Verizon wireline disappoints, shares off 2.9 percent

(Reuters) - Weakness in Verizon Communications Inc's enterprise business offset a better-than-expected wireless quarter, sending the telephone company's shares down 2.9 percent.

After pushing Verizon's shares up 14 percent so far this year, investors focused in on the wireline miss on Thursday even as Verizon handily beat Wall Street estimates for wireless subscriber growth and profitability.

While earnings per share (EPS) met Wall Street expectations for the quarter, analyst said that wasn't enough.

"The view by investors is that wireline stole the EPS benefit of a great wireless quarter," Nomura analyst Michael McCormack said.

Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo told analysts on a conference call that Verizon's enterprise business was hurt by foreign exchange rates and a decision to stop selling some customer equipment and, to a lesser extent, by macroeconomic challenges in Europe.

But McCormack said the world economy's impact may have been understated.

"The global economy may be more sluggish than people believe at this point. It seems (for) anything outside large multinationals, you're seeing very sluggish buying behavior," he said.

Verizon's wireline revenue fell 3.4 percent in the quarter to $9.93 billion compared with Wall Street expectations of $10.03 billion, according to the company.

PRICE INCREASES

While Verizon saw strong revenue growth in its consumer wireline business, Shammo said its addition of 120,000 net new FiOS television customers was weaker than it expected as an unusually high number of people moved from the FiOS region.

Shammo said Verizon was reducing its target estimate for future FiOS TV growth to 150,000 to 170,000 from its previous estimate of 180,000 to 200,000 as the company is increasing its prices to focus more on the profitability of the service.

The executive told Reuters that he expects Verizon's wireline revenue growth rate from consumer services to rise to 5 percent by the end of the year from 2.5 percent in the second quarter as the company plans more price increases.

The company raised prices in the second quarter with service packages that include higher Internet speeds, but Shammo warned there would be more price increases for TV bundles.

"We started in the second quarter but there's more on the plate for the third and fourth quarter," Shammo said.

Guggenheim Securities analyst Sing Yin said consumers may have no choice but to pay higher fees for TV as programmers increase their rates. He also expects them to embrace pricier Internet services.

"They're counting on consumers being willing to pay more for better speed. So far, there is evidence there is demand for higher speeds at higher prices," Yin said.

WIRELESS BEATS ESTIMATES

In response to rumors about a dividend payment, Shammo said that the board of the company's Verizon Wireless venture with Vodafone Group Plc does not plan to discuss a distribution at its next quarterly board meeting.

Vodafone shares fell 1.7 percent in London trading after the comment.

Verizon Wireless added 888,000 net new subscribers in the quarter, compared with the average expectation of about 666,000 of seven analysts.

"That's a terrific number," Roe Equity Research analyst Kevin Roe said, noting that Wall Street does not expect No. 2 mobile provider AT&T Inc to add even half as many customers in the quarter.

The growth at the No. 1 U.S. mobile provider probably came at the expense of smaller rivals Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA in particular, as those companies have been struggling to stem customer losses, Roe said.

The company said that 50 percent of its wireless customers were using smartphones by the end of the second quarter, up from 47 percent at the end of the first quarter. Since smartphone customers spend more than customers with basic phones, Verizon has been pushing to increase its smartphone penetration.

Verizon Wireless launched new shared data service plans June 28 that raised its data fees in exchange for letting customers connect multiple devices under one plan. The plan is aimed at getting consumers to more devices to its network[ID:nL1E8HC3EE].

While the shared data launch was too late in the quarter to have an effect on the company's results, Shammo said that early consumer feedback had been "great."

Verizon's wireless service margin based on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization was 49 percent, ahead of average estimates of five analysts for just above 47 percent.

Verizon's second-quarter profit rose to $1.83 billion, or 64 cents per share, from $1.61 billion, or 57 cents per share, a year earlier. The results were in line with analysts' estimates, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose to $28.552 billion from $27.54 billion, while analysts were expecting $28.558 billion.

Verizon said on Thursday that its 2012 capital spending would be little changed or lower than its 2011 budget of $16.2 billion. During the company's last earnings call, Shammo had expected 2012 spending to be about the same as in 2011.

The company said it was on track for growth in full-year earnings in the double-digit percentage range, implying a rise of at least 10 percent.

It expected profit margins in its wireline business to continue to improve in the second half of the year after increasing in the second quarter from the first quarter.

Verizon hopes to improve earnings by reducing costs in negotiations for new terms for a labor contract covering 45,000 workers but the company appeared to be nowhere nearer to an agreement on Thursday almost a year after its workers went on strike to protest the cuts Verizon wants to make.

On Thursday afternoon, Verizon's unions said they had requested mediation services for the talks because they had gone on too long. Verizon rejected the request.

Verizon's shares closed down $1.35, or 2.9 percent, at $44.54 on New York Stock Exchange, which was still up 11 percent from the end of 2011.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Maureen Bavdek, David Gregorio and M.D. Golan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/verizon-results-rise-subscriber-adds-top-estimates-115501560--finance.html

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From Alec Baldwin to Betty White, Emmy nominees give thanks

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on Thursday announced nominations for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards, with "Mad Men," "American Horror Story," "Downton Abbey" and "Modern Family" among the top nominees.

Following are expressions of gratitude from nominees, all received by Reuters in statements via email, except as noted below:

- "As the show enters its last season, I'm gratified to be nominated again by the Academy." - Alec Baldwin, outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, "30 Rock."

- "There are so many amazing performances this year by actors I really admire, that it means a lot to me to being included among them." - Steve Buscemi, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, "Boardwalk Empire."

- "I am thrilled to be recognized by the Academy and to share this category with such exciting and accomplished actresses. Damages has been the ride of a lifetime and I am honored to represent every single one of our extraordinary team. I would not be here without them, especially, KZK, our brilliant writers and my exquisite co-star, Rose Byrne. And I thank our wonderfully loyal and engaged audience who have never wavered in their love and support of our show." - Glenn Close, outstanding lead actress in a drama series, "Damages."

- "This is such a special day for me and my cast! I'm so grateful to be recognized and especially happy to share this excitement with my "Modern Family." - Sofia Vergara, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, "Modern Family."

- "This is an incredible feeling, it is wonderful! To be nominated in this category and be in the company of these amazing women is a real honor and I am truly grateful to the Emmy voters for putting me in there!" - Michelle Dockery, outstanding lead actress in a drama series, "Downton Abbey."

- "To be part of a show like 'Downton Abbey' is thrilling enough, that it has been embraced by American audiences to the extent it has and for the show to have received 16 nominations from the Emmy voters this year is astonishing. I can hardly believe that I've been nominated alongside five legends of contemporary television drama - Steve, Bryan, Michael, Damian and Jon. I'm truly honored." - Hugh Bonneville, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, "Downton Abbey."

- "I want to thank the academy for honoring 'American Horror Story' for all the incredible nominations. It's been wonderful to work on a show with such talented actors and the fabulous creative team of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and all the brilliant writers who make Constance such an interesting character to play." - Jessica Lange, outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie, "American Horror Story."

- "I am really thrilled to be nominated for Hemingway and Gellhorn. I had such a great time working with the brilliant Phil Kaufman and the wonderful Nicole Kidman." - Clive Owen, outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie, "Hemingway & Gellhorn."

- "Thank you everyone I'm completely ecstatic for this nomination. It's a great accomplishment for my team, BBC and as well as myself. I'm currently filming in South Africa but can't wait to see everyone in September. Also congrats to everyone in my category as well, and a special thank you to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences." - Idris Elba, outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie, "Luther."

- "I'm blown out of my mind and I'm thrilled beyond words." - Betty White, outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," and outstanding writing for a variety special and outstanding variety special, "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl."

- "Our first nomination, we've been on almost ten years, one out of ten isn't bad. I probably won't mention it on the show tonight because I think it's embarrassing to congratulate yourself, but it'll be a fun day at the office, everybody will be excited." - Jimmy Kimmel to reporters at the Emmy Awards announcement. Nominee for outstanding variety series, "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

- "So happy to get nominated! Can't wait to get back to the 'Late Night' office and celebrate! But first I gotta leave this theatre and change out of this Batman costume." - Jimmy Fallon, outstanding variety series, "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."

- "I am honored that the Academy chose to recognize my work on ?American Idol.' I feel so fortunate to be part of such a remarkable show, and to have the opportunity to work with the many talented people that make Idol a success each and every season. I also want to applaud Jamie Oliver and our fellow producers of 'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution' for receiving our second Emmy nomination." - Ryan Seacrest, outstanding host for reality/reality competition program, "American Idol," and executive producer of outstanding reality program nominee "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution."

- "Filming the Hatfields & McCoys was one of the most fulfilling and inspiring projects that I've had the opportunity to work on, and it was truly gratifying that audiences tuned in to see our interpretation of this classic American story. To be recognized for our work by the members of Television Academy this morning is the cherry on top." - Kevin Costner, outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie, "Hatfields & McCoys."

- "It's a great honor, though there should be parentheses next to my name with all of the ?SNL' writers. And now I have to kiss up to the cast members of ?Modern Family' in hopes that they pull a Ving Rhames and give me their award when they win." - Bill Hader, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, playing various characters on "Saturday Night Live."

- "It is a great honor and tremendously exciting to find our show on the list for this year's EMMY Ceremony. The very steep competition can only be considered a compliment, since they are all fantastic programs, and I hope they are as happy as I am, celebrating their nominations." - Julian Fellowes, creator, writer and executive producer, "Downton Abbey"

- "I'm so excited to have been nominated for an Emmy, especially for '30 Rock,' which is an incredible show and also for playing a deranged and deceased world dictator who has divided the small country of my origin in two. That's the best part. I think that's what I'd call iron curtain irony." - Margaret Cho, outstanding guest actress in a comedy series, playing late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in "30 Rock."

- "I am absolutely thrilled and could not have wished for a better birthday present especially because I am so delighted to see how well we have done across the board, particularly Paul McGuigan getting a nod for his extraordinary vision." - Benedict Cumberbatch, best actor in a mini-series or movie for "Sherlock" which airs on PBS.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Xavier Briand)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/alec-baldwin-betty-white-emmy-nominees-thanks-194802634.html

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Microsoft Promises October 26 Launch Date for Windows 8

Microsoft announced a firm ship date for its upcoming operating system on Wednesday.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/TzVkpNydO8U/

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OKI MB471

The OKI MB471 ($399 direct) is the next step up in OKI Data America's line from the OKI MB461 ($349, 3 stars) that I also recently reviewed. OKI targets both models at micro or small offices with relatively heavy-duty print, scan, and copy needs. The key difference between the two is that the MB471 adds faxing. And just as the MB461 is an attractive choice if you don't need a fax capability in your multi-function printer (MFP), the MB471 is equally attractive if you do.

Let me amend that.

The MB471 might be your preferred choice even if you don't need faxing?which, not so incidentally, also makes it an Editors' Choice. As I mentioned in the MB461 review, there are other differences between the two models. The maximum resolution for the MB461 is 600 by 2400 dots per inch (dpi), for example, while the MB471 offers 1200 by 1200. The difference can affect both speed and output quality, and, indeed, the MB471 offers slightly better-looking output, particularly for text.

A potentially more important difference is printer language support. Both printers support PCL, which is all that most offices need. For those that require PostScript, however, the MB471 offers it as well, letting you install drivers for PCL, PostScript, or both. Even if you don't need faxing, either of these differences?the resolution or the extra language support?could easily justify the extra cost for the MB471.

Also worth mention is that OKI sells a Wi-Fi version of the MB471, the MB471w ($475 direct). According to OKI, except for Wi-Fi, the two models are identical, so this entire review should apply to both. Keep in mind, however, that if you print using Wi-Fi with the MB471w, the speed may be different than it is with the Ethernet connection I used.

Basics
The MB471 can print and fax from as well as scan to a PC, including over a network; it can work as a standalone copier; and it can print from and scan to a USB memory key. As with most office MFPs, it offers a letter-size flatbed, but supplements it with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that can scan up to legal-size pages. The ADF in this case offers a 50-page capacity and the ability to duplex, turning the page over after scanning one side to scan the other.

The printer's paper handling is another feature that's goes a step beyond the MB461. Both models include a 250-sheet paper tray and a built-in duplexer (for two-sided printing), but the MB471 adds a 100-sheet multi-purpose tray. This should be enough for most micro and small offices, but as with the M461, if you need more, you can add an optional 530-sheet tray ($183.99 direct), for a maximum 880-sheet input capacity.

One other feature the two printers share is that because the ADF and printer both duplex, you can copy both single and double sided originals to your choice of single- or double-sided copies. In addition, the MB471 can scan both single- and double-sided originals for faxing.

Setup and Speed
Although the MB471 is too big to share a desk with comfortably, at 17.9 by 16.8 by 16.7 inches (HWD), it is small enough to fit easily in most micro or small offices. Setup is absolutely typical for the breed. For my tests, I connected the printer to a network and used the PCL driver on a Windows Vista system.

As with the MB461, the MB471's speed on my tests was on the slow side for its 35 page per minute (ppm) rating, a speed that you should see for text documents with no formatting. I timed it on our business applications suite (using QualityLogic's hardware and software for timing), at 9.5 ppm.

That makes the MB471 essentially tied with the MB461, at 10 ppm, but slower than the Editors Choice Canon imageClass MF4570dn ($299, 4 stars), at 12.3 ppm. As another point of reference, it's also tied with the more expensive Samsung SCX-5639FR ($550 street, 3.5 stars) at 9.7 ppm. The measured speed, in short, counts as respectable, if not particularly impressive.

Output Quality and Running Cost
Output quality is slightly above par overall, with above-par text, and par graphics and photos. The quality is a tad better than the MB461's output, particularly for text, but it falls in the same general categories across the board.

Text is one step above the tight range that includes the vast majority of mono MFPs, making it easily good enough for any business need short of high-quality desktop publishing.

Graphics output is easily good enough for any internal business need, but depending on your level of perfectionism, you might or might not consider it good enough to hand out to an important client or customer when you need to convey a sense of professionalism. Photo quality is good enough to print photos in client newsletters or the like, and more than good enough to print Web pages with recognizable photos.

One last, and particularly welcome, plus for the MB471 is its low claimed running cost, at 1.8 cents per page. Most other mono MFPs in this price range claim at least a penny more per page, which means that?depending on what other printers you're considering?the MB471 can easily save you $100 or more for every 10,000 pages you print. Print 40,000 pages over the printer's lifetime, and you'll save enough to pay yourself back for the initial cost.

As may be obvious, the OKI MB471 offers a lot to like. It doesn't stand out for its speed or output quality, but it delivers a balance of speed, output quality, paper handling, price, and MFP features that make it a highly attractive choice as a workhorse MFP for a small office. More important, any office that needs this level of heavy-duty printing will almost certainly benefit from the low claimed running cost as well. And that's enough to make the OKI MB471 not just an attractive choice, but Editors' Choice as well.

More Multi-function Printer Reviews:
??? OKI MB461
??? OKI MB471
??? OKI MB491
??? Epson Email Print
??? Xerox ColorQube 8700/X
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/47OStz0wFM8/0,2817,2407028,00.asp

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Source: http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/2012/07/business-management-news-wed-18-jul-2012.html

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Treasure Coast Real Estate | Cove Isle Pud Homes For Sale July ...

by starfish on July 18, 2012

Find Cove Isle Pud Homes For Sale and Cove Isle Pud Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Treasure Coast Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful Martin COUNTY Florida.

Paul Kitchen and Starfish Team provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Treasure Coast, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including Cove Isle Pud, school districts and the Treasure Coast Real Estate market in this beautiful Florida town.

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Source: http://www.treasure-coast-living.com/2012/07/18/treasure-coast-real-estate-cove-isle-pud-homes-for-sale-july-2012/

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William the Conquerer Becomes King of England

The Normans originally came from Scandinavia and were known as Vikings. They had been given land in northern France, which became known as Normandy.

Amongst their ranks they had many scholars, writers and monks and thus, when they invaded England, they were more able, than the Saxons, to write down accounts of daily happenings. Most of the information we have from this time is therefore from a Norman perspective. But, this historic information also played a vital role in moving the people on these islands from the Dark Ages into the enlightenment of the Middle Ages.

William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert of Normandy, and received the Duchy in 1035 when he was only 7 or 8 years old. Normandy was in a state of anarchy during William?s early years and this helped make him into a determined, ruthless soldier.

William said he had been promised the throne by Edward, and that Harold had made the same promise. This showed clearly that there was no unification of the English people which made England vulnerable. William decided to take advantage of this, and invaded England. The fight between the Normans and the English took place at Battle, but it was Battle of Hastings that King Harold was killed (some say he was stabbed in the eye). And so William became King of England, but as you can imagine, the English people were not very happy with their Norman king. They had no choice and no way of defeating him.

Cautiously William made his way to London, and announced he would be crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. No one was really sure how the people of England would respond to this coronation and so guards were posted at the Abbey doors. During the ceremony, the crowd in the abbey cheered and the noise reverberated through the walls. The guards on the doors panicked as they thought William was in trouble. Hastily they set fire to all the houses around the square so filling the inside of the Abbey with smoke. The hysterical crowds ran out and dispersed into the surrounding area. William had no idea what had happened, but was so scared, that he was actually shaking when the Archbishop finally put the crown on his head. What a start to a reign!

But William was a harsh ruler and a historian of the day wrote, ?devils had come through the land with fire and sword!? His armies marched up and down the land, and fought battles in every district. Interestingly he did abolish the death penalty. Instead his new law stated that the eyes of the convicted criminals (of any crime) had to be gouged out, even though they were being hanged or executed.

The country?s first census was commissioned by William in the form of the Doomsday Book of 1086. It was a record of the land and all the manors in England (and who held them), the buildings and the amount of people who would pay taxes (rich and poor). It was a complete account of all he owned in this Kingdom. But, he never actually read his Doomsday Book as he couldn?t in fact read.

His men started building the Tower of London to defend the capital city of London. This large fortress was a warning to anyone who thought they may try to overthrow him or who were not prepared to accept him as their king.

The Normans were great builders, and soon the country was getting used to seeing Norman towers, castles, fortresses and cathedrals in their towns, villages and across the valleys. These amazing buildings, often in the Romanesque style, were enriched with detailed carvings and impressive stained glass windows.

One of their main focuses during this oppressive time was to keep learning alive, and so a lot of energy was put into building monasteries, schools and universities.

The Normans introduced the feudal system into the English countryside. William sat at the top of the hierarchy, and automatically appointed himself as landowner. He then removed the English nobles who had survived the Battle of Hastings and stripped them of their titles. Their manors and estates were distributed amongst his Norman supporters.

In their places, William appointed The King?s tenants-in-chief. In return for the land they received from the King, they provided a military service to William. They had to fight for him and were therefore given a prescribed number of knights.

Under the tenants-in-chief were the sub-tenants, and the peasants were of course at the bottom of the pile. They were to work for the lord of the manor for free, but were given a piece of land on which they could farm during their free time. If this land produced enough to make the peasants some money, they paid taxes to the lord, according to the lord?s own laws, rules and decisions (there was no common law).

William often had his own court, his own sheriff (who was often a lord himself), and only his local law was adhered to. This often led to many unjust decisions and a sense of anarchy prevailed, which is essentially the environment that William himself came from.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/referenceandeducation/2012/07/19/william-the-conquerer-becomes-king-of-england/

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