Facebook has announced its IPO plans on Wednesday and with it open the doors for the first time for the general public to see how the social networking site works, and revealing some of the juicier stats it has been hiding up until now.

Those looking to invest will no doubt be interested to hear that Zuckerberg's company is looking for around $5bn of investment from the sale of shares which should still value the company at the incredibly high $100bn figure that has been floated around by those that are interested.

"Facebook was not originally created to be a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission - to make the world more open and connected," says Mark Zuckerberg in the filing.

Still it didn't stop Facebook earning $3.7bn in revenue in 2011 up from $1.9bn in 2010 giving Facebook profits of $1bn in 2011 and meaning it has around $3.9bn in the bank according to the paperwork.

Zuckerberg, the company's 27-year-old CEO and Chairman, will retain the most stock (28.4 per cent) and in a similar stock deal to Google the biggest voting power as the stocks he owns are better than the stocks any individual can buy.

The filing also showed that Mark Zuckerberg currently earns $500,000 a year plus bonus, plus almost $700 spent on chartering planes for himself, friends, and family.?That mammoth salary isn't set to last however. It has been suggested by him and agreed by the board that his salary in 2013 will drop to just a $1, presumably off the back of the massive amount of money (he will be worth around $28bn) that he will earn from the sale of shares in the IPO.

But it is the company's reliance on Zynga that is most surprising. Zynga accounts for a whopping 12 per cent of the company's revenue in 2011.

"In 2011, Zynga accounted for approximately 12% of our revenue, which amount was comprised of revenue derived from payments processing fees related to Zynga’s sales of virtual goods and from direct advertising purchased by Zynga. Additionally, Zynga’s apps generate a significant number of pages on which we display ads from other advertisers. If the use of Zynga games on our Platform declines, if Zynga launches games on or migrates games to competing platforms, or if we fail to maintain good relations with Zynga, we may lose Zynga as a significant Platform developer and our financial results may be adversely affected," says Facebook in the documents it has filed as part of the Initial Public Offering.

That's great news for Zynga, and possibly bad news for Facebook. What is clearer now though, is how many people are actively using the social network and how often.

According to the filing, there are now more than 845m monthly active users (MAU) of Facebook up 39 per cent on the December figures from 2010. Europe is the biggest Facebook user it seems with the country breaking being:?179 million MAU in the USA, 229m in Europe, 212m in Asia and 225m for the Rest of World.

That translates to 483 million people signing into the service every day, although Facebook is keen to point out that some of those might not be real unique people, but mobile apps autonomously checking in on their own, or even people with more than two Facebook accounts.

Still of those 845m, over half (425m) used Facebook mobile products and all 845m press that Like button or use Facebook Comments over 2.7bn times a day.

The stocks and therefore the chance to buy a piece of Facebook will go on sale later this year in June.

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Tags: Online Facebook Social networking Biz Zynga

Facebook IPO plans released along with Zuckerberg's wages and details of how it earns its cash originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:04:00 +0000

As was speculated earlier this month, the Eastman Kodak Company has filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganisation with a bankruptcy court in the US.

The move, which essentially sees Kodak entering a protected period and taking credit of $950 million, is the last throw of the dice for a legendary brand that is firmly on its death bed.

The camera and printer company, established in 1892, has been feeling the financial strain for a number of years. Despite being an early pioneer of the digital camera, many believe that its focus on film and the budget side of the compact camera market has contributed to its decline.

"Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation," said Antonio M. Perez, chairman and CEO.

"At the same time as we have created our digital business, we have also already effectively exited certain traditional operations, closing 13 manufacturing plants and 130 processing labs, and reducing our workforce by 47,000 since 2003. Now we must complete the transformation by further addressing our cost structure and effectively monetising non-core IP assets. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to emerge a lean, world-class, digital imaging and materials science company.

"After considering the advantages of chapter 11 at this time, the Board of Directors and the entire senior management team unanimously believe that this is a necessary step and the right thing to do for the future of Kodak," Mr. Perez continued. "Our goal is to maximise value for stakeholders, including our employees, retirees, creditors, and pension trustees. We are also committed to working with our valued customers.

Perez went on to state how Kodak's patents had generated over $3 billion of licensing revenues since 2003 and it is thought that it could be the company's patent portfolio that is its last chance of survival.

Kodak had previously tried to sell off its patents to avoid bankruptcy, but failed to gain any interest. Dark times indeed for one of the most recognisable brands in photography.

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Tags: Cameras Kodak Biz

Kodak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:28:00 +0000

Sony's PS Vita hasn't been out in Japan very long, launching in December 2011, however after a promising start its sales have plummeted, dropping to 18,361 in week five.

Although you'd expect a steady decline in sales after any big launch the week five figures constitute a 95 per cent drop on the very decent week one figures of 324,859. This is a serious bit of free fall for the console and sullies the PS Vita's 500,000 units-sold milestone.

To be fair all handheld consoles have taken a bit of a hit post-Christmas, namely the PSP and 3DS, however the Vita is lagging behind and when you consider its recent launch it doesn't make for good reading; the Nintendo 3DS coming in with 100,668 units sold and the PSP at 22,538, both ahead of the aforementioned Vita figure of 18,361.

Sony will certainly be hoping for better figures come the PS Vita's worldwide launch in February and with some top-game titles in the wings providing that all important sweetener for potential customers, it could be a very different story.

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Tags: Sony Gaming PS Vita Handhelds Biz Statistics

PS Vita sales crash in post holiday slump originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:44:45 +0000

After 17 years building up one of the largest web-based companies, co-founder of Yahoo, Jerry Yang is resigning from the board.

Yahoo was founded 1995 by Yang and David Filo, and for years saw huge growth as it came to dominate the web, however despite a revenue peak in 2007 things haven't been so rosy for the company in the post-Facebook era.

Yang's attempts to revitalise the company came to a head in 2008 when he refused a takeover bid by Microsoft worth ?31 billion, a decision that has come to haunt the ex-chief executive as the company is now estimated to have a worth of ?20 billion.

It has also been said that Yang has been instrumental in blocking a whole host of restructuring plans designed to get the, admittedly still huge, company firing on all cylinders; so although sad in some respects it could be the start of the revitalisation of Yahoo.

This revitalisation could possibly come from a new deal, or indeed, some much-needed restructuring. The resignation of such a key figure as Yang, who clearly has an emotional tie with the company, could spawn not only innovation but a degree of detachment and objectivity that is often required if a company is going to make sensible decisions.

In a statement Yang said that: "The time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo!. As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future."

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Tags: Online Yahoo Jerry Yang Biz

Jerry Yang resigns from Yahoo: A positive move for the Internet giant? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:02:00 +0000

Apple has revealed its list of suppliers in a bid to address criticism over the way it treats workers; there have also been moves made to increase the level and frequency of inspections carried out.

Previous criticism was levelled at Apple after employers at its Foxconn supplier committed suicide, this coming at a time when the tech giant kept all of its suppliers under wraps.

In the post, Apple says that: "In 2011, we conducted 229 audits throughout our supply chain - an 80 per cent increase over 2010 - including more than 100 first-time audits. We continue to expand our program to reach deeper into our supply base, and this year we added more detailed and specialised audits that focus on safety and the environment."

It also says it has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to child labour, which is nice, stating that: "In 2011, we broadened our age verification program and saw dramatic improvements in hiring practices by our suppliers."

All very admirable, but it is still a rather miserable state of affairs when it takes bad press coverage for a multi-billion dollar company to up its game in terms of work standards. The company found that five factories had employed under-age workers, and employees at 93 of its factories had exceeded working hours.

However, at least it seems Apple is attempting to improve standards, if only to get the press off its back. It makes you wonder how many other well-known companies working standards would appear under closer scrutiny.

?

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Tags: Biz Apple

Apple reveals supplier details to quell worker mistreatment allegations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:12:00 +0000

Samsung has reported record Q4 2012 profits largely thanks to very strong sales of its smartphone range, which cements its position as the number one mobile manufacturer in the world.

Only this year Samsung surpassed Apple as the biggest provider of smartphones in the world, which is all the more impressive when you consider that Samsung has been in the Mobile arena a very short time. Mobile phones are now the technology company's biggest source of revenue.

Results for Q4 came out at 5.2 trillion won, up 73 percent from the same time last year, whilst total profits for 2011 ended at a whopping 16.2 trillion won.

Recent results for Samsung sales stands 27.8 million smartphones sold compared to at Apple who shifted 17.1 million devices globally in the same quarter. This currently gives Apple a 14.6 per cent market share, while Samsung whilst Samsung is well in the lead with 23.8 per cent of the market.

The impact of the iPhone 4S has yet to be realised however, and sales between the two companies can appear swewed as Apple generally only releases one handet a year compared to Samsung's plethora.

And this trend is set to continue with Samsung shipping around 35 million units in the fourth quarter it's expecting very decent sales despite the recession. The battle will no doubt continue between Apple and Samsung, and not just on the basis of who can produce and sell the most devices, as the courts are coming into play to decide patent disputes with 2011 seeing around 30 lawsuits.

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Tags: Phones Samsung Results Biz

Samsung smartphones pave way to record Q4 results originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:59:00 +0000

Sonny and Cher. Lennon and McCartney. John and Taupin. Slijngaard and Doth. Just some of the famous musical duos that will be remembered throughout history.

And now, possibly, you can add Gibson and Onkyo to that list after the guitar giant opted to acquire a?majority of Onkyo USA and form a strategic partnership with the audio specialist. The deal will also see Onkyo making an investment in Gibson Guitar Corp. and each company's CEO taking a seat on the opposite one's board.

"This partnership has significant positive implications for Onkyo?as we are always seeking ways of creating new value," said Onkyo CEO and president Munenori Otsuki.

"Gibson is a leading global company?with a massive fan base, best-in-class?products and superior marketing?skills. Coming together in this?way opens the door for amazing opportunities for both companies and, more?importantly, fans of Onkyo and Gibson."

Gibson chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz added: "While people may be listening to?more music, they are listening to it primarily in a severely compressed format. The aural disparity between a real?system and compressed sound is vast, and as a?result, they are simply not?hearing tremendously rich sounds. With Onkyo, our goal is to bring the same exceptional?experience artists demand in the studio to a larger consumer base."

We at Pocket-lint love Onkyo's superb audio kit and we can't wait to see the first fruit of this strategic partnership hit the shops. A Gibson guitar with a built in AV receiver... ridiculous - but yes please.

Tags: Audio Gibson Onkyo Biz Mergers

Gibson and Onkyo form strategic partnership originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Apple is said to be struggling to come up with top-tier content for its Apple TV project, if a report from USA Today is to believed, the article citing an anonymous Apple employee and two television industry sources who claim to have the inside knowledge.

The paper suggests that Apple is facing a "major roadblock" in its bid to secure content, meaning its plans? to deliver an "? la carte" TV service may be in jeopardy. If the Apple television, coined iTV by some,? is to get off the ground this content is seen as vital in persuading customers to stump up the cash to establish Apple at the heart the living room.

However, it looks as though there is still plenty of time for Apple, as further speculation would lead us to believe that the panels for the future television have not yet been sourced.

The Apple employee is also reported to have given a rather glib statement relating to the possible size of the Apple TV, as USA Today states: "Apple is said to be looking at a 42-inch or larger LCD TV with built-in Wi-Fi. Inside the locked-down studio of Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design at Apple, there's a slick 50-inch TV, according to the source who worked at Apple."

That differs wildly from the Digitimes source over the Christmas break that suggested Apple would be gunning for a 32- or 37-inch set targeting the second TV domain rather than going flat out for lounge or living room purchase.?

The rumour also tallies up with the news from the Daily Mail on Wednesday that?Apple was looking to bid for Premier League football?rights against Sky, EPSN, and Al Jezeera.?

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Tags: Apple Rumours Televisions Home Cinema Biz

Apple TV said to be struggling for top-tier content as 50-inch set rumoured originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:35:00 +0000

Kodak is preparing for bankruptcy in the US, even though it is attempting to sell off a large amount of digital patents in order to survive.

The camera and printer company, established in 1896, has been in trouble for a number of years, and despite inventing the digital camera in 1975, its focus on film and the budget side of the camera market contributed to its steady fall.

The WSJ describes the potential filing as Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which could be avoided if the company succeeds in selling its patents, although you have to question, aside from the printer business, what the company would have left to keep its 19,000 employees in work.

If "people familiar with the matter" turn out to be right, the company could see an auction of its 1,000 plus patents like Nortel did last year, under an open bid and fair system.

That auction raised the company over $4.5bn, well over the estimated price, after Google and a number of companies got caught in a bidding war.?

Kodak has previously tried to sell off its patents before, but has failed to gain any interest because of worries that it would go into bankruptcy and therefore affect the sales.

This time it is different as it is a bid to save the company outright. Even if the sale goes through though, reaping the company an estimated $1bn in the process, it is unlikely to bring much help to Kodak moving forward.

Its share price has been falling steadily since 1997 after it failed to embrace digital cameras quickly enough in comparison to the competition.?

And understandably, its shares have dropped?18 cents to a record low of 47 cents on Wednesday.

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Tags: Cameras Biz Kodak

Kodak bankruptcy planned as last ditch patent sell off begins originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:48:00 +0000

Microsoft is taking a leaf out of Apple's book in that it will no longer be attending or making a keynote at the consumer electronics show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The show, that launches at the beginning of January, is a way for companies to show off all their latest product launches for the year to come, however it turns out that Microsoft will not be attending in anything like the same way it has in the past, which as well as the keynote means no MS booths either.

Frank Shaw, vice president corporate comms, stated that: "We’ll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries, but we won’t have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing."

As for this year's CES, it's doubtful we'll see any big announcements although with what has, on the whole, been a very good year for Microsoft we're sure it'll be going over some of its past glories in the phone and gaming areas, along with a few hints at what's to come.

After being at the show for nearly 20 years it seems like a bold decision to stop now, just when it looks as though Microsoft are riding a bit of a wave. However, it actually shows how confident the company are feeling about the future; focusing on its own events, like MIX and BUILD, could begin to add a little kudos to a company that has struggled with its image in the past.

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Tags: Microsoft CES2012 Biz

Microsoft CES 2012: Last major appearance originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:07:00 +0000

With RIM's stock at an all time low, it is no surprise that sharks look to be circling the mobile phone and tablet maker. However the interest, it seems, is coming from those you wouldn't, perhaps, expect. They're some of the biggest fish around.

According to two separate articles on Wednesday, by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, those sharks include Amazon, Nokia and Microsoft.

Reuters is claiming that "people with knowledge of the situation" have told them that Amazon - yes, the online retailer - even fancied seeing what it could do with the ailing smartphone maker.

"Research In Motion Ltd has turned down takeover overtures from Amazon.com Inc and other potential buyers because the BlackBerry maker prefers to fix its problems on its own, according to people with knowledge of the situation," writes the news agency.

According to the article, Amazon even hired an investment bank to look into a potential merger, but an offer wasn't forthcoming.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nokia and Microsoft looked to join forces in order to buy RIM. It claims that sources have told them that the organisations "flirted with the idea of making a joint bid for Research In Motion Ltd" and even entered into discussions with the company. However, the results of those talks are unclear.

RIM's market value has plunged 77 per cent in the last 12 months.

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Tags: Biz Microsoft Nokia Amazon Mergers BlackBerry

Nokia, Amazon and Microsoft circle RIM - is a takeover on the cards? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:40:00 +0000

Research In Motion, the company behind the BlackBerry smartphones, has confirmed that its next generation of smartphones running the new recently announced BB10 operating system, won't be with us until the end of 2012.?

Blaming availability of the processors that it needs to power the new operating system the new phones that are based on the new QNX powered operating system already seen in the BlackBerry PlayBook, it spells the beginning of a tough 12 months ahead for the Canadian company.?

"We now expect our first BlackBerry 10 smartphone to come to market in the latter part of calendar 2012," confirmed Lazaridis.?

Research In Motion's latest results are a mixed a bag on the whole. On the one hand profits have dropped by 27 per cent and the company is forecasting that it will only sell 11 - 12 million smartphones over its usually strong Christmas period.

On the plus side though, revenue is up 24 per cent from the last quarter, subscribers are up 35 per cent year-on-year to 75 million,?and the founding duo, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, have agreed to forgo their salaries, estimated to top $1 million each per year, instead taking just $1.

During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 14.1 million BlackBerry smartphones and approximately 150,000 BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.

Lazaridis admitted that the company was working out how RIM can recover from the most "trying" quarter in the company's history.?That trying history involved a global outage, as well as, being linked to the London riots.?

That recovery will start with making sure the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 makes its revised February launch says the co-CEO.

Until the new BB10 smartphone become available the company's latest BB7 handsets are the only hope for the company in the next 12 months.?

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Tags: Phones Tablets RIM BlackBerry Results Biz

BB10 smartphones delayed until late 2012, RIM details tough times ahead originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Apple's founding documents have been sold at auction reaching a whopping $1.6 million and blowing away the $150,000 price the contract was estimated to fetch.

The three-document bundle consisted of a legal paper that saw Apple become a registered company, bearing the signatures of Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne; an amendment document; and a "Statement of Withdrawal" that saw Wayne sell his founding share in Apple for $800. Incidentally that share of the company would now be worth a cool $3.9 billion.

The buyer was a Mr Eduardo Cisneros, chief executive officer of Cisneros Corp, who snapped up the documents at Sotheby's in New York.

This auction comes on the back of the sale of the Apple I in 2010, the first computer built by Apple, which sold for $210,644. The recent death of Steve Jobs has perhaps had an impact on the final sale price and shows just how much the brand and, indeed, the founding members' heritage is still valued.

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Tags: Apple Biz shopping Steve Jobs

Apple's founding documents sell at auction for $1.6 million originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:42:00 +0000