330

[Nonbroker]

Keine Veröffentlichungen zu IDCC, interessanter Beitrag über Internet Trends auf youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/OreillyMedia#p/c/26/0g9vmtG7r7c

[Nonbroker]

Müsste IDCC eigentlich morgen positiv beeinflussen:

Why Microsoft Would Be Smart To Buy InterDigital


by: Kevin M. O'Brien October 23, 2011 | includes: IDCC, MSFT

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) might just be the most boring stock of all-time. Unless you are a billionaire who owns the stock for the measly 2.9% dividend they give and the low risk aspect of it, or you are the most conservative investor who has ever walked the planet, this stock has no pulse.

Microsoft, for at least the past 10 years, has seemed content with what it is as a company. It figures everybody uses its Windows Office software and that is never going to change. However, if technology has taught us anything, it's that there will always be something that comes out better and cheaper at some point. Research In Motion (RIMM) could have used that advice a few years ago when it sat on its laurels and took for granted its consumer loyalty.

Microsoft has at least started to show that it has some other ideas in mind by getting into the smartphone market and releasing the Windows Phone 7, which has had a somewhat lukewarm response. It hasn't been a complete disaster, however.

This is where InterDigital (IDCC) comes into play. InterDigital, Inc. engages in the design and development of digital wireless technology solutions. The company offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. It holds patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications.

The company licenses its patents to equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular and IEEE 802-related products; and licenses or sells mobile broadband modem solutions, including modem IP, know-how, and reference platforms to mobile device manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and other equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular products.

Currently IDCC is in a closed-bidding auction to sell the company to the highest bidder. This process has been ongoing since July 2011. Rumors have swirled for months as to what companies are bidding, bid amounts, whether or not there is a group bid as a consortium, and just about everything else in between.

There have been reports that Apple (AAPL), Qualcomm (QCOM), Samsung (SSNLF.PK), and a host of others have been involved in the bidding. Most recently, it has been "rumored" that Intel (INTC) is now the leader to buy the company. At one time, Google (GOOG) was expected to be involved, but when they bought Motorola Mobility (MMI), most assumed that this took them out of the race. I'm not so sure about that. Google still has very weak patents and not enough of them, especially where 4G technology is concerned.

This is what makes me believe Microsoft would be the perfect company to buy InterDigital. First of all, Microsoft has already lost lawsuits and eventually settled with VirnetX (VHC), another company who owns some important patents for instant messaging, voice over Internet protocol, smart phones, eReaders, and video conferencing.

So, Microsoft has been on the losing end of patent lawsuit and infringement claims. Make no mistake, the patent wars going on with all of these companies aren't going away. The patents themselves can bring in billions for a company in the coming years. Whoever wins the InterDigital auction will be in a very good position to assert its power with these patents.

Since Microsoft has already shown it is willing to enter the smartphone market, it can only be assumed that they will eventually have to enter other technology markets to stay relevant. Qualcomm has built its reputation off its patents. Microsoft can continue to do what it does with its software, but also hold some key patents, along with having another revenue stream. It makes too much sense.

Microsoft has over $50 billion in cash on hand. It could easily buy InterDigital for $5 billion without any worries to its balance sheet. In fact, I would think investors would be happy to see Microsoft actually try to grow and venture out as a company as its stock has been trading in the same boring range for ages now. Microsoft buying InterDigital, Inc. would at least bring a some life to it.

Disclosure: Author is long IDCC.


http://seekingalpha.com/article/301457-why-microsoft-would-b…

[Nonbroker]

Interessanter Artikel über den Patentkrieg zwischen den mobile phone companies:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15343549

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.248.357 von Nonbroker am 24.10.11 03:42:16

Pardon, so ists besser:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15343549

[Nonbroker]

InterDigital Announces Date for Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results Release


KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) announced today that it will release its third quarter 2011 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

As previously disclosed on July 27, 2011, due to the company's announcement that the Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, the company has suspended regular quarterly conference calls until further notice.

About InterDigital®

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com





InterDigital, Inc.
Media Contact:
Jack Indekeu, [phone]
[e-mail]
or
Investor Contact:
Janet Point, [phone]
[e-mail]


Source: InterDigital, Inc.



http://ir.interdigital.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=61725…

[Nonbroker]

Microsoft collects license fees on 50% of Android devices, tells Google to "wake up"
By Jon Brodkin

Google’s complaints about patent-based attacks against Android don’t seem to be doing the company any good. We all know Steve Jobs pledged to destroy Android, claiming it stole its ideas from Apple’s iOS. Yet what is likely an even bigger threat comes from Microsoft, which claims that more than half of all Android devices are now subject to patent licensing agreements.

What does that mean? When you buy an Android phone, there’s a good chance either the vendor whose name is on the device or one of the manufacturers who contributed hardware to it is paying Microsoft a fee for each sale. Today, Microsoft announced an agreement with Compal, an original design manufacturer that produces smartphones and tablets for third parties and takes in $28 billion in annual revenue. This was the “tenth license agreement providing coverage under our patent portfolio for Android mobile phones and tablets,” and the ninth in the last four months, Microsoft lawyers Brad Smith and Horacio Gutierrez write in a blog post.

“More important, today’s announcement means that companies accounting for over half of all Android devices have now entered into patent license agreements with Microsoft,” they claim.

According to charts in the blog post, 55 percent of Android devices by worldwide revenue are subject to patent license agreements between Microsoft and original design manufacturers, such as Compal. Moreover, 53 percent of Android smartphones by unit share in the United States are subject to patent license agreements between Microsoft and original equipment manufacturers, such as Samsung and HTC.



In any case, it’s a lot. Some have concluded that Microsoft makes more money from Android than from its own Windows Phones, and HTC reportedly pays Microsoft $5 for each Android phone it sells. Google, meanwhile, distributes Android (at least the smartphone version) as open source software.

Google lashed out at Microsoft and other rivals in a recent blog post called “When patents attack Android,” claiming to be the victim of “a hostile, organized campaign... waged through bogus patents.”

Microsoft didn’t specifically reference that post, but today said “For those who continue to protest that the smartphone patent thicket is too difficult to navigate, it’s past time to wake up.” Microsoft doesn’t just collect money from other companies, it also pays out plenty to protect itself, Microsoft’s legal team notes.

“Over the past decade we’ve spent roughly $4.5 billion to license in patents from other companies,” Microsoft said. “These have given us the opportunity to build on the innovations of others in a responsible manner that respects their IP rights. Equally important, we've stood by our customers and partners with countless agreements that contain the strongest patent indemnification provisions in our industry. These ensure that if our software infringes someone else's patents, we'll address the problem rather than leave it to others.”

Across all types of computing systems, Microsoft has entered into 1,133 agreements to license its patents to other companies. Regarding Android specifically, Microsoft has sued vendors that haven’t paid up, including Motorola, whose mobile division is in the process of being purchased by Google.

You are probably wondering which Microsoft patents have allowed Microsoft to sign up all these vendors to license deals. While all the details of licensing agreements aren’t made public, Microsoft’s Android-related patents have been revealed in lawsuits. Examples include patents related to “implementing both long and short file names in the same file system,” a monitoring system that determines when to erase memory from flash memory devices, and patents related to managing contact databases and meeting requests.

That’s just a sampling, and Android is also subject to litigation from Oracle, which asserts that Android infringes Java-related patents. For all its success with consumers, Android faces a bumpy road ahead in the legal department.

Photograph by Brian Cantoni

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/10/microsoft-coll…

[Nonbroker]

MPartner's Morning Note (10/24/11)

INTERDIGITAL, INC. (IDCC-Q) Rating: Buy
12-Month Target: $118.00

WE ARE REMOVING LG LICENSE RENEWAL FROM OUR FY’11 ESTIMATE

CONSIDERING THAT THEY ARE NOW LITIGATING…

* After spending time with Management in Barcelona this past February, we were confident that the conditions were in place for LG to renew during FY’11.

* After InterDigital announced that it was choosing to “explore its strategic options” with M&A specialists Evercore on July 19th, 2011 it made two additional significant disclosures:

o On July 24th, 2011 management disclosed that it was initiating litigation against ZTE, Huawei and Nokia with respect to 3G patent infringements.

o Subsequently on October 3rd, 2011 the company disclosed that it was adding LG to the litigation.

* With respect to LG, either the conditions for renewal decayed significantly since Q1’11, or the “strategic process” altered the conditions to a point where we can no longer assume that royalty and “past infringement” revenues from LG license renewals will be recognized during Y’11.

* We are now expecting LG licensing revenue sometime in FY’12.

THIS ADJUSTMENT IS ABOUT ACCURACY BECAUSE ITS ALL ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF M&A PROCESS WITH EVERCORE

* The company continues to tell us that the process continues with multiple parties including consortia.

* The company has disclosed nothing else regarding the process since July 19th.

* We continue to believe that if a transaction occurs that the value of the transaction expressed as a share price is most likely to fall between $110.00 and $130.00. Our $118.00 target share price implies a mean value per patent and patent pending of $280,000 for the 18,500 patents and patents pending in IDCC’s portfolio. The mean patent and patent pending value of recent transactions within the mobile sector is over $620,000 (Novell, Nortel, Mosaid).

* Because parties have been quiet, there have been a number of unsubstantiated rumors, which has created a lot of share price volatility. We believe that the volatility is creating a share price discount to its current fundamental value.

* Based on the current and future cash flows that can be generated by licensing approximately 50% of the 3G and 4G patent infringers, even with the LG delay, the fundamental value of the stock remains in the mid-$60s range. Our estimates do not include expected royalty streams from Huawei, ZTE, or Nokia.

* We expect the process to conclude eventually. As a takeout, based on the potential value of the InterDigital patents to various parties, and the increasing demand tension created by active patent litigation among its customer base, we maintain our BUY recommendation and $118.00 share price target.


http://www.wirelessledger.com/Mpartners_morning_note_2011_10…

[Nonbroker]

Earnings Watch: InterDigital is Scheduled to Report its Quarterly Results in 3 Days (IDCC)
Published on Mon, 10/24/2011 - 09:20
By Adrienne Chilton in Earnings Preview, IDCC, earnings previews, interdigital, nasdaq:idcc

Analysts, on average, expect InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) to report earnings of $0.39 per share on sales of $71.1 million on October 27th, 2011. Analysts also expect earnings of $2.16 per share for the current full-year period. In the year-ago period, the company reported earnings of $0.79 per share on sales of $91.9 million. In the previous quarter, the company reported earnings of $0.37 per share, missing consensus estimates of $0.41.

InterDigital has overhead space with shares priced $48.59, or 43.8% below the average consensus analyst price target of $86.50. The stock should run into initial resistance at its 200-day moving average (MA) of $50.73 and subsequent resistance at its 50-day MA of $58.92.

Over the past year, InterDigital has traded in a range of $29.08 to $82.50 and is now at $48.59, 67% above that low. Over the last five market days, the 200-day moving average (MA) has remained constant while the 50-day MA has declined 3.6%.

InterDigital, Inc. develops technology for advanced digital wireless telecommunications applications. The Company offers both time division multiple access and wide band code division multiple access proprietary and standards compliant digital wireless technology to customers, licensees, and companies.

By Adrienne Chilton

[e-mail]

[Nonbroker]

Interessanter, aktueller Beitrag, bitte auf 2´38´´ vorspulen.

http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip555339

[sdaktien]

Danke Nonbroker :-)

Mir ist aufgefallen, dass IDCC zwischen 45$ und 50$ gerne mal seitwärts läuft. Morgen sollen ja Zahlen kommen. Wenn die nicht allzu schlecht ausfallen, gibt es hier vielleicht eine gute Unterstützung.

[cell1]

Einbruch sind die Zahlen so schlecht ?

[Nonbroker]

Zahlen besser als erwartet, aber nicht umwerfend:

InterDigital Announces Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Highlights for third quarter 2011:
Revenue of $76.5 million
Net income of $26.2 million, or $0.57 per diluted share
Ending cash and short-term investments totaling $690.6 million.

"During the third quarter, we saw solid sales performance from many of our key customers and ended the quarter with approximately 50 percent of all 3G handsets being delivered under license from InterDigital," commented William J. Merritt, InterDigital's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We were also encouraged by the market data indicating that 4G LTE devices were ramping faster than forecasted. That faster ramp, combined with a leading LTE patent position, speaks well to future revenue opportunities for the company from its core terminal unit licensing business."

"We also continue to be pleased with the pace and direction of our current R&D initiatives," continued Merritt. "Our strong cash position allows us to continue to be an industry leader on the development of the next generation of fundamental wireless technologies, including advanced LTE designs, technologies driving the future ‘network of networks' and innovative architectures that are expected to greatly enhance machine-to-machine deployments. With continued success in these areas, the inventions from these programs will join our portfolio of approximately 19,000 issued patents and applications, many of which are incorporated into the industry standards to which cellular wireless communications devices are built.

"While executing on our business plan, the company's board of directors also continues to thoroughly explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives for the company, which may include a sale or other transaction," concluded Merritt.

Third Quarter 2011 Summary

Revenue in third quarter 2011 totaled $76.5 million, a 17 percent decrease from $91.9 million reported in third quarter 2010. Patent licensing royalties of $75.3 million in third quarter 2011 declined $10.8 million, or 13 percent, from $86.1 million in third quarter 2010. The fixed fee portion of the royalty revenue totaled $33.2 million, a decline of $16.4 million, or 33 percent, over the $49.6 million in third quarter 2010, primarily due to the absence of $14.4 million in royalties from LG Electronics, Inc. ("LG"). Per-unit royalties of $34.2 million in third quarter 2011 declined somewhat from the $35.8 million in third quarter 2010, driven by a decline in royalties associated with customers in Japan offset by growth in customers with exposure to the smartphone market. Past sales of $7.9 million in third quarter 2011 increased from $0.7 million in third quarter 2010 due to an audit resolution with an existing customer in third quarter 2011. Additionally, technology solutions revenue decreased to $1.2 million from $5.8 million in third quarter 2010, primarily due to declines in revenue from agreements that concluded in 2010. In addition, the company continues to defer revenue recognition of disputed royalties pending the outcome of an ongoing arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. As of September 30, 2011, the company has deferred $25.6 million of revenue in connection with this arbitration. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $76.5 million of third quarter 2011 total revenue were Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. ("Samsung") (34 percent), Research in Motion Limited ("RIM") (13 percent) and HTC Corporation ("HTC") (12 percent).

As a result of the decrease in revenue, the company's third quarter 2011 net income of $26.2 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, declined 26 percent from net income of $35.5 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, in third quarter 2010.

Third quarter 2011 operating expenses were $44.3 million, an increase of $6.8 million, or 18 percent, from $37.5 million in third quarter 2010. This increase was primarily due to a $5.2 million increase in intellectual property enforcement and non-patent litigation costs ($6.7 million in third quarter 2011 versus $1.5 million in third quarter 2010) primarily associated with the recently filed ITC action. Additionally, personnel-related costs and costs associated with the strategic alternatives evaluation process contributed $1.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to the operating expense increase. During 2011, the company increased personnel levels within the company's patents, licensing and advanced research groups. These and other increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.0 million for sublicense fees, due to technology solutions agreements that concluded during 2010. In addition, the company incurred lower commission expense.

In third quarter 2011, the company reported net other expense of $3.2 million as compared to net other income of $0.5 million in third quarter 2010. The change between periods primarily resulted from the recognition of $3.6 million of interest expense associated with the company's 2.50% Senior Convertible Notes issued on April 4, 2011 (the "Notes").

The company's third quarter 2011 effective tax rate was approximately 10 percent, compared to 35 percent for third quarter 2010. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by a $6.8 million benefit related to the favorable resolution of tax contingencies.

Nine Months 2011 Summary

The company's first nine months 2011 revenue totaled $224.8 million, a 25 percent decrease from $299.3 million reported in first nine months 2010. The decrease in revenue year over year was primarily driven by a $64.2 million decrease in patent licensing royalties from $285.0 million in first nine months 2010 to $220.8 million in first nine months 2011. This decrease is attributable to the absence of $43.2 million in fixed fee royalties from LG and the impact of a high level of past sales revenue of $41.3 million recognized in first nine months 2010. The past sales revenue in first nine months 2010 related to: (i) a new license agreement with Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. ("CHMC"); (ii) the renewal of a license agreement; and (iii) the resolution of an audit of an existing customer. Royalties from past sales totaled $10.6 million in first nine months 2011, related to the resolution of audits of existing customers. Additionally, technology solutions revenue decreased $10.3 million in first nine months 2011 from $14.3 million in first nine months 2010, primarily due to the loss of revenue from agreements that concluded in 2010 and the deferral of revenue recognition of disputed royalties pending the outcome of the ongoing arbitration proceeding related to one of the company's technology solutions agreements. The decreases discussed above were partially offset by an increase in aggregate per-unit royalties of 11 percent, or $11.2 million, to $108.6 million in first nine months 2011 from $97.4 million in first nine months 2010 due to strong sales from customers with concentrations in smartphones. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $224.8 million of first nine months 2011 total revenue were Samsung (34 percent), RIM (15 percent) and HTC (11 percent).

As a result of the decrease in revenue, the company's first nine months 2011 net income of $66.7 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, declined 44 percent from net income of $119.3 million, or $2.67 per diluted share, in first nine months 2010.

First nine months 2011 operating expenses of $125.5 million increased $8.4 million, or 7 percent, from $117.1 million in first nine months 2010. This increase in operating expense was primarily due to an increase of $5.3 million in personnel-related costs within the company's patents, licensing and advanced research groups. Intellectual property enforcement and non-patent litigation costs increased $5.3 million ($15.7 million in first nine months 2011 versus $10.4 million in first nine months 2010), primarily associated with the recently filed ITC action. Additionally, costs associated with the strategic alternatives evaluation process contributed $1.5 million to the operating expense increase. These and other increases were partially offset by decreases in sublicense fees, commission expense, and long-term compensation. Commission expense decreased $2.5 million primarily due to the decline in revenues. Sublicense fees decreased $2.9 million due to technology solutions agreements that concluded during 2010. Long-term compensation expenses decreased by $0.6 million primarily due to a first nine months 2010 charge of $1.8 million to increase the company's accrual rate for an incentive period under the company's long-term compensation program ("LTCP") covering January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010, which was partially offset by a third quarter 2011 charge of $0.9 million to increase the accrual rate for an incentive period under the LTCP covering January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011.

In first nine months 2011, the company reported net other expense of $7.5 million as compared to net other income of $2.0 million in first nine months 2010. The change between periods primarily resulted from the recognition of $7.2 million of interest expense associated with the Notes and the recognition of $1.6 million for investment impairment in first nine months 2011.

The company's first nine months 2011 effective tax rate was approximately 27 percent, as compared to 35 percent for first nine months 2010. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by the $6.8 million benefit related to the favorable resolution of tax contingencies.

In first nine months 2011, the company used $54.5 million in free cash flow1 compared to $141.4 million generated in first nine months 2010. This change in free cash flow primarily resulted from the $200 million and $33 million in cash receipts from Samsung and CHMC, respectively, in first nine months 2010.

Company Update Regarding Quarterly Conference Calls and Guidance

As previously announced on July 27, 2011, due to the company's announcement that the Board of Directors had initiated a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, the company has suspended regular quarterly conference calls and financial guidance until further notice.

About InterDigital®

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit the InterDigital website: www.interdigital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include information regarding our current beliefs, plans and expectations, including, without limitation: (i) our statement that market data indicates that 4G LTE devices are ramping faster than forecasted, (ii) our belief that that faster ramp, combined with a leading LTE patent position, speaks well to future revenue opportunities for the company from its core terminal unit licensing business, (iii) our belief that our strong cash position will allow us to continue to be an industry leader on the development of the next generation of fundamental wireless technologies, (iv) our belief that with continued success in these areas, the inventions from these programs will join our portfolio of approximately 19,000 issued patents and applications and (v) the board of directors continued exploration and evaluation of potential strategic alternatives for the company. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "forecast," variations of any such words or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those identified in this press release, as well as the following: (i) the risks and uncertainties of any strategic alternative review process, including whether any strategic alternative will be identified or, if identified, whether it will be pursued or consummated; (ii) unanticipated delays, difficulties or acceleration in the execution of patent license agreements; (iii) our ability to leverage our strategic relationships and secure new patent license and technology solutions agreements on acceptable terms; (iv) changes in the market share and sales performance of our primary customers, delays in product shipments of our customers and timely receipt and final reviews of quarterly royalty reports from our customers and related matters; (v) the failure of the markets for our technologies to materialize to the extent or at the rate that we expect; and (vi) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such legal proceedings. We undertake no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

1Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the company's ability to invest in its business, make strategic acquisitions and fund share repurchases, among other things. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company's cash balance for the period. InterDigital defines "free cash flow" as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, technology licenses and investments in patents. InterDigital's computation of free cash flow might not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). A detailed reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release.


Mehr unter http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/IDCC/1465627822x0x512…

[cell1]

Barclays setzt Kursziel auf 45 $ :lol: steigt um 6 %. Die wollen selber günstig einsteigen und versuchen die Aktie zu drücken :lol:

[Nonbroker]

Company News von IDCC:

InterDigital Participates in Multi-Vendor Demonstration of New ETSI Standard for Wireless Machine-to-Machine Communications
Newly published standard enables cellular operators, service providers and device manufacturers to accelerate the deployment of new M2M services and applications

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) participated in a multi-faceted demonstration of the implementation of a new wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) communications standard that was just finalized and published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). In collaboration with Grid2Home, Intecs, Intel Corporation, Kontron, Radisys, Sensinode, PicoChip and Telecom Italia, InterDigital® showcased various demonstrations during a two day M2M Communications Workshop hosted by ETSI in Sophia Antipolis, France on October 26-27, 2011. The technology centers around a standardized service layer and application programming interfaces (APIs) that are independent and aware of both networks and applications, allowing cellular operators and service providers to fully enable the potential of M2M business applications – ranging from remote monitoring and control to e-health, smart transportation, and intelligent homes – changing the way people live, work and play.

The publication of the ETSI TC M2M standard Release 1 creates a common framework and roadmap for the industry to support the proliferation of wireless M2M communications on a global scale. This standard enables interoperability across a heterogeneous mix of device and network types and unifies a broad range of vertical markets such as smart energy, healthcare, transportation, and security. Furthermore, operators can now play a key role in accelerating M2M growth through offering streamlined turnkey packages that leverage their strength and expertise in network management, customization, billing and location services.

Since the establishment of ETSI TC M2M committee in January 2009, InterDigital has made numerous a contributions to the standardization process while building pioneering prototypes and demonstrations along the way. The company also played a central role in coordinating and integrating the hardware and software platforms for the multi-faceted demonstrations at the latest ETSI workshop – a critical milestone towards building an open and scalable M2M ecosystem.

“ETSI’s publication of an elegant and robust standard is a key milestone in defragmenting the M2M market and unlocking the true potential of these services around the world,” commented James N. Nolan, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at InterDigital. “We are grateful for the support and commitment of ETSI and all our development partners who collaborated on these successful demonstrations. Collectively, we encourage other organizations, vendors, and operators to evaluate, adopt, and promote the ETSI M2M platform.”

InterDigital offers a mature suite of standards-compliant M2M solutions - including M2M Service Capabilities Layer Software and APIs targeted for fully-functional devices, constrained devices, gateways, and network servers. For the multi-vendor demonstration, different aspects of the company’s M2M technologies were successfully integrated onto the partners’ respective solutions.

InterDigital’s advanced R&D efforts in M2M communications are integral to the company’s vision of tomorrow’s “Network of Networks.” The company is recognized as a pioneer in the integration of advanced cellular systems with multiple communications networks - including other air interfaces that intelligently and constantly connect people and things across a myriad of wide, local and personal area networks.

To learn more, you can access an ETSI leaflet about the role of ETSI and the scope and significance of M2M communications.

About InterDigital

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.

[Nonbroker]

Es bewegt sich was!!!!!!:

http://ir.interdigital.com/sec.cfm

[Nonbroker]

Oje, man sollte abends nicht mal "auf die Schnelle" ins Internet und nach Neuigkeiten suchen. Habe das SEC 4 Formular falsch interpretiert, es ist lediglich eine Dividendenmitteilung - das die führenden Mitarbeiter von IDCC viele Aktien ihrer Firma haben wissen wir ja. Sorry.

[sdaktien]

Also die Zahlen zu Q3 haben die Analystenerwartungen übertroffen. für das Gesamtjahr erwartet man dennoch einen Ergebnisrückgang im Vergleich zum Vorjahr.

Sorgen macht mir derzeit die Technik. Die Aktie ist auf ein neues Tief in der Abwärtsbewegung gefallen und das ging einher mit steigenden Umsätzen. auch der Stochastik fällt ab. Streng genommen ist die Zone 45$ - 50$ unterschritten und die Abwärtsbewegung dürfte andauern. Die nächste Unterstützung wäre wohl bei ca 41$. Es könnte aber noch weiter runtergehen.

Abgesehen von der Übernahmenphantasie erscheint mir die Aktie aber eigentlich günstig. Sobald sich eine Bodenbildung abzeichnet und es bis dahin keine negativen Ergebnisüberraschungen kan man sich mal ein Investment überlegen. Bis sich dieses Szenario ergibt, kann es aber noch Wochen oder Monate dauern.

[Nonbroker]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 42.272.159 von sdaktien am 28.10.11 13:29:39

Danke sdaktien.

Wireless nightmares: Motorola acquisition fails to protect Google's Android partners from patent litigation

The Motorola acquisition fails to protect Google's Android partners from patent litigation and they start fleeing the operating system

One of the main reasons Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) paid $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) is its portfolio of 17,000 wireless patents. A number of companies, including Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), have sued Android licensees for patent infringement, and Google hopes the patents will help give Android some protection. Microsoft has been very aggressive in getting Android licensees, including big ones like HTC and Samsung, to sign patent-licensing deals covering Android, indicating Microsoft thinks in has the upper hand on the issue. Moreover, Microsoft sued Motorola for infringement before the deal, so Motorola's patents might not be ironclad protection for Android. Andy Rubin, Google's senior vice president of mobile, recently said he hoped for a "patent peace where people aren't suing each other for competitive advantage." If Motorola's patents prove not be effective bulwarks against litigation, Android could become more vulnerable and licensees might bolt the platform rather than pay the cost of patent royalties. That possibility must be one of the things keeping Rubin up at night.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/2011-wireless-…

[Nonbroker]

News von der Patentverwertung:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/201…

[Nonbroker]

Aus: mobile communications international / Oktoberheft Seite 10

Rights issue
Legal disputes mark a new chapter in the handset sector’s story.
It’s no longer just about being able to innovate in design and
functionality, it’s about using acquired patents as both sword
and shield.
Not unusually, Apple has been on the offensive of late,
attempting to ban the sale of competing devices from
HTC and Samsung in a number of markets. It has
successfully done so in Germany, where it won an injunction
to block the sale of the 10.1” version of the Galaxy S Tab.
Meanwhile Google splashed out $12.5bn on Motorola’s
mobile division over the summer, with the handset
vendor’s 17,000 patents the prime attraction. The search
firm also recently purchased 1,000 patents from IBM
and has been passing on some of the patents that it has
acquired to Android partners, such as HTC, so that they
can countersue Apple.

And with Samsung believed to be readying a lawsuit
aiming to ban the sale of Apple’s iPhone 5 in Korea when it
launches, and numerous firms in the bidding for thousands
of valuable patents held by InterDigital, this patent war is
showing no signs of a ceasefire.

But analysts have suggested that, inherent in this
strategy, is a risk that vendors shift their focus on innovating
and creating the next wave of technology to revolutionise
their offerings, to the use legislation to stifle the attempts of
their competitors to bring choice and variety to the market.
Where once patents were a means of protection, they could
become a means of suppression.
It is understandable that Apple would be irked by the
plethora of devices and software that piggy-backed on the
success of its own products. A touchscreen device with
an accompanying applications store through which users
can purchase their own software is something that the
Cupertino-based company can rightfully claim as a first.
And it’s not just about product innovation. Apple’s bid to
stop the sale of Samsung Galaxy S Tablets in Germany, and
potentially across the EU (bar Netherlands), was based on
similarities in the appearance of the devices rather than its
functionality.
This is familiar territory for product pioneers. Polaroid
won a lawsuit in 1985 to prevent Kodak’s copycat instant
camera from being sold in the US. More recently, in 2000,
Hoover’s Triple Vortex vacuum cleaner was banned from
sale after the company was found guilty of infringing James
Dyson’s patented vacuum cleaner technology.
Apple is filing lawsuit after lawsuit. It currently has
some 23 suits ongoing with Samsung alone over patents.
Affronted by Apple’s behaviour, its competitors, seeking
to argue that technologies used in their products are not
Apple’s intellectual property, are now purchasing patents to
strike back at the firm.
Out of the fray some unlikely alliances are appearing.
Microsoft has set up a holding company, owned in equal
parts with Apple, EMC and Oracle, which it has used as
a vehicle to acquire patents from Nortel and Novell, and
has reportedly managed to forge a scenario whereby it
gets a $15 royalty for each Android device shipped by
Samsung, after having agreed to license its patents to
the manufacturer. Meanwhile Google gets no kick-back at
all from the sales. Microsoft and Apple used to be fierce
competitors, but they are now joining forces. Is there a
common enemy that has united the two?
Yes. Google, according to the ‘Paranoid Android’ vendor. The
company believes its competitors are ganging up on Android, in
order to raise the costs involved with being an Android partner.
Those views seemed to be given credence by the US
Department of Justice over the summer. Having granted
CPTN the patents it sought from Nortel, the DoJ is now
launching an investigation into whether the firms’ freshlybought
patents were purchased with a view to unfairly
blocking take-up of Android handsets.
Google’s chief litigation officer David Drummond vented his
anger in a recent blog, claiming Android’s success has yielded
“a hostile, campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle,
Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents.”
In response, the company is teaming up with the
hardware manufacturers that provide Android-based
products, as ultimately, its aim is to get the Android
ecosystem as widespread as it can.
“Google has a business model where they are not
making money from hardware but they want their
software to be everywhere so that they can capitalise
on that,” says Malik Saadi, principal analyst at In forma
Telecoms and Media.
Saadi adds that Google’s acquisition of Motorola will not
deter hardware partners from working with it, because it
has acquired a strong patent portfolio to protect not only
Motorola, but the whole Android ecosystem. “All Android
partners will, in fact, have a vested interest in welcoming
Google’s acquisition of Motorola,” he says.
So what will it take for the patent-battling to end and
for normal service to resume—and when will these vendors
stop trying to get one over on each other in the court room
and instead go back to doing their talking with new exciting,
innovative products?
“Each side is arming themselves with patents. If
everyone is armed equally, there’s very little advantage that
one side has over the other, at that point it really comes
down to the much more important criteria: how many
devices do they have, the quality of those devices, and most
importantly, how customers embrace those devices,” said
Michael Gartenberg, analyst at Gartner.
And the sooner these firms take their battles out of the
courtroom and back onto retailers’ shelves, the better for the
sake of innovation.

http://www.telecoms.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/10…

[Nonbroker]

Es gibt absolut nichts Neues. Wie schrieb pierre3 auf investorshub so schön: Jeden Tag lese ich die gleiche Information immer und immer wieder..... Das möchte ich hier nicht machen. Abwarten und hoffen, ich bin noch drin.

[cell1]

CFAC Urteil kommt Insider Handel!

[Nonbroker]

In Patent Wars, Apple Tries to Make Nice


By Chris Ciaccia 12/05/11 - 01:34 PM EST3 Comments
Add Comment

Stock quotes in this article:AAPL, GOOG, MMI, IDCC, EK



CUPERTINO, Calif. (TheStreet) -- Apple(AAPL_) does indeed license its patents, despite popular belief.


An article from AppleInsider shows that Apple has licensed one of the major patents from its iOS to competitors IBM(IBM_) and Nokia(NOK_). Samsung also was offered the agreement despite its ongoing legal battle with Apple.


Devices such as the iPad have ratcheted up patent issues between technology firms.


The patent -- "List Scrolling and Document Translation, Scaling, and Rotation on a Touch-Screen Display -- covers scrolling in iOS, Apple's mobile operating system on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. It was cross-licensed to both IBM and Nokia, but Samsung never took the deal Apple offered in November 2010. The patent, U.S. Patent No. 7,469,381, is part of a legal battle between Samsung and Apple. Apple has asked that Samsung's products stop being sold in certain markets.

The Cupertino-based company recently rejected an offer from Samsung to settle the patent dispute in Australia. Conversely, Apple recently lost a court case in a California court to have Samsung stop selling its products. Its request was denied.

Patents have become an issue in technology and especially in smartphones and tablets, as devices have many similarities. In Steve Jobs biography, written by Walter Isaacson, the former Apple CEO said he wanted to "destroy" Google's(GOOG_) Android, as he saw it as a "stolen product." Jobs reportedly told former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, "I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that's all I want."

Technology companies are increasingly viewing patents as an asset, and a way to stave off competition. Additionally, some companies are using it as a way to make money. Eastman Kodak(EK_) is trying to sell off its patents to help stave off bankruptcy, while there was a bidding war for Nortel Network's patents.

Apple, along with a host of others, won a bid for the Nortel patents over a Google bid back in August. Additionally, Google purchased Motorola Mobility(MMI_) for its patents and paid a hefty premium, some 40%, showcasing the importance patents have received in recent times.

Also, InterDigital(IDCC_) has been rumored before as a potential acquisition target, because of its many patents to the "4G" network, the latest network from cell phone companies such as AT&T(T_), Verizon(VZ_) and Sprint Nextel(S_).

Apple shares were up 1.6% Monday to $395.77.

--Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York

http://www.thestreet.com/_nasdaq/story/11332574/1/in-patent-…

[jogibaerle3000]

Bin heute aufgrund der ÜBernahmespekulationen auf den Zug aufgesprungen, hab aber auch heute wieder verkauft. Wenn ich das richtig gelesen habe, so müsste InterDigital ja ca. 320 Mio. $ Pro Jahr Umsatz machen. Wenn ich jetzt bedenke das jemand 3 Mrd. $ oder mehr für das Unternehmen zahlen sollte, so wäre das doch schwachsinnig da z. B. Google selbst in 10 Jahren nicht den Preis durch die Einsparung von Patentgebühren zurückbekäme. Ich glaube nicht an eine Übernahme, und wenn dann bestenfalls zur aktuellen Marktkapitulation. Das waren ja wohl auch die Gebotsregionen im Sommer diesen Jahres.

[cell1]

mit Gerüchten kann man Geld machen, kam von
dem Internetportal "theflyonthewall"
sind für solche Aktionen schon bekannt und dann schnell Kasse machen!

[sdaktien]

Ganz so falsch hab ich diesmal glaub ich nicht gelegen. Derzeit ist Inter Digital im Abwärtstrend, als Widerstand -abfallend- dient die 38er, die momentan bei ca. 43$ liegen dürfte. Nach unten ist derzeit keine Bodenbildung ersichtlich. Das 12Monats-Tief ist bei 35,02$. Es ist durchaus möglich, dass die Aktie in diesen Bereich absinkt. Was dann kommt muss man mal sehen.

[cell1]

idcc keine Übernahmekandidaten in Sicht.

[cell1]

idcc hält wichtige Patente der 4 Gen. Mobilfunk. Appl unf Goog haben immer noch ein Auge drauf.

[cell1]

F1B41-3
zum Zwecke eines Bilanzabgleiches und der Vorbereitung auf den Jahresabschluß .... ist der Buchungstermin für diese Anlagenabgänge zu spät. Es wurde daher mit den AbtL FiCo der Direktionen und dem Fachbereich TN45 folgendes vereinbart:

so frisiert man Bilanzen, ohne die Revision zu Informieren

[cell1]

Appl hätte das Geld 100 Mrd. cash.

[cell1]

Verweise auf Rambus.info mein Posting

Re: IDCC jetzt kaufen
von cell1 » 24.09.2011, 00:45

12-Month Target: $118.00
will man damit sagen das es sich beim Verkauf noch 1 Jahr hinzieht ?
da sag ich mal Kursziel 35 $ bei Nichtabschluß. Hausnummern.
CAFC wann ? positiv +8-10m $ bei Rambus hat es so lange gedauert, weil man sich nicht einigen konnte Garajan Micron-Mann

[cell1]

Insiderhandel buy Ende der Woche auf +55$!!! Schweinerei
Haben einen Käufer!
Erst programmiert abstürzen lassen und dann kassieren!!!
abge******* Management.

[cell1]

Apple-Klage gegen Samsung scheitert
http://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/it-medien/patentstre…

Apple braucht Inter Digital Patente für zukünftige Produkte 4Generation

[cell1]

Motorola siegt im Patentstreit
Apple stoppt Online-Verkauf vieler iPhone- und iPad-Modelle
http://www.focus.de/digital/computer/apple/motorola-siegt-im…
Apple braucht Inter Digital Patente

[cell1]

Es ist schon der zweite Erfolg für Motorola in Mannheim. Im Dezember erwirkte der US-Mobilfunkpionier vor dem Landgericht ein Urteil, mit dem er den Verkauf von iPhones und iPads in Deutschland stoppen könnte. Motorola hatte dabei ein Technikpatent ins Feld geführt (Europäische Patentnummer 1010336 B1), das zum Grundstock des GPRS-Datenfunkstandards gehört. Motorola erwirkte am Freitag zudem ein weiteres Patenturteil gegen Apple vor dem Landgericht Mannheim. In diesem Fall warf Motorola Apple vor, mit dem Online-Speicherdienst iCloud und den Geräten, die darauf zurückgreifen, ein älteres Technikpatent zu verletzen.

[cell1]

In dem Rechtsstreit geht es um eine von Motorola patentierte Mobilfunktechnik, die zum GPRS-Standard gehört. Motorola wirft Apple vor, dieses Patent mit den betroffenen Geräten zu verletzen. Apple argumentiert dagegen, Motorola habe die strittige Technik nicht zu angemessenen Bedingungen lizenzieren wollen, wie das bei standardrelevanten Patenten üblich ist.

Was sind "angemessenen Bedingungen" ?

[cell1]

jetzt bei 40,85 $ wo am Freitag ?

[Dr.Info]

Lohnt jetzt der Einstieg oder noch etwas warten?

[Dr.Info]

Lohnt jetzt der Einstieg oder doch noch etwas warten?