Motorola has purchased Aloqa GmbH, which develops location-based software for mobile phones. Aloqa’s technology will enhance Motorola’s Motoblur product, which allows users to access various social networks from mobile devices, and provide real-time, location-based alerts, the company said. Aloqa will join Motorola Mobility, which includes Motorola’s mobile devices and home business units. According to Motorola, Motorola Mobility is expected to be spun off from the company in the first quarter of 2011. Terms of the Aloqa deal were not disclosed.
EARNINGS
Microsoft raised its quarterly dividend to 16 cents per share, reflecting a 23% increase over the previous quarter’s dividend of 13 cents per share. Investors that own Microsoft stock as of Nov. 18 will reap the benefits of Microsoft’s dividend increase, a move made for the first time in two years. Microsoft distributed US$4.6 billion in shareholder dividends during its last fiscal year, which ended in June, the Associated Press said.
Oracle announced its fiscal 2011 first-quarter GAAP revenues were up 48% to US$7.5 billion, while non-GAAP total revenues were up 50% to $7.6 billion. GAAP earnings per share were 27 cents, up 20% compared to this time last year. Non-GAAP earnings per share were up 38% to 42 cents. According to Oracle President Mark Hurd, Oracle has plans to invest over $4 billion in research and development this coming year. In addition, Oracle’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of 5 cents per share of outstanding common stock to be paid to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 6, with a payment date of Nov. 3.
Red Hat reported fiscal year 2011 second-quarter results of US$220 million in revenue, reflecting a 20% increase from the year prior. Subscription revenue was also up 19% year-over-year at $186.2 million. Its GAAP operating income was $34.1 million, up 24%. In addition, its operating cash flow totaled $64.3 million as compared to $62 million from the second quarter of last year.
Adobe reported strong financial results for its third 2010 fiscal quarter with record revenue of US$990.3 million, compared to $697.5 million to the prior-year period. The third-quarter results are also up from last quarter’s $943 million in revenue. This represents 42% year-over-year revenue growth. Adobe’s third-quarter revenue target was $950 million to $1 billion, the company said. Adobe president and CEO Shantanu Narayen credits the boost to higher revenues in all its business segments.
