Haptics Adds New Dimensions to Touchscreens

from www.businessweek.com:

>>This new generation of haptic technology has captured the imagination of software developers, too. Some 200 million Nokia, Samsung, and LG phones already come preloaded with haptics software made by Immersion (IMMR). The technology controls handsets' (until now) primitive motors and tells them to vibrate, for example, when something explodes during a smartphone game. "In something like the Angry Birds game, you want to feel the slingshot pull back and feel the bird crash into pigs," says Dennis Sheehan, the vice-president for marketing at Immersion. It's a subtle but compelling enhancement. He says such games will be feasible as new haptics hardware arrives over the next year or two.

Globe Telecom Leverages Platform Equinix to Extend International Connectivity

Tokyo data center serves as gateway between the Philippines and the United States

TOKYO, Japan – June 15, 2011 – Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), a provider of global data center services, today announced that Globe Telecom has expanded its network points-of-presence to Equinix’s Tokyo-2 (TY2) International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center to improve network performance and enhance customer experience. Globe is the first Philippine network carrier to be deployed in Equinix’s Tokyo facilities and can now be directly accessed by other networks and telecommunication service providers inside Equinix’s TY2 data center.

TY2, recognized for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and network density, is strategically located to access multiple subsea cable systems. Deploying the Globe Telecom network node at Equinix’s TY2 data center will enable an international gateway between the Philippines and the United States and help the company meet increasing demand for connectivity services, including International Private Leased (IPL), Ethernet and IP services.

“Japan is an important location for us, and Equinix makes our expansion to strategic global networks possible. The network community can benefit from the efficient and highly resilient connectivity to the Globe Telecom network in order to help meet their customers’ needs. The TY2 data center is a strategic place to locate our network node to readily extend our footprint and enable wide network choices for performance optimization. Equinix’s growing base of international and local customers from data-centric industries also creates compounded market exposure for us,” said Jesus C. Romero, enterprise segments head of Globe Telecom’s Globe Business unit.

“We are extremely pleased that Globe Telecom has chosen Equinix to support its expansion,” said Kei Furuta, managing director of Equinix in Japan. “Japan acts as a junction for many Asia-Pacific cable routes and the TY2 data center is ideally located to support network carriers like Globe Telecom who want to springboard into other markets.”

About Globe Telecom

Globe is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines, serving the needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services which include mobile, fixed, broadband, data connections, internet, and managed services. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecom; both acknowledged industry leaders in the country and across the region. For more information, visit http://www.globe.com.ph/

Kyle Bass' Favorite Stock Picks

from Seeking Alpha:

>>

IMMERSION CORP

IMMR

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How to build haptic effects into Android: MOTIV SDK by Immersion

from asia.cnet.com:

>>Oh yeah, typing. I have an iPhone and it's fun but, man, I'm so bad at typing on the thing. I have to be sitting perfectly still and 100% concentrated, and I still make a lot of mistakes. I tried a couple of different Android phones with beefed up haptics, and the physical feedback definitely improved my accuracy.

If you're an Android developer, just shake, rattle, and roll your way over to Immersion's Developer Zone to learn more. Add cool effects to your Android application and if you figure out a way to rid the world of those blasted pigs and birds, please, just fire away.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bullish On Equinix

From Benzinga:

>>Bank of America Merrill Lynch has a Buy rating and a $130 price target on shares of Equinix, Inc. after the bank hosted an investor meeting in London, and met with Eric Schwartz, President of Equinix Europe.

In a note to clients, Bank of America writes, "Mr. Schwartz believes he has good visibility into customer churn and bookings trends extending 6-24 months out as a result of ongoing conversations with customers, the lead time required for customers to plan for infrastructure requirements and install equipment, and the relatively high cost to switch facilities. With this visibility in mind, presumably Equinix's view of 2H11 performance has firmed up for the most part and given that the company has consistently reiterated confidence in achieving its 2011 guidance range during investor presentations, even as recently as a month ago, we see current guidance as very achievable and potentially conservative. Current EBITDA guidance of “greater than” $685m compares to consensus of $693m and our $712m which includes approximately a $12m contribution from the company's recently closed acquisition in Brazil which is not reflected in guidance."

Samsung to end 14-yr Nokia smartphone reign

from Reuters:

>>Samsung Electronics will become the world's largest smartphone maker this quarter, overtaking struggling Nokia Oyj which has lead the market since 1996, Nomura said on Monday.

In the next quarter Nomura also sees also Apple Inc overtaking Nokia and pushing it to No. 3 in rankings.

"In 1996 Nokia launched the Communicator and the smartphone market that it has led in unit terms ever since. After about 14 years at the top, Nokia looks set to relinquish its smartphone crown," Nomura analysts said in a research note.