Article Abstract:
Continuing an industry-wide trend, microcomputer-oriented software publishers are expected to report stronger earnings than their mainframe- or minicomputer-oriented brethren for the 4th qtr 1990. While most software firms are feeling the squeeze of the recession, Microsoft Corp continues to grow rapidly. Microsoft is expected to report 4th qtr 1990 net income of $98 million compared with $74.5 million for the same period a year ago. Lotus Development Corp is expected to report its first ever net loss in last quarter of 1990, due mainly to a $40 million to $50 million charge it will take on the acquisition of Samna Corp. Ashton-Tate, a company in financial trouble recently, is expected to make a modest recovery in its 4th qtr 1990, but many analysts are pessimistic about the firm's long-term prospects.
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Article Abstract:
Ashton-Tate will post a net loss of $19.4 million for 3rd qtr 1989. The software manufacturer blames severance costs from a reduction in the workforce and the expense of upgrading its database software inventories for the poor showing. Revenue fell 28 percent to $53.9 million during the quarter. For the first nine months of 1989, the loss totals $27.6 million on revenue of $203.2 million. The upgrade that is costing the company money is a conversion of the existing inventories to the new dBase IV 1.1. If the release of dBase IV 1.1 data base management system is delayed, as is rumored, Ashton-Tate will probably have a poor 4th qtr. Unless the company can ship the product before the end of 1989, 4th qtr losses will probably be comparable to the 3rd qtr's.
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Article Abstract:
Microsoft's senior vice president Joachim Kempin testified in the government antitrust trial that his company never tried to force PC makers into using the Windows operating system. The dispute between Microsoft and PC makers center around whether the computer industry has the right to alter how software icons appear on monitor screens when booted up. Kempin claimed that Microsoft was merely trying to prevent the PC makers from butchering the Windows 95 software. The government argued that Microsoft charges more for Windows 95 to companies that also put Netscape browsers on their machines.
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