The severe economic recession and maturity of the Japanese telecom market have compelled Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (NTT) to look at other geographies. Industry sources say the company has started negotiations with Patni Computer Systems, the sixth largest software services exporter of India , to acquire 66% stake in the latter. Entry into India will unlock the $60 billion IT and ITES (IT enabled services) market to Nippon. In the last reported quarter, Patni generated approximately $166.75 million in revenue and around $33.7 million of net profit.  Nippon, the largest telecom operator in Japan is facing strong competition in the Japanese wireless market and from the potential impact of low-cost, fixed-line services, such as “voice-over-Internet protocol" (VoIP). In order to maintain its leadership position, the company has taken various measures in the domestic telecom market and also decided to capture selected international opportunities to drive long-term ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 19, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS), NTT DoCoMo (DCM), Nokia Corp. (NOK) and Motorola Inc. (MOT).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday’s AnalystBlog:

Qualcomm Wins M-Banking Deal

Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) recently entered into an agreement with MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS), through which the latter will offer mobile banking services to its customers using Qualcomm’s mobile banking applications. Qualcomm provides mobile banking solutions through its subsidiary Firethorn Holding LLC.

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 7, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), NTT DoCoMo (DCM), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Verizon Wireless (VZ) and Nokia Corp. (NOK).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

LTE Leading the Next Generation

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology is ahead in the race to be the most sought-after next-generation (4G) wireless network standard in the market. The 4G wireless networks are aiming to cope with substantial demand for high-speed wireless data services and mobile video.

The growing acceptance

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Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology is ahead in the race to be the most sought-after next-generation (4G) wireless network standard in the market. The 4G wireless networks are aiming to cope with substantial demand for high-speed wireless data services and mobile video. The growing acceptance of LTE technology has prompted the mobile handset makers to develop phones that will be compatible with this network. Qualcomm Inc (QCOM), one of the key developers of OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) based chipsets has decided to introduce the trial version of LTE-compatible chipsets during the fourth quarter of 2009. Industry sources predicted that the first LTE handsets may arrive on the market in the second half of 2010, but these next-generation smart-phones may to go mass market by early 2012. NTT DoCoMo (DCM) will launch LTE handsets in 2011 compatible with its current 3G network, enabling the customers ...

Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is ahead in the race as the most sought-after next-generation (4G) wireless network standard in the market. The 4G wireless networks are aiming to cope with substantial demand for high-speed wireless data services and mobile video. LTE is an IP-based modulation standard and a set of enhancement for the existing Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). This technology has been pioneered by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a telecom industry body comprising wireless carriers and equipment vendors who have been buying and selling the same proprietary products for years. Verizon Communication (VZ), the largest carrier in the U.S., and NTT DoCoMo (DCM), the largest carrier in Japan, are the first two companies to decide on implementing LTE–based networks by 2010. Vodafone (VOD), the largest mobile carrier globally on revenue count and AT&T (T) will implement LTE by ...

NTT DoCoMo (DCM), the largest wireless operator in Japan, together with its five vendors has developed major new specifications for a mechanism that delivers network-based value added services for IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).

Other members in this collaboration are Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), LM Ericsson AB (ERIC), Fujitsu Ltd., NEC Corp., and Nokia-Siemens Network; a joint venture of Nokia Corp. (NOK) and Siemens AG (SI). This mechanism includes a service composition component that coordinates various applications using IMS session management service.

IMS is a set of specifications that describes the next-generation networking architecture for implementing IP-based telephony and multimedia services. It defines a complete architecture and framework that enables the convergence of voice, video, data and mobile network technology over an IP-based infrastructure.

IMS uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for easy integration with the Internet. This architecture was originally formulated to deliver Internet services over GPRS.

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Nokia Corp. (NOK) recently introduced an innovative wireless financial service called “Nokia Money" to help consumers access basic financial services using their mobile handset.

“Nokia Money" is a 24-hour service that will enable any mobile phone user to transfer money from his bank account to another account dialing the latter’s mobile phone number. This can be done either through SMS or a call. Nokia is likely to launch this service commercially from early 2010 in select European markets.

The major innovation of this service is that it will be available across various wireless networks from any mobile phone and not necessarily a Nokia handset. This user friendly, fully secured digital financial service can be used for remitting money, pay bills for goods and services, utility bills or top-up prepaid connections. Rural consumers, who do not have access to online services, will particularly benefit from this service.

Mobile financial

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Motorola (MOT) recently announced that its Home & Network Mobility business unit was selected as a key development partner of KDDI Corp.’s next-generation LTE (Long Term Evolution) network. This is Motorola’s first public order for LTE technology. KDDI is the second-largest wireless service provider in Japan.

Motorola will implement the basic RAN (Radio Access Network) infrastructure and base stations for the KDDI’s LTE network. Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, we believe that the contract size may exceed $1 billion. Earlier, KDDI had estimated spending about $5.3 billion for installing a countrywide LTE network.

KDDI is expected to launch its LTE service in December 2012. The Japanese wireless market is quickly gaining maturity. KDDI faces stiff competition from wireless giant NTT DoCoMo (DCM) and Softbank Corp. NTT DoCoMo will launch its LTE service by end of 2010.

In order to remain competitive, KDDI is

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 6, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights DIRECTV (DTV) as the Bull of the Day and BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), Tata Teleservices (TCL) and NTT DoCoMo (DCM).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

DIRECTV (DTV) is set to continue generating healthy free cash flow and earnings growth, with reduced cap ex requirements, healthy ARPU and vigorous growth in its U.S. and Latin American operations. The company's HD lead should defend its market share, bolster ARPU and help stem decelerating subscriber growth.

We think the HD roll-out with the RBOCs as partners will defend DTV's market share against cable's ability to offer video,

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Growing market traction of 3G wireless devices in India is likely to spur growth of Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), the largest developer of digital mobile chipsets based on CDMA wireless technology. At present, India has more than 100 million CDMA wireless subscribers, out of which half a million are 3G subscribers.

Currently, Reliance Communications and Tata DoCoMo, a joint venture between Tata Teleservices (TCL) and NTT DoCoMo (DCM) are the two main CDMA service providers in India. In addition, the state-run BSNL, the largest telecom operator in the country and Sistema-Shyam Teleservices are also opting for CDMA2000.   Ministry of Telecommunication of the Indian Government is exploring several options to auction the available spectrum for next-generation high-speed 3G networks. While Reliance Communications and Tata DoCoMo have deployed 3G EV-DO networks using their existing spectrum in 800 Mhz band, BSNL is rolling out 3G HSPA networks in 40 cities.

Subscribers of

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